This film has far too many similarities between the film I saw yesterday, Everything, Everything, Both have a teenager too sick to leave their homes and both feature a parent who has made despicable decisions for their own good.
Here, features East Texas, the brainchild of Nathaniel Shepherd (a miscast Gary Oldman), which also happens to be a colony on Mars. Things get ruined when lead astronaut Sarah Elliott (Janet Montgomery) is discovered to be pregnant. This could potentially ruin the mission, and then things get worse when she dies shortly after giving birth, from preeclampsia and her son is left to be raised by scientists as his body is too weak to survive on Earth. And the whole thing is covered up to avoid bad PR so the funding doesn't dry up. So Gardner (Asa Butterfield) is raised in a space station on Mars, too smart and too curious for his own good. He wants nothing more than to go to Earth and meet his online friend, Tulsa (Britt Robertson), stuck in the foster care system. And finally, the astronaut in care of more or less keeping an eye on him, Kendra (Carla Gugino), finally is able to persuade both the psychiatrist Tom (BD Wong) and Nathaniel to let him come down to Earth. However, there are still complications. With his weak bones and enlarged heart, even making the journey and operations are dangerous, and then there is still something wrong with his blood. But he escapes anyway, somehow, despite all the people looking for him and all the security cameras watching his every move. Then a massive chase is set for him, with the local authorities on guard and Kendra and Nathaniel in a helicopter. But he somehow gets into Tulsa's high school and then they runaway together, slipping out of the authorities grasp. They are on the run, breaking laws without care, during their travels, they steal three cars and fall in love. They escape from a hospital as Gardner is dangerously ill and realizes it, which also makes Tulsa understand that he wasn't actually lying to her. He wants to find his father, a man whom no one knows the identity of. They follow the few clues they have which leads them to an Indian reservation in Arizona where they get an address and continue on to California only to have a shock when they find that the man in all of Sarah's pictures is actually her brother (Colin Egglesfield). It was then when I had the sick realization that Nathaniel was actually his father. I was livid, to say the least.
Before Gardner discovered who his father was, he decides that he wants to die in the Pacific Ocean, where his mother's ashes are scattered and Tulsa sadly lets him. Until Nathaniel pulls him out the ocean and then gets him to a hospital, in a plane. But he needs to get higher and Nathaniel, despite being told not to, gets the plane higher so the gravity is minimal, so Gardner can live. And he does live. He returns to Mars, with his father by his side, ignoring his own health issues (Nathaniel's). Kendra is put in charge of the training program and adopts Tulsa, though she never had the strong material instinct urge. Tulsa, to no one's surprise, starts training to become an astronaut, I guess she doesn't need college or anything first and Gardner is just glad to be home. He really is.
Okay, I have plenty of problems with this film. Nathaniel is a sick man, refusing to let his plans be ruined. The public was lied to, no one knows that Gardner exists, he's classified, though you would think that someone would have told as others have come and gone. And that is sick, covering up a whole human being for some money. And then accusing Sarah of being irresponsible, coming from Nathaniel, that's just rich. And sick. Also, there is this lovely little invention called a condom, for the record.
The performances are also mediocre and these are good actors. The chemistry wasn't great between Butterfield and Robertson though the age difference between them wasn't that noticeable. I didn't find their performances believable, not really and the film needed that. I didn't believe Butterfield's face when he saw a horse for the first time and Tulsa wasn't that damaged from being in the system, though she claimed to be. Nothing just seemed possible in this film, and there was nothing inventive or realistic about it. It should have been excellent and instead it was mediocre at best. Nothing was spectacular and it left me feeling nothing. I barely believed that they were even in love. Grade: C+
Monday, May 29, 2017
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Everything, Everything (2017): The Film
I have read the book and enjoyed it, plus this film, unlike some other recent adaptations, didn't piss me off, fortunately. Here's looking at you Girl on the Train. But that's another story for another day that probably won't happen.
Maddy (Amandla Stenberg) suffers from SCID, basically her immune system is so fragile, a simple bacteria infection can kill her. Thus, she has spent all, save a few months as an infant, stuck inside. Sure, her house is fairly nice and her mother (Anika Noni Rose) has done her best to make it a palace for her princess, and Maddy has more or less accepted her fate. She reads a lot and writes spoiler reviews, albeit shorter than mine, online. She is taking an architecture class online and designs interiors of buildings. Sure, she wonders what the outside world would be like, but she has no desire to risk her life until a boy moves in next door.
That is what happens in plenty of young adult novels, a sweet, sensitive and perfect boy moves in next door, forcing the heroine to expand her horizons. That doesn't make it any less effective, part of me just wishes Maddy had the courage to go outside before meeting Olly (Nick Robinson).
There is some clever film-making in the first half of the film, truly getting into Maddy's head. Some of the conversations that she has with Olly occur, not just in text message but in face to face meetings in the fictional diner Maddy created.
Of course Maddy is drawn to him. He shows a genuine interest in her, and he's the only boy she's ever spoken to. She interacts with her mother, her nurse (Ana de la Reguara) and the nurse's daughter, Rosa (Danube Hermosillo) and that's it. Fortunately, her mother is also a doctor so Maddy doesn't even need to leave the house for that. And Olly has issues of his own. His father has a nasty temper and can't hold a job that well because of it. The father drinks too much and beats his wife and children occasionally. The book gave him more life than the film, though both are Maddy's show.
Finally, her nurse, Carla, gives in and lets Olly visit and once Maddy has tasted something new, she wants more, even sneaking in Olly through the anti-septic room when both her mother is working and Carla has the night off. They have their kiss, which makes every other first kiss seem lame by comparison, mine included.
Things take a turn for the worse when Maddy witnesses a physical fight between Olly and his father and she burst outside without thinking. Olly urges her to go back inside and her mother ushers her in instantly. Carla gets fired and Maddy gets sick and punished. What little freedom Maddy had, using the internet, is taken.
At her mother's urging, she encourages Olly to find someone else, someone who is normal, who can go outside and do things. But Olly doesn't want to forget her. And then Maddy decides that her sheltered life isn't worth living anymore so she buys two tickets to Hawaii and gets Olly to take her there.
They have the time of their lives, and Maddy loves the ocean, just like she always thought she would and then, she does actually get very sick. She is in the hospital but wakes up in her own bed, with an IV attached. She gets better and tries to completely severe ties with Olly, but he's in her head. And then he moves, his mother finally got the courage to leave her husband, they do so in the dead of night whilst he's out drinking but she finally does it.
Just when you think Maddy's life is back to her boring normal, she gets a call from the doctor from Hawaii, who informs her that she doesn't have SCID so Maddy immediately goes to her mother's room of records, which confirms her worst fear: her mother lied to her her whole life. That's right, Maddy isn't really sick to that point. Her immune system is weak, and fragile, but she won't die from a simple infection. Livid, she runs away, and eventually she calls Carla, which is her new place of residence.
Of course, her mother had a good reason for doing it. When Maddy was a mere baby, her father and older brother died in a car accident and then baby Maddy got very sick and the doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong, figuring that it was probably an allergy, unable to lose anyone else, her mother decided to lie, saying that Maddy had this debilitating disease when in reality, she wasn't that sick. Naturally, Maddy can't forgive her mother, at least not anytime soon.
And she and Olly reconnect. She flies to New York and meets him again in a book store. Hopefully, things will work out for them.
While the film is syrupy young adult garbage, it is still mostly an excellent film, with some creative techniques used, including one scene where Olly's and Maddy's innermost thoughts appear on a the screen like subtitles, which probably should have done more often. There are a few minor problems and inconsistencies. First of all, how is Olly able to rent a car once they appear in Hawaii, he isn't twenty-five yet and how is his allowed in her hospital room, or is that just an allusion? Then there's my nitpick, in one scene Olly's too long hair is arranged differently, when it shouldn't have been. Oh well, minor problems. And I wished they had shown the medical records on screen instead of just having Maddy sift through them herself. But the choose to have Maddy wear primarily white is excellent, representing not just purity but also sterility. Olly, on the other hand wears mostly black.
Though there are few roles in this film, the film hinges on them and Stenberg and Robinson deliver, plus they also have excellent chemistry. If they didn't, this film would fail. And while the film has that typical, tried and true premise of falling in love with the boy next door and while Olly appears to be too good to be true, as in many young adult novels, I wish we all had an Olly, I certainly haven't found mine yet, I'm glad he moved in next to Maddy, she needed something to spice up her life, something that caused her to find out the truth about her health and if he had never moved in next door, it would have never set into motion the chain of events that led the truth to come out. And the truth needed to come out. All-in-all, this is one of the best novel to film adaptations I've seen, and that is not something you can take for granted.
Despite the apparent cheesiness of it all, the film is a wonder and does force you to think. Would you like to live a long life by merely observing it or live a shorter life while actually experiencing everything it had to offer. Also, Moonstruck is essential romantic comedy viewing for all. Grade: B+
Maddy (Amandla Stenberg) suffers from SCID, basically her immune system is so fragile, a simple bacteria infection can kill her. Thus, she has spent all, save a few months as an infant, stuck inside. Sure, her house is fairly nice and her mother (Anika Noni Rose) has done her best to make it a palace for her princess, and Maddy has more or less accepted her fate. She reads a lot and writes spoiler reviews, albeit shorter than mine, online. She is taking an architecture class online and designs interiors of buildings. Sure, she wonders what the outside world would be like, but she has no desire to risk her life until a boy moves in next door.
That is what happens in plenty of young adult novels, a sweet, sensitive and perfect boy moves in next door, forcing the heroine to expand her horizons. That doesn't make it any less effective, part of me just wishes Maddy had the courage to go outside before meeting Olly (Nick Robinson).
There is some clever film-making in the first half of the film, truly getting into Maddy's head. Some of the conversations that she has with Olly occur, not just in text message but in face to face meetings in the fictional diner Maddy created.
Of course Maddy is drawn to him. He shows a genuine interest in her, and he's the only boy she's ever spoken to. She interacts with her mother, her nurse (Ana de la Reguara) and the nurse's daughter, Rosa (Danube Hermosillo) and that's it. Fortunately, her mother is also a doctor so Maddy doesn't even need to leave the house for that. And Olly has issues of his own. His father has a nasty temper and can't hold a job that well because of it. The father drinks too much and beats his wife and children occasionally. The book gave him more life than the film, though both are Maddy's show.
Finally, her nurse, Carla, gives in and lets Olly visit and once Maddy has tasted something new, she wants more, even sneaking in Olly through the anti-septic room when both her mother is working and Carla has the night off. They have their kiss, which makes every other first kiss seem lame by comparison, mine included.
Things take a turn for the worse when Maddy witnesses a physical fight between Olly and his father and she burst outside without thinking. Olly urges her to go back inside and her mother ushers her in instantly. Carla gets fired and Maddy gets sick and punished. What little freedom Maddy had, using the internet, is taken.
At her mother's urging, she encourages Olly to find someone else, someone who is normal, who can go outside and do things. But Olly doesn't want to forget her. And then Maddy decides that her sheltered life isn't worth living anymore so she buys two tickets to Hawaii and gets Olly to take her there.
They have the time of their lives, and Maddy loves the ocean, just like she always thought she would and then, she does actually get very sick. She is in the hospital but wakes up in her own bed, with an IV attached. She gets better and tries to completely severe ties with Olly, but he's in her head. And then he moves, his mother finally got the courage to leave her husband, they do so in the dead of night whilst he's out drinking but she finally does it.
Just when you think Maddy's life is back to her boring normal, she gets a call from the doctor from Hawaii, who informs her that she doesn't have SCID so Maddy immediately goes to her mother's room of records, which confirms her worst fear: her mother lied to her her whole life. That's right, Maddy isn't really sick to that point. Her immune system is weak, and fragile, but she won't die from a simple infection. Livid, she runs away, and eventually she calls Carla, which is her new place of residence.
Of course, her mother had a good reason for doing it. When Maddy was a mere baby, her father and older brother died in a car accident and then baby Maddy got very sick and the doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong, figuring that it was probably an allergy, unable to lose anyone else, her mother decided to lie, saying that Maddy had this debilitating disease when in reality, she wasn't that sick. Naturally, Maddy can't forgive her mother, at least not anytime soon.
And she and Olly reconnect. She flies to New York and meets him again in a book store. Hopefully, things will work out for them.
While the film is syrupy young adult garbage, it is still mostly an excellent film, with some creative techniques used, including one scene where Olly's and Maddy's innermost thoughts appear on a the screen like subtitles, which probably should have done more often. There are a few minor problems and inconsistencies. First of all, how is Olly able to rent a car once they appear in Hawaii, he isn't twenty-five yet and how is his allowed in her hospital room, or is that just an allusion? Then there's my nitpick, in one scene Olly's too long hair is arranged differently, when it shouldn't have been. Oh well, minor problems. And I wished they had shown the medical records on screen instead of just having Maddy sift through them herself. But the choose to have Maddy wear primarily white is excellent, representing not just purity but also sterility. Olly, on the other hand wears mostly black.
Though there are few roles in this film, the film hinges on them and Stenberg and Robinson deliver, plus they also have excellent chemistry. If they didn't, this film would fail. And while the film has that typical, tried and true premise of falling in love with the boy next door and while Olly appears to be too good to be true, as in many young adult novels, I wish we all had an Olly, I certainly haven't found mine yet, I'm glad he moved in next to Maddy, she needed something to spice up her life, something that caused her to find out the truth about her health and if he had never moved in next door, it would have never set into motion the chain of events that led the truth to come out. And the truth needed to come out. All-in-all, this is one of the best novel to film adaptations I've seen, and that is not something you can take for granted.
Despite the apparent cheesiness of it all, the film is a wonder and does force you to think. Would you like to live a long life by merely observing it or live a shorter life while actually experiencing everything it had to offer. Also, Moonstruck is essential romantic comedy viewing for all. Grade: B+
Saturday, May 27, 2017
Miss You Already (2015)
This is a rather simple film about two friends, Jess (Drew Barrymore) and Milly (Toni Collette). The film moves quickly through their friendship, honing in on the time right after Milly's cancer diagnosis. The cancer is treated realistically, with Milly throwing up and strands of hair falling out. She keeps a mostly good attitude about the whole thing, until she has to get a double mastectomy. Jess is supportive, but has her own struggles. She and her husband, Jago (Paddy Considine) are trying to have a baby but it isn't going well. They no longer have sex out of passion but only for the purposes of trying to conceive which can't be fun. But at least they are having sex. Milly and her husband Kit (Dominic Cooper) aren't, especially since he flinched when he felt her large scar across her chest. Though he can't look at her anymore, he isn't the one who has an affair, she does. With the sexy barman, Ace (Tyson Ritter).
Then Jess and Milly have a falling out. Jess can't bring herself to tell her that she's pregnant after IVF especially with Milly's cancer barely being in remission. Kit planned a lovely party for Milly, but she isn't having it and throws a fit before taking Jess on an adventure to see the Moors and hook up with Ace again. Jess simply cannot believe that she is being unfaithful to Kit.
Then the cancer spreads to Milly's brain and she accepts the fact that she's dying. Of course she's not happy about it but she accepts it. The most painful scene is when she tells her young daughter that she's dying.
And Milly does die, not long after Jess gives birth to her son. But Jess stays a part of the family as she and Milly weren't just friends, they were sisters. Milly is irreplaceable.
Though the film is simple. Barrymore and Collette are totally believable as best friends, delivering natural performances effortlessly. Neither role is easy and they perform with grace and dignity. They do have excellent support, from Considine and Cooper and Jacqueline Bisset as Miranda, Milly's actress mother. This is a film with few flaws and that doesn't happen too often. Grade: B+
Then Jess and Milly have a falling out. Jess can't bring herself to tell her that she's pregnant after IVF especially with Milly's cancer barely being in remission. Kit planned a lovely party for Milly, but she isn't having it and throws a fit before taking Jess on an adventure to see the Moors and hook up with Ace again. Jess simply cannot believe that she is being unfaithful to Kit.
Then the cancer spreads to Milly's brain and she accepts the fact that she's dying. Of course she's not happy about it but she accepts it. The most painful scene is when she tells her young daughter that she's dying.
And Milly does die, not long after Jess gives birth to her son. But Jess stays a part of the family as she and Milly weren't just friends, they were sisters. Milly is irreplaceable.
Though the film is simple. Barrymore and Collette are totally believable as best friends, delivering natural performances effortlessly. Neither role is easy and they perform with grace and dignity. They do have excellent support, from Considine and Cooper and Jacqueline Bisset as Miranda, Milly's actress mother. This is a film with few flaws and that doesn't happen too often. Grade: B+
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Call the Midwife: Season Six Recap and Reaction
First of all, I just wanted to say, I called that. Back in my review of season three, I said that despite the odds Shelagh (Laura Main) would get pregnant and I was right. She did get pregnant, but it was not an easy pregnant. She nearly went into premature labor before her fifth month, but after that nasty scare, things went well and she even managed a natural delivery, with (despite this not being the norm) her husband right there. They had a healthy baby boy in the finale, though we don't know his name.
Now to the plots. Thank goodness Sister Ursula (Dame Harriet Walker) didn't last long. She was too firm with her rules on short appointment times and unfeeling nature toward the patients. And if they didn't follow her rules, she would dock their pay. It wasn't until a baby nearly died because Barbara (Charlotte Ritchie) couldn't complete a thorough exam that Sister Ursula changed her ways and moved back to the Mother House returning Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) to her rightful place.
We had a domestic violence plot line, still painfully too relevant today, another timely one on dealing with a sudden disability, and the arrival of the birth control pill, which went horribly for one young mother, the self-effect of blood clots claimed her life. We also had two different cultures struggling to be the minority in a white world, including the touchy and controversial subject of female circumcision. There also was another heart-wrenching episode where a poor mother abandoned by her husband nearly gives up her infant for adoption.
We also have the personal relationships of the characters, Barbara and Tom (Jack Ashton, who needs to wear his shirt less) get married, as Barbara's father (a cleric) was transferred to another country and she always dreamed of him marrying her. Trixie (Helen George) also has a new romantic interest, the kind dentist, Dr. Dockerill (Jack Hawkins) who is divorced with a young daughter. But he is far more suited to her, driving a sports car. And she's good with his daughter, just as we all knew she would be. And then there is poor Sister Mary Cynthia (Bryony Hannah) who suffers a further breakdown after the violent husband in episode one. She is taken to a mental hospital where she is forced to undergo electric shock therapy. Fortunately, Sister Julienne is able to get her transferred to somewhere far more humane. Her stay in the dreadful hospital caused Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) much distress.
And Patsy's (Emerald Fennell's) father was dying so she had to leave to care for him. And Phyllis Crane (Linda Bassett) nearly killed a boy with her car, though fortunately, he made a swift and full recovery.
Again, this show is one of the best on television, probably of all time, dealing with a multitude of issues, most still relevant today. The performances, from both the regulars and guest stars, are excellent, and everything such as the music, set decoration, cinematography and editing is in place. And this season ended happily, which I love. Grade: A-
Now to the plots. Thank goodness Sister Ursula (Dame Harriet Walker) didn't last long. She was too firm with her rules on short appointment times and unfeeling nature toward the patients. And if they didn't follow her rules, she would dock their pay. It wasn't until a baby nearly died because Barbara (Charlotte Ritchie) couldn't complete a thorough exam that Sister Ursula changed her ways and moved back to the Mother House returning Sister Julienne (Jenny Agutter) to her rightful place.
We had a domestic violence plot line, still painfully too relevant today, another timely one on dealing with a sudden disability, and the arrival of the birth control pill, which went horribly for one young mother, the self-effect of blood clots claimed her life. We also had two different cultures struggling to be the minority in a white world, including the touchy and controversial subject of female circumcision. There also was another heart-wrenching episode where a poor mother abandoned by her husband nearly gives up her infant for adoption.
We also have the personal relationships of the characters, Barbara and Tom (Jack Ashton, who needs to wear his shirt less) get married, as Barbara's father (a cleric) was transferred to another country and she always dreamed of him marrying her. Trixie (Helen George) also has a new romantic interest, the kind dentist, Dr. Dockerill (Jack Hawkins) who is divorced with a young daughter. But he is far more suited to her, driving a sports car. And she's good with his daughter, just as we all knew she would be. And then there is poor Sister Mary Cynthia (Bryony Hannah) who suffers a further breakdown after the violent husband in episode one. She is taken to a mental hospital where she is forced to undergo electric shock therapy. Fortunately, Sister Julienne is able to get her transferred to somewhere far more humane. Her stay in the dreadful hospital caused Sister Monica Joan (Judy Parfitt) much distress.
And Patsy's (Emerald Fennell's) father was dying so she had to leave to care for him. And Phyllis Crane (Linda Bassett) nearly killed a boy with her car, though fortunately, he made a swift and full recovery.
Again, this show is one of the best on television, probably of all time, dealing with a multitude of issues, most still relevant today. The performances, from both the regulars and guest stars, are excellent, and everything such as the music, set decoration, cinematography and editing is in place. And this season ended happily, which I love. Grade: A-
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
The Middle: Fight or Flight
Well, this was a weak season finale even though, given how the season went, it had so much more potential.
Sue's (Eden Sher's) plot was incredibly weak, especially since she miraculously found the snow globe Sean (Beau Wirick) threw into the trash outside of her apartment. IT just spoke to her. But it is only mentioned once. Her main plot line is that she accidentally backed into another car, leaving a minuscule scratch on it. But she leaves a note, and when that doesn't get the owner's attention, she leaves another and another until the owner finally meets her because she is just so nice and wonderful. Yeah, basically lame.
Brick's (Atticus Shaffer's) plot line isn't much better. His back is hurting because of his nice, matching dining room table chair so he hunts down the old lawn chair that is so familiar to him. He finds it and never lets it out of his sight again.
Axl (Charlie McDermott) actually has the main plot line of this episode and it is by far the best one of the show. He has finally graduated from college and has an excellent opportunity in from of him. Kenny (the unseen Tommy Bechtold) is going to Europe for some business venture and is offering to pay for Axl's ticket if Axl does all the public speaking for him. Mike (Neil Flynn) is livid, wanting Axl to find a job immediately, while Frankie (Patricia Heaton) doesn't want him to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity. And I get it. He probably won't have another time to go, but Frankie backs up Mike, though her heart and brain aren't in it.
And then, Axl gives it up. He sucks it up and starts looking for a job, and it just breaks Frankie's heart so she throws his stuff into the suitcase so Axl can go and she doesn't care what Mike thinks. It turns out the real reason Mike didn't want Axl to go is because he wanted to spend one last summer with him before is able to afford his own place. But I do also think that Mike is a little jealous that Axl has this opportunity and Mike who has worked hard his whole life doesn't.
So Axl does go, even though the family car is blocked in by his Winnebago, but fortunately, the man whose car Sue hit is there and able to give them a ride and Axl makes his flight just in time and then Brick's lawn chair really scratches the gentleman's car though Frankie decides not to tell him until the ride home.
All-in-all this was a disappointment, no mention of Lexie (Daniela Bobadilla) or Cindy (Casey Burke). I'm glad Axl was able to go to Europe, and they left things open between Sue and Sean, but it was still a hollow episode, when it could have been so much better. Still, the performances are always excellent and there are many zingers throughout the show, I just wish this had been a better episode for Sue and Brick. Grade: B, Season: B+
Side Notes:
-When Mrs. Donahue (Jen Ray) threw her plastic silverware out after Frankie told her to, Mike immediately fished them out.
-Frankie also recycled the graduation banner from when Axl graduated high school.
-Axl thinks that Europe has the opposite seasons of the US.
-Brick finds his chair under Frankie's bras, and then a bird flies off with one of them.
-Mike reminds Frankie's mother of Henry Fonda, which is mostly true.
-Frankie does back up Mike on many things including the ridiculous price of theater snacks.
-Sue is showing some hoarder-like tendencies and Frankie is slightly worried about her.
-Brick will go anywhere, even prison if he can bring his chair.
-Axl can think of three ways to kill people with a toothbrush. Frankie can't find his, so she gives him Brick's to take to Europe.
Sue's (Eden Sher's) plot was incredibly weak, especially since she miraculously found the snow globe Sean (Beau Wirick) threw into the trash outside of her apartment. IT just spoke to her. But it is only mentioned once. Her main plot line is that she accidentally backed into another car, leaving a minuscule scratch on it. But she leaves a note, and when that doesn't get the owner's attention, she leaves another and another until the owner finally meets her because she is just so nice and wonderful. Yeah, basically lame.
Brick's (Atticus Shaffer's) plot line isn't much better. His back is hurting because of his nice, matching dining room table chair so he hunts down the old lawn chair that is so familiar to him. He finds it and never lets it out of his sight again.
Axl (Charlie McDermott) actually has the main plot line of this episode and it is by far the best one of the show. He has finally graduated from college and has an excellent opportunity in from of him. Kenny (the unseen Tommy Bechtold) is going to Europe for some business venture and is offering to pay for Axl's ticket if Axl does all the public speaking for him. Mike (Neil Flynn) is livid, wanting Axl to find a job immediately, while Frankie (Patricia Heaton) doesn't want him to miss this once in a lifetime opportunity. And I get it. He probably won't have another time to go, but Frankie backs up Mike, though her heart and brain aren't in it.
And then, Axl gives it up. He sucks it up and starts looking for a job, and it just breaks Frankie's heart so she throws his stuff into the suitcase so Axl can go and she doesn't care what Mike thinks. It turns out the real reason Mike didn't want Axl to go is because he wanted to spend one last summer with him before is able to afford his own place. But I do also think that Mike is a little jealous that Axl has this opportunity and Mike who has worked hard his whole life doesn't.
So Axl does go, even though the family car is blocked in by his Winnebago, but fortunately, the man whose car Sue hit is there and able to give them a ride and Axl makes his flight just in time and then Brick's lawn chair really scratches the gentleman's car though Frankie decides not to tell him until the ride home.
All-in-all this was a disappointment, no mention of Lexie (Daniela Bobadilla) or Cindy (Casey Burke). I'm glad Axl was able to go to Europe, and they left things open between Sue and Sean, but it was still a hollow episode, when it could have been so much better. Still, the performances are always excellent and there are many zingers throughout the show, I just wish this had been a better episode for Sue and Brick. Grade: B, Season: B+
Side Notes:
-When Mrs. Donahue (Jen Ray) threw her plastic silverware out after Frankie told her to, Mike immediately fished them out.
-Frankie also recycled the graduation banner from when Axl graduated high school.
-Axl thinks that Europe has the opposite seasons of the US.
-Brick finds his chair under Frankie's bras, and then a bird flies off with one of them.
-Mike reminds Frankie's mother of Henry Fonda, which is mostly true.
-Frankie does back up Mike on many things including the ridiculous price of theater snacks.
-Sue is showing some hoarder-like tendencies and Frankie is slightly worried about her.
-Brick will go anywhere, even prison if he can bring his chair.
-Axl can think of three ways to kill people with a toothbrush. Frankie can't find his, so she gives him Brick's to take to Europe.
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
The Middle: The Final Four
Well, it was all a simple mistake. The Prairie Scouts accidentally painted the wrong number on the Heck's sidewalk, citing some slightly lame reason of the emergency officials needing a fresh paint job so they can find the proper house. At first, the Hecks weren't pleased, but miraclously now their luck has changed. Their microwave is working again without having the hairdryer blow on it and Brick's (Atticus Shaffer's) girlfriend has finally stopped growing. The Hecks have more cable TV stations and Mike (Neil Flynn) is thrilled. They accidentally get free pizza and the school has a radon leak so Brick doesn't have to climb the rope in gym class. Frankie (Patricia Heaton) believes that it is solely because the number is wrong but Mike isn't so sure. And then the Prairie Scouts realize their mistake so they repaint the number for free and instantly all the good luck evaporates, just as they expected.
However, their good fortune doesn't transfer to either Sue (Eden Sher) and Axl (Charlie McDermott). Axl actually studies for the first time in his life, saying no to chilling with his friends and making out with his girlfriend but gets the time of the final wrong, totally missing it. And his professor (Dan O'Connor) doesn't care what his excuse is; Axl is not taking that final. So he literally stakes out in front of his professor's house, persevering for once in his life. And it works. His professor lets him take the test and for once, Axl actually knows the material so he passes with flying colors.
Sue's in a slump because she feels that she hasn't accomplished much, other than passing her classes effortlessly. Brad (J. Brock Ciarlelli) tries to perk her up and then when you think Sue's luck is changing as she gets invited to speak at her old high school, it doesn't. She learns that though she thought she was hot stuff in high school, she was actually just a nerd. While she is upset about this, Brad cheers her up with an original musical number, which ruins the realistic authenticity of the show, with a magical realism moment but I didn't care. The number was brilliantly done, all in one shot and it was clever and original.
Despite the excellent musical number at the end, and Axl finally putting in some real effort, this episode still could have been better. It was a vast improvement over last week, however. Sue needs to realize that her life isn't that bad. Sure, she did end two relationships, but that's still two more than I had when I was her age. That's right, people, I was twenty-five when I finally got my first kiss. She might be a nerd, but she's a TV nerd, which is nothing like real life nerds. I just wish that this episode had more Lexie in it. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-Only one girl got cut from Dragonettes and that's because she's a Nazi sympathizer.
-Lexie (Daniela Bobadilla) is going on a yacht cruise this summer and her family is on their own for breakfast, so Axl lovingly shows her how to tilt a cereal box.
-Brad's roommate is in the ROTC and he's both scared and mildly attracted to him. He also got food poisoning three times.
-In Mike's world, everyone gets a crap sandwich, albeit of a different size, and you eat it through life and then you die.
-Axl went to kindergarten twice.
-Sue and Brad need to check if Beyonce released another secret album.
However, their good fortune doesn't transfer to either Sue (Eden Sher) and Axl (Charlie McDermott). Axl actually studies for the first time in his life, saying no to chilling with his friends and making out with his girlfriend but gets the time of the final wrong, totally missing it. And his professor (Dan O'Connor) doesn't care what his excuse is; Axl is not taking that final. So he literally stakes out in front of his professor's house, persevering for once in his life. And it works. His professor lets him take the test and for once, Axl actually knows the material so he passes with flying colors.
Sue's in a slump because she feels that she hasn't accomplished much, other than passing her classes effortlessly. Brad (J. Brock Ciarlelli) tries to perk her up and then when you think Sue's luck is changing as she gets invited to speak at her old high school, it doesn't. She learns that though she thought she was hot stuff in high school, she was actually just a nerd. While she is upset about this, Brad cheers her up with an original musical number, which ruins the realistic authenticity of the show, with a magical realism moment but I didn't care. The number was brilliantly done, all in one shot and it was clever and original.
Despite the excellent musical number at the end, and Axl finally putting in some real effort, this episode still could have been better. It was a vast improvement over last week, however. Sue needs to realize that her life isn't that bad. Sure, she did end two relationships, but that's still two more than I had when I was her age. That's right, people, I was twenty-five when I finally got my first kiss. She might be a nerd, but she's a TV nerd, which is nothing like real life nerds. I just wish that this episode had more Lexie in it. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-Only one girl got cut from Dragonettes and that's because she's a Nazi sympathizer.
-Lexie (Daniela Bobadilla) is going on a yacht cruise this summer and her family is on their own for breakfast, so Axl lovingly shows her how to tilt a cereal box.
-Brad's roommate is in the ROTC and he's both scared and mildly attracted to him. He also got food poisoning three times.
-In Mike's world, everyone gets a crap sandwich, albeit of a different size, and you eat it through life and then you die.
-Axl went to kindergarten twice.
-Sue and Brad need to check if Beyonce released another secret album.
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
The Middle: Clear and Present Danger
First of all, I don't really know why this episode was titled the way it was, there was no danger, at least not on the surface.
It's Mike's (Neil Flynn's) birthday and Sue (Eden Sher) wants to make him a video telling him how awesome and wonderful he is. Which she does even though her whole family warns her that he'll hate it, which he does. He makes Sue stop it in the middle of the video, hurting her feelings, though she doesn't cry about it (at least not on screen). Mike does halfheartedly apologize, offer to take her out for ice cream and then says thank you.
In the meantime, Frankie (Patricia Heaton) tears the house apart attempting to find the perfect present she bought for Axl's (Charlie McDermott's) graduation. And she does finally find it, and it sucks. It is a shoe shine kit for businessmen, because that's what he will be. She ends up giving it to Mike and without hesitation, he asks if she kept the receipt.
Brick (Atticus Shaffer) was bullied at school and Cindy (Casey Burke) twisted the bully's arm around. Though Brick was proud, he wanted to learn how to defend himself, so he asks Axl to help him build some of these things called muscles. It goes badly. Axl is horribly out of shape, unable to lift the weights or even do five pull-ups and he's ashamed, believing that he's wasting away. And it will only get worse because he will be sitting down at work all day, doing whatever he'll be doing. Sure, men peak physically at twenty-five, but they peak mentally at thirty-five, so he could still at that going for him. Brick encourages him to watch more PBS, which I guess he does. Brick lifts books and plans on moving on to heavier stuff like encyclopedias so he can carry Cindy's books.
Now, while those are minor, the excellent talk Sue and Mike had at the end make this episode something memorable. We finally learn about Mike's long deceased mother and how unfeeling his family is, though they do truly care. Mike's mother died of lung cancer at forty-two and was a school teacher who loved to dance. Sue believes that she would have liked her and Mike admits that she was a nice lady. It was genuinely touching. I love the touching moments between father and daughter.
That being said, this episode was rather mediocre. Sure, death is coming, and aging is inevitable. I just think that this whole episode could have been done better. It was rather lackluster, despite some good, typical performances. The brothers could have bonded more, and I really wish Mike had been touched with that lovely video Sue made; she put a lot of thought into it and Mike merely brushed it off. Grade: B
Side Notes:
-The frugal hosier had a power outage sale of steaks.
-When Sue was five, she wanted to wear make-up and colored her eyelids with permanent marker. I wonder how it came out.
-Brick believes that women's rights are people's right.
-Sue's really good with glitter.
-Mike apparently has a squishy center, after all, he saw Moana with Sue.
-Mike loves reading Sports Illustrated uninterrupted.
-Sue was unable to find any baby pictures of Mike.
-Everyone believes that if Mike were an ice cream flavor, he would be vanilla.
It's Mike's (Neil Flynn's) birthday and Sue (Eden Sher) wants to make him a video telling him how awesome and wonderful he is. Which she does even though her whole family warns her that he'll hate it, which he does. He makes Sue stop it in the middle of the video, hurting her feelings, though she doesn't cry about it (at least not on screen). Mike does halfheartedly apologize, offer to take her out for ice cream and then says thank you.
In the meantime, Frankie (Patricia Heaton) tears the house apart attempting to find the perfect present she bought for Axl's (Charlie McDermott's) graduation. And she does finally find it, and it sucks. It is a shoe shine kit for businessmen, because that's what he will be. She ends up giving it to Mike and without hesitation, he asks if she kept the receipt.
Brick (Atticus Shaffer) was bullied at school and Cindy (Casey Burke) twisted the bully's arm around. Though Brick was proud, he wanted to learn how to defend himself, so he asks Axl to help him build some of these things called muscles. It goes badly. Axl is horribly out of shape, unable to lift the weights or even do five pull-ups and he's ashamed, believing that he's wasting away. And it will only get worse because he will be sitting down at work all day, doing whatever he'll be doing. Sure, men peak physically at twenty-five, but they peak mentally at thirty-five, so he could still at that going for him. Brick encourages him to watch more PBS, which I guess he does. Brick lifts books and plans on moving on to heavier stuff like encyclopedias so he can carry Cindy's books.
Now, while those are minor, the excellent talk Sue and Mike had at the end make this episode something memorable. We finally learn about Mike's long deceased mother and how unfeeling his family is, though they do truly care. Mike's mother died of lung cancer at forty-two and was a school teacher who loved to dance. Sue believes that she would have liked her and Mike admits that she was a nice lady. It was genuinely touching. I love the touching moments between father and daughter.
That being said, this episode was rather mediocre. Sure, death is coming, and aging is inevitable. I just think that this whole episode could have been done better. It was rather lackluster, despite some good, typical performances. The brothers could have bonded more, and I really wish Mike had been touched with that lovely video Sue made; she put a lot of thought into it and Mike merely brushed it off. Grade: B
Side Notes:
-The frugal hosier had a power outage sale of steaks.
-When Sue was five, she wanted to wear make-up and colored her eyelids with permanent marker. I wonder how it came out.
-Brick believes that women's rights are people's right.
-Sue's really good with glitter.
-Mike apparently has a squishy center, after all, he saw Moana with Sue.
-Mike loves reading Sports Illustrated uninterrupted.
-Sue was unable to find any baby pictures of Mike.
-Everyone believes that if Mike were an ice cream flavor, he would be vanilla.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)