Dougmd1974 Reviews

Anyone But You (2023)

Predictable but funny

[6/10 · 11 May 2024]

Yes, this is a standard rom-com script with the usual players and outcome as it should be expected. There was a lot more nudity than I anticipated, so that was an unexpected twist (LOL!) The framework of the film was on the thin side and I felt like some of the actors were not connected to the parts, but that could have been because of the thin plot and light character development. There were some funny lines in there at points so I did enjoy that aspect. If you are looking for a light comedy without a lot of analysis and brain power to track what's going on in the film - you'll do just fine by this one.

Deal or No Deal Island (2024– )

So far it's not THAT bad

[7/10 · 7 March 2024]

Yes, it's deal or no deal meets Survivor... Sorta. The players are mostly interesting, but there are a few that are a little annoying or they just sorta blend into the background. The challenge games are fine - the loser of the challenges are up for elimination. The twist that is you don't beat the banker in the final game you go home and if you do, you send someone else home. I sorta like this idea just because it's different. I like that Claudia is on from the original game show. I have a feeling Howie is the banker on the ship though since I don't feel like they could really have the show without him. Anyway, I recommend giving it a try and see what you think about it.

You Hurt My Feelings (2023)

No, YOU Hurt My Feelings!!!

[4/10 · 11 February 2024]

I was all prepared for a fun, light comedy when I watched this movie considering the cast. However, it turned into a nothing and by the end I was just sitting there thinking, "What was that?!" The movie is "funny" as in some of the situations were mildly amusing but it was DEFINITELY not "ha-ha" funny. I never laughed once. Nothing really happens at all here. I found myself dozing off in the middle of it. Just a story about a family and how they get annoyed with each other when they basically don't tell the truth about what they truly think about one another. That's it. Nothing else goes on here at all, so don't waste your time - spend it on something else. You and your feelings will thank me!

Leave the World Behind (2023)

Depressing apocalyptic Karen-style movie

[5/10 · 11 December 2023]

Jeez, I should have learned my lesson by now with Netflix-branded movies. 98% of them really suck and the only things on this service that's worth my time are the series (but that's also up for debate!) Anyway, this movie sorta has a Jordan Peele feel to it from the start that I didn't connect with. I'm not a fan of his work so that's probably why the feel of this film didn't start off great for me. The acting isn't bad but the ending? Sheesh. I actually said at the beginning of this movie "I have a feeling I'm going to hate the ending" which is exactly where this went. I think there was potential here a few times but it just never made it there. The combination of Karens, racist overtones, and the apocalypse isn't a fulfilling theme from the start and this movie left me feeling disappointed.

The Exorcist: Believer (2023)

Started off OK - Ended Incredibly Preachy

[5/10 · 11 October 2023]

As a fan of the original film (its actually my favorite film of all time), this film really doesn't do the name justice. It was nice to see Ellen Burstyn make a return to the franchise, along with a few other surprises, but it didn't quite do the film justice. Hey, I think it's better than the Exorcist II, but I can't say it's a gem and will hold up to the name long term. My biggest issue with the film was that by the end it turned incredibly preachy which was a huge turn-off. While partially the message was a "we need to join together" sentiment, it ended up being some sort of conversion therapy to me. I never took that away from the original film which simply told the story. For that, it gets a 5.

The Lincoln Lawyer (2022– )

Good, but there were some issues

[7/10 · 12 September 2023]

Some of the casting just didn't feel right to me. For one, the Lincoln lawyer himself. It just didn't feel right to me; I only half bought it. Also his second wife was dating his rough and tough guy who also worked for him? I also felt like the tough guy was miscast as well. He reminds me of wolfman Jack. In the second season, I also didn't understand the need to bring the main character's mother into the fold. It didn't make sense and felt unnecessary to me. However, the acting and main storylines are pretty good and it's fairly well written with twists and turns. Some of them were surprising. I'd say it's worth watching.

Watcher (I) (2022)

Very slow burn.... Nothing unexpected here either.

[6/10 · 5 August 2023]

Decent acting, sorta had a "Hostel" vibe to me from the beginning, probably because of the location. Very slow for anything to happen, but the whole movie feels very creepy and ominous which does help but I found it very very light on the horror. Much more suspense than anything else, but I think I'd rather just call this a "dark" movie. There were no surprises for me by the end. Everything was essentially predictable and is what you think is going to be. No twist, no turn, no real surprise. I think there were opportunities to make this film more frightening but either that was never really the vision or it is just mislabeled as horror. I think it's either your kind of movie or it isn't I guess.

Glamorous (2023)

Not what I was expecting at all

[7/10 · 7 July 2023]

Honestly, the acting is not good. It just feels like I've seen this 100 times before and done so much better. Not really a fan of the lead Marco actor. I'm not buying what they are selling here, mostly because the story is thin and it just doesn't feel real at all. A big giant corporation run by a bunch of people that don't seem to have a clue what's going on? My review is not completely negative, there were a couple of funny moments and I did watch the first 3 episodes but I'm not sure I will go back. Based on what I'm reading here, it doesn't get any better. I will think about giving the rest of the episodes a chance.... I think if I was 30 years younger I might have a different viewpoint on this one. I did finish the episodes, and it was ok. It leveled out a bit as the series moved on and by the end I thought it improved some. It got itself together a bit more so I slightly increased my rating.

80 for Brady (2023)

Cute but corny

[5/10 · 8 April 2023]

It's always wonderful to see actresses as great as Sally Field, Rita Moreno, Lily Tomlin, and Jane Fonda together and still making movies. However, this one was pretty corny quite honestly. If you don't take it all too seriously, it's got a few funny moments and it's cute generally speaking. But please don't overthink it because you'll just start rolling your eyes constantly. A few nice cameos throughout but nothing show stopping. It is based on a true story, but I'm not sure exactly what was truth and what was exaggerated in the film. If you are looking for a simple film without too much thought this might be for you.

M3GAN (2022)

Just OK

[6/10 · 25 February 2023]

What to say about this film.... It's just ok. Nothing impressive, it's just sort of there. I heard some friends raving about it, and honestly I have no idea why. The acting is fine for the most part. A few weird moments in the film that didn't line up for me. A couple of jump scares, very very light on the blood and gore. I guess I would probably call this film "electronic suspense" rather than a horror film. I know I'm glad I didn't pay to see it as I would have been incredibly disappointed. If you can pick it up for free on Peacock might as well, but I don't recommend paying $20 for it on demand.

The Menu (2022)

Horror? Comedy? Neither. Disappointing is more like it

[5/10 · 1 February 2023]

This movie started off pretty promising. Was interested to find out more about the characters we're meeting and the premise felt pretty unique. As the film went along, I was still intrigued to the connections and reasons behind the "tastes" of plot lines throughout. However, as the film begins to wind down, I started to get more and more disappointed with the main idea of the film. I think there was a lot of opportunity here with a good collection of actors and a story line that started off smartly. Unfortunately it all just didn't pan out in the end when we realize what this entire dining event was really all about.

Smile (V) (2022)

Not the worst thing I've seen

[7/10 · 17 November 2022]

I enjoyed the fact this movie wasn't an overly bloody chop fest, but rather a psychological creepy freaky film with a few jump scares and unexpected surprises. For a horror film it's actually not half bad. I did have low expectations, and the ending was relatively expected for me - but still it could have been far worse. True I did feel like the trailer exposed a little but too much of the film but I would still tell horror fans to give it an opportunity. I also was wondering if the ending was allowing for a sequel which is another possibility; other reviews didn't seem to like the ending. Try it and see if you like it.

Staying Alive (1983)

Not the worst thing I've ever seen

[6/10 · 28 October 2022]

Is it corny? Yes, completely. Is it totally 80s music and dancing filled with leg warmers and headbands? Absolutely. Is the acting bad? Not really. The script isn't anything complex or amazing, but it's not complete garbage. This is nowhere near as good as Saturday Night Fever, it's true, but I never really saw it as a sequel personally. This movie feels pretty separate and the connection is thin at best with just the Tony Manero character. It could have been cast with someone besides John Travolta and I would have bought it. I love Finola Hughes so maybe that's why I like this movie a little more than I should. For fun and maybe a laugh or two it's worth watching - but there's nothing serious about it.

Bros (I) (2022)

A literal rom-com reversal

[7/10 · 23 October 2022]

I have to admit, I really was expecting this movie to be hilarious. It ended up being the literal flip flop of what studios put out in terms of the normal romantic comedy formula. Generally I find rom coms to be mildly funny and a bit corny because of the romantic goo. This is exactly what this is, coupled with a few references and comparisons that only LBGTQ folks and their allies would probably be able to relate to. I chuckled a few times but at the end I felt like I was watching another cliche love story which is exactly what I got. It's not a horrible movie; in fact it's very average. If your expectations are limited to the normal format from this genre of film but you can relate to anything other than heterosexual norms, you'll probably be generally satisfied.

Intruder (1989)

Really bad, even for the 80s

[3/10 · 23 October 2022]

Compared to other slasher films of the 80s, this one was incredibly weak for me. Bad acting coupled with poor production values and mediocre special effects largely resulted in a nonsense film that's not even remotely engaging. Now, if this were marketed as a comedy we'd be looking at a 6/10 because I definitely laughed during this film. I will give them a few points for a couple of death scenes that they did manage to pull off in terms of being imaginative. However, the involvement of members of the great Raimi horror family and a cameo from "evil dead" legend Bruce Campbell isn't enough to help elevate this film. I did enjoy seeing old cereal boxes in the aisles that I haven't seen in 30+ years. Providing that nostalgia did deserve at least a couple of stars.

Halloween Ends (2022)

Relatively bland and disappointing

[5/10 · 16 October 2022]

OK, I admit I had pretty low expectations for this film so that's probably why I was a little generous with the rating. Honestly, it started off super slow and weak. I wasn't quite sure if I was watching another movie? It took forever to get to what I think was the point of the film which was "Michael's evil will always exist in some form or another, even if he's dead." Eh, yeah, I know - but that was my takeaway from it. This film almost felt alternatively parallel to "Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday" which I hated. There were a few good "kills" but it all seems to be sandwiched together in the last 30 minutes or so and just felt kinda shoved in there. I felt like the "town punks" were INCREDIBLY miscast. They looked more like high school band members which I never remember being punks at all - more so pretty tame nerds and geeks for the most part (no offense to HS bands!) The ending was, well, just an ending. Nothing thrilling or out-of-the ordinary, no "jump" scares, no "you think I'm dead but I'm not" kinda deal. Just flat, dull, and well, very very plain white bread. Maybe I should re-think my 5 star review....

X (II) (2022)

rapey lezzie granny horror film?

[7/10 · 9 October 2022]

This movie was relatively bizarre. The lesbian granny is never quite explained but I'll just chalk it up to lunacy. Visually has the Texas chainsaw massacre feel to it. For me it was pretty predictable, no surprises really but I did like a few unexpected ways the film was edited to mesh different scenes together at different points. Some things didn't make sense, like why in one of the scenes one of characters was singing "Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac for 3 minutes. I'm not quite sure of the point of that as it just seemed jammed in there for no apparent reason. The death scenes were pretty well done and the acting was solid. Not sure I would watch it again, but I had pretty low expectations for this film but it ended up being better than expected.

The Exorcist (1973)

Probably the greatest horror film of all time

[9/10 · 18 September 2022]

The only reason I didn't give this film a 10 was because of a few inconsistencies in editing. Otherwise, amazing acting, cinematography, camera work, effects.... What the actors and crew went through to make this film was nothing short of perfection. Surprising that Blatty, a comedy writer, was able to come up with this book which was completely outside of his comfort zone at the time. William Friedkin did an amazing job as director. This whole thing just worked - even today watching this film I'm in awe of it's greatness. Stands up almost 50 years later and for me is one of the top 10 greatest modern films ever made.

The Bob's Burgers Movie (2022)

Mildly funny with one liners; otherwise relatively predictable

[6/10 · 13 September 2022]

I've seen this show a few times, but I wouldn't call myself a fan but I also wouldn't say that I disliked it. I didn't have any expectations before watching this, but with animated films targeted more towards teens and adults it was a coin toss if it was going to be a winner or not. I personally found it to be targeted for a younger teenage demographic. Some of the one liners were funny, but my general takeaway was it felt flat and not enough "adult" comedy to entertain me. I also didn't enjoy the musical numbers that were randomly inserted into this film. They just didn't feel appropriately placed and honestly weren't funny or entertaining. The moral of the movie was pretty predictable and expected. No surprise endings or flipped scripts here. It wasn't for me, but might be a winner for a Bob's super fan.

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Funny classic crazy Eddie!

[8/10 · 28 August 2022]

I love this movie. Saw it in the theater back in 1984/85 (my dad wanted to see it so I guess it was a bonding moment?). It was a bit shocking for me as a kid but I've come to love this movie for so many other reasons. Script and acting isn't bad, they put some veterans on the payroll to pull it all together. My favorite supporting actor is probably Axel's boss - he's hilarious! Cussed that man out in a heartbeat! The soundtrack is quintessential 80s. Great songs from Patti LaBelle, vanity, and others. Definitely embodies the decade of excess. I recommend it! Not sure what else I can say to get this review to meet a new 600 character limit on this website!!

The Little Things (2021)

Left me feeling somewhat disappointed

[6/10 · 20 August 2022]

This movie has many ups and downs, the biggest down really being the ending. While it is relatively clear what the end result of the movie was, it is not satisfying and I can see how most viewers would leave feeling disappointed. There are parts that feel unnecessarily slow and clunky, and some stones at the end simply were never overturned. Rami Malek, while a good actor, just did not feel right for this role. Jared Leto is always good playing some greasy slimebag, so he delivers as expected. Denzel is a vet actor and feels right for the part overall. My personal recommendation would be to pass on this film even with my 6 star rating and find another film more worthwhile.

Password (2022– )

The good, the bad, and the ugly

[7/10 · 14 August 2022]

My assessment: Keke is ok as host, in the first episode she might have been nervous or trying too hard - I'm not sure. We will see if she calms down in later episodes. Jimmy Fallon is a bit overboard because every "correct guess" is treated like the contestant just won a million dollars. The game play is decent, it takes aspects of super password/password plus and blends them with this version. The ugliest of this whole thing for me is the very annoying password announcer. He literally overannunciates every word and makes it sound nasally and irritating. Overall I'd say it's average at this point but hopefully things will level out in future episodes.

Gravity (2013)

Visually stunning

[9/10 · 29 July 2022]

I personally find the visual performances in this film compensate for what might be lacking in the script. I still feel like everything works in this film. Saw it originally in the theater and it was pretty amazing to see and hear it in that environment. I still enjoy it almost a decade later.

Friends (1994–2004)

Honest review after watching EVERY SINGLE EPISODE for the first time

[7/10 · 28 July 2022]

I personally did not watch Friends in the original run. I saw maybe part of an episode here and there, but that's about it. I finally decided to watch every episode from the beginning to end. It took me a few months, but I recently finished and now I felt it was worth posting my review.

Overall, I found the sitcom to be average. Did some things age well? Yes and no. That's typical with most comedies because society changes over time (hopefully for the better). There were funny parts and not-so-funny parts for me, especially themes that I've seen before in other comedies. I think what I found funny depended on the character, actor, and/or the writers. My character breakdown:

Phoebe (9/10): Probably my favorite character. She said and did ridiculous things that was in line with my style of humor. Sometime I felt like Lisa Kudrow was laughing at herself and they just didn't re-do the scene or didn't edit it out, but it was not common so it didn't take away from my enjoyment.

Monica (8/10): I really like Courtney Cox in this role. I felt bad she was never nominated for an Emmy for her work. I think she deserved a nomination at the very least.

Rachel (7/10): The earlier seasons I was OK with Jennifer and this character but I feel like she got better in the last couple seasons. I will admit the Ross breakup travesty did kind of irritate me, but that's typical I guess between women and men.

Ross (6/10): I really liked Ross in the earlier seasons, but my like for the character waned in the later years. Not sure if it was the writing or the delivery, but I still think David was a good actor in this role

Joey (5/10): Joey was a male Phoebe, only less funny and less savvy. The laughs from this role for me were spotty at best, so I found him to be near the lower end of enjoyable for the series.

Chandler (2/10): By far, my least favorite of the bunch. Rarely funny, if ever. Was it the writing that wasn't my style of humor? Did I simply dislike Matthew Perry so much in this role that I couldn't see past it? Was the character itself just simply annoying, awkward, and unfunny? I'm not sure, but I almost never laughed at his lines or portrayal of this character. I personally think it drags down the series. I know others think he's hilarious, but I just never found him to be that for me.

So, that's it - my review of Friends. All in all, I think as a general sitcom its worth watching. I think its popularity in history should be noted and remembered for what it was worth. I don't know that I would mark it as one of the funniest or greatest sitcoms ever, but it definitely has its place in pop culture history.

Nope (2022)

If it's from Jordan Peele, it has to be terrible

[1/10 · 26 July 2022]

Spend your time and energy on something more worthwhile - such as breathing. I really think he should go back to his comedic roots and stay away from everything else - he's just simply not a good writer and filmmaker. Sorry....