The Hangover

E had somehow never seen this so we threw it on to see how it may or may not have held up and despite some elements of the classic 2000s era homophobia that was considered “comedy”, everything else was still actually funny in 2024. Amazingly, E not only hadn’t seen it, but the plot had also not been spoiled for her, which is half the fun of this movie. The mystery element that drives this movie, trying to uncover what happened to them elevates this a bit beyond the fraternity humor. Amazing to think this was the breakout movie for Cooper, Galifianakis and Helms, and see the paths they’ve all taken. They all play their roles well, but Galifianakis is certainly the best part of the movie, as every line he utters remains funny to this day. E enjoyed it more than she thought she would, which is a win you’ll take for this 15-year-old movie.

-Z

Z 7.25
E 7.75
J n/a

ZEJ 7.5

Bad Boys: Ride or Die

As it was in the first three movies, the life blood of this movie is how well Will Smith and Martin Lawrence work together. If I had to rank movie pairs, I think after watching all four of these they need to be in the conversation. Now the problem with it is I think I have seen this plot 100 times before in other action movies. Very predictable and easy to see where it's going.That being said, this had a great mix of humor and action. This is my favorite of the four and was extremely fun. Overall, I think we all learned that Reggie is the true Bad Boy.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.75

~ZEJ 7.75

Knock at the Cabin

I will start with now that I have watched it, I wish I found some time to see it in theaters. I think from the beginning to end, Dave Batista was in his element. Give me more Batista in serious roles! Along with that, the unease was felt instantly, but sadly in some ways it never got anywhere. Also, I think it would have been nicer if they trusted the audience instead of hand holding the entire movie. This though is an example of you can’t always trust reviews, definitely worth the watch!

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.75

~ZEJ 7.75

Stars at Noon

A24 + Margaret Qualley = a must watch for me. I had never really heard of this movie before, but I am glad I watched it. It is definitely a topic that I know very little about, but the human element was easily followed based on some great acting. I do think that this movie was a little too long and a little too slow to keep it from being really good, but it has some really captivating moments. It is also missing some clarity on what exactly is happening and how we got there, but that may be something I wanted that isn’t needed. Overall a really solid movie.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.75

~ZEJ 7.75

Inside Out 2

Talking with Z & E, I was surprised to remember that the first of this movie came out in 2011. I did not see it in theaters, and I think I saw it a few years after its release. I remembered loving the first one and it definitely put me in my feels. Now that we got to a second one that has more emotions to make it more relatable, it sadly fell a bit from the original. I feel like the story followed the same path as the original, and not in a great way. We got away from headquarters and had to find our way back, with what I feel like was less ‘side quests’ to keep the story moving. With that being said, it is a good story and a great concept. This is a movie that will be extremely helpful I think for every kid growing up. It did fall a little short of the original, but it is still a great movie!

-J

This universe of Inside Out is a tough one for me. As much as I love animation in general, the animation aesthetic of Inside Out 2 is my least favorite. The colors and character’s visual design just doesn’t do anything for me. And that’s tough considering how ingenious the premise is, and how delicately they showcase the emotional development of a child. The sequel is certainly a re-hash of the first movie, with perhaps less care, but again, the lesson from this movie, on that all parents and children can greatly benefit from, that all emotions have their purpose and learning to give them all a healthy balance is so poignant and relevant that it’s still deserving of a watch.

-Z

Z 8.0
E 8.5
J 8.75

ZEJ 8.42

Hit Man

Glenn Powell season is here! Now due to hype, I was really excited for this film. I have a soft spot for good Rom-Coms, even though all of us at ZEJ would not agree. Recently I have become a Glenn Powell believer. I think that despite it being a cornier Netflix movie, the amount of costumes and fun situations they put Glenn in allowed us to see his acting range. Overall, this is an extremely fun movie, but I do think it moved too fast at times. My two biggest issues with this movie are its speed through plot and that the ending was terrible. I have been known to give flack to Z and E about overreacting to endings, but I have to be on their side on this one. In no way do I regret watching and actually this may be one of the most recommendable movies of the year for anyone I talk with.

-J

Hit Man subverts a lot of expectations. What I though was going to be yet another but welcome movie about a hit man was in fact about a … SPOILER … pretend hit man stuck in a rom com. And as a rom com, it’s pretty entertaining. The ending however, and for once, Jord agrees, RUINS this movie. They wrap the climactic ending up in a basically fairy-tale ending and it does a huge disservice to the rest of the movie. That said, the acting is excellent, and Glen Powell is the real deal. E was skeptical of Glen’s abilities going into this, but she came out a believer. He was great in Top Gun 2, Jord said he was great in Anyone but You and he was great in this. He shows a lot of range, both dramatic and comedic, and it makes me really look forward to Twisters.

-Z

Z 7.0
E 7.5
J 7.75

ZEJ 7.42

Bad Boys for Life

Now, it's crazy that 16 years have passed and we thought that we should make another but we did. Bye Michael Bay, and I think that does help the plot progression in some ways, but hurts it in others. Mike Lowry has gone from cool guy to this untouchable figure, and I really wasn’t about it. I did enjoy the give and take again from both WIll Smith and Martin Lawrence, and has to be really the only reason that these sequels can exist. I thought this story was easier to follow than the first two, but that also made it decently corny and predictable. This one and the first should be watched, the second one I would save some time!

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.5

~ZEJ 7.5

Bad Boys II

Now, I thought the first one was apparently Michael Bay, but holy cow, this one there is no way you wouldn’t know it. I think it did some fun things to expand both characters, but in a lot of ways it was just a ‘lets run this back’ kind of situation. Very similar give and take with some very similar action that is even more over the top. I didn’t think a second one was needed, and after watching it, I stand by my words. Overall, the Reggie bit is by far the best, the rest can be forgotten.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 6.5

~ZEJ 6.5

Bad Boys

As I watched this film, I realized two things. The first thing is that I have never seen the original and secondly that it is a Michael Bay film. You realize really quickly that Michael Bay was all over this film. Now, I will say I am extremely surprised that there was a sequel after this… and then another… and then another. It is a weird movie to continue in my opinion, as I didn’t think it was phenomenal. I think the saving grace is that you have some amazing give and take from Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. Now, it is a product of its time, but I also think the story is unique in some ways, but mostly pretty cookie cutter. Overall if you haven’t seen it, it could be worth the watch.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 7.5

~ZEJ 7.5

It’s Such a Beautiful Day (2012)

At its core, it has some really amazing animation. Now, I don’t know if I was ready for this movie to be as heavy as it is. An extremely somber movie, with some beautiful moments, but definitely need to be ready for what you are about to watch. It did get a little long, but I do think that is part of the story that is trying to be told. Technically, hard to say it isn’t a masterpiece, but for me, it is a tough watch.

-J

We watched this in a special screening that showed Don Hertzfeldt’s new animated short, ME, and then It’s Such a Beautiful Day. In between the two, Don Hertzfeldt apologized for what we were about to watch, calling It’s Such a Beautiful Day “exhausting”. And that has never been more true about a movie. It tells the story of Bill, who suffers from severe memory loss, from some kind of dementia or brain tumor, and while telling that story also simulates what it’s like to have said memory loss. Knowing absolutely zero information about this movie going into it except for the fact that many critics consider this one of the best animated movies ever made, I was not at all prepared for just how exhausting and depressing this was. Having three grandparents that suffered and succumbed to the horrors of dementia, this was a deep look into what may have been happening inside their minds. I cannot say I enjoyed what I saw or the exhausting ride I took. The animation was amazing, no doubt, and utterly unique, and it will certainly stick with me. In fact, I dreamt the night we watched this that I was Bill, and I was stuck in a kind of continual memory lapse loop as he was in the third act. That was a particular kind of nightmare. I can’t say I recommend this movie, but if you have been affected by someone suffering memory loss or are curious, it will be an exhausting illumination.

-Z

Z 8.0
E 8.5
J 8.5

ZEJ 8.33

Blue Mountain State: The Rise of Thadland

Now that the TV series Blue Mountain State is back on Netflix, I gave it a re-watch. Has it aged well, not really, is it still worth some laughs, absolutely. Now, after finishing its three seasons, I felt like I should watch the movie that they put out. It was… something. They really tried to hit a lot of nostalgia from the show, which is a little weird as they look a lot older but are still in college. Also, as it has aged like whole milk in some ways with the jokes and what BMS is on the whole. Though it was a bad movie, I did laugh and would watch another version of Blue Mountain State, so I guess I am the problem.

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 5.0

~ZEJ 5.0

Shrek

This is obviously a rewatch for me. As the Shrek series has been in theaters again, I have been thinking over the summer that I should watch them all again. I am a Dreamworks > Disney if you want to know, so I think Shrek is most likely my favorite animated movie ever, and has a good chance of staying there. The story is good, the jokes are funny, and the music is phenomenal. As we move on, I know some will argue the later ones are better, but they are not nearly as good in my opinion, but we will see through my rewatch if I keep that opinion. Overall, my favorite animated movie ever and always worth a rewatch!

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 10.0

~ZEJ 10.0

The Wrong Missy

Now, I would be lying if I didn’t say I laughed more than I should have, but I did. Now, just because it made me laugh doesn’t mean that it is a great movie. The jokes were good, but the story is extremely outlandish and a bit too silly at times for me. Tommy Boy is one of my favorite comedies of all time, so I enjoy watching David Spade movies. Now, I watched it because of him but I will say I fell in love with Lauren Lapkus. I hope as time goes on, we see her in more movies, and preferably better movies than this. Overall, if you are looking for a laugh, throw it on, but hold off if you are expecting what you would consider a ‘good movie.’

-J

Z n/a
E n/a
J 6.0

~ZEJ 6.0

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

This is a rewatch for me, and I stand by my original rating, but it did cross my mind to maybe raise it. I think they nailed the movie that has to put you in a good mood. Maybe it's Marcel’s voice or the little random things they do, but I watch this with a smile glued to my face. The story goes deeper than expected, but this is a movie that I would say “has no business being as good as it is.” An old Youtube video series turned into a major motion picture, and it works fantastically. As time goes on, I am sure this is going to be a common rewatch when I am feeling a little down but can be watched anytime. I would recommend this to anyone, old or young!

-J

Z 8.5
E 8.0
J 8.5

~ZEJ 8.33

Vertigo

Why I chose to watch this…. No idea. I was looking at lists of old critically acclaimed movies and landed here. The premise is cool, and definitely gives you a very uneasy feeling as you watch. I will say my issues with the movie doesn’t come from its age, but how it seemed to drag. At times it almost seemed like you got 2 episodes to a TV show instead of a singular movie. That being said, you can see so many techniques and storytelling strategies that are still used today even though the movie is from 1958. I would recommend it to someone wanting to watch classics, but probably not one you need to run to Amazon Prime and watch.

-J

Z N/A
E N/A
J 8.75

~ZEJ 8.75

The LEGO Batman Movie

Now, I wasn’t expecting an obsession to be created off of watching this film. I could not tell you how pleasantly surprised I have been from a movie since Godzilla: Minus One. From the beginning I was laughing out loud and having a great time. The story is made for kids, but I thought it played very well to all audiences. Z is the one with a soft spot for all animation, but I have fallen under the Lego Spell. I will be watching the original Lego Movies now and hopefully looking forward to even more. A movie that reminds me of Shrek due to it being a kid movie, but very relatable to adults. If you have not seen it, I think you need to!

-J

Z N/A
E N/A
J 8.75

~ZEJ 8.75

The Greatest Game Ever Played

Golf, just an extremely riveting sport to most, but somehow some people seem to think it's boring. This is the first golf movie I have watched that does a really good job of making golf look ‘cool.’ I think it created some very electric moments that were cooler than some football or basketball scenes in movies. One of the problems is how corny it is. Like most (all) Disney sports movies, it just runs into issues of following these super predictable storylines and has some story lines they take no time on developing, but then expect you to care about these relationships. I think Shia LaBeouf and his young caddies Josh Flitters relationship was given some justice and I really did enjoy it. For a true story, it is a really cool story and I think it was worth telling!

-J

Z N/A
E N/A
J 7.5

~ZEJ 7.5

MoviePass, MovieCrash

Definitely felt a little bit like homework. I never had Movie Pass, and maybe that's why I don’t care that much, but I do love movies. I did really enjoy learning about how the business started, and it does make sense why it crashed, but I don’t know if it is documentary worthy. Now, I will be honest I have thought about getting the new Movie Pass, but overall this is something that is definitely not something that needs to be watched.

-J

Z N/A
E N/A
J 6.75

~ZEJ 6.75*

*This is a documentary and the score does not enter the ZEJ ratings table.

Edge of Tomorrow

Do I like Tom Cruise? Also, I feel like I understand the Emily Blunt love a lot more. I always avoided Tom and really never knew Emily, but they worked together quite well. I don’t know if it was the terrible movie poster or if it's just not my usual movie, but in my head I thought this was a terrible movie. Talking with Z and E they convinced me that it is great and deserved a watch. Is it the best action movie ever? No. Did I absolutely enjoy my time watching it? Yes. Now, the timeline does get a little loose in my opinion. Maybe it doesn’t matter how long this has been happening, but some of the scenes seemed like too much for me. Overall though, I think they played the concept well and kept me wondering how it would come together. If you are looking for a fun action movie and love the ‘Groundhogs Day’ genre, give this a watch!

-J

Z N/A
E N/A
J 8.0

~ZEJ 8.0

Madame Web

At no point in the movie was I ever like, wow, this has potential or this is kinda good... her power was interesting to me at one point but then I got confused again and the special effects on a few scenes were cool, but it's bad

-J

E and I usually save the bad movies for Jord but in the case of Madame Web, which seems to be a lock for the Razzies Worst Picture award, and Dakota Johnson may have fired her talent agency over, we had to make an exception, and, boy, did this exceed expectations.

I mean, when a movie delivers lines like:

“Don’t do dumb things.”

or

“Hope the spiders were worth it, mom.”

or improving the iconic Spider-Man line with:

“When you take on the responsibility, great power will come.”

How can that be considered bad?

I mean, sure, the villain in this is given absolutely zero backstory or explanation of who he is, and, yeah, the three “Spider-Women” who are teased the whole movie that they will get superpowers never do, and yes, Dakota Johnson seems to completely mailing it in the final scenes, but you can’t let those things get in the way of script-writing genius.

Limiting the titular character’s use of her powers to “Duck!” and running into the bad guy with a stolen vehicle, not once, but twice is just utter brilliance that will be difficult to replicate.

I won’t go as far as to call this a masterpiece, like The Room, but it comes darn close. 3/10. Must watch.

-Z

Z 3.0
E 3.75
J 4.0

ZEJ 3.58