Author: Jill Florio
-
Making Models – the Jenny Haniver Airship from Mortal Engines
—
Mortal Engines has the best models and miniatures I’ve seen in a movie outside of the original Star Wars movies and the Lord of the Rings. This should come as no surprise, since Mortal Engines came from WETA Workshop, the same crew who designed The Lord of the Rings. Remember all those rolling cities…
-
Rewatch Movie Review – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
I kind of remember National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation as funnier than it is, through younger and rosier colored glasses. Sometimes things don’t really stand up to the passage of time, and this ‘Vacation’ movie from 1989 seems darker and a little bit meaner than I remember. It’s rather judgmental, taking potshots at the expense of…
-
Virgin Movie Review – A Merry Friggin’ Christmas (2014)
A Merry Friggin’ Christmas was a strange, strange film to watch. It seemed to have the distinctive low production values of a Hallmark Holiday Special, yet somehow boasted the clout and cash flow to hire friggin’ Robin Williams as the co-star. (Not to mention Candice Bergen, in a throw-away role.) What happened? Why was this…
-
Virgin Movie Review – Bad Santa
Billy Bob Thornton can act. He’s underrated, but shows a consistent range throughout his filmography. During the holiday season, he’s even got two popular rewatchable Christmas songs under his belt. He’s completely believable, whether he’s a smary President of the United States, or the world’s meanest, drunkest Santa. Spoilers Ahead! And here’s where Bad Santa…
-
Movie Review – Second Act
—
This is a fish-out-of-water story, which is normally a reliable premise for laughs. Unfortunately, it feels like a half-hearted attempt to re-make a modern take on such classics like Working Girl and Pretty Woman. Or the more recent, and very wonderful The Devil Wears Prada. A re-envisioning of an old theme would be fine…
-
Love, Actually and Christmas Is All Around (That “Festering Turd of a Record”)
Bill Nighy rocks. And in Love, Actually, he rocks even harder as a washed up, has-been rock star, an aging bad boy we can’t help but love. Also, he’s one of those actors I’m certain can do no wrong. Hear that, Nighy? We’re all in agreement here: RunPee loves you. 🙂 Love, Actually is one…
-
Avoid Getting Lice At The Movies (a personal story and a PSA)
This should be a little embarrassing: I’m a grownup after all. But I caught lice at the movies. I don’t feel weird about it – in fact I’m actually glad to know why this rash on my neck wouldn’t go away. This is treatable with a $12 lice-killer from Amazon. There are far more difficult…
-
Best Non-Christmas Christmas Movies
What is a non-Christmas Christmas movie, you ask? I’m happy to explain. It’s a story that takes place over the holiday season but isn’t a Christmas film. The plot isn’t about Santa, reindeer, snowmen, elves, Scroogey Grinches, or magical stockings. Christmas might help the plot along, but these movies stake their tent in the camp…
-
Virgin Movie Review – Footloose (1984)
Somehow, I’ve never seen the original Footloose before. I did catch the remake a few months back and found it mildly awful. I figured the iconic original would impress me more. It did. But only by a small margin. I cannot figure out why this movie has iconic status, much less be considered a Teen…
-
Holiday Movie Rewatch Review – Elf
—
Elf is one of those rare truly rewatchably joyous, feel-good family films that everyone, everyone likes. I’ve never met a child or even cranky grownup that doesn’t get animated and shout, “Santa! I KNOW him!”, or spout off a very mildly sly or just plain silly line from this highly quotable film, like, “Hi, I’m…