Nobody (2021) Review

It took me a bit longer then I expected by I have now watched Nobody and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a family man forced into his old violent habits when a Russian mob boss comes after him and his family. 

Main Character

I love Bob Odenkirk, Saul Goodman is one of the best characters in TV history and now seeing him take on this role is exciting and he really excels. Honestly, in the trailers I wasn't sure if I would buy him as this John Wick action star but he does a fantastic job of that, he is believable in all of the action scenes and his character is really interesting and well realised. We have seen Keanu Reeves, Denzel Washington and Chris Hemsworth be these one man armies characters and now Odenkirk is just as good and really knocks it out of the par. 

Supporting Characters

Connie Nielson plays his wife and she does a good job in the role, the two of them work well together and despite the fact that she doesn't have too much to work with I thought she did enough for a good performance. Christopher Lloyd plays his father and he is great as expected and is a real fun element of the film and it is really great to see him and Odenkirk interact on screen. RZA and Michael Ironside also do decent jobs in their smaller roles. But the issue here is with the villain played by Aleksey Serebryakov, he is your generic Russian gangster and despite him doing an alright job in the role his character is just really lacking and it feels like it is the part of the film that doesn't hold up compared to the rest. 

Story

The story is a fun watch, it does a good job of showing how this mans life has become dull and mundane but he gains happiness and confidence as the film progresses. The plot is designed towards the action scenes and they hold up really well and has good actors delivering fun and solid performances. But the plot is pretty generic, this former operative going after the Russian mob, it has been done a million times and though entertaining does leave something to be desired. 

Script 

The script is good, there is some dark humour here that worked for me and I did care about Odenkirk's character and wanted to see him succeed and it does what it needs to do well enough. 

Style 

The style of the film has some truly excellent action scenes, they are brutal, unique and exhilarating to watch. The film is paced well, after a bit of a slow start it really hits its strides and had me invested throughout for a truly enjoyable experience. 

Overall

Overall, Nobody is a great action film. Odenkirk really shines here and this is a really fun action film that for fans of that genre needs to be seen and appreciated. 

Rating - 8/10

Fast & Furious 9 (2021) Review

After a really long delay, the time has finally come for the new Fast & Furious film to hit cinemas and today I saw the 9th film in the main franchise and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees the crew bought back into the action when Dom's brother Jakob comes after them hunting for a device to take over. 

Main Character

Vin diesel has become the poster child for the fast and furious and it feels like he could play Dom Toretto in his sleep and he does that here. He is functional but uninspiring, it feels like he sleepwalks through the film, just doing about enough but not pushing himself at all to raise his standards and that is kind of how this whole film feels and he is a large part of that. 

Supporting Characters

The cast look like they are having some fun with the roles, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster & Nathalie Emmanuel are all decent in their roles and provide some exciting and fun moments. Even though its a small role one of the best parts of the film is seeing Charlize Theron back as Cipher and Theron does a great job and it makes me wish she was a larger part of this film. Ludacris and Tyrese Gibson are back in their roles and there are occasional funny banter between the two but they just became to much for me and transitioned from entertaining and funny and became truly annoying. John Cena plays Jakob and they really tried to make me care about his character but it just didn't really work, the flashbacks try but he is just a bland villain and does nothing to stand out. The issue is that Cipher is in the background and it makes me wish she had been the main villain of the film instead of Jakob which is a large issue. Sung Kang makes his big return as Han and it let me down, all these years there has been this campaign for him to be bought back and the way they explain that doesn't really make sense and Han is such a small part of the film that it makes you wonder why they even bothered with it. 

Story 

The story doesn't work, Fast and Furious has always struggled with its plot but this is one of the weakest yet. There are the flashbacks that try and build the relationship between Dom and Jakob but it doesn't work and I think that is because the film gets bogged down with too much going on. Over the years the franchise has become more and more absurd with this one being the most crazy to date and it just doesn't work at all. Bringing Han back and the absurd maguffin device that is there just to drive the plot forward back just feels really contrived with a generic ending that feels like it truly lacks effort. 

Script

The script is also pretty bad but it really knows it and plays it up. Some of the humour had me chuckling for sure and when on screen the flashbacks do bring some heart, but it is just not enough. Overall, the drama falls flat and the humour becomes so contrived and basically addresses the stupidity of the whole franchise which doesn't work as well as some other films have done before.

Style 

It is crazy to see how the Fast and Furious franchise started and how it looks now. Cars explode and things explode everywhere, the film doesn't obey the laws of physics and is just there to see absurd action scenes that sees people survive things that they should never ever survive. But there comes a time when those things don't matter because none of the characters seem to be in any real danger so it is just explosions for the sake of explosions. Also the film is way too long, it is nearly 2 and a half hours and it has no right to be that way at all. 

Overall

Overall, Fast and Furious 9 is a below average film. It seems like this franchise is hitting the end of the road and Fast 9 is just a film where things explode and not much else so give this one a skip unless you are a huge fan of the franchise. 

Rating - 4/10

Monster Hunter (2021) Review

There are plenty of films out at the moment and today I managed to find the time to go and see Monster Hunter and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a group of soldiers transported to a new world where monsters have taken over. 

Main Character

Mila Jovovich plays the lead character and she is fine. Once she starts to get into the role she shows a bit of personality and has a fun dynamic with one of the other characters. She sells the action scenes well and comes across as a legit action star for sure. But the issue is that her character is so boring and dull, the first act in particular she is unlikeable and it is difficult to turn that around for sure and the film can't do that enough to make this a really good character. 

Supporting Characters

Tony Jaa plays the main supporting character and he does a good job despite the fact that he barely speaks any English at all. He gives a very physical performance and does a really good job of being our introduction to this world and it is fun watching him on display and the dynamic between him and Jovovich is one of the more entertaining parts of the film. Ron Perlman plays a role here and he just doesn't get much to do apart from being the exposition dump and that is disappointing as he is pretty fun in his role. There are some other decent actors like TI and Meagan Goode and they are completely wasted and are actually annoying characters. 

Story 

The story is easily the weakest element of the film with very little placed on it. The characters aren't really given the time to make the audience care and there isn't much given to what is exactly going on and the depth that is needed. The ending is also really infuriating, it sequel baits so hard and it doesn't have the right to do that and it comes across as more annoying then exciting for future films in this world. 

Script

The script started off poor, but actually some humour came into it and I did chuckle quite a bit and it helped build the relationship between Jovovich and Jaa which was one of the highlights of the film. But the drama is poor and the film doesn't make the plot interesting enough, it just felt like the actual script wasn't a priority here. 

Style

This is easily the best part of the film, it looks gorgeous with the backdrops being jaw dropping. The creature design is great with all the CGI holding up really nicely. If you are looking for a film that sees people fighting huge monsters then this film achieves that very well. I love how the weapon and costume design is so over the top and absurd which more films should copy and embrace. The film also has a really intense pacing to it and with the other weaknesses at least it is entertaining to watch. 

Overall

Overall, Monster Hunter is a very average film. It does monster fight scenes really well and if the amount of care that was put into the style was put into everything else then this could have been something special but it is only worth a watch for people who like large scale fight scenes.

Rating - 5/10

Time (2021) Series Review

Last Sunday BBC came out with Time, a new drama that is 3 episodes long and I have watched all three episodes and here is my review for it. The premise of the series sees a man convicted to prison where he is looked after by a police officer who cares about his inmates. 

Main Character

Sean Bean and Stephen Graham play the two leads here and they are both fantastic. Firstly Bean, he feels like a normal guy put in this terrible situation because of one thing that he did and he sells that brilliantly. You see the real criminals in this show and the ones with no remorse so it shows him in a light where you do care and see despite his flaws he is a good person. The same can be said for Graham's character, he is an honest officer that is trying to help the prisoners survive and at least stay human. But he has his flaws and is put in a difficult situation and Graham sells it as well as you would expect because he is a brilliant actor. These two are now juggernauts of the screen and it is great to see them on screen though I do wish they did more together. 

Supporting Characters 

The rest of the cast are definitely secondary, Brian McCardie who played Tommy Hunter on Line Of Duty has a role here and he plays the character you would expect, I think he could probably do it in his sleep. Siobhan Finnerman plays a pastor that helps the inmates and she is good in her role as a likeable support network for these people who need it for different reasons. The rest of the cast are also pretty good in their roles and fit the parts of the show that they need too. 

Story 

The story is effective, it is interesting to see this average man trying to get through prison and live day by day. While this police officer is put in an uncomfortable position that shows how good people can be affected by this world. It brings up plenty of emotion and real world situations that can be difficult to watch and grasp. But this show also has a bit of a disconnect, the two main stories feel pretty separate and I feel like especially Graham's story gets a lack of detail put into it. With the show being more realistic, it also made the pace a bit slow and it took me at least the second episode to get into it. 

Script 

The script is very real, the drama is real and effective. You see the pain and anguish that goes on in the prison mixed with some anger from the prisoners. But maybe its a bit too real, there is little to surprise, no little quirks of humour and just a lack of humanity overall to the feel of the characters. 

Style 

The show has some intense scenes that you would expect from a show set in a prison. It does an effective job in detailing the life of Bean's character in particular and how he tries to survive while keeping his moral compass. The show is only 3 episodes long and that is a good thing, it never outstays its welcome but it is a bit pondering and slow, especially in that first episode for me. Like a lot of shows there are elements of the show that I thought were needed and some that weren't and that affected the overall pace of the show. 

Overall

Overall, Time is a good show. I have seen rave reviews for this show but I don't think it is that good, if you like either of the two main actors then you will see enough you like and think this was a decent three hour show. 

Rating - 7/10

A Quiet Place Part 2 (2021) Review

After a long wait the sequel to the great film A Quiet Place has made its way to the cinema here in the UK and I watched it last night and here is my review for it. The premise of the film picks up straight from the end of the last film and sees the Abbot family attempt to survive in this world. 

Main Character 

Emily Blunt is back in the lead role and she is really good here. She has to be an even stronger character in this scene as for obvious reasons her husband played by John Krasinski is missing from this film. She plays a strong character and the film does a good of continuing the journey that she was on following the first film and it is really cool seeing her get her hands dirtier in this film. She is joined in the lead role by Cillian Murphy this time and he is also really good, he just adds some star power to this whole thing and he is doing good work as this survivor that encounters the family. You see how this meeting really changes his mindset as a character and leads his character down a more positive road. 

Supporting Characters

Millicent Simmonds & Noah Jupe are given way more to do in this film and they are both really good, Simmonds in particular is phenomenal. Her character really steps up in this film and I really like how the fact she is a deaf actress allows the chance to convey emotion in different ways and make us really care about her and the narrative that she goes on in this film. Jupe also does a good job, despite the fact that he is more of an idiot in this film, his character is just not written as well as Simmonds but he just about does enough and the ending for his character does make it worthwhile. Djimon Hounsou has a small role in the film and he is fine, reports are that he joined the cast really late in the day and it does show a little bit but he works for the role that he is in. 

Story 

The story is good, I really like the world that has been built here and how there is still a real lack of knowledge about elements like the monster. The film tells you the bare minimum still and lets you focus on the action and suspense instead of some convoluted back story that would maybe cheapen the mythos. The first ten minutes of this film are some of the best and craziest I have seen for a long time and the terror is expertly shown. But I do feel this film is lacking a little bit in terms of the family connection, the story sees the character split up which makes it feel a little disconnected from each other and means we spend less time with some characters which is a shame. Plus despite the ending being satisfying, there was an element that I feel like they weren't sure how exactly to end it and it was a criticism I had for the first film too. 

Script 

The script is good, despite the premise of the film there is more dialogue in this film then there was in the first film but it isn't forced and feels very natural. It is a serious film which allows for a little bit of humour but that feels appropriate and the drama does work and makes you care about these people and their hunt for survival. 

Style 

The film looks great, this film is a larger scale for sure and it works. The design of the monsters is on greater display here and for those gaming fans just imagine the clickers from The Last of Us and you have there design and it is really cool. I also saw this film in the cinema and the silence is super chilling and really sucks you into the atmosphere of the film and the terror that one slight bit of sound could be the end of the characters. But this film does have a little bit of a jump scare issue, the first film was clever and mature with its scares and this film is too but I just felt there were a few too many cheap jump scares for my liking. Also the film barely hits 90 mins and I could have done with like an extra 10 mins as it does feel a little rushed at the end. 

Overall

Overall, A Quiet Place 2 is a great film that needs to be seen on the big screen to be appreciated fully. I really like the two films in this universe and hopefully they keep this franchise going as I think there is so much more that can be done with it. 

Rating - 8/10 

First Impressions - Loki Season 1 (2021)

So yesterday we finally made it to the day where the first episode of Loki came to Disney+ and here are my thoughts on the episode and what it could mean for the future of the show and maybe the MCU as a whole. 

Tom Hiddleston is given the real chance to shine  

Tom Hiddleston has always been great as Loki and shined in the role he has been given as a villain, an anti-hero and hero but he has always been a supporting character, mainly for Thor. But finally the spotlight is on him and he shines once again, we learn more about the character and this is such an interesting point for the character. 

Hiddleston and Owen Wilson have great chemistry 

This episode basically revolves around an in depth conversation between Loki and Owen Wilson's character Mobius and it is fascinating. You see how much fun they are having together and how Wilson is basically critiquing the whole character of Loki to the point that they pick him up and it does seem to affect his future self. 

Loki isn't clear hero or clear villain 

As I said above this version of Loki might be the most interesting that we have seen in the MCU. The TVA picks him up after the events of the first Avengers where he was pretty much full villain, I mean he led an alien attack on Earth. But after he sees his future, it seems to affect him and is leading him to becoming a mixture of the more evil character and the one that would eventually die a heroic death. 

How are the TVA so powerful and what does this mean for the infinity stones? 

This episode did a really good job of building up the scope and power of the Time Variance Authority. It is clear they are one of the most powerful entities in the MCU, they keep infinity stones as coffee mats. I mean I am wondering if this scene was here for Loki to steal them and take over the world in his on timeline. 

What does the other Loki want

The end of the episode revealed that the variant the TVA are hunting is Loki himself. Now this has to bring up the question as to what version of Loki is this and how does he even exist. The question has to be what the motivations of the variant are, is it just survival? or are their greater ambitions to be had. 

Sets the building blocks for the next phase of the MCU 

This was also a crucial episode for the future of the MCU. It has been pretty much confirmed that upcoming projects are going to focus on multiverse and timelines which is established here and with The TVA introduced it sets up a clear direction. This gives a chance for Loki to connect to Wandavsion, Doctor Strange: Multiverse in Madness and Spider-Man: No Way home which is pretty exciting. 

Overall 

Overall, this was a great first episode for Loki. The cast do a great job and it builds such intrigue and routes to go down for the show's run. If it delivers on the promise that this episode sets up then this will be a special show. 

A Quiet Place (2018) Review

I plan on finally getting to see A Quiet Place 2 tomorrow evening, so in prep I had to watch the first film and I did that today and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a family trying to survive where they must live in silence to avoid monsters that are out to kill them. 

Main Character

Real Life Married Couple Emily Blunt and John Krasinski play the two lead characters here and they are both really good here. Obviously, they can't really talk together so they have to rely on natural chemistry that they obviously have and it is very effective in the film. These are two characters you actually care about in a horror film and I can't tell you how much better it makes the overall experience. 

Supporting Characters

This film has one of the smallest casts imaginable and really the only ones to mention are the two children played by Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe. They are both very good, especially for inexperienced performers and all of the cast do really good jobs and feel like a true family trying to survive an apocalypse. 

Story 

The story is fascinating because of how little detail there is. This film refreshingly doesn't overcomplicate things or explain too much about this world like there is no indication where the monsters actually came from. The film is simple as we watch these four people attempt to survive and stay quiet, their characters are what drives the film and the incredibly tense situations that they are put into. But there is no doubt, that some of the plot elements aren't really explained enough and with the premise there are times where the plot doesn't exactly make sense. Plus this films very ending infuriated me a bit and felt a little cheap after the film that I watched. 

Script

Now this is the hardest part of the film to examine as there is very little dialogue to work with. What is here is good and the dialogue displayed through sign language does a good job in developing the characters. But there were some elements of the plot that weren't written as well as I would have liked and it did hold the film back a little bit for me. 

Style 

The films style is really good, the use or lack of sound is really effective and keeps you on your toes for the duration of the film without the cheap jump scares that most horror films employ. The film is only 90 mins long which was the right decision for sure and it manages to turn some mundane activities that they do and turn them into scenes that make you bite your nails in tension. 

Overall 

Overall, A Quiet Place is a great film that does its job as a suspense thriller with elements of horror really well. Its a short film so if you haven't watched it then do it and then go see the sequel in the cinema. 

Rating - 8/10

Jupiter's Legacy (2021) Series Review

The big news came out that Netflix has cancelled Jupiter's Legacy but I powered on and watched the first and only season of the show and here is my review for it. The premise of the show sees a group of Superheroes attempt to protect the world while navigating the new and changing ideologies of the 21st century. While flashbacks document the origins of these heroes and how they discovered their powers. 

Main Character

Josh Duhamel plays The Utopian and does a good job in his role. He is basically the Superman of this universe and he sells it well, he has a code of morals that you can tell he believes in so strongly that it defines the way he believes that things should be done as a superhero. Then in the flashback scenes he also manages to portray this crazy and unhinged character who is one step ahead of everybody else and sees the opportunity for the characters. But the issue is that his character, like pretty much everybody else gets bogged down by family drama and it just is dull to watch and leads the character down a more cliché and uninspiring way which hurts the strong performance Duhamel is trying to give. 

Supporting Characters  

There is some decent cast members here, Ben Daniels plays Brainwave, the brother of Duhamel and he is really good. He just comes across as a very cool and powerful character in the present day and that contrasts well with his character in the flashback scenes that comes across very differently. Leslie Bibb plays Duhamel's wife Lady Liberty and they are good together and she does a decent job in her role. Her character in the flashbacks isn't as interesting but she manages to give a good enough account of herself. It is a bit strange seeing Matt Lanter in live action because I am so used to him being the voice of Anakin Skywalker in The Clone Wars but he is good. He is mostly in the flashback story but he plays the rich snob pretty well and his relationship with the other characters is one of the more interesting aspects of the show. But there are plenty of issues with the cast and they are with the younger performers, Andrew Horton and Elena Kampouris play the children of Duhamel and Bibb's characters and they are so annoying, Horton is the generic hero trying to emulate his father without any real characterisation for himself. and Kampouris as Chloe is that character that is the rebel and doesn't care about anybody but it is forced and feels really detached from the rest of the show. There are so many characters introduced that it becomes really hard to care about some of them and makes you wonder where they have gone when they don't appear for a few episodes. 

Story 

The story deals with some interesting social and political issues with the 21st century and how superheroes would affect this. The argument between how the heroes should act with the villains works and does provided some real complex issues with the team. The origins of the older characters is quite interesting to watch as well but the issue is that it is way too long. It feels like the flashback storyline takes up so much time that we don't actually see that much of the team doing superhero stuff which is a real let down. Also there seems to be a lack of direction with the overall plot, with many different smaller stories not really coming together to make a coherent and fulfilling story. 

Script

The script is okay, with a few decent comedic scenes and some decent drama that reflects interesting ideas and morality. But there is nothing that stands out at all and it just feels very paint by numbers in terms of the way it tells the story and how the characters act. 

Style 

The show has some decent action scenes and you can tell there was a big budget behind this show and it does provide some impressive looking moments with some appropriate violence. But the pacing of the show is off, with storylines that don't matter and characters disappearing for whole episodes in order for them to tell this really drawn out origin story for the older heroes. Plus, this might be a personal thing but I thought there was way too much slow-mo used which made the fights feel a bit hollow and less impressive despite the high stakes on show. 

Overall

Overall, Jupiter's Legacy is an average show. I think this show had a lot of potential but it also felt like this was all set up for a second season that we will never get to see. For me watch The Boys on Amazon instead as this show falls way short and isn't going to be remembered by most. 

Rating - 5/10 

Raya and the Last Dragon (2021) Review

So this film has finally been put on Disney+ at no extra cost and I watched Raya and the Last Dragon today and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a young woman go on a hunt for the last dragon and a way to unite the kingdom of Kumandra. 

Main Character

Kelly Marie Tran voices Raya and she is a really good character. She is your typical Disney heroine but there is no doubt that the formula works and she is somebody that you will support and want to see succeed. She is a great action hero that has an actual character arc which is pretty well realised and makes her a cool and memorable character. 

Supporting Characters

This film has a legit voice cast. Awkwafina voices The Last Dragon and the dynamic between her and Raya is one of the large parts of the film, she does go a bit over the top at times and this is no Aladdin and Genie but it works well enough. Gemma Chan voices Raya's rival and she does a good job and the conflict between them is also a well done part of the film and risen up by the quality of voice actor. Daniel Dae Kim, Sandra Oh and Benedict Wong al all do good jobs in their roles and add plenty to the lore of the film and the characters. 

Story 

The story is okay, it is cool seeing the different elements of the culture and the fun adventure quest between a likeable group of characters as they go to these places. But there is no denial that this film is pretty cliché and formulaic, there were scenes that I predicted what was going to happen before it happened and that was disappointing. I get that the Disney formula does work, but it is 2021 and maybe some risks need to be taken in order to make it stand out from the rest. 

Script 

The script has some nice heart-warming moments and comedic elements in it that again feels like it fits the world that is being portrayed on screen. But again, some of the comedy is repetitive and dull with the drama feeling again like you have seen it before and it doesn't bring enough new to the table. 

Style 

The film has a really good style about it, the computer graphics is mind blowing and it is amazing how animation has developed as the technology has. The action scenes are glorious and the colour pallets and design are really great to look at. I just feel like this film has a slight pacing problem, the middle act for me wasn't that great and felt like it transitioned between locations quite quickly and failed to keep me as interested as the first and last acts did. 

Overall

Overall, Raya and the Last Dragon is a good film. It plays itself a bit safe and you have seen the overall themes before but it is a fun family film that is a good watch for sure. 

Rating - 7/10

Saw 4 (2007) Review

Even though Spiral has been out for a few weeks, I have been really busy so I am having to catch up on the Saw films quite quickly and here is my review for Saw 4. The premise of the film sees a police officer have to take part in a game in order to try and save his two friends. 

Main Character 

There are many characters in this film but I guess I put him in the premise so Lyriq Bent plays Lieutenant Rigg and this is one boring character. Yes, he has been in the other Saw films but as a very small role and this film requires him to do more and it just doesn't work. He is an incredibly bland character that is just a police officer and has nothing remarkable about him in any way. 

Supporting Characters

Even after the events of the last film, Tobin Bell is back as Jigsaw and the film uses him in a pretty bizarre way by trying to show more of his backstory and it just really didn't work for me. The rest of the cast offer pretty little, Costas Mandylor as Hoffman and Scott Patterson as Strahm play the other main roles but again there isn't much there, they are just generic police officers and I never really cared about the investigation or any of them as characters so it made it hard to stay invested as the film as a whole. 

Story 

The story isn't that great but there are some positives. In traditional Saw fashion, the last 10 mins are insane with reveals and gore and this film is no different with it being pretty effective, even if it doesn't all make sense. But the film really tries hard to connect everything from previous films and explore Jigsaws past that it bogs the film down and makes the continuity a bit hard to follow or gain a sense of. If you don't care about any of the characters it does make it difficult to get invested on the story that is being told. 

Script 

The script is pretty bad, the dialogue is basic and generic and the mapping out of the plot just doesn't work apart from that last 10 mins which is at least entertaining but a bit hard to understand. These films are forced to all connect and sometimes a bit too forcibly and it just doesn't quite work and forces you to try and remember everything that has taken place in previous films. 

Style 

Saw is know for its stylish executions and they are still here in all there gory nature and at least this element of the franchise is kept in tact and in full display here. But the film is paced poorly, and is sloppy in its execution which is in the nature of the last few films in this franchise. 

Overall

Overall, Saw 4 is a really poor film that is sloppy and focuses on the gore instead of its characters and narrative and that isn't enough for me. If you like horror films like Saw then obviously this is up your street but for everybody else, avoid this one. 

Rating - 2/10

Cruella (2021) Review 

After what feels like forever, I finally went back to the cinema today to watch Cruella and here is my review for it. The premise of the film sees a young woman try to get into the fashion world and become the woman that will become Cruella De Vil. 

Main Character

Emma Stone plays Cruella in the film and I thought she was fantastic, she just seems to be having so much fun in this role and it seems to be a role that was ready made for her and that she was born to play. Some will argue that she isn't exactly the character we know from the previous stories and did we really need a film that tries to make her a sympathetic figure, but Stone really excels at it and rises this film above where it really should be. 

Supporting Characters

Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hauser play her friends in the film and they are a nice trio to watch on screen with Hauser in particular providing some memorable scenes and laughs which was needed. It is funny that Emma Thompson plays a more typical Cruella De Vil as an antagonist and she is also really good and clearly having a blast as the bad guy and the two Emma's are easily the best part of the film for me. Though, there are a few issues here. Mark Strong is in this film and he does very little, it is kind of like why did they bother getting Strong if they weren't going to give him a more meaty and interesting role. Also Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Anita feels like a part of the film that feels out of place and it isn't really her fault but the character is incredibly bland and it feels she was in this film to try and humanize Cruella and it just doesn't work. 

Story 

The story is fine, Cruella has a decent backstory and it is represented really well on screen. The relationship between Emma Stone and Emma Thompson is really well done and is really entertaining to watch the two of them work together and go head to head on screen. But the film thinks it is really clever with the twists and turns but it comes across as forced and are elements that you can see them coming from a million miles away. No spoilers, but the ending also feels really forced and not earned which is a disappointment when you consider that this is a pretty long film. 

Script 

The script is similar to the plot, in that is is okay but won't be remembered. There are some fun exchanges that goes on between the characters but it feels like that is mainly down to the performers and not the strength of the writing. Also, it is a really predictable film and it is hard to avoid the feeling that you knew what was going to happen in every scene. 

Style 

The film looks really good, for a film that focuses so much on fashion design it was important for the costumes to be well realised and they are fantastic. It is overblown and exciting with an exciting sense of energy to it, which is hurt by one thing and that is the fact that it is way too long. The film is over 2 hours and it feels like this would be a much better film if they cut 10 minutes at least off of it and tightened up the plot. 

Overall

Overall, Cruella is an above average film. Some really good performances mixed with a fun style makes this an entreating watch that is let down by just having too much going on and a film that is just too long. If you like the look of the trailers then go watch Cruella and support your local cinema as they re-open. 

Rating - 6/10