Category: Daddy Mojo at the Movies

Going out to the movies is a rare act for moms and dads. In this series we’ll go to the movies, so you can judge for yourself if it’s a good investment.

Ron’s Gone Wrong, mid-grade satire in a used package

A couple of years ago in the pre-COVID era, Ron’s Gone Wrong would’ve greeted cinemas as a pleasant distraction from the concerns of daily life. Movie theaters are back open and I’ve seen several releases in them. However, I’ve noticed that my threshold of entertainment, especially movies that are in movie theaters, has increased. I suspect that I’m not alone, but I haven’t done any surveys, studies, or polls to confirm that. It’s worth mentioning that because Ron’s Gone Wrong isn’t a horrible movie, it’s just not the red carpet, welcome back to the movie theaters trumpet call that animation is looking for.

Ron’s Gone Wrong, not totally, but not right either

Onward, keeping Pixar weird and wonderful

Keep Pixar weird. If it were a city then this could be its rallying call among some of its citizens. They’re the folk who’ve lived there for a long time and love the place, but they also like the time when it just got started. Onward is a film from brings the oddity back to Pixar does it with an original story that feels unlike anything they’ve done since the late 2000s. In short, Onward manages to assure critics of Pixar that they’re too reliant on sequels or need them to create ‘those’ moments that we’ve come to expect from them.

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Onward is original, weird, emotional, creative, human and very fun

Spies In Disguise hits digital and Blu-ray on March 10

On March 10 it’s going to get pigeon-jiggy. That’s the day that Spies In Disguise hits digital and Blu-ray. Spies In Disguise is Certified-Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes and is just the sort of PG rated, family friendly film that you need to pass those late winter days. At least, that’s what we’ll be doing in our house. For us this was a film that both kids wanted to see, but the hubbub of the holidays got in the way of us going to the movie theater.

Spies in disguise is available on digital and blu-ray on March 10, pigeon not included

Playing With Fire family fun kit giveaway

Playing With Fire is available on Blu-Ray and DVD now. It features a ton of extras that will have elementary aged kids through middle school howling with laughter. When Playing With Fire was in theaters it was THE film that the kids at our elementary school wanted to see. It’s rated PG and offers the perfect combination of humor and action that will entertain kids and be just enough to keep parents loving it too.

Just yesterday we passed a DVD rental box and our 8 year-old had a meltdown that we weren’t going rent Playing With Fire that evening. We reminded him about the power of being patient, to which he responded that all of his friends want to see the film too.

Win this Playing With Fire prize pack

Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker, the (Palpatine) Emperor has no clothes

When The Last Jedi came out I was reluctant to criticize it because the one before it was so entertaining. It had some built-in good will that made it relatively critic proof initially. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker doesn’t arrive in movie theaters with that luxury. That’s unfortunate because the movie tries very hard to succeed. It jams so much content, loose plot stories and guest stars from previous films that the final third of the film feels like a talk show saying goodbye as previous guests walk on screen.  

I want to love you, but your script doesn’t make that a logical decision

Jumanji: The Next Level review

When Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle came out audiences weren’t expecting anything. The internet was more abuzz about how the film couldn’t live up to Robin Williams’ performance and why Karen Gillan’s character was wearing a crop top. That film blew any low expectations away and was a manic blend of action and humor.  Jumanji: The Next Level doesn’t achieve an Empire Strikes Back, but it doesn’t entirely drop the video game ball either.

Jumanji: The Next Level, you want to love it, but in the end it’s just OK

Frozen II, it’s not entirely a girl’s movie

Frozen makes me sick. Literally, in 2013 when I was supposed to go see Frozen I got sick. On the way to see Frozen II I had to pull the car over and have my wife drive the kids to the movie theater while I went home and got sick. The other week our eldest came into the office and asked me, “Is Frozen II a girl’s movie?” I told him no, there might be things in that film, as well as, the first one that appeals more to girls, but it’s not a girl’s movie. He went back and forth about wanting to see it until everyone was fully jazzed to see it, but the Frozen curse struck me down.

Frozen II, according to our 10 YO, it’s not just for girls

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, an empty movie protected by Kevlar

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil has a moment late in the film where it almost redeems itself. It’s a hook that, had left it would in place would’ve made for a more satisfying film. Alas, a couple of minutes after the twist it resumes its jumbled, bloated course. Mistress of Evil feels like the seedling of a Disney princess film, but then forces in some Lord of the Rings action and end battle sequence that’s looking for an Avenger. Our 8 year-old, who is able to sit through two-hour films, was squirming 45 minutes into this one and it only got worse (for all of us).

Maleficent, Mistress of Evil doesn’t cook up anything evil or entertaining
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