jmcauley-1 Reviews

All Man: The International Male Story (2022)

So many memories...

[7/10 · 12 April 2024]

I grew up in Georgia. Every day when I was in highschool in the early 90s, I would run to the mailbox, because I never knew if an International Male or Undergear catalog would be there. It was thrilling and scary, trying to get the mail before my mom or dad. Who knew what they'd do if they found out? Senior year, we had to sell back our books. When I handed one to a teacher, she opened the cover to inspect it and an Undergear catalog fell out! She calmly put it back and handed me my money. Thank God it was after we already graduated, because I took it, left school, and never looked back. International Male was one reason I wanted to go to college in Miami. Whilw there, I got an internship at a modeling agency in South Beach, where I got to meet and work with some International Male models. (I was getting college credit for this!). After graduating, moved to Los Angeles. I remember driving through West Hollywood and seeing the International Male store, which gave me comfort that I was in the right place. Without getting that catalog in my little Georgia suburb in high school, I'm not sure I would have left and moved to Miami, Los Angeles, and later New York City. This documentary brought back so many memories and made me realize how it really did change people's lives for the better.

Harlan Coben's Shelter (2023)

A great start so far

[6/10 · 18 August 2023]

Really enjoying this show. Usually I get lost with Harlen Coben's series but this one I can follow. Maybe because I'm actually watching it and not on my phone. Trust me you DO NOT want to be distracted during this show. Something big happens in every scene, and the series moves very fast. The acting is great, with lots of fun characters. (The nerdy kid with glasses is really funny, and all the main actors are very good.) Can't wait to see what future episodes bring! If you want more, hey, hit pause and Amazon will even sell you the book! I have to write 600 characters so here you go Internet Movie Database.

Dolly Parton's Mountain Magic Christmas (2022 TV Movie)

Just ok

[6/10 · 8 December 2022]

The Miley Cyrus and Jimmy Fallon segments were great. My only complaint was half the songs were not very Christmasy. One was about Satan. 'He's Alive' sounded like an Easter song. It's a Christmas special, so in my opinion every song should have been a Christmas song. There are plenty of them!

The acting segments were also a bit much. I don't really want to watch Dolly Parton acting like a diva or "boss" in a Christmas special. I get she probably wanted to show another side of herself, the "business side." But in a Christmas special it was distracting and a bit jarring.

Overall I would recommend it.

Mind Your Manners (2022)

Enjoyable but...

[6/10 · 21 November 2022]

I enjoyed this show on the whole, especially Sara the etiquette coach who seemed genuine and really wanting to help. However, I had a few issues. There was only one male student in the series. As a man, I would have appreciated more. Some of the etiquette stuff seemed a bit dated. I would have preferred more etiquette about social media, smartphone usage, texting, etc. (I did like the guy's Tinder lesson). Also, they kept showing an image of New York City at the end, but the show does not take place there. The last time I checked, NYC does not have palm trees. This seemed a little disingenuous and pointless. Perhaps if it gets a second season they can do more.

Angelyne (2022)

Instagram before Instagram

[7/10 · 23 May 2022]

Some of you are missing the point. Angelyne was Instagram before Instagram. Her narcissism, shallowness, and vapidness are the point. I met Angelyne in West Hollywood and she was just like this. Would only take a photo if I bought a signed magazine out the back of her famous pink Corvette.

Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story (2022)

Drawn out

[5/10 · 7 April 2022]

Netflix loves to draw out a documentary! Nothing happens in the first half. Skip to part 2. If you're still interested and want to know more, go back and watch part 1. I watched 3 hours of this and still don't really know what happened.

Adele: One Night Only (2021 TV Special)

Less talking more singing

[6/10 · 15 November 2021]

I love Oprah and Adele but next time please do the interview before the show, not in and out. It ruins the mood! Also a wardrobe change or two would have been nice, even though I loved the dress. But all black during the holidays? Setting was beautiful and Adele sounded great as usual.

Camp Confidential: America's Secret Nazis (2021)

An introduction

[7/10 · 2 November 2021]

It's an introduction people, not a college course. What did you expect from a 30 minute animated short? It's something young adults can watch. Educational but not as distributing as say Schindler's List. Makes you want to learn more about the subject. For more, Google Operation Paperclip. This is what is about - I'm surprised they didn't mention it in the program.

FBoy Island (2021–2023)

Not that serious

[6/10 · 30 July 2021]

You can't take this show seriously when everyone's job is 'social media influencer' or 'Bitcoin investor' lol.

Locke & Key (2020–2022)

Kind of boring

[8 February 2020]

Connor Jessup was great in American Crime. He is a good actor. I wanted to like this series but it's kind of boring. Nothing happens. There are way too many good shows to watch to slog through 10 hours of nothingness.

The Goop Lab (2020– )

No actionable takeaways

[3/10 · 28 January 2020]

I don't mind Goop or Gwyneth Paltrow, but this show has no actionable takeaways. Like what can I do in my own home? For example, take the episode on energy healing. What can I do to improve my own energy? There was none of that. Just demonstrations by one man I will never be able to hire. I would rather have been told to buy a Goop product, but that isn't offered either. I was dissapointed in this series as it could have been useful but was not.

Tiffany Haddish Presents: They Ready (2019– )

Flame Monroe was awesome!

[8/10 · 24 August 2019]

Flame Monroe was the best. She needs her own special!

American Factory (2019)

Excellent documentary.

[8/10 · 21 August 2019]

This is an excellent documentary.

The Terror (2018–2025)

Enjoying Season 2

[8/10 · 21 August 2019]

I'm enjoying Season 2, learning about Japanese culture and the Japanese internment camps. The series mirrors what Trump is doing with Mexican immigrants, although the Japanese were U.S. citizens! George Takei is brilliant as usual (he actually grew up in the camps). I admire that he is using his career to shine a light on this tragic time in American history.

Euphoria (2019– )

A cornucopia of crazy!

[8/10 · 17 June 2019]

Neon Demon meets Bret Easton Ellis meets Gregg Araki, only better.

Into the Dark (2018–2021)

Has promise but fails to deliver

[5/10 · 7 June 2019]

Great concepts, but the stories often get muddied and boring by the middle and I usually end up turned it off. For example, New Year, New You was kind of genius. She reminded me of so many female 'gurus' selling aspirations online. But by the end, with all the yelling, I was bored and turned it off. Love the idea of a monthly anthology, just wish more work went into the stories.

Vox Lux (2018)

Little Girl (and movie) Lost

[6/10 · 4 June 2019]

Professors should show Vox Lux in film school as an example of how good ideas can get lost by the end. Also, if Natalie Portman's acting career doesn't work out she can join BTS!

Wine Country (2019)

Grows On You

[6/10 · 12 May 2019]

At first I didn't like it and turned it off. Starts a little slow. The next day I was in a bad mood and decided to try it again. I started laughing and the movie got better. This is for the 40 and up crowd. Any younger will think it's boring.

Book Club (I) (2018)

Celebrate the Queens

[5/10 · 28 April 2019]

If random actresses were in this movie it would be God awful. I laughed 3 times, that's it. But it's worth it to celebrate Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergin and Mary Steinbergen. Still acting and doing what they love at their age. Oh and Alicia Silverstone. See it for them, not the plot (there isn't one).

Madonna and the Breakfast Club (2019)

Madonna 1.0

[7/10 · 24 April 2019]

I'm a die-hard Madonna fan and enjoyed the details about her New York life in the 70s before she became famous. The casting director should win an Oscar for finding the actress who plays Madonna. Even as a fan it was hard to tell them apart! I don't like re-enactments in documentaries in general, but loved seeing the real photos and locations. Proves wanna-be stars were taking selfies long before social media!

The Curse of La Llorona (2019)

Too much!!

[5/10 · 22 April 2019]

Wasn't sure if I should be scared or turned on with the seats vibrating that much! We saw it in Dolby Digital, and had to pay an extra $10 for the privilege. (I love that movie theaters are now charging extra for surround sound lol). The movie started out strong but halfway through delved into eye-roll territory. Lots of yelling and screaming by a ghost that looked like a Halloween decoration from Party City.

Lunatics (2019)

Pet Psychic to the Stars!

[7/10 · 20 April 2019]

The best part of this show is Jana, Pet Psychic to the Stars! Chris Lilley is at his best when playing obnoxious, self-absorbed female characters like Jamie, Private School Girl. ( I also loved him as the drama teacher in that show... 'Ecstasy!' lol). The college girl and ex porn star could have been really funny, but I didn't quite get them. I'm glad this show is on Netflix though, with hopefully more to come. 'Lunatics' felt a little dated. He should be making fun of millenials, influencers, social media, and politics!

Glass (2019)

UN-Believable

[7/10 · 16 April 2019]

Why are doctors/psychiatrists/orderlies always left ALONE with the crazed psycho killer in the hospital/psych ward? I get this adds to the drama but is SO unbelievable. I like the idea of this movie and love Sarah Paulson, but couldn't stand the cheap tricks.

Special (2019–2021)

Read the book too!

[8/10 · 12 April 2019]

I read the book this show is based on a few years ago and it is HILARIOUS. 'Special' by Ryan O'Connelly who plays himself on the show. If you like the Netflix version, read the book too. My only complaint is the show is too short. 15 minutes an episode?? WTF.