Elizabeth Stanton
‘Leap!’ Is a Passable Animated Romp for Older Kids
Carly Rae Jepsen • Published on August 2017
“Leap!” combines European animation, American can-do spirit, and a plethora of pop songs to create a mildly entertaining but ultimately rote animated tale that may appeal to older kids more than little ones. Felicie…
Superhero Antics and Offbeat Absurdity Collide in Amazon’s ‘The Tick’
Amazon • Published on August 2017
There have already been two adaptations of the parody superhero in the big blue suit and the animated antennae — first as a cartoon in the 90s and then in the early 00s featuring Patrick…
Nostalgia and Hilarity Reign in ‘Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later’
Amy Poehler • Published on August 2017
When it first arrived 16 years ago, “Wet Hot American Summer” was a box office bomb with a stellar cast and an alt sense of humor. Now, all these years later, it’s spawned a cult…
Adventure Sails the Small Seas in ‘Swallows and Amazons’
Features • Published on July 2017
Adventure is the order of the day in kid-friendly “Swallows and Amazons,” a tale of British children discovering pirates, spies, and what it takes to grow up a little. Set in the summer of 1935,…
Amazon’s ‘The Last Tycoon’ Gives Old Hollywood the Soap Opera Treatment
Amazon • Published on July 2017
A pilot is meant to set up everything you need to know about the series you’re about to watch, from characters to settings to plot lines. But sometimes, there can be too much going on…
Marion Cotillard Is a Disturbed Romantic in the Strange ‘From the Land of the Moon’
Features • Published on July 2017
“From the Land of the Moon” is meant to be a romantic melodrama about obsession and love, but becomes a slog, offering never ending ennui for viewers. We meet Gabrielle (Marion Cotillard) driving to her…
’Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets’ Is a Messy Space Romp
Cara Delevigne • Published on July 2017
Based on a French comic series, the old-school space adventure “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” takes place in the 28th century, focusing on the titular Valerian (Dane DeHaan) and his partner…
‘Girls Trip’ Is a Hilarious Ride Worth Taking
Features • Published on July 2017
“Girls Trip” is sure to be compared to “Bridesmaids,” or even this summer’s other wild girls’ night out movie “Rough Night,” but it’s a film all its own that is a hilarious, fun reminder of the…
‘Austin Found’ Offers A Darker Take on Media Frenzy
Austin Found • Published on July 2017
With a plot that shockingly hasn’t happened in the real world, “Austin Found” tells an excellent story of a desperate, attention-hungry woman who will try to justify any means necessary to get what she…
Steve Carell Pulls Double Duty in ‘Despicable Me 3′
Despicable Me 3 • Published on June 2017
While still enjoyable for younger viewers, the third entry in the ‘Despicable Me’ franchise offers diminishing returns for adults accompanying those little ones to the theater. In “…
‘The Handmaids Tale’ Concludes First Season With a Message of Hope
Alexis Bledel • Published on June 2017
Intense, disturbing, and oftentimes skirting too close to reality for comfort, the first season of “The Handmaid’s Tale” on Hulu has provided an excellent season of television, and…
Bromance Comedy ‘Random Tropical Paradise’ Is Dead on Arrival
Brooks Wheelan • Published on June 2017
A bro-mantic comedy on an indie budget, “Random Tropical Paradise” aspires to the heights of “Old School,” “21…
Demetri Martin Shines in Otherwise Average ‘Dean’
Dean • Published on June 2017
Known for his low-key brand of humor and quirky illustrations, comedian Demetri Martin is stepping into the auteur world with his new movie “Dean…