SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS, ANT-MAN and the WASP: QUANTUMANIA, CREED III, OF AN AGE, THE OTHER FELLOW, MAGIC MIKE’S LAST DANCE

Originally Completed February 18, 2023

SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS | Warner Bros Pic |Director David F. Sandberg | Writers
Henry Gayden, Chris Morgan

Look at me putting a D.C. vehicle in the same post as a Marvel. I don’t think that’s come up since I started doing this #MiniMovieReview Extravaganza format.  They also make a James Gunn reference in this movie regarding his move from MCU to DCEU.

How come in my 2019 review of Shazam! I make no mention of the fact that the events take place in Philly?  I re-watched the movie and see that there’s all kinds of Philadelphia landmarks displayed, it’s even the number 9 Septa bus that runs up Walnut Street into Manayunk that Billy/Shazam (Zachary Levi /Asher Angel) accidentally derails.  Yes, it’s obvious not a single frame is actually shot in our city of brotherly love and sisterly affection, but the Philly setting is more than a passing reference. This time, I took more notice as the first action sequence has the Benjamin Franklin Bridge collapsing and the Shazam group home siblings come to save the day.  Well, they do their best.  You would think that after a couple years being superheros they’d be a little better at it; but they’re so mediocre they’re dubbed the “Philly Fiascos”.  I’ve got to admit, I missed some of the early family scenes, with them as their younger selves, cause it was taking forever to get my chicken sandwich at the AMC in KOP. And I hate missing opening scenes, it takes me too long to get acclimated. Not because I can’t follow the story, but because I like to be good and settled by the time Nicole Kidman greets us with the reminder that “We make movies better”.

But I got the gist, Billy feels like he’s loosing his family because they all have other interests besides being superheroes. Except for Freddy (Jack Dylan Grazer/Adam Brody) who feels he’s ready to fly solo.  While watching the movie, I didn’t get the whole name thing and why that’s so important. Now I know it’s a reference to the comics where Shazam & Freddy go by Captain Marvel and Marvel, Jr., but of course D.C. can’t use the name Marvel in any way, shape or form, so they have some tongue-in-check fun with all this.  See more in the Easter Eggs video below.

Anyway, the plot, if you’ll recall in Shazam! Billy breaks the Wizard’s (Djimon Hounsou) staff in the climax, having wrested it away from villain Dr. Thaddeus Sivana (Mark Strong). But then it just gets left on the ground. You assume Billy or one of his siblings would have picked it up, but no. It eventually makes its way into a museum where the Daughters of Atlas (Hespera (Helen Mirren), Kalypso (Lucy Liu), and Anthea (Rachel Zegler) steal it and make the captured Wizard re-power it.  It seems as though turning to dust for a Wizard does not = death, but rather a fate much worse.

It was the breaking of that staff that freed the sisters and restored their Goddess powers. They now feel justified doing whatever they must to make up for lost time.  It seems their realm was cut off from magic for eons when things got out of hand and the Wizards took control. Now back in power, they wish to avenge their father and rebuild their world removing any obstacles, which of course are Shazam and his suped up brothers and sisters.

Shazam Fury of the Gods is definitely more VFX heavy and less cornball fun, but it’s still good, light, family entertainment, like the original. I so love Meagan Good as Darla, she’s so convincing as a beautiful woman with the mind of a child. The Skittles product placement is hilarious “Taste the Rainbow”.   The Daughters of Atlas were okay, nobody’s a stand out, not even Mirren. But I got to enjoy two dragon chases this week, Lucy Liu riding a wooden blue fire breather. Then the next night, a portly dragon in Dungeons & Dragons – Review will be in Extravaganza #13.

T&T rating: 3.5 outta 5

If You’re into the Little Easter Eggs, Behind the Scenes Stuff Like I Am
You’ll Like This Video:

ANT-MAN and the WASP: QUANTUMANIA |Marvel/Disney | Director Peyton Reed |
Writer Jeff Loveness

This is the 31st Marvel Movie and the 41st MCU Property, beginning Phase 5.  The events take place several years after Ant-man 2 – Ant-man and the Wasp, and a couple years post End Game, where Scott Lang’s (Paul Rudd) daughter, Cassie Lang was seen as a teen played by Emma Fuhrmann. She’s still not much passed 18, but now portrayed by Kathyrn Newton, who possesses a bright, clean face, but not sure she’s memorable enough to warrant the recast.  Maybe she’ll grow on me by the time they get to the Young Avengers movies. 

If you haven’t seen the movie yet, maybe come back to my review, it’s not exactly spoiler free.  If you need the plot of the movie check out the MCU Fandom Wiki because my review is about how I would have written it, should Kevin Feige have consulted me…

For me this was a weak start to Phase 5. It felt very perfunctory and perhaps a bit shoe horned. At the least, jarring for fans of the other Ant-man movies which are more onto themselves and usually pretty humorous.  The introduction to Kang as He Who Remains (Jonathan Majors) in the Loki Disney+ series, was so good. It had a nice build up, explanation and had a depth and weight to it.  We needed something a bit more like that to intro Kang the Conqueror (Jonathan Majors) in Quantumania.  Especially for those who didn’t see Loki. It was kinda close when he was seemingly helpless upon meeting Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer), but it went south when she got a vision of his past deeds, like she was Wednesday Adams (Netflix) or something.  I would have preferred Janet actually made friends with this Kang, and since there are so many, many versions of Kang, this one would not be Kang the Conqueror, instead a different Kang, one more like He Who Remains, but with some decided differences in personality.  But he also would be warning of the coming of the Kang Council. And I would have loved it if he and Janet had been lovers instead of Bill Murray as Kryler.  Then Hank (Michael Douglas) would really have had something to be jealous of!  This Kang would have been banished for being too just.  He should not have been left with any kind of spaceship or way of getting back his main powers, but could have retained enough powers to have created a few creatures as companions, cause as silly as he was, I kinda enjoyed the oozy pink thing obsessed with holes (voiced by David Dastmalchian ).  That being said, I did not care a wit about those other inhabitants of the Quantum realm trying to get a rebellion together.  They added 0 to the whole movie.

Then, I don’t know anything about MODOK (Mechanized Organism Designed Only for Killing) from the comics, but to me it seemed a good interpretation to use him as a new version of Darren Cross/Yellowjacket (Corey Stoll). So I’d say keep this part. And this way the reason why Janet was in the Time part of the Quantum realm where Scott rescued her in Ant-man 2, would be because she was hiding from MODOK and she and this honest Kang got separated.

What I did like was the beginning of the movie which felt like an Ant-man movie, the Welcome Back Kotter song, the internal narration, Scott now being a cheesy memoir author.  The family dinner.  The fact that Cassie sees Hank Pym as her grandfather.  The tension between Janet and Hope (Evangeline Lilly) because Janet won’t speak of her time in the Quantum Realm. But in my version, part of her reticence would be because she loves two men, Just Kang and Hank Pym.  Also, she would feel guilty about abandoning this Just Kang in the Quantum Realm.  And that she hasn’t said anything about any Kangs because she didn’t want to disturb the peace of things by bringing up the fact that these Kangs could be on there way to destroy their timeline as well as others.   Then I still like the idea that Cassie, in order to incorporate her, has been doing research on the Quantum Realm and it should be that Just Kang does get a signal from Cassie’s machine. Contacts her to get a message to Janet, asking her to come back because somehow he can sense the other Kangs are close at hand to making major moves.

Then the rest of the movie could still have all of them going into the realm, but to try and rescue that Kang, and there would be more world discovery; cooler than what we see in this movie.  I understand that this part of the Quantum Realm was meant to look like sci-fi pulp magazine covers of the ’50s and ‘60s. – but it looked like a really generic planet in space to me.

Anyway, if they’d hired me to write it instead of Jeff Loveness, that’s how it would have gone down, because the thing is, Marvel usually tries to stay ahead of storytelling, so as not to be formulaic, and this Ant-man entry felt like very traditional storytelling, with no depth or freshness.

T&T Rating: 2.75 outta 5

I also participated in the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle Film Scribes
Ant-man III Podcast – Listen below…

CREED III |United Artist Releasing | Director Michael B. Jordan
Story/Producer Ryan Coogler |
Screenwriters Keenan Coogler & Zach Baylin

Michael B. Jordan directed and acted at the top of his game, but somehow this is Jonathan Majors‘ movie. His character Damian “Dame” Anderson is a force to be reckoned with. Majors’ perfected his chewed off speech pattern, domineering body language and menacing street fighting boxing techniques. But what’s even more impressive is his feigned earnestness, such a master manipulator. There’s a reason why Jonathan Majors is getting so many opportunities since the stellar HBO Max series LOVECRAFT COUNTRY, it’s because he’s electric! 

This 3rd entry into the CREED Franchise and God knows, I’ve lost track what number of the Rocky Franchise, has a good story-line, you know where it’s going, but you want to follow it there.  We see Adonis and Dame as kids, the tables are turned and Dame’s the one with dreams of boxing glory and Adonis is his sidekick. The two make a quick stop at a convenience store, where Adonis starts a beef with an old tormentor, but Dame finishes it and is sent to prison.  Cut to 18 years later, and everything we’ve been through in the first two movies with Creed and his now wife, Bianca (Tessa Thompson). They are still very much in love and have a young daughter, Amara played by deaf actress Mila Davis-Kent. Neither of them are hungry anymore. They’ve both tasted big success. Adonis is mentoring the next great heavy-weight champion and doing promotion.  Bianca is producing other artists. They enjoy home life in their absolutely F’n gorgeous LA mansion. The production & set designer (Jahmin Assa / Christy McIrwin) really went to town making this show place not just feel like a home, but their home.  They love spending time with Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashad) who adores being a grandmom.  All is sweet until Dame is freed from prison and comes calling. He knows he has no time to waste if he’s going to regain all that he feels was meant to be his.

Jordan’s directing style is smooth.  The film has a nice gloss.  The fight choreography, like with all Rocky movies, feels like we’re witnessing a true high stakes match.  From the looks of things, they’ll be a 4th installment with Amara lacing up the gloves, and I’ll be ready to sit ringside.

T&T Rating: 4.5 outta 5 

I LOVE THESE GLOBAL PRESS CONFERENCES FOR MOVIES, BUT THIS ONE FOR
CREED 3 IS PARTICULARLY REVEALING:

OF AN AGE |Roadshow Films | Writer/Director Goran Stolevski

The title, Of An Age, sounds like a period piece; perhaps in a way it is as it takes place in 1999, near New Year’s eve – remember Y2K? That does feel like an eon ago. A time without GPS and very few cellphones. Every time I think about my youth, I feel like how did we survive without these modern conveniences? Which is why this movie starts with a frantic opening, where a young girl, Eboni (Hattie Hook), 18 years of age, wakes up on a beach unaware of her location.  She finds a pay phone but has no change. She begs someone on the street for some and thankfully, back then, we did all know our best friend’s phone numbers by heart.  If you gave me 2 million dollars right now, I could not tell you my best friend of over 25 year’s number, not since so many years ago when we both eliminated our landlines.  

Eboni does reach her friend and dance partner Kol (Elias Anton), however, they should already be leaving for the dance finals as they speak.  She doesn’t want her mother to know she’s been out all night and Kol doesn’t have access to a car, so there’s a convoluted scene to get a message to Eboni’s older brother, Adam (Thom Green) to come get her. Kol rides with Adam because he still has dreams of them making it to the dance competition in time. And someone has to navigate the map, cause they still don’t know exactly where she is, as you can’t drop a pin on a pay phone.

Kol and Adam’s car ride becomes the crux of the film, Kol claims to be straight, just not in love with Eboni, he sees her as a friend – in actuality, Eboni is nobody’s real friend, she’s a vacuous, self-centered nightmare.  Along the road trip, an uneasy start turns to conversation on books, music and various and sundry. At one point Adam casually drops the fact that he’s gay.  Kol is taken  aback and gets flustered. He’s not exactly self-assured to begin with, rather awkward and shy, has acne and timid body language. Adam is small in stature, but full of confidence.  It’s obvious he wants to befriend, protect and fu*k Kol. Where Kol tries in vain not to show he’s crushing hard.

The movie relies on both the sexual tension and immediate fondness each feels for the other, full of aching undercurrent and furtive glances.   There’s other factors at play like Kol’s ultra-conservative family and his being an immigrant to Australia from Serbia.  The writer/director Goran Stolevski, similarly immigrated from Macedonia to Australia as a teen, but says he relates more to Adam’s character than to Kol’s.  What impressed me most about the film is when it moves ahead 10 years and Elias Anton so convincingly plays the character of Kol with more depth and self-assurance. His body language is entirely different, bigger, he becomes hot!
T&T Rating: 3.25 outta 5

Of An Age is a completely different genre and directing style than Goran’s directorial debut You Won’t Be Alone, which premiered at Sundance 2022.  I got a chance to talk to the writer/director for that film last year.  Check it out:

THE OTHER FELLOW |October Coast | Director Matthew Bauer

“When I wrote the first one in 1953, I wanted Bond to be an extremely dull, uninteresting man to whom things happened; I wanted him to be a blunt instrument … when I was casting around for a name for my protagonist I thought by God, [James Bond] is the dullest name I ever heard.”

-Ian Fleming, The New Yorker, 21 April 1962

Secret agent James Bond, code number 007 with a license to kill, is a British spy and assassin for MI6. Formerly a Commander in the Royal Navy, Bond first appeared in Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel Casino Royale. Fleming drew his inspiration from a variety of sources, including a number of soldiers whom he worked with during World War II. However, evidence seen in Bond’s habits, traits, preferences, vices, and even his physical description suggest the character was most heavily based on Ian Fleming himself.

When selecting a name for his protagonist, Fleming was inspired to use the name of American from Philadelphia, ornithologist James Bond upon seeing his book, Birds of the West Indies, lying on his coffee table.  And this is where this documentary “The Other Fellow” takes off.  The real James Bond was not at all pleased that Fleming used his name for this character and even confronted the author about it in person, encouraged by his formidable wife, Mary. 

Most others sharing the name James Bond, came to it because their parent’s shortsightedly thought it would be cool (for most, it’s not). Those older than the books, just had to live with the fact that their name became a household word. Some deliberately took on the identity of cinema’s most famous spy. While one James Bond eventually changed his name altogether.  The doc introduces us to several Bonds, James Bond, around the world, capturing their stories and what being in that looming shadow actually means for people when it creates an identity crisis like no other.
T&T rating: 3 outta 5

MAGIC MIKE’S LAST DANCE |Warner Bros | Director Steven Soderbergh| Writer Reid Carolin

Allied Global Marketing, provided a fun preview screening including some Magic-Mike-Like Models, MMLD specialty cocktail “Permission” named after a song and dance in the movie, and these adorable chest cookies, of which I should have taken 2, so I could keep one and eat one.

For me, Magic Mike’s Last Dance was as satisfying as Magic Mike and Magic Mike XXL. It’s a little more sophisticated and feels more mature, as it should with Magic Mike aka Mike Lane now 40.  But it’s still a vehicle with a good storyline to support all that dancing and stripping.  There’s an Italian dancer who’s movements are ethereal. The theater, The Rattigan, used to represent London’s traditional West End is another good character in the film. Along with two breakout stars, Juliette Motamed as Hannah and Ayub Khan-Din as Victor, the Butler.  But mainly the movie depends on the chemistry between Mike (Channing Tatum) and Salma Hayek as impulsive socialite, Maxandra Mendoza. They’re relationship gets started with an explosively erotic dance, I’d like to watch again and again!
T&T Rating: 3.75 outta 5