Year: 2019

‘The Sun is Also a Star’ barely flickers

Jeff Mitchell

“The Sun Is Also a Star” – “It’s fate.” – Daniel Bae (Charles Melton) Natasha Kingsley (Yara Shahidi) stands in the middle of Grand Central Station and looks up at its celestial ceiling.  Daniel (Melton) notices Natasha and sees stars too.  For Daniel, it’s love at first sight or at least serious interest at first sight.  Natasha is wearing a blue polyester jacket, one that sports the phrase “Deus Ex Machina”, and divine intervention strikes him.  He decides to follow her to say, “Hello,” in person.  For the sake of…

‘UglyDolls’ offers cute music and positive messages but through a discounted narrative

Jeff Mitchell

“UglyDolls” – “It’s not easy being green.” – Kermit the Frog Moxy (Kelly Clarkson), a rejected doll from a toy factory, proudly sports pink fur and three teeth and lives with her fellow oddities in Uglyville, a coastal community, complete with rugged, steep peaks made from cardboard boxes.  Her friends Uglydog (Pitbull), Babo (Gabriel Iglesias) and Ox (Blake Shelton) love Uglyville, and Moxy appreciates her home too, but she dreams of becoming the best doll-friend to a little girl in The Big World. Ox, the town mayor, wishes that Moxy…

Penguins’ brings warm smiles

Jeff Mitchell

“Penguins” – “She smiled with the warmth of a penguin.” – author Kim Harrison For many of us – especially those who shovel long driveways between Dec. 26 and the spring equinox – freezing, snowy winters are not a time for celebration, but “Penguins”, set in frosty Antarctica, will bring warm smiles. Adelie penguins stand about two feet high, sport recognizable tuxedo coloring, and with their awkward walks, soothing personas and indelible social graces, they are as lovable as Chilly Willy himself. Directors Alastair Fothergill and Jeff Wilson filmed in…