ChannelTim

If all superhero movies were as good as Wonder Woman 1984 , I'd be a fan of superhero movies.  While I did like 2017's Wonder Woman , this sequel improves on its predecessor in almost every way. 1984, which is in theaters now and also streaming on HBO Max for the next month, is just what we need in these dark final days of 2020, a bright and uplifting piece of popcorn entertainment. With comic book movies, the more they try to outrun their silly origins, the less enjoyable they are to watch. Thankfully, 1984  wholeheartedly embraces the silliness. The plot revolves around a rock with magical properties that grant people's wishes, though at a cost. The "be careful what you wish for" theme is explored through three characters who make a wish: Diana (played once again by Gal Gadot), and the film's villains, Barbara Minerva (played by a very fun Kristen Wiig) and Maxwell Lord (played by Pedro Pascal in an outsized villainous performance). Chris Pine also returns f...

Drew Barrymore fans haven't exactly been starved for content lately. Her cheery, fully unhinged new daytime talk show has provided a host of gif-able moments. But, it is significant that The Stand In , out now on VOD, is the first feature film she has appeared in 5 years (since the underrated  Miss You Already ). And I wish I could report that her return to the big screen (well, not big at the moment, but you know what I mean) is a triumph, but The Stand In is a deeply flawed movie, in spite of a game and spirited lead actress. Barrymore has a dual role in the film, a satire of celebrity culture. She plays Candy Black, an ex-movie star whose career was derailed by a volatile on-set tirade, and Paula, Candy's wacky stand in. The plot kicks in when Candy has Paula swap places with her ahead of her court-mandated rehab stay, and Paula takes a liking to the limelight and plots to steal Candy's life. Those are the basics, it's actually a lot more complicated than that, whic...