Author Archives: Roger Moore

“Thi Mai (Rumbo a Vietnam)” is another bubble-gum colored Spanish travelogue comedy, this one set mostly in Vietnam. It sets us up for “heartwarming,” for culture clash/language barrier gags, for madcap misadventures and a little romance — some straight, some … Continue reading →

Never got the fanaticism surrounding this title. But I wasn’t nine when it came out. Can’t knock that cast, though. Perhaps only Superfan Josh Gad could get Sean, Martha, Corey, Josh et al together again. That, and the enforced inactivity … Continue reading →

A bomb when it opened, reviewed as if Robert Altman was trying to sabotage his then-lauded reputation and end his major studio pictures career, a misfire that halted Robin Williams’ ascent, “Popeye” (1980) lives on as a monument to ’70s … Continue reading →

The teenage girl wants the rodeo clown to give away his secrets, how he does his job distracting the bull when the bullrider’s been thrown or in trouble. “How do you know when the rider’s about to fall off?” “When … Continue reading →

The acting isn’t bad, the Barcelona and environs settings gorgeous and there’s a nice tug of the heartstrings in the finale. But in all honesty, only one thing works in “In Family I Trust,” a Spanish rom-com based on a … Continue reading →

Here’s a “Last Picture Show” era story of growing up in the rural West, the crippling burdens of small town life and that one new friend who can help you lift your downcast eyes “To the Stars.” Sounds sensitive, maybe … Continue reading →

“The Willoughbys” is a kids’ cartoon conceived in that no-kids-land, the border country between “Yellow Submarine” and, oh, “Hotel Transylvania 3.” There’s whimsy and originality in the design and animation, and a trip to rehab in the screenplay. No, having … Continue reading →

How much time do we allow for a vintage “wuxia” picture for “the good stuff” to begin? Asking for a friend. Sure, you cut some slack for the early films in the genre of martial arts period pieces that reached … Continue reading →

Hollywood has so pounded the “serial killer thriller” to death that you kind of wish they’d close the door on the subject. But here’s a Polish version that’s as sharp as a cold slap in the face, as grisly as … Continue reading →