by admin | Jun 14, 2025 | Articles, Moviephone Articles
Arnold Schwarzenegger as Luke Brunner in episode 205 of ‘Fubar.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
‘FUBAR’ Season 2 receives 7 out of 10 stars.
Released on Netflix on June 12th, ‘FUBAR’ Season 2 gets us back in action with Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Luke Brunner for another blend of spy thrills and comedy.
The cast also includes Monica Barbaro (‘A Complete Unknown’), Fortune Feimster (‘Barb & Star go to Vista Del Mar’), Travis Van Winkle (‘Road House’), Jay Baruchel (‘BlackBerry’), Scott Thompson (‘Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy’) and, new this season, Carrie-Anne Moss (‘The Matrix’) and Guy Burnet (‘Oppenheimer’).
Related Article: ‘FUBAR’ Forefronts an Entertaining Arnold Schwarzenegger Surrounded by a Funny, Likeable Cast
Initial Thoughts
Carrie-Anne Moss as Greta Nelso in episode 203 of ‘Fubar.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
If you’re craving some Arnold Schwarzenegger action, but don’t want to dive into some of the dodgier straight-to-home-entertainment movies he’s made of late, the return of ‘FUBAR’ might satisfy you.
We says “might,” as this is very much a Your Mileage May Vary series –– if your tolerance for Schwarzenegger taking stabs at being funny and a narrative that puts laughs over stunts (though there are still some impressive moments) –– isn’t all that high, then this might not be the show for you.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Fortune Feimster as Roo Russell, Travis Van Winkle as Aldon Reece in episode 201 of ‘Fubar.’ Photo: Christos Kalohoridis/Netflix © 2025
‘FUBAR’ was created and is run by Nick Santora, who has had a hand in shows such as network procedural offering ‘Scorpion’ and Prime Video’s ‘Reacher.’ He certainly knows a thing or two about how to make funny live alongside spy material or vigilante action, but with ‘FUBAR,’ he’s created a delivery system for two things: Schwarzenegger channeling his past career and workplace comedy that just happens to feature big threats as part of its DNA.
For the most part, the scripts walk the line between the two on an effective level, helped by the cast. The show is never going to be the funniest or most action-packed out there, but if you’ve enjoyed its charms in the past, Season 2 certainly keeps up the same quality level.
(L to R) Fabiana Udenio as Tally Brunner, Arnold Schwarzenegger as Luke Brunner in episode 201 of ‘Fubar.’ Photo: Christos Kalohoridis/Netflix © 2025
Shoving the characters together in a safe house for a couple of episodes gives plenty of material for them clashing comically with each other, and several finding creative ways to get out and pursue their interests (see Monica Barbaro’s Emma dominating local paintball tournaments) is good for chuckle.
Once the major plot kicks back in again, the show returns to what worked about the first season, and for the most part it’s entertaining.
On the directorial front, the limitations of even a Netflix budget (and we’re certainly not talking money on the level of, say, ‘Stranger Things’ here), do sometimes shine through, but directors Phil Abraham and Jeff T. Thomas make the most of what they have.
Cast and Performances
Monica Barbaro as Emma Brunner in episode 204 of ‘Fubar.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
Let’s be honest here: Arnie is Arnie. He’s a movie star whose best days are perhaps behind him, but he certainly throws himself into all aspects of the series. He’s not afraid to make fun of himself and his back catalogue and while he can’t quite do everything he once did on the stunt front, he’s convincing enough with the help of a team.
It’s also clear he’s having fun here, chomping on cigars, getting to interact with the rest of the cast and generally nodding towards past glories.
As Emma, Monica Barbaro continues to be among the highlights, balancing a light comic tone with committed action chops. She’s equally adept playing farcical moment with the likes of Jay Baruchel as she is looking like a badass when called upon.
Fortune Feimster, Milan Carter and Travis Van Winkle are still worth watching as Luke Brenner’s support team and surrogate family Roo, Barry and Aldon, and while Milan Carter is somewhat sidelined this year, he still gets some fun moments.
Jay Baruchel, even more than Carter, comes off worse this time around –– not because of his performance, which is still giddily entertaining, but because his character, Emma’s former fiancé, simply doesn’t have as much to do any more.
Still stealing scenes every time he’s in them is Scott Thompson as Dr. Pfeffer –– he’s a delight, and fans of the first season will be happy to know his puppet obsession is undimmed.
Guy Burnet as Theodore Chips in episode 202 of ‘Fubar.’ Photo: Dušan Martinček/Netflix © 2025
The new recruits for this season include Carrie-Anne Moss, who clearly relishes playing Luke’s former flame and a master spy in her own right, Greta Nelso. She goes full femme fatale, and plays well off of Schwarzenegger.
Finally, there’s Guy Burnet as Theodore Chips, a James Bond riff whose character pivots between hero and villain. Burnet is excellent in the role, whether he’s trying to flirt with Emma or threatening the team.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Travis Van Winkle as Aldon Reece, Guy Burnet as Theodore Chips in episode 206 of ‘Fubar.’ Photo: Christos Kalohoridis/Netflix © 2025
‘FUBAR’ certainly has niche appeal, but what it does, it does well, delivering Arnie puns, some level of spy craft and plenty of silly moments (Van Winkle and a pig are a particular highlight.
That’s it and that’s all. But hopefully this won’t be it and all for the show.
“Heroes don’t retire. They reload.”
What’s the plot of ‘FUBAR?
The initial season of the series follows Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Luke Brunner, a CIA operative with a knack for inventively taking down bad guys and a venerable reputation at the agency.
But Luke, long since realizing the toll his job and its need for total secrecy had on his family –– he’s been divorced from wife Tally (Fabiana Udenio) for nearly 20 years –– is ready to retire. He plans to win his wife back and properly reconnect with his grown children, especially Emma (Monica Barbaro).
Before he can really call it quits, though, he’s informed that Boro (Gabriel Luna), the son of a terrorist Luke dispatched years ago while working undercover, has resurfaced and is aiming to relaunch his father’s dangerous organization with even more vehemence.
Season 2 picks up with Brunner, Emma and their family, friends and colleagues going stir crazy in a safe house. But then Luke learns that not only has old flame Greta Nelso returned, but there’s a new threat out there –– and he’s the only one who can stop it.
“Heroes don’t retire. They reload.”
Who stars in ‘FUBAR’ Season 2?
- Arnold Schwarzenegger as Luke Brunner
- Monica Barbaro as Emma Brunner
- Fortune Feimster as Roo
- Travis Van Winkle as Aldon Reese
- Aparna Brielle as Tina Mukerji
- Fabiana Udenio as Tally Brunner
- Jay Baruchel as Carter
- Milan Carter as Barry Putt
- Scott Thompson as Dr. Pfeffer
- Carrie-Anne Moss as Greta Nelso
- Guy Burnet as Theodore Chips
(L t R) Jay Baruchel as Carter Perlmutter, Milan Carter as Barry Putt, Fabiana Udenio as Tally Brunner in episode 203 of ‘Fubar.’ Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
Selected Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies:
Buy Arnold Schwarzenegger Movies on Amazon
by admin | Jun 13, 2025 | Articles, Moviephone Articles
Dakota Johnson in ‘Materialists’. Credit: Atsushi Nishijima.
‘Materialists’ receives 9 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters June 13 is ‘Materialists,’ directed by Celine Song and starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, Chris Evans, Zoë Winters, Marin Ireland, Dasha Nekrasova, Louisa Jacobson, and John Magaro.
Related Article: Chris Evans in Talks to Return to Marvel’s Cinematic Universe for ‘Avengers: Doomsday’
Initial Thoughts
(L to R) Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal in ‘Materialists’. Credit: Atsushi Nishijima.
If you’re going into ‘Materialists’ thinking that this will be something of a traditional romantic comedy, think again. While the trailers may sort of sell it that way, ‘Materialists’ is quite different and deeper. Written and directed by Celine Song, whose 2023 debut ‘Past Lives’ was a melancholy exploration of memory and lost love, ‘Materialists’ looks at dating, romance, and love through the lens of a transactional society.
At its most basic level, ‘Materialists’ has a romantic triangle at its heart. But that three-way relationship is seen as a numbers game, with Song deftly outlining how cold logic and math can lead – if the participants are lucky – to some semblance of happiness, while also opening the door to disaster. The film is also an intimate, detailed character study of the three people at its center, how they perceive themselves, and how they perceive each other. While it wobbles a bit down the stretch, ‘Materialists’ is an emotionally resonant, culturally relevant look at how and why we expose ourselves to love, and the danger of treating people – especially women – as commodities.
Story and Direction
(L to R) Director Celine Song, Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans on the set of ‘Materialists’. Credit: Atsushi Nishijima.
Lucy (Dakota Johnson) is a professional matchmaker, working with well-off, usually older clients – both male and female – to help them find the perfect person with whom to fall in love. But many of Lucy’s clients have stringent or unrealistic expectations: the women are looking for a six-foot-tall man with a six-figure (at least) income, while the men don’t want anything too “intense or complicated.” As one man says, he doesn’t have much in common with women in their early twenties…so he wants to date women in their late twenties.
As for Lucy, she’s a self-described “voluntary celibate” who has broken up with her boyfriend John (Chris Evans) after five years. John, an unemployed actor, works as a cater-waiter to make ends meet and shares his crummy Manhattan apartment with two sloppy roommates. Having grown up poor and trying to pursue her own career, Lucy does not wish to live that way: she wants to be comfortable and taken care of, and sees marrying into wealth as the only way to achieve that – or so she thinks.
That’s why the matchmaking service she provides breaks love down to “checking boxes” on a list: the candidate’s age, height, salary, job, and even the state of their hair are all factored into the equation without a thought of whether these two strangers can connect in a more intimate, personal way. “Marriage is a business deal,” Lucy tells one of her clients who’s about to take the final step of walking down the aisle. “You can always walk away if the deal is no good.”
Dakota Johnson in ‘Materialists’. Credit: Atsushi Nishijima.
All of this is transactional for Lucy, so when she meets Harry (Pedro Pascal) at that same wedding, who she describes as a unicorn for seemingly checking off all her boxes effortlessly, she decides to begin dating him after he asks her out – even though she insists he can do better. And even though she and John are no more, he’s still in her life as a friend (who is also clearly pining for her). Lucy begins to wonder just what she does want out of a relationship – as her carefully structured philosophy about dating and romance begins to unravel around her.
Aside from a third-act plot turn that might have been handled a little more smoothly, ‘Materialists’ is top-notch storytelling about modern relationships and love – and how even those most precious aspects of human life can be somehow stripped down to, as Lucy says, a business deal. It’s only when she gets into a potentially lucrative deal of her own in that sense that she begins to realize what a shallow worldview that is, and how the same approach to her job may end in misery for her clients – and in the case of women, even danger.
Song’s script cleanly delivers all this through a spare, modest, yet impactful narrative and deftly rendered characterizations, filtered through lovely lensing of the movie’s New York locations by cinematographer Shabier Kirchner. In the end, the movie is a pointed critique of the society we’re living in now: where everyone thinks they’re entitled to everything, and you don’t have to work for it — even love.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Dakota Johnson and Chris Evans in ‘Materialists’. Credit: Atsushi Nishijima.
Coming off the embarrassment of 2024’s ‘Madame Web,’ Dakota Johnson bounces back nicely here with perhaps the best performance of her career to date. Lucy is a complex, finely-drawn single woman in her mid-30s who has grown up poor and is deeply afraid of falling back into that situation, which has led her to not just view her own romantic life in a clinical way but boil her services as a matchmaker down to cold equations. Johnson does an excellent job of putting up Lucy’s armor, only to gradually show us the pain and doubt beneath.
The same could be said for Chris Evans – while his choices since exiting the role of Captain America have been hit and miss, ‘Materialists’ also represents his best work since putting down the shield. John is acutely aware of his circumstances, his lack of motivation, and his own deep desire for love and connection, and blames himself for letting Lucy get away. His own pain at seeing her is evident from the start, but he’s also desperate to maintain their connection by being the best friend he can be. This is a sensitive turn from Evans, who can be a come across as all surface with the wrong material, and demonstrates his underrated ability to portray vulnerability.
Pedro Pascal’s Harry is a bit less layered and defined than either Lucy or John, although he avoids stereotyping by being an incredibly wealthy man who does not see others around him as playthings – even when he reveals something about himself late in the game. Pascal is empathetic and charismatic as always. The other star player of the film is Zoë Winters (‘Succession’) as Lucy’s client Sophie, who delivers a monologue late in the film that is raw and just devastating, a cry of anger and frustration that will resonate with many single women of a certain age. The actor just nails it in a showstopper of a moment.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Dakota Johnson and Pedro Pascal in ‘Materialists’. Credit: Atsushi Nishijima.
Don’t get us wrong: ‘Materialists’ is not a somber meditation on late-stage capitalism infecting every aspect of our lives. It’s not somber, anyway. It’s funny, witty, and yes, melancholy, and it also doesn’t shy away from pointedly critiquing how the commodification of the most basic, wonderful, and complex of all human interactions is inherently not a good thing.
In other words, it’s not “just math,” despite what Lucy says early in the film. And ‘Materialists’ is not just, as we said early on in this review, a standard rom-com or even a typical romantic drama. It’s a movie with something far deeper on its mind, and Celine Song once again explores the intricacies of the human heart with candor and clarity, making this possibly one of the best movies made for adults that you’ll see this year.
“Some people just want more.”
Showtimes & Tickets
A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex. Read the Plot
What is the plot of ‘Materialists’?
A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex.
Who is in the cast of ‘Materialists’?
- Dakota Johnson as Lucy
- Chris Evans as John
- Pedro Pascal as Harry Castillo
- Zoë Winters as Sophie
- Marin Ireland as Violet
- Dasha Nekrasova as Daisy
- Louisa Jacobson as Charlotte
- Sawyer Spielberg as Mason
- Eddie Cahill as Robert
- Joseph Lee as Trevor
- John Magaro as Mark P.
Dakota Johnson in ‘Materialists’. Credit: Atsushi Nishijima.
List of Movies Starring Dakota Johnson:
Buy Tickets: ‘Materialists’ Movie ShowtimesBuy Dakota Johnson Movies on Amazon
by admin | Jun 12, 2025 | Articles, Moviephone Articles
(L to R) Annalise Basso and Tom Hiddleston in ‘The Life of Chuck’. Photo: Neon.
‘The Life of Chuck’ receives 8 out of 10 stars.
Opening in select theaters on June 6th before opening nationwide on June 13th is ‘The Life of Chuck’, written and directed by Mike Flanagan and starring Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Jacob Tremblay, Annalise Basso, Carl Lumbly, Mia Sara, and Mark Hamill.
Related Article: Tom Hiddleston Talks Stephen King Adaptation ‘The Life of Chuck’
Initial Thoughts
Tom Hiddleston stars in ‘The Life of Chuck’. Photo: Neon.
Mike Flanagan is not only one of the premier horror auteurs of the 21st Century, with films like ‘Oculus’ and limited series like ‘Midnight Mass’ under his belt, but he also has a flourishing sub-career as Director Of Difficult Stephen King Adaptations. From ‘Gerald’s Game’ (which was mostly about a lone woman chained to a bed) to ‘Doctor Sleep’ (a sequel to both one of the most iconic horror movies of all time and the very different book it was based on) to, now, ‘The Life of Chuck,’ Flanagan keeps excelling at bringing King stories to the screen that at first seem like insurmountable cinematic challenges.
‘The Life of Chuck’ (which first appeared in King’s 2020 collection ‘If It Bleeds’) reads on the page like one of the author’s strangest yet sweetest stories, with events taking place in three different timelines – and possibly more than one reality – of which the connections only become apparent as the story unfolds. Its centerpiece sequence involves two strangers doing an impromptu (and spectacular) dance in the middle of one of those outdoor shopping and entertainment destinations, and its three parts are told in reverse order.
It’s a strangely affecting story with a widescreen canvas and universal theme, and Flanagan effectively and faithfully translates it to the screen, helped by Eben Bolter’s gorgeous cinematography and moving performances from much of its cast. If some of its parts don’t work – such as an over-reliance on narration and a supernatural aspect that seems tacked on (as it did in the novella) – those are minor distractions from what is, for the most part, a compelling story that fits comfortably alongside other non-horror King adaptations like ‘Stand by Me’ and ‘The Shawshank Redemption.’
Story and Direction
(L to R) Director Mike Flanagan and Tom Hiddleston on the set of ‘The Life of Chuck’. Photo: Neon.
‘The Life of Chuck’ begins with ‘Act III – Thanks Chuck,’ the most overtly frightening section of the film. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Marty, a high school teacher who is trying to hold his class and life together as the world starts to literally crumble from some unexplained apocalypse. As California falls into the sea following a 9.1. earthquake, and other disasters wreak havoc worldwide (followed by the loss of the internet, which may not seem as such a bad thing), Marty and others start to see and hear strange billboards and commercials thanking someone named Charles ‘Chuck’ Krantz for a ‘wonderful 39 years’ – although who ‘Chuck’ is remains a complete mystery.
‘Act III’ ends with Marty and his ex-wife, an exhausted, despairing nurse named Felicia (Karen Gillan), reconnecting as events around the world grow even grimmer. It’s during the final moments of this segment that we also get our first, flickering images of Chuck (Tom Hiddleston) himself, in ways both inexplicable and melancholy. Both scenarios give way to ‘Act II – Buskers Forever,’ in which a middle-aged, suit-and-tie-wearing Chuck – an unassuming, mild-mannered accountant, as we find out from the narration provided by Nick Offerman – sits quietly on a bench at that downtown destination following a day at an out-of-town bookkeeping seminar.
It’s on his way back to his hotel that Chuck is drawn to a busker (Taylor Gordon) who is banging out a beat on her drum kit. Something stirs within Chuck and he begins to dance – and not just a little tapping of the feet and swaying of the shoulders but a full-fledged, spectacular routine like something Fred Astaire might take on. He’s joined by Janice (Annalise Basso), a complete stranger who’s just been dumped by her boyfriend, but who finds connection with Chuck and the busker through this one random moment together.
It’s in ‘Act I – I Contain Multitudes’ that we learn the origin of Chuck’s skills on the dance floor, as we meet a younger version of him (played primarily by Jacob Tremblay) as well as his grandfather (Mark Hamill) and grandmother (Mia Sara). The Krantz family goes through both remarkable tragedy and simple moments of happiness together – but we also learn why dancing was not in the cards for Chuck’s future and why his grandpa (or ‘zayde’) keeps the upstairs cupola in their house locked up tight.
It’s in this third segment that the pieces of the story fully fall into place, but it’s also where the movie’s heavy emphasis on narration (as good as the wry, always slightly sardonic Offerman is) and the secret of the cupola mix unevenly with the movie’s shifting tones and a late supernatural element that seems randomly dropped into the proceedings. No spoilers here, but Flanagan’s slightly off-balance juggling of these elements slightly dilutes the film’s drive to tie together its themes and narrative into a coherent whole, leading ‘The Life of Chuck’ to wind down into a moderately affecting conclusion instead of a poignant, universal crescendo of emotion.
Cast and Performances
Mark Hamill in ‘The Life of Chuck’. Photo: Neon.
Although the movie is called ‘The Life of Chuck’ and it’s that central image of the title character that represents the film, Charles ‘Chuck’ Krantz is very much part of an ensemble here. Tom Hiddleston makes the adult Chuck a bit of a cipher in some ways, a man who seems almost inconsequential – until he does his dazzling dance in the middle of the square. Hiddleston gives his all during this sequence (and is tremendous in it), while also showing how Chuck comes fully alive here for perhaps the one time in his adult life.
He’s very good, but the work from Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Jacob Tremblay as the teen Chuck (and the younger actors portraying him as a little boy) hits harder. Ejiofor and Gillan are believable and poignant as two people trying to find their way back to each other with barely any time to lose, while other minor characters are given brief but textured life by veteran actors like Matthew Lillard and Carl Lumbly.
And then there’s Mark Hamill and Mia Sara as Chuck’s zayde Albie and bubbe Sarah. The latter (of ‘Ferris Bueller’s Day Off’ fame) brings warmth and light to the role of Chuck’s grandma, while the former is equally warm but also a man living with the pain of knowledge he’s not supposed to have. Hamill – appearing in the first of two Stephen King adaptations this year (he has a quite different role in September’s ‘The Long Walk’) – is engaging and sensitive, especially in a scene where Albie, an accountant his whole life, expounds to Chuck on why math is the bedrock for everything in existence, guiding his grandson to a decision that will have repercussions for the rest of his life.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Chiwetel Ejiofor and Karen Gillan in ‘The Life of Chuck’. Photo: Neon.
Stephen King has always been a deeply humanist writer, and it’s his empathy and compassion that Mike Flanagan seems drawn to and able to capture. Like predecessors such as Rob Reiner and Frank Darabont, he gets King in a way that many other filmmakers don’t. That’s why he aims for the same profundity found in earlier King classics like ‘The Shawshank Redemption,’ even if ‘The Life of Chuck’ struggles to hit the exact same high mark.
But there’s no question that the message of this story, while in the end quite simple, is still a moving one: that every moment in a life is precious in some way, and that every life is made up of those moments, which we must recognize for what they are and hold onto. We do contain multitudes, King and Flanagan seem to say, and they’re all beautiful, rich, and worthy in some way, no matter how fleeting. In a world that seems to be coming unglued on a daily basis, that is a message worth repeating. Whether it’s Chuck’s life or yours, it’s important.
What is the plot of ‘The Life of Chuck’?
Charles ‘Chuck’ Krantz (Tom Hiddleston) experiences the wonder of love, the heartbreak of loss, and the multitudes contained in all of us.
Who is in the cast of ‘The Life of Chuck’?
(Left) Chiwetel Ejiofor in ‘The Life of Chuck’. Photo: Neon.
List of Mike Flanagan Movies and TV Shows:
Buy Tickets: ‘The Life of Chuck’ Movie ShowtimesBuy Mike Flanagan Movies on Amazon
by admin | Jun 4, 2025 | Articles, Moviephone Articles
Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’ receives 5.5 out of 10 stars.
Opening in theaters on June 6th is ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’, which is a spinoff to the ‘John Wick’ franchise that takes place in between the events of ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ and ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’.
Directed by Len Wiseman (‘Underworld’), the film stars Ana de Armas (‘No Time to Die’), Gabriel Byrne (‘The Usual Suspects’), and Norman Reedus (‘The Walking Dead’), as well as returning franchise actors Ian McShane as Winston Scott, Lance Reddick as Charon, Anjelica Huston as the Director, and Keanu Reeves as John Wick.
Related Article: Director Chad Stahelski and Producer Josh Oreck Talk ‘Wick Is Pain’
Initial Thoughts
Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Larry D. Horricks.
‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’ has shades of what made the previous ‘John Wick’ films great, especially in the second half, but suffers from a boring first half and tonal issues throughout. The first half meanders through exposition and trying too hard to fit into the ‘John Wick’ universe, while the second half succeeds in delivering the type of action sequences we expect from the franchise. Director Len Wiseman fails to inject the first half of the film with any urgency, and instead relies on the second half’s action sequences to sell the movie.
Not surprisingly, Ana de Armas shines in the action sequences, but her character’s backstory is muddled by the slow tone of the first half. We also are meant to follow her as she learns to become an assassin, but this becomes tedious as we want our hero in a ‘John Wick’ movie to be kicking butt and not getting her own butt kicked. The returning ‘Wick’ actors are all welcomed but not given much to do, except for Keanu Reeves in the second half, but even his character seems wasted in a way and brings into question how this movie fits into the larger ‘John Wick’ franchise timeline.
Story and Direction
(L to R) Ana de Armas as Eve and Director Len Wiseman in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Larry D. Horricks.
The film begins with a flashback revealing how a young Eve Macarro (Victoria Comte) watched as the Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne), a member of the High Table, murdered her father before she escaped, and was taken to the Director (Huston) by Winston Scott (McShane). Through an opening credits montage, we learn that Eve was trained by the Ruska Roma crime syndicate as both a ballet dancer and an assassin.
The story then picks up at the beginning of ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’, with de Armas now portraying Eve, as she watches the notorious John Wick (Reeves), a former member, now on the run, seek refuge from the Director. After a brief encounter between the two, Wick leaves and the story then jumps ahead several months. Eve is now working as an assassin but struggles with her first assignment. She soon discovers that her target has the same mark on his hand as the man who killed her father.
Looking for revenge, and against the orders of the Director, Eve searches to find Daniel Pine (Reedus), who is trying to protect his own daughter and is also being hunted by the group that killed Eve’s father. Eventually she discovers that the Chancellor is behind her father’s death, and she travels to the remote town of assassins that the Chancellor leads. However, to protect an alliance the Director has with the Chancellor, she hires John Wick to stop Eve from killing him, even if that means John must kill her himself.
Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Larry D. Horricks.
I consider Len Wiseman a serviceable director having made decent films like the ‘Underworld’ franchise and ‘Live Free or Die Hard’, but he is by no means a great director, and hardly my first choice to take over the franchise from Chad Stahelski, who’s brilliant work with the action sequences set the tone for the entire franchise. Wiseman was clearly out of his depths working on a ‘John Wick’ spinoff, and the pacing, tone, and the uninspiring action sequences in the first half of the movie prove it.
But the second half of the film does deliver the fast-paced tone and vibrant action of the previous films, so how did that happen? Well, if rumors are true, Wiseman was replaced during production by producer and ‘John Wick’ director Chad Stahelski, who re-shot most of the movie, particularly the second half’s action sequences and the scenes with Reeves. If this is true, it would explain why the movie feels like two different films. It’s not as bad of a “Frankenstein assembled movie” as say, ‘Justice League’, but it is still quite glaring and I’m not sure why the studio didn’t just hire Stahelski in the first place?
While the tone and pacing are all over the place, and the story itself contradicts the timeline established in the previous movies, if Stahelski did reshoot half the film, it was well worth it and saved the movie from being a complete disaster to a decent action film that gets exceedingly better in the second half.
Cast and Performances
Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Murray Close.
Taking over for real life ballerina Unity Phelan, who played Eve in a cameo in ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’, Ana de Armas brings a lot to the role. She is captivating on screen and brings true emotion to her character but is also fantastic in the action sequences. However, the poor pacing and confusing tone of the first half of the film does the actress no favors.
The concept of a ‘Ballerina’ movie, so I thought, was to establish a “Female John Wick” in this cinematic universe, but the first half of the film feels more like “Female John Wick Begins”, with the character still finding her way as an assassin. That might have worked in any other film, but this is a ‘John Wick’ movie, and if Eve is going to go up against “Baba Yaga” himself, I would have wanted the character to be a match in experience and fighting skills to Wick.
Once she does face off with Wick towards the film’s finale, she is able to go toe to toe with him, but that doesn’t exactly align with the character that was established earlier in the movie. But regardless, de Armas is a very strong actress, and despite the film’s shortcomings, carries the movie well, especially in the later action sequences. The character is a great addition to the franchise but will perhaps be better used in a supporting role in a possible ‘John Wick: Chapter 5’, rather than in her own series.
(L to R) Ana de Armas as Eve and Keanu Reeves as John Wick in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
It’s always great to see Keanu Reeves playing this character, but except for a cameo appearance in the beginning, he is not given much to do until the end. While the inclusion of his character was meant to bridge the gap between this film and the original series, it does take the audience’s attention away from Eve, and this really should be her story.
Reeves inclusion at the end also feels like a desperate move to link the films, and the timeline of how this happens might be confusing for some. My guess is that the end of ‘Ballerina’ takes place between the end of ‘Parabellum’ and the beginning of ‘Chapter 4’, but it’s hard to really know. Having previously worked together on ‘Knock Knock’ and ‘Exposed’, Reeves and de Armas do have strong chemistry together, which shows in their scenes.
As for the rest of the returning ‘Wick’ characters, none of them are given much to do. Anjelica Huston is good as the Director, but after the beginning of the movie, is relegated to “phone acting” in most of her subsequent scenes and the history of the character is never really explored.
(L to R) Ian McShane as Winston Scott and Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Courtesy of Lionsgate.
The same could be said for Ian McShane’s Winston Scott, who is de-aged for his opening scene with a young Eve, and then not really revisited till the end of the movie. I would have liked the film to explore his connection to Eve more and have that play a bigger role in the story. But it was a treat to see the late great Lance Reddick return one more time as Winston’s right hand man Charon, even if his role is a glorified cameo.
Gabriel Byrne’s Chancellor fits well into the seedy world of ‘John Wick’ and is a strong advisory to Eve. The actor walks the thin line between generic bad guy and a real emotional and physical threat and does his best to overcome the script’s shortcomings. ‘The Walking Dead’s Norman Reedus is also a good addition to the franchise, but his role was cut short, and I really would have liked it if the film had explored his character, relationship to his daughter, and encounter with Eve more. As it is, Reedus only has one scene but does the best he can with it.
Final Thoughts
Ana de Armas as Eve in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Murray Close.
In short, ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’ was not as bad as I feared, but not as good as I had hoped. While the first half is slow and does not feel like a ‘John Wick’ movie, the second half is more of what I expected, and is worth watching. But despite some great action sequences and strong performances from both de Armas and Reeves, the movie fails to truly resonate for ‘Wick’ fans and non-fans alike.
“Vengeance has a new face.”
Showtimes & Tickets
Taking place during the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, the film follows Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas) who is beginning her training in the assassin… Read the Plot
What is the plot of ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’?
Taking place between the events of ‘John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum’ and ‘Chapter 4’, Eve Macarro (Ana de Armas), a ballerina-assassin, begins to train in the assassin traditions of the Ruska Roma and sets out to exact revenge for her father’s death.
Who is in the cast of ‘From the World of John Wick: Ballerina’?
- Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro
- Anjelica Huston as the Director
- Gabriel Byrne as the Chancellor
- Ian McShane as Winston Scott
- Lance Reddick as Charon
- Norman Reedus as Daniel Pine
- Keanu Reeves as John Wick
(L to R) Lance Reddick as Charon, Ian McShane as Winston Scott and Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro in ‘Ballerina’. Photo: Larry D. Horricks.
List of Movies and TV Shows in the ‘John Wick’ Franchise:
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by admin | Jun 3, 2025 | Articles, Moviephone Articles
Owen Wilson in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.
‘Stick’ receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.
Released on Apple TV+ on June 4th with three episodes (followed by one every Wednesday through July 23rd), ‘Stick’ looks to play a similar game to Apple smash hit ‘Ted Lasso.’
Starring Owen Wilson, the cast also includes Peter Dager, Marc Maron, Mariana Treviño, Lilli Kay, Judy Greer and Timothy Olyphant.
Related Article: Producer and Marvel Creative Executive Kevin Wright Talks ‘Loki’ Season 2
Initial Thoughts
(L to R) Owen Wilson and Peter Dager in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.
Despite its rampant popularity in the professional sporting world, and a legion of amateur club-swingers who head to courses across the world in their free time, golf is a pastime that hasn’t gotten the toe hold in popular culture to the same level as say football or even soccer.
True, there have been a wealth of movies, including the likes of ‘Tin Cup’ and ‘Happy Gilmore,’ but now ‘Stick’ is looking to level the playing field on the small screen. Or should that be course?
Mostly, though, the sport is more a backdrop for the character work, and especially the arc of Wilson’s Pryce, who seeks redemption on the green and off of it. And, much as with ‘Ted Lasso,’ the series around him aims to be a blend of sports story, hangout comedy and some deeper emotions, not all of them as sunny as the lead’s normal disposition.
Script and Direction
Judy Greer in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.
‘Stick’ hails from creator Jason Keller, whose output has largely been confined to the big screen, including scripting the likes of ‘Ford V Ferrari,’‘Mirror Mirror’ and ‘Machine Gun Preacher.’
Here, teamed with showrunner Christopher Moynihan (‘Marlon,’‘100 Questions’), he looks to open up the world of golf in a way not really explored since Adam Sandler’s heavy hitter –– indeed, the character of teen prodigy Santi, played by Peter Dager, has some resonance with Happy Gilmore, since he’s similarly able to thwack a ball great distances (though he’s less burning with anger, more simmering with resentful tension).
The focus, though, is on Pryce, a man who once flirted with true golfing glory, only to let his own anger issues get in the way –– issues that were inflamed by a past tragedy in his life.
Keller and the writers find a way to play to Wilson’s mostly laidback strengths, but still give him opportunities to go in another, fiercer direction when needed.
(L to R) Marc Maron and Owen Wilson in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.
Around him, they’ve built an effective set of characters with interesting stories of their own (even Marc Maron’s Mitts, who is mostly the grumpy former caddy-turned-wise old owl has a chance to shine), and if some of the narrative hits a ball into sand trap, the writing retrieves it well enough.
The directors, which include ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ duo Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris alongside David Dobkin (‘Wedding Crashers’, which of course was a big hit for Wilson) and Jaffar Mahmood (‘The Residence’) keep the focus on the people, but also find a way to open up the golf games so as to make them understandable to those who don’t watch it regularly.
Cast and Performances
Mariana Treviño in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.
Owen Wilson has found a good groove on the small screen of late –– he was a highlight of both seasons of ‘Loki’ and here is playing a character he can certainly make work. As Pryce “Stick” Cahill, his good-natured charisma shines through, but he’s also willing to go to darker places when necessary. And he plays well off of everyone else, not least Judy Greer (as Pryce’s ex-wife Amber-Lynn) and Peter Dager’s Santi.
Talking of the young golf whizz, Dager is handed and ably brings to life a more complicated role than just a moody teenager with one standout ability. He’s funny and charming at times, and also able to embody Santi’s frustration when life gets in his way.
As mentioned, Judy Greer has a supporting role, but is typically excellent, balancing exasperation with enthusiasm and real heart.
Peter Dager in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.
Santi’s mother Elena is brought to screens by ‘A Man Called Otto’s Mariana Treviño, and she’s also effective, treading a careful path between a mother worried about her son and looking to secure her own future. Her chemistry with Maron’s Mitts is particularly rewarding.
Maron always gives good gruff, and the role of Mitts fits him well. He’s got his own reasons for behaving the way he does, and his history with Pryce works.
Lilli Kay adds some romantic interest to Santi’s life, but is more than simply a reason for him to want to impress people. The role becomes more crucial as the story moves along, that Kay is more than up to the task.
Final Thoughts
Marc Maron in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.
It might not exactly have quite the same layers as ‘Ted Lasso,’ but if ‘Stick’ doesn’t exactly score a hole in one, it’s able to stay under par and prove to be an effective delivery system for both charming comedy and decent drama.
What’s the plot of ‘Stick’?
Owen Wilson stars as Pryce Cahill, an over-the-hill, ex-pro golfer whose career was derailed prematurely 20 years ago.
After the collapse of his marriage and getting fired from his job at an Indiana sporting goods store, Pryce hedges his bets, and future, entirely on a troubled 17-year-old golf phenom named Santi (Peter Dager).
The new sports comedy is about a found family and their relationships set within the world of golf as it has never been shown before.
Who is in the cast of ‘Stick’?
- Owen Wilson as Pryce Cahill
- Peter Dager as Santi Wheeler
- Lilly Kay as Zero
- Mariana Treviño as Elena
- Marc Maron as Mitts
- Judy Greer as Amber-Linn
- Timothy Olyphant as Clark Ross
- Rob Benedict as Chuck Gray
Timothy Olyphant in ‘Stick,’ premiering June 4, 2025 on Apple TV+. Photo: Apple TV+.
List of Golf Movies:
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by admin | May 31, 2025 | Articles, Moviephone Articles
(L to R) Natalie Portman and John Krasinski in ‘Fountain of Youth,’ premiering May 23, 2025 on Apple TV+.
‘Fountain of Youth’ receives 5.5 out of 10 stars.
On Apple TV+ on May 23rd is ‘Fountain of Youth,’ a new adventure movie that finds a brother-sister duo seeking the mythological, titular water supply and is directed by Guy Ritchie (‘Aladdin’).
John Krasinski, Natalie Portman and Eiza González star in the new movie alongside Domhnall Gleeson (‘Ex Machina’), Laz Alonso (‘The Boys’), Carmen Ejogo (‘Selma’) and Arian Moayed (‘Succession’).
Related Article: Guy Ritchie to Direct ‘Road House’ Sequel with Jake Gyllenhaal Back
Initial Thoughts
John Krasinski in ‘Fountain of Youth,’ premiering May 23, 2025 on Apple TV+.
There was a time in the 1990s when big-name actors could be tempted outside their usual attempts to win awards with challenging dramatic work and have some fun appearing in rip-roaring adventures after ancient artifacts, dodging life-threatening peril and trading quips.
And before that, the 1980s brought us all manner of satisfying throwback adventures, led by the immaculately directed delights of the ‘Indiana Jones’ franchise. These days, the genre tends to paddle in the shallow end of straight-to-home entertainment releases or, as in the case of ‘Fountain of Youth,’ streaming.
But can this new offering live up to that grand tradition?
Script and Direction
(L to R) Director Guy Ritchie and star John Krasinski behind-the-scenes of ‘Fountain of Youth,’ premiering May 23, 2025 on Apple TV+.
A big issue with the new movie lies in its script. Crafted by James Vanderbilt, whose career has swung wildly between the acclaimed likes of ‘Zodiac,’ the fun action nonsense of ‘White House Down’ and misbegotten misfires including ‘Independence Day: Resurgence,’ this new ‘Fountain’ sputters more than it should.
Vanderbilt cobbles together a blend of the aforementioned Indy franchise entries, the more high-tech and fight-orientated world of ‘Mission: Impossible’ and the “path to something important hidden within esoterica” plot fuel of Dan Brown.
Yet it’s not a mixture that always works. Yes, there are the requisite globe-trotting action sequences, a few moments of entertaining banter for the leads and of course some twists and turns, but it’s all so off the peg, an uncomfortable patchwork of seen-it-before wannabe thrills and lucky escapes.
It’s all very well to try and stand on the shoulders of giants –– we see you, veiled reference to Doctor Jones in the name of Krasinski and Portman’s characters’ name: Harrison Purdue –– but you have to have something innovate in exchange. This new outing doesn’t ever hit that stride.
How many times can our heroes stumble on their latest clue, only to be ambushed by their antagonists, and then turn things around for a lucky (and more than one instance, logic-defying) escape? If the evidence of ‘Fountain of Youth’ is to be believed, it’s many more times than is believable, and indeed it all becomes tiring by the end.
(L to R) Natalie Portman, Benjamin Chivers, John Krasinski, Domhnall Gleeson and Michael Epp in ‘Fountain of Youth,’ premiering May 23, 2025 on Apple TV+.
Guy Ritchie, meanwhile, has been a genre-hopping directorial journeyman for some time now, but seems to flourish when he’s given full reign to embrace his violent, jokey style as seen in recent Netflix series ‘The Gentlemen.’
Here, it’s as if he’s working with kid gloves on; while he’s certainly produced effective, family-friendly material in the past, this is a poor example of him toning himself down. A few of the set pieces are solid with some diverting stunts, but all in all, this is a blandly clockwork chore.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Natalie Portman, John Krasinski, Domhnall Gleeson, Carmen Ejogo and Laz Alonso in ‘Fountain of Youth,’ premiering May 23, 2025 on Apple TV+.
While you can absolutely imagine John Krasinski seeing this as solid extension to his nice-guy-turned-action-hero brand after years spent playing Jack Ryan, the character of treasure hunter Luke Purdue only sometimes works to his strengths.
Krasinski certainly doesn’t lack for charisma and he sells some of the cheesier lines; he’s also decent when it comes to the action (again, partly thanks to his time as Ryan).
And when he and Natalie Portman are trading sibling barbs, the movie feels like it more lives up to its promise, the pair sharing some entertaining on-screen family chemistry.
Portman is a more surprising performer to show up in a movie like this, though we imagine the appeal of having fun on set with Krasinski and a solid Apple-backed payday is probably more the reason she took the gig rather than something she saw in the script.
Eiza González in ‘Fountain of Youth,’ premiering May 23, 2025 on Apple TV+.
As the third main character, Eiza González does just enough to make her relatively stock badass character watchable –– she’s also effective when it comes to the action, but as one of the “protectors” looking to stop Luke on his mission for seemingly noble reasons, it’s not always enough to overcome a generic role.
Likewise Domhnall Gleeson, who has little to do as Owen Carver, the ailing rich mogul bankrolling Luke’s search. Gleeson has a couple of moments, but it’s largely a waste of a decent actor.
Still, he comes off better than Laz Alonso and Carmen Ejogo, who play Murph and Deb, Luke’s support team. They’re mostly there to deliver the exposition, and that’s usually provided in big, ungainly lumps around tables.
Beyond a few memorable moments as driven Interpol agent Abbas, Arian Moayed likewise is given little chance to shine.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) John Krasinski, Domhnall Gleeson and Natalie Portman in ‘Fountain of Youth,’ premiering May 23, 2025 on Apple TV+.
Does ‘Fountain of Youth’ keep the flame of fun adventure movies from the 1980s and 1990s burning? Not really.
This is a less-than-thrilling example of the genre which certainly starts promisingly and has a few decent lines or moments here and there (fans of ‘Knight Rider’ might be happy at one, and no, we don’t mean The Hoff shows up), but it’s not enough to keep it from feeling stale.
You could certainly watch this. But you’d choose… poorly.
“The best secrets are the hardest to find.”
What’s the story of ‘Fountain of Youth’?
The new movie follows two estranged siblings (John Krasinski and Natalie Portman) who partner on a global heist to find the mythological Fountain of Youth.
They must use their knowledge of history to follow clues on an epic adventure that will change their lives… and possibly lead to immortality.
Who is in the cast of ‘Fountain of Youth’?
- John Krasinski as Luke Purdue
- Natalie Portman as Charlotte Purdue
- Eiza González as Esme
- Domhnall Gleeson as Owen Carver
- Laz Alonso as Patrick “Murph” Murphy
- Arian Moayed as Inspector Jamal Abbas
- Carmen Ejogo as Deb McCall
- Stanley Tucci as The Elder
- Benjamin Chivers as Thomas
(L to R) Eiza González, John Krasinski and Natalie Portman in ‘Fountain of Youth,’ premiering May 23, 2025 on Apple TV+.
List of Guy Ritchie Movies and TV Shows:
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