Rotten Bananas

“Happy Death Day 2U” is everything a sequel shouldn’t be: bland, uninteresting, and with no plot of its own.  The film, written and directed by Christopher Landon, stars Jessica Rothe reprising her role as Theresa Gelbman, a college student who unwittingly gets locked into a time loop that resets every time she is …

“The Prodigy” is affront to the modern horror genre with absolutely no care to the great horror masterpieces that came before.  The film, directed by Nicholas McCarthy, stars Taylor Schilling, of “Orange is the New Black” fame, and Jackson Robert Scott, recognizable from his role as Georgie in 2017’s “It.” Schilling and …

“Carmen Sandiego” is an animated spy thriller with just a dash of political intrigue; and here’s a hint: it really works.  The show, produced by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, is based on the popular video game series with the same name. The video game series spanned an expansive line of educational programs for children …

“Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes’ is an ultimately boring rehash of the original Ted Bundy fiasco.  The Netflix documentary, created, written, and directed by Joe Berlinger, details the intimate aspects of Ted Bundy’s criminal life, from his initial capture, through his multiple escape attempts and then to his …

“You” is a thrill ride that takes the typical psychological drama and turns it on its head.  The series, developed by Greg Berlanti, stars Penn Badgley as Joe, a seemingly mild-mannered bookstore manager who finds infinite comfort in the literature he sells. The series begins when Joe meets Beck, played by Elizabeth Lail, and …

Netflix’s “Sex Education” teeters between awkwardness and true sexual revelation, and unlike some might think, it truly glows.  “Sex Education,” created by Laurie Nunn, stars Asa Butterfield, of “Ender’s Game” fame, as Otis Milburn, a sexually repressed, British teenager who has trouble dealing with all forms of sexual contact. Milburn’s …

Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” has received another remake in the form of a computer-animated facelift, but it is time to examine if it really needed one or if this iteration of the now-classic Christmas tale is just another cash grab by Universal Pictures.  To get to the …

“The Crimes of Grindelwald” takes us back in time to when plots were convoluted and racial stereotypes reigned supreme.  The film, directed by David Yates, acts as a sequel to 2016’s “Fantastic Beasts,” and is part of prequel series of films to the popular “Harry Potter” series. The film picks up …

“The Girl in the Spider’s Web” doesn’t live up to the spy-thriller hype; it doesn’t even thrill its main characters.  The film, directed by Fede Álvarez, is based on the popular mystery/spy-thriller book series, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” by David Lagercrantz, and focuses on two central characters: Lisbeth …

“Bohemian Rhapsody” is a stunning show of Freddie Mercury’s tragic life and Queen’s troubled lifetime.  The film, directed by Brian Singer, focuses on the life of famed lead singer of Queen, Freddie Mercury, until his iconic and almost mythic performance at Live-Aid in 1985. The film begins in Mercury’s college days …