When you are strolling though Netflix looking for a movie and you come across one with two beautiful actors set in an exotic location you think, “This should be good”. Sometimes you are right, and you find a hidden gem. But sometimes you are wrong and come up with a dirty piece of gravel. At least you feel strongly one way or the other. This movie does not fall into either one of these categories. This is what I call a “Nothing Movie”, and that is the worst movie to review.

If a movie is good, it is exciting to talk about, and if it is terrible, it is exciting to talk about. But if it evokes no emotion at all, who cares?

I am not a huge fan of Laura Dern, but she has been good in everything I’ve seen her in. The main two that come to mind are Jurassic Park with dinosaurs and Wild at Heart with Nicolas Cage. Liam Hemsworth was good in the Hunger Games movies, and Expendables 2. In none of the movies I named were Dern and Hemsworth the main thing you were looking at.

In Lonely planet they are doing the heavy lifting. They have to have chemistry. They have to be interesting. We have to care about the decisions they make, and the outcome of what they do.

Laura Dern plays Katherine Loewe, a successful writer who goes to a writer’s retreat to break her writers’ block and finish her novel after a messy breakup. Liam Hemsworth plays Owen Brophy, some sort of investor that is never quite explained. His girlfriend Lily, played by Diana Silvers has written a best seller and has dragged Owen to the same retreat. Owen is an outsider in this situation and is left to walk around trying to find a cell signal so that he can buy a property for the investment company he works for. In doing so he meets Katherine. We know instantly that they are the stars, this is a romantic movie, and they are destined to be together. Sadly, there are no sparks. No titillating conversations, and at no time do you really care if they get together or not.

When the thing that you know is going to happen to separate them so that we can cheer for them to get back together does happen, you don’t care. In fact, you don’t care enough to pause the movie while you go to the bathroom and get something to drink.

The movie is 1 hour and 34 minutes, or as I call it 94 minutes I can never get back, it is Rated-R for regret, and language, but mostly regret.

It was never going to be good, but it didn’t even have the decency to be bad. To say it was bland would give it too much credit for some type of flavor. I wish I had seen it in a theater and paid money to see it. At least I would have the satisfaction of being pissed off, it robbed me of even that.

My Score: Nothing

When you are strolling though Netflix looking for a movie and you come across one with two beautiful actors set in an exotic location you think, “This should be good”. Sometimes you are right, and you find a hidden gem. But sometimes you are wrong and come up with a dirty piece of gravel. At least you feel strongly one way or the other. This movie does not fall into either one of these categories. This is what I call a “Nothing Movie”, and that is the worst movie to review.
If a movie is good, it is exciting to talk about, and if it is terrible, it is exciting to talk about. But if it evokes no emotion at all, who cares?
I am not a huge fan of Laura Dern, but she has been good in everything I’ve seen her in. The main two that come to mind are Jurassic Park with dinosaurs and Wild at Heart with Nicolas Cage. Liam Hemsworth was good in the Hunger Games movies, and Expendables 2. In none of the movies I named were Dern and Hemsworth the main thing you were looking at.
In Lonely planet they are doing the heavy lifting. They have to have chemistry. They have to be interesting. We have to care about the decisions they make, and the outcome of what they do.
Laura Dern plays Katherine Loewe, a successful writer who goes to a writer’s retreat to break her writers’ block and finish her novel after a messy breakup. Liam Hemsworth plays Owen Brophy, some sort of investor that is never quite explained. His girlfriend Lily, played by Diana Silvers has written a best seller and has dragged Owen to the same retreat. Owen is an outsider in this situation and is left to walk around trying to find a cell signal so that he can buy a property for the investment company he works for. In doing so he meets Katherine. We know instantly that they are the stars, this is a romantic movie, and they are destined to be together. Sadly, there are no sparks. No titillating conversations, and at no time do you really care if they get together or not.
When the thing that you know is going to happen to separate them so that we can cheer for them to get back together does happen, you don’t care. In fact, you don’t care enough to pause the movie while you go to the bathroom and get something to drink.
The movie is 1 hour and 34 minutes, or as I call it 94 minutes I can never get back, it is Rated-R for regret, and language, but mostly regret.
It was never going to be good, but it didn’t even have the decency to be bad. To say it was bland would give it too much credit for some type of flavor. I wish I had seen it in a theater and paid money to see it. At least I would have the satisfaction of being pissed off, it robbed me of even that.
My Score: Nothing

Lamar Reviews - "Lonely Planet" (Airdate 11/15/2024)

Lamar Reviews - "Martha" (Airdate 11/8/2024)



Martha Stewart has had one of the most interesting lives I’ve ever heard of. Also, she is one of the strongest, most determined, and definitely most focused women you’ll ever come across. She was a “daddy’s girl” that learned about gardening from a man that demanded perfection. She spent hours in the kitchen with her mother. She became a model at 16 so she could pay for college. She went from 50 cents an hour babysitting, to 50 dollars an hour posing. From there she became the first woman stockbroker on the New York Stock Exchange. She started a catering business, then started writing cookbooks. She developed a new magazine, Martha Stewart Living that sold more than 2 million copies per issue. Turned that into a TV show, and eventually put it all under Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and went public to become the first female self-made billionaire in the United States. She continues to be the majority shareholder. Went to prison for insider trading that saved her $45,673.

She was sentenced to 5 months in prison. Of her trial she said, “Those prosecutors should have been put in a Cuisinart and turned on high.”

She returned to daytime tv with the Martha Stewart Show, which was not her wheelhouse. It was not her brand. She said, “Mark Burnett, the producer, missed the point of “Martha Stewart”, live audience and crummy music, ugh!” That was more like prison than being at Alderson Federal Prison.”

Because she could not be the CEO of her company, it went down the tubes, and she sold it off, losing over a billion dollars. But she has 2 mottos, “Learn something new every day, and “When you are through changing, you’re through.” She said, ‘If you don’t like the garden, change it, rip it out and start all over again.” Which is exactly what she did.

She got invited to Justin Bieber’s roast on Comedy Central. In the introduction Kevin Hart said, “For all the black people that are confused about that old white woman on the couch, that’s Martha Stewart.” Nobody had warned her that she would be roasted too. They all expected her to go soft, she did not! She was the star of the evening. I re-wounded and watched her jokes 3 times. For those of you that don’t understand the term re-wounded, there was this thing called a videotape, that you could re-wind, and if you didn’t before you returned it, you had to pay $2. But that’s another story. She sat beside Snoop Dogg and she said, “For 7 hours he was smoking blunt after blunt and I was just getting higher and higher sitting there.”  Snoop asked her to hang out, and the comeback was on!”

Netflix 1 hour 55 minutes, Rated-R for language.

Oldest Sports Illustrated Cover ever, she is the original Influencer. The is a very interesting, eye-opening, and inspiring documentary. It really is a must see, just to watch how she handles the questions, and how honest and frank she is.

My Score: 5 Ice Cold Budweisers

Lamar Reviews - "Martha" (Airdate 11/8/2024)
 
Martha Stewart has had one of the most interesting lives I’ve ever heard of. Also, she is one of the strongest, most determined, and definitely most focused women you’ll ever come across. She was a “daddy’s girl” that learned about gardening from a man that demanded perfection. She spent hours in the kitchen with her mother. She became a model at 16 so she could pay for college. She went from 50 cents an hour babysitting, to 50 dollars an hour posing. From there she became the first woman stockbroker on the New York Stock Exchange. She started a catering business, then started writing cookbooks. She developed a new magazine, Martha Stewart Living that sold more than 2 million copies per issue. Turned that into a TV show, and eventually put it all under Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia and went public to become the first female self-made billionaire in the United States. She continues to be the majority shareholder. Went to prison for insider trading that saved her $45,673.
She was sentenced to 5 months in prison. Of her trial she said, “Those prosecutors should have been put in a Cuisinart and turned on high.”
She returned to daytime tv with the Martha Stewart Show, which was not her wheelhouse. It was not her brand. She said, “Mark Burnett, the producer, missed the point of “Martha Stewart”, live audience and crummy music, ugh!” That was more like prison than being at Alderson Federal Prison.”
Because she could not be the CEO of her company, it went down the tubes, and she sold it off, losing over a billion dollars. But she has 2 mottos, “Learn something new every day, and “When you are through changing, you’re through.” She said, ‘If you don’t like the garden, change it, rip it out and start all over again.” Which is exactly what she did.
She got invited to Justin Bieber’s roast on Comedy Central. In the introduction Kevin Hart said, “For all the black people that are confused about that old white woman on the couch, that’s Martha Stewart.” Nobody had warned her that she would be roasted too. They all expected her to go soft, she did not! She was the star of the evening. I re-wounded and watched her jokes 3 times. For those of you that don’t understand the term re-wounded, there was this thing called a videotape, that you could re-wind, and if you didn’t before you returned it, you had to pay $2. But that’s another story. She sat beside Snoop Dogg and she said, “For 7 hours he was smoking blunt after blunt and I was just getting higher and higher sitting there.”  Snoop asked her to hang out, and the comeback was on!”
Netflix 1 hour 55 minutes, Rated-R for language.
Oldest Sports Illustrated Cover ever, she is the original Influencer. The is a very interesting, eye-opening, and inspiring documentary. It really is a must see, just to watch how she handles the questions, and how honest and frank she is.
My Score: 5 Ice Cold Budweisers

Lamar Reviews - "Martha" (Airdate 11/8/2024)

Lamar Reviews - "Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare" (Airdate 11/1/2024)



The first thing I look at on Netflix is documentaries. I was slow on the uptake of documentaries but I quickly discovered that the majority of them are very interesting, and really good. Just the title alone drew my interest. When I first started to hear about the “Catfishing” thing I was very skeptical as to why anybody would fall for that. I do understand it a lot better now that I’m familiar with more and more stories. I still look at these stories and immediately see tons of moments that in my opinion the person should have suspected what was happening. But I have to remind myself that I’m not emotionally connected to what was happening, and the victim is.

In the Sweet Bobby story, Kirat, a young Indian woman who is feeling the pressure to be married. In that culture to be of a certain age and not be married is looked down upon. She is contacted by this handsome, well to do man that is interested in her.They started an online relationship that lasted 10 years. 10 years without ever having sat down and seen each other face to face. How do you have a 10 year relationship without ever physically meeting? That really is the question. In this situation the desperation she feels in not letting down her parents in front of their community is enormous. I think that is the main reason she did not see the red flags in this relationship that were constantly popping up. It is very easy to judge her and blame her, while seeing all of this in hindsight. But, you have to put yourself in her place. 

There is also a second victim, Bobby. The real Bobby who did absolutely nothing to get involved in this situation. His images were taken and used one hundred percent without his knowledge. He knew nothing until an unknown woman showed up at his door, hysterical and accusing him of stuff.

This is on Netflix, the movie is 1 hour 22 minutes, Rated -TV14.



While I was watching this I was yelling at the TV, “how are you falling for this? Can’t you see this doesn’t make any sense? Well, if you are believing this, I can’t feel sorry for you!” But I did feel sorry for her. She truly did not do anything wrong. She just trusted someone who loved her, someone she was prepared to spend the rest of her life with. The only person in this situation to be mad at is the “Catfisher”, not the catfish, or the bait. And I honestly don’t get what that person got out of all of this. In some catfishing stories there is a scam for money, but there was no money involved in this story. The only commodity given or lost was love. And in Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare, love can be a cruel and dangerous thing.



My Score: 4 Buds

Lamar Reviews - "Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare" (Airdate 11/1/2024)
 
The first thing I look at on Netflix is documentaries. I was slow on the uptake of documentaries but I quickly discovered that the majority of them are very interesting, and really good. Just the title alone drew my interest. When I first started to hear about the “Catfishing” thing I was very skeptical as to why anybody would fall for that. I do understand it a lot better now that I’m familiar with more and more stories. I still look at these stories and immediately see tons of moments that in my opinion the person should have suspected what was happening. But I have to remind myself that I’m not emotionally connected to what was happening, and the victim is.
In the Sweet Bobby story, Kirat, a young Indian woman who is feeling the pressure to be married. In that culture to be of a certain age and not be married is looked down upon. She is contacted by this handsome, well to do man that is interested in her.They started an online relationship that lasted 10 years. 10 years without ever having sat down and seen each other face to face. How do you have a 10 year relationship without ever physically meeting? That really is the question. In this situation the desperation she feels in not letting down her parents in front of their community is enormous. I think that is the main reason she did not see the red flags in this relationship that were constantly popping up. It is very easy to judge her and blame her, while seeing all of this in hindsight. But, you have to put yourself in her place. 
There is also a second victim, Bobby. The real Bobby who did absolutely nothing to get involved in this situation. His images were taken and used one hundred percent without his knowledge. He knew nothing until an unknown woman showed up at his door, hysterical and accusing him of stuff.
This is on Netflix, the movie is 1 hour 22 minutes, Rated -TV14.
 
While I was watching this I was yelling at the TV, “how are you falling for this? Can’t you see this doesn’t make any sense? Well, if you are believing this, I can’t feel sorry for you!” But I did feel sorry for her. She truly did not do anything wrong. She just trusted someone who loved her, someone she was prepared to spend the rest of her life with. The only person in this situation to be mad at is the “Catfisher”, not the catfish, or the bait. And I honestly don’t get what that person got out of all of this. In some catfishing stories there is a scam for money, but there was no money involved in this story. The only commodity given or lost was love. And in Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare, love can be a cruel and dangerous thing.
 
My Score: 4 Buds

Lamar Reviews - "Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare" (Airdate 11/1/2024) 

Lamar Reviews - Woman of the Hour (Airdate 10/25/2024)



Anna Kendrick is one of those actors who every time you watch her you wonder, “Why is she not a more Bonafide movie star?” She is memorable in every role she takes. She got a lot of exposure in the Twilight movies, but her claim to fame at this point is the Pitch Perfect movies. She gets to show off not only her razor sharp wit, but also her acting talent, and the fact that she can really sing. She was really good in 50\50 as a therapist treating a cancer patient played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The most critically acclaimed movie on her resume is Up In The Air with George Clooney back in 2009.

This time she is directing the movie she is in. It is based on the true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala who managed to stay under the radar until he was convicted of killing seven women and girls in 1980. He is suspected of killing more than 100.

Over the course of every woman’s life, she can tell you times that a stranger asked them uncomfortable questions or followed them down a lonely street. Of a first date that just didn’t seem right, and there was not a second. Or maybe a lot of dates with a guy that seemed great, but he turned out to be an obsessive jerk that frightened her, or worse. This is the subject that “Woman of the Hour” tackles.

Most movies about serial killers show the extreme violence and horrible death of the victims, forcing you to deal with the emotions of not wanting to see it, but being unable to look away. Kendricks doesn’t put us through that. It is not that she doesn’t shock the audience with the horrific thing these women go through, quite the opposite, she shows how easy it is to wind up in that position and shows the outcome. This allows our imagination to fill in the gap without having the opportunity to turn away. She doesn’t downplay the violent thing that has happened, she just doesn’t make the violence the star of what happened.

You have to pay attention because the film is full of time jumps and shifts in perspective. The movie starts with Rodney, played by Daniel Zovatto, murdering a woman. We skip ahead and see Sheryl, played by Kendricks, a struggling actress, in the middle of an audition where she is being objectified by casting directors. Then we go back to Rodney picking another victim. Then we go back to Sheryl getting put on the Dating Game by her agent. Then we are back to Rodney hunting victims. Then we are on the Dating Game where Rodney has become a contestant.

The movie is 1 hour 35 minutes, Rated-R for language, violence, and subject matter.

I think Ann Kendrick has done a great job with the first film she has directed. This is just another arrow in her quiver of talents. I hope she gets the career she deserves.

Women especially will be drawn to this film, it is from a woman’s perspective. We men need to watch it because we can never truly understand a woman’s perspective.

My Score: 5 Budweisers

Lamar Reviews - Woman of the Hour (Airdate 10/25/2024)
 
Anna Kendrick is one of those actors who every time you watch her you wonder, “Why is she not a more Bonafide movie star?” She is memorable in every role she takes. She got a lot of exposure in the Twilight movies, but her claim to fame at this point is the Pitch Perfect movies. She gets to show off not only her razor sharp wit, but also her acting talent, and the fact that she can really sing. She was really good in 50\50 as a therapist treating a cancer patient played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The most critically acclaimed movie on her resume is Up In The Air with George Clooney back in 2009.
This time she is directing the movie she is in. It is based on the true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala who managed to stay under the radar until he was convicted of killing seven women and girls in 1980. He is suspected of killing more than 100.
Over the course of every woman’s life, she can tell you times that a stranger asked them uncomfortable questions or followed them down a lonely street. Of a first date that just didn’t seem right, and there was not a second. Or maybe a lot of dates with a guy that seemed great, but he turned out to be an obsessive jerk that frightened her, or worse. This is the subject that “Woman of the Hour” tackles.
Most movies about serial killers show the extreme violence and horrible death of the victims, forcing you to deal with the emotions of not wanting to see it, but being unable to look away. Kendricks doesn’t put us through that. It is not that she doesn’t shock the audience with the horrific thing these women go through, quite the opposite, she shows how easy it is to wind up in that position and shows the outcome. This allows our imagination to fill in the gap without having the opportunity to turn away. She doesn’t downplay the violent thing that has happened, she just doesn’t make the violence the star of what happened.
You have to pay attention because the film is full of time jumps and shifts in perspective. The movie starts with Rodney, played by Daniel Zovatto, murdering a woman. We skip ahead and see Sheryl, played by Kendricks, a struggling actress, in the middle of an audition where she is being objectified by casting directors. Then we go back to Rodney picking another victim. Then we go back to Sheryl getting put on the Dating Game by her agent. Then we are back to Rodney hunting victims. Then we are on the Dating Game where Rodney has become a contestant.
The movie is 1 hour 35 minutes, Rated-R for language, violence, and subject matter.
I think Ann Kendrick has done a great job with the first film she has directed. This is just another arrow in her quiver of talents. I hope she gets the career she deserves.
Women especially will be drawn to this film, it is from a woman’s perspective. We men need to watch it because we can never truly understand a woman’s perspective.
My Score: 5 Budweisers

Lamar Reviews - Woman of the Hour (Airdate 10/25/2024)

Lamar Reviews - Dr. Odyssey (Airdate 10/18/2024)



This is a new show on ABC, it is not a comedy, or a drama, or romance, it is a boat. A cruise ship in fact. If you are old enough to remember, the first thing you think is Love Boat. And there is a slight resemblance, but Love Boat was all about relationships and romance. Dr. Odyssey is a procedural, all about sickness, broken bones, surgery, with romance in the background. I think you can count on one hand how many times we saw the inside of Doctor Adam Bricker’s, played by Bernie Kopell, sick bay. Besides the ship, the star of this show is Joshua Jackson, who plays Dr. Max Bankman. A 6 ft 2 inch Yale educated overqualified drop dead gorgeous doctor who could work anywhere he wanted but picked a cruise ship. There’s a back story that explains that by the second episode. The ships captain is not a bald Captain Stubing, but a dashing Don Johnson, as Captain Massey.



He quickly explains to Dr. Bankman that the crew is there for one reason, “to preserve the fantasy”. He has two nurses on the ship to assist him. Avery, a PA played by Phillipa Soo, and Tristan, played by Sean Teale.

Max calls out Tristan on his unrequited crush on Avery, but it turns out that the real chemistry is between Avery and Max. This means the series is aiming for a will-they-won’t-they love-triangle thing to keep the audience watching.

It seems there is going to be a theme on the ship every week. Singles Week, Plastic Surgery Week, Wellness Week, and so on. I assume we will see many different diseases, conditions, and injuries. So far, the medical crew has faced, iodine poisoning from too many shrimps on the buffet, noses falling off from plastic surgery, frost bitten boob job, and a broken penis, are just a few.

Thursday nights at 9:00 PM on ABC or stream online on Hulu.

I actually thought I might right this off as a Love Boat wannabe but I might have been too quick to judge. The world we live in today provides so many choices of things to watch. Thousands and thousands of movies, TV shows, documentaries, sports, etc.

Everything we watch does not have to educate, it doesn’t have to inspire, and it doesn’t have to change our life. Sometimes you want to watch something mindless, unreal, and stupid, but there is something about it you enjoy.

This just might be that for you. Turns out it is for me. I have been a big Don Johnson fan, Miami Vice, Nash Bridges, and tons of other stuff. Joshua Jackson is very charming and there is going to be a lot of guest stars, like Shania twain, John Stamos, Kelsea Ballerini, and more.

I’m watching, not saying I’m proud of it, but I’m watching it. While I cook, or read a book…this is what I call a background show. You can have this on while doing something else, and still keep up with it.

My Score: 3 Budweisers

Lamar Reviews - Dr. Odyssey (Airdate 10/18/2024)
 
This is a new show on ABC, it is not a comedy, or a drama, or romance, it is a boat. A cruise ship in fact. If you are old enough to remember, the first thing you think is Love Boat. And there is a slight resemblance, but Love Boat was all about relationships and romance. Dr. Odyssey is a procedural, all about sickness, broken bones, surgery, with romance in the background. I think you can count on one hand how many times we saw the inside of Doctor Adam Bricker’s, played by Bernie Kopell, sick bay. Besides the ship, the star of this show is Joshua Jackson, who plays Dr. Max Bankman. A 6 ft 2 inch Yale educated overqualified drop dead gorgeous doctor who could work anywhere he wanted but picked a cruise ship. There’s a back story that explains that by the second episode. The ships captain is not a bald Captain Stubing, but a dashing Don Johnson, as Captain Massey.
 
He quickly explains to Dr. Bankman that the crew is there for one reason, “to preserve the fantasy”. He has two nurses on the ship to assist him. Avery, a PA played by Phillipa Soo, and Tristan, played by Sean Teale.
Max calls out Tristan on his unrequited crush on Avery, but it turns out that the real chemistry is between Avery and Max. This means the series is aiming for a will-they-won’t-they love-triangle thing to keep the audience watching.
It seems there is going to be a theme on the ship every week. Singles Week, Plastic Surgery Week, Wellness Week, and so on. I assume we will see many different diseases, conditions, and injuries. So far, the medical crew has faced, iodine poisoning from too many shrimps on the buffet, noses falling off from plastic surgery, frost bitten boob job, and a broken penis, are just a few.
Thursday nights at 9:00 PM on ABC or stream online on Hulu.
I actually thought I might right this off as a Love Boat wannabe but I might have been too quick to judge. The world we live in today provides so many choices of things to watch. Thousands and thousands of movies, TV shows, documentaries, sports, etc.
Everything we watch does not have to educate, it doesn’t have to inspire, and it doesn’t have to change our life. Sometimes you want to watch something mindless, unreal, and stupid, but there is something about it you enjoy.
This just might be that for you. Turns out it is for me. I have been a big Don Johnson fan, Miami Vice, Nash Bridges, and tons of other stuff. Joshua Jackson is very charming and there is going to be a lot of guest stars, like Shania twain, John Stamos, Kelsea Ballerini, and more.
I’m watching, not saying I’m proud of it, but I’m watching it. While I cook, or read a book…this is what I call a background show. You can have this on while doing something else, and still keep up with it.
My Score: 3 Budweisers

Lamar Reviews - Dr. Odyssey (Airdate 10/18/2024)

Lamar Reviews - "Nobody Wants This" (Airdate 10/11/2024)

This is a series on Netflix. If you pull it up and don’t think it’s for you, watch the first episode. Then decide.

Here is the plot, Kristen Bell plays Joanne, and Justine Lupe plays her sister Morgan. The two of them have a podcast called “Nobody Wants This”. This series is loosely based on a real podcast called ‘The World’s First Podcast with Erin & Sara Foster.’ It started in 2021, it has the two sisters talking about everything from relationships, dating, and sex to things related to family, motherhood, and anxiety, plus much, much more.

In the series the running gag is Bell’s character, Joanne has a terrible dating history of picking the wrong guy every time and her sister’s relationship history is no better. Their podcasts subjects mirror  the podcast this is based on. Example: the latest Nobody Wants This podcast is called “dildo’s and dildon’ts”.



Joanne is a sarcastic-agnostic/atheist gentile and she meets Noah Roklov, a progressive Jewish Rabbi, played by Adam Brody. Noah, who is referred to as “Hot Rabbi”, has just broken up with his longtime girlfriend, who both his and her families were fully expecting him to propose to. The attraction between Joanne and Noah is instant, on fire, forbidden, and impossible to resist. Forbidden because a romantic relationship between a Rabbi and a Shiska, Jewish slang for a gentile woman, is basically impossible to pull off. Hence the Title “Nobody Wants This”.

What makes this series so good is the chemistry between Bell and Brody. They have not only worked together before, but they are also friends in real life. The on-screen chemistry is not only off the chain in the romantic scenes, but more importantly, in the bantering conversations between them. This series has some of the best dialog I’ve heard in a long time.

This season has 10 episodes, a little less than 30 minutes an episode. Rated TV-MA for language.

Justine Lupe as Morgan is perfect as Joanne’s sarcastic sister, and Timothy Simons is great as Noah’s goofy brother Sasha. In fact, the entire cast, is excellent.

The series is very funny but the emotions are real Two different cultures, two families with different values, a man who’s faith means everything, and a woman who has no interest in anything spiritual. But they are crazy about each other and determined to make it work.

Regardless of how you feel about Rom-Coms, as I said, you need to watch the first episode. If you like it, keep going, it gets better with each episode. This is season one and there will definitely be a season two.

It is a very different Rom-Com than I’ve ever seen.

My Score: A full 6pk

Lamar Reviews - "Nobody Wants This" (Airdate 10/11/2024)
This is a series on Netflix. If you pull it up and don’t think it’s for you, watch the first episode. Then decide.
Here is the plot, Kristen Bell plays Joanne, and Justine Lupe plays her sister Morgan. The two of them have a podcast called “Nobody Wants This”. This series is loosely based on a real podcast called ‘The World’s First Podcast with Erin &amp; Sara Foster.’ It started in 2021, it has the two sisters talking about everything from relationships, dating, and sex to things related to family, motherhood, and anxiety, plus much, much more.
In the series the running gag is Bell’s character, Joanne has a terrible dating history of picking the wrong guy every time and her sister’s relationship history is no better. Their podcasts subjects mirror  the podcast this is based on. Example: the latest Nobody Wants This podcast is called “dildo’s and dildon’ts”.
 
Joanne is a sarcastic-agnostic/atheist gentile and she meets Noah Roklov, a progressive Jewish Rabbi, played by Adam Brody. Noah, who is referred to as “Hot Rabbi”, has just broken up with his longtime girlfriend, who both his and her families were fully expecting him to propose to. The attraction between Joanne and Noah is instant, on fire, forbidden, and impossible to resist. Forbidden because a romantic relationship between a Rabbi and a Shiska, Jewish slang for a gentile woman, is basically impossible to pull off. Hence the Title “Nobody Wants This”.
What makes this series so good is the chemistry between Bell and Brody. They have not only worked together before, but they are also friends in real life. The on-screen chemistry is not only off the chain in the romantic scenes, but more importantly, in the bantering conversations between them. This series has some of the best dialog I’ve heard in a long time.
This season has 10 episodes, a little less than 30 minutes an episode. Rated TV-MA for language.
Justine Lupe as Morgan is perfect as Joanne’s sarcastic sister, and Timothy Simons is great as Noah’s goofy brother Sasha. In fact, the entire cast, is excellent.
The series is very funny but the emotions are real Two different cultures, two families with different values, a man who’s faith means everything, and a woman who has no interest in anything spiritual. But they are crazy about each other and determined to make it work.
Regardless of how you feel about Rom-Coms, as I said, you need to watch the first episode. If you like it, keep going, it gets better with each episode. This is season one and there will definitely be a season two.
It is a very different Rom-Com than I’ve ever seen.
My Score: A full 6pk

Lamar Reviews - "Nobody Wants This" (Airdate 10/11/2024)

Lamar Reviews - "Jailbreak - Love on the Run" (Airdate 10/4/2024)



This is another Netflix documentary that will blow your mind.

This is the story of Vicky White, 56, from Alabama. She was assistant director of corrections at Lauderdale County Detention Center. Over 17 years of employment, she had risen through the ranks and had a great reputation. The people she worked with seemed to really like her. The inmates that were interviewed said that she treated them as if they mattered and they respected her. Some inmates described her as kind, generous, and even go so far as call her a “mother figure”.

In 2020, Casey White, 38, was transferred to Lauderdale. He was already serving 75 years for attempted murder and other charges. He had also confessed to a murder charge and was waiting on the trial. This guy is 6 ft 9 inches, around 300 lbs.

Vicky was divorced, and her last boyfriend died in a car wreck.

Tyler Purser, a former police officer, was in jail at Lauderdale with Casey White, said Casey was an ok guy if he liked you, but if you crossed him, he was very dangerous.

On day as Vicky walked past his cell, Casey made a remark about how attractive a part of her body was. Instead of writing him up, or taking away some privileges, or any kind of punishment, she talked to him. And that is where it started.

What makes this such a good documentary is that the story is told through interviews with co-workers, and inmates. But what really drives it home is the video that is pared with the recorded conversations between Vicky and Casey. The words that give you a glimpse inside the minds of both of these people are pared with the actual physical actions shown on the video.

They have over a 1000 recorded conversations between them. Yes, they do listen to these conversations, but only if there is a reason to based on an investigation.

These phone calls will blow your mind!

The show is 1 hour and 28 minutes, Rated TV-MA for language, and sexual content.

This takes you all the way from the start of the romance, and the way he convinced her to fall in love with him, their intimacy, and their planning on the escape. The manhunt, and the capture.

His cellmate claims that he was a true romantic that fell in love with her and wanted to live a magical life in the woods, off the grid. Other people say that he was a smooth-talking conman that took advantage of a lonely woman that he never loved, but was using for an escape plan. You will have to watch it and make up your own mind.

My Score: 5 Budweisers

Lamar Reviews - "Jailbreak - Love on the Run" (Airdate 10/4/2024)
 
This is another Netflix documentary that will blow your mind.
This is the story of Vicky White, 56, from Alabama. She was assistant director of corrections at Lauderdale County Detention Center. Over 17 years of employment, she had risen through the ranks and had a great reputation. The people she worked with seemed to really like her. The inmates that were interviewed said that she treated them as if they mattered and they respected her. Some inmates described her as kind, generous, and even go so far as call her a “mother figure”.
In 2020, Casey White, 38, was transferred to Lauderdale. He was already serving 75 years for attempted murder and other charges. He had also confessed to a murder charge and was waiting on the trial. This guy is 6 ft 9 inches, around 300 lbs.
Vicky was divorced, and her last boyfriend died in a car wreck.
Tyler Purser, a former police officer, was in jail at Lauderdale with Casey White, said Casey was an ok guy if he liked you, but if you crossed him, he was very dangerous.
On day as Vicky walked past his cell, Casey made a remark about how attractive a part of her body was. Instead of writing him up, or taking away some privileges, or any kind of punishment, she talked to him. And that is where it started.
What makes this such a good documentary is that the story is told through interviews with co-workers, and inmates. But what really drives it home is the video that is pared with the recorded conversations between Vicky and Casey. The words that give you a glimpse inside the minds of both of these people are pared with the actual physical actions shown on the video.
They have over a 1000 recorded conversations between them. Yes, they do listen to these conversations, but only if there is a reason to based on an investigation.
These phone calls will blow your mind!
The show is 1 hour and 28 minutes, Rated TV-MA for language, and sexual content.
This takes you all the way from the start of the romance, and the way he convinced her to fall in love with him, their intimacy, and their planning on the escape. The manhunt, and the capture.
His cellmate claims that he was a true romantic that fell in love with her and wanted to live a magical life in the woods, off the grid. Other people say that he was a smooth-talking conman that took advantage of a lonely woman that he never loved, but was using for an escape plan. You will have to watch it and make up your own mind.
My Score: 5 Budweisers

Lamar Reviews - "Jailbreak - Love on the Run" (Airdate 10/4/2024)

Lamar Reviews - "The Killer's Game" (Airdate 9/20/2024)



What’s not to like? I love Dave Bautista. He was great in Guardians of the Galaxy, he was really good in My Spy, and he surprised me with his acting talent in Knock at the Cabin. The trailer for this movie looked a lot like a John Wick movie, with non-stop action, violence, and blood. The problem is, Keanu Reeves has put his stamp on those movies, and he has ruined it for everyone else. Jason Momoa and Chris Hemsworth have done the same thing to the manbun. I know how you think it looks, but trust me, it looks exactly the opposite. Get that damn thing off your head! I’m not saying that The Killer’s Game is sad like a manbun, it’s not. But it’s not John Wick, so you should manage your expectations.

Dave Bautista plays Joe Flood, a top line assassin who only kills bad guys, as in drug dealers, pedophiles, arms dealers, and hairdressers that suggest manbuns to their clients. I never actually saw that last one but I’m sure it’s on his list.

So, since Joe is only murdering bad guys it’s ok to pull for him and laugh at the gore.

During one of his kills he meets a beautiful ballet dancer named Maize, played by Sofia Boutella. Joe’s doctor diagnoses him with a life-threatening illness. To avoid the pain and slow death Joe authorizes a kill order on himself. After the order is in place he finds out he was misdiagnosed and faces an army of assassins out to kill him. Let the game begin.

The movie is 1 hour and 44 minutes, Rated-R for strong bloody violence, and tons of it, language, some sexual material, brief drug use and nudity.

Besides the bloody action, there is a lot of dark humor. Some of it hits, a good bit of it misses.

The funniest scenes are between Joe and his handler Zvi Rabinowitz, played by a very funny Ben Kingsley, and his exuberant wife, played by Alex Kingston. They treat him like a son they never had.

Pom Klementieff, who played Mantis in the Guardian movies, plays a villainous part that adds to the humor. Terry Crews is another actor you will recognize.

Dave Bautista has the ability to be intimidating and scary, but also friendly and comforting while snapping a guy’s arm. He has the perfect mixture of charm and menace to keep you engaged and prevent the movie from being a bloody waste of time.

My wife Carla went with me, and even though this is not her kind of movie, surprised me by liking it a lot.

If you are a Bautista fan, and you can manage your expectations and don’t walk in thinking John Wick, you will like it. I did.



My Score: 4 Buds

Lamar Reviews - "The Killer's Game" (Airdate 9/20/2024)
 
What’s not to like? I love Dave Bautista. He was great in Guardians of the Galaxy, he was really good in My Spy, and he surprised me with his acting talent in Knock at the Cabin. The trailer for this movie looked a lot like a John Wick movie, with non-stop action, violence, and blood. The problem is, Keanu Reeves has put his stamp on those movies, and he has ruined it for everyone else. Jason Momoa and Chris Hemsworth have done the same thing to the manbun. I know how you think it looks, but trust me, it looks exactly the opposite. Get that damn thing off your head! I’m not saying that The Killer’s Game is sad like a manbun, it’s not. But it’s not John Wick, so you should manage your expectations.
Dave Bautista plays Joe Flood, a top line assassin who only kills bad guys, as in drug dealers, pedophiles, arms dealers, and hairdressers that suggest manbuns to their clients. I never actually saw that last one but I’m sure it’s on his list.
So, since Joe is only murdering bad guys it’s ok to pull for him and laugh at the gore.
During one of his kills he meets a beautiful ballet dancer named Maize, played by Sofia Boutella. Joe’s doctor diagnoses him with a life-threatening illness. To avoid the pain and slow death Joe authorizes a kill order on himself. After the order is in place he finds out he was misdiagnosed and faces an army of assassins out to kill him. Let the game begin.
The movie is 1 hour and 44 minutes, Rated-R for strong bloody violence, and tons of it, language, some sexual material, brief drug use and nudity.
Besides the bloody action, there is a lot of dark humor. Some of it hits, a good bit of it misses.
The funniest scenes are between Joe and his handler Zvi Rabinowitz, played by a very funny Ben Kingsley, and his exuberant wife, played by Alex Kingston. They treat him like a son they never had.
Pom Klementieff, who played Mantis in the Guardian movies, plays a villainous part that adds to the humor. Terry Crews is another actor you will recognize.
Dave Bautista has the ability to be intimidating and scary, but also friendly and comforting while snapping a guy’s arm. He has the perfect mixture of charm and menace to keep you engaged and prevent the movie from being a bloody waste of time.
My wife Carla went with me, and even though this is not her kind of movie, surprised me by liking it a lot.
If you are a Bautista fan, and you can manage your expectations and don’t walk in thinking John Wick, you will like it. I did.
 
My Score: 4 Buds

Lamar Reviews - "The Killer's Game" (Airdate 9/20/2024)

Lamar Reviews - "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!"(Airdate 9/13/2024)



Beetlejuice was a huge hit in 1988. There has been a call for a sequel for a long time. We even had Beetlejuice the Musical, which I saw, and was fantastic. Now after 36 years it is finally here.

Tim Burton has said that this film would only be made if Michael Keaton would return to reprise his role. Keaton said in March of 2014 that this is the only sequel he's interested in doing. Winona Ryder’s one condition for doing “Stranger Things” was, if “Beetlejuice 2” ever got off a ground that she could take a break and do it.

As always, making a sequel, especially 36 years later, is not only difficult, but also very risky. The fact there is an entire generation of people who haven’t seen the original is a two-edged sword. You have a fresh new audience, but they won’t get the references to the old one.

The good news is, Tim Burton and the cast not only accomplished the task, they did a superior job!

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice brings back three actors from the first movie: Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice, Winona Ryder as middle-aged Lydia Deetz, and Catherine O’Hara as Lydia’s stepmom, Delia. Charles Deetz is deceased but shows up in a way that does not require actor Jeffery Jones to be in the movie since he is now a registered sex offender. He wanders through the afterlife without a head after a shark bite.

Charles’ death is what brings the family together. Lydia, who now hosts a tv show where she sees dead people, called “Ghost House with Lydia Deetz is there along with her slimy producer/love interest, Rory, played by Justin Theroux. Jenna Ortega plays Lydia’s estranged daughter, Astrid, who thinks her mother’s “seeing dead people” is all fake, and she does her best to avoid her mother at all costs. While doing so she meets Jeremy, played by Arthur Conti, an awkward possible romantic interest. Bettlejuice comes up with a plan to get with Lydia, but before that he must escape his ex-wife/soul sucker Delores, played by Monica Bellucci.

The movie is a quick 1hour and 45 minutes, Rated PG-13 for violent content, and bloody images, strong language, some suggestive material and brief drug use.

Keaton could not have been more “on point” as Bettlejuice. He looked and played the part like it wasn’t 36 days, much less 36 years after the original.

The entire cast was awesome, including Catherine O’Hara, who was extra great, and never disappoints. Danny Devito was a welcome surprise, as was Willem Dafoe. He plays Wolf Jackson, an over-the-top dead action star who is head of the afterlife’s police force.

All in all, a great sequel that is equal to the task!

My Score: 5 Solid Ice Cold Budweisers

Lamar Reviews - "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!"(Airdate 9/13/2024)
 
Beetlejuice was a huge hit in 1988. There has been a call for a sequel for a long time. We even had Beetlejuice the Musical, which I saw, and was fantastic. Now after 36 years it is finally here.
Tim Burton has said that this film would only be made if <a href="https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000474/?ref_=tttrv_tr">Michael Keaton</a> would return to reprise his role. Keaton said in March of 2014 that this is the only sequel he's interested in doing. Winona Ryder’s one condition for doing “Stranger Things” was, if “Beetlejuice 2” ever got off a ground that she could take a break and do it.
As always, making a sequel, especially 36 years later, is not only difficult, but also very risky. The fact there is an entire generation of people who haven’t seen the original is a two-edged sword. You have a fresh new audience, but they won’t get the references to the old one.
The good news is, Tim Burton and the cast not only accomplished the task, they did a superior job!
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice brings back three actors from the first movie: Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice, Winona Ryder as middle-aged Lydia Deetz, and Catherine O’Hara as Lydia’s stepmom, Delia. Charles Deetz is deceased but shows up in a way that does not require actor Jeffery Jones to be in the movie since he is now a registered sex offender. He wanders through the afterlife without a head after a shark bite.
Charles’ death is what brings the family together. Lydia, who now hosts a tv show where she sees dead people, called “Ghost House with Lydia Deetz is there along with her slimy producer/love interest, Rory, played by Justin Theroux. Jenna Ortega plays Lydia’s estranged daughter, Astrid, who thinks her mother’s “seeing dead people” is all fake, and she does her best to avoid her mother at all costs. While doing so she meets Jeremy, played by Arthur Conti, an awkward possible romantic interest. Bettlejuice comes up with a plan to get with Lydia, but before that he must escape his ex-wife/soul sucker Delores, played by Monica Bellucci.
The movie is a quick 1hour and 45 minutes, Rated PG-13 for violent content, and bloody images, strong language, some suggestive material and brief drug use.
Keaton could not have been more “on point” as Bettlejuice. He looked and played the part like it wasn’t 36 days, much less 36 years after the original.
The entire cast was awesome, including Catherine O’Hara, who was extra great, and never disappoints. Danny Devito was a welcome surprise, as was Willem Dafoe. He plays Wolf Jackson, an over-the-top dead action star who is head of the afterlife’s police force.
All in all, a great sequel that is equal to the task!
My Score: 5 Solid Ice Cold Budweisers

Lamar Reviews - "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!"(Airdate 9/13/2024)

Lamar Reviews - "Blink Twice" (Airdate 9.6.2024)



This is another movie that I went into cold. No expectations, just knowing that Channing Tatum does not look great in a beard, but it marks him as the villain of the movie. The film is the directorial debut of Tatum’s fiancé Zoe Kravitz who started writing this movie in 2017, and she has come out of the gate strong.

Channing Tatum plays Slater King a tech tycoon was forced to leave the helm of his company because he was accused of behavior unbecoming of a CEO and creating hostile work environments. He did the standard “I’m sorry video” and the apology circuit on all the morning news shows and afternoon talk shows. He bought a private island where he could get away and do the therapy so that he could come back and be a changed man. He generously started a foundation. At the annual gala he meets Frida, played by Naomi Ackie. Frida is obsessed with meeting Slater and gets a job as a waitress at the Gala, along with her best friend and roommate Jess, played by Alia Shawkat. Frida has brought evening gowns for her and Jess so they can sneak into the V.I.P section.

She manages to meet Slater, and he spends the evening talking to her. Frida manages to get an invite for both her and Jess to fly on the private jet to his island with his friends. Those friends include Slater’s right-hand man Vic, played by Christian Slater, a professional chef, played by Simon rex, actor Tom, played by Haley Joel Osment, tech-wiz Lucas, played by Levon Hawke, and a few more beautiful women. The island truly is a paradise, except for the huge yellow snakes they are constantly killing. Once everyone arrives all cell phones are confiscated. That is the first Red Flag that says something is not quite right. All the women find perfect fitting clothes in their rooms, and they all are dressed exactly alike. Another Red Flag. They spend the days lounging by the pool, sipping cocktails. Evenings are Michelin-star Dinners. 

Late nights are partying with every drug you can imagine. Mornings are for hangover brunches. Rinse and repeat over and over. Something is not right.

The movie is 1 hour 42 minutes, Rated R for strong violent content, sexual assault, drug use and language, with some sexual references.

Zoe Kravitz does a great job building up the tension, while holding her cards close to her vest. We know something is wrong, but we are just not sure what. One small clue at a time brings us closer and closer to the answer. When it hits, it hits.

Channing Tatum is a remarkably good villain. Christian Slater has some really funny moments at the most inappropriate times.

This is a Psychological Mystery Thriller that has lots of twists and turns.



My Score: 5 Ice Cold Budweisers

Lamar Reviews - "Blink Twice" (Airdate 9.6.2024)
 
This is another movie that I went into cold. No expectations, just knowing that Channing Tatum does not look great in a beard, but it marks him as the villain of the movie. The film is the directorial debut of Tatum’s fiancé Zoe Kravitz who started writing this movie in 2017, and she has come out of the gate strong.
Channing Tatum plays Slater King a tech tycoon was forced to leave the helm of his company because he was accused of behavior unbecoming of a CEO and creating hostile work environments. He did the standard “I’m sorry video” and the apology circuit on all the morning news shows and afternoon talk shows. He bought a private island where he could get away and do the therapy so that he could come back and be a changed man. He generously started a foundation. At the annual gala he meets Frida, played by Naomi Ackie. Frida is obsessed with meeting Slater and gets a job as a waitress at the Gala, along with her best friend and roommate Jess, played by Alia Shawkat. Frida has brought evening gowns for her and Jess so they can sneak into the V.I.P section.
She manages to meet Slater, and he spends the evening talking to her. Frida manages to get an invite for both her and Jess to fly on the private jet to his island with his friends. Those friends include Slater’s right-hand man Vic, played by Christian Slater, a professional chef, played by Simon rex, actor Tom, played by Haley Joel Osment, tech-wiz Lucas, played by Levon Hawke, and a few more beautiful women. The island truly is a paradise, except for the huge yellow snakes they are constantly killing. Once everyone arrives all cell phones are confiscated. That is the first Red Flag that says something is not quite right. All the women find perfect fitting clothes in their rooms, and they all are dressed exactly alike. Another Red Flag. They spend the days lounging by the pool, sipping cocktails. Evenings are Michelin-star Dinners. 
Late nights are partying with every drug you can imagine. Mornings are for hangover brunches. Rinse and repeat over and over. Something is not right.
The movie is 1 hour 42 minutes, Rated R for strong violent content, sexual assault, drug use and language, with some sexual references.
Zoe Kravitz does a great job building up the tension, while holding her cards close to her vest. We know something is wrong, but we are just not sure what. One small clue at a time brings us closer and closer to the answer. When it hits, it hits.
Channing Tatum is a remarkably good villain. Christian Slater has some really funny moments at the most inappropriate times.
This is a Psychological Mystery Thriller that has lots of twists and turns.
 
My Score: 5 Ice Cold Budweisers

Lamar Reviews - "Blink Twice" (Airdate 9.6.2024)

How did your favorite movie score on Lamar's scale? Find out!

Lamar's Reviews

Social links:

Follow the podcast:

169 clip(s)