Category: Movies at Home

‘Coming 2 America’ is a more of a nostalgic celebration than a winning comedy

Jeff Mitchell

“Coming 2 America” – It’s been 33 years since we last saw Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) and his best friend Semmi (Arsenio Hall) travel from The Kingdom of Zamunda to Queens, NY.  Why Queens?  By name alone, it must be the locale where Akeem can find a worthy match for a royal wedding, right? “Coming to America” arrived in theatres in June 1988, and Murphy and Hall’s buddy flick quickly became one of the most memorable comedies of the decade, at least to me, a Gen Xer, who was on…

Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina make a delightful and dynamic duo in ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’

Jeff Mitchell

“Raya and the Last Dragon” – “At its core, it’s an action movie.” – screenwriter Qui Nguyen, March 2, 2021 “Note to self, don’t die.” – Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) And how…and please don’t! In Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon”, Raya (Tran) – an early-20-something – and her trusty companion Tuk Tuk – a 10-foot long, pill bug/armadillo-like, four-legged friend, who best resembles an organic Fiat 500 – carry us on a dazzling animated journey.  Their quest is to search for the last remaining dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina), and find…

Celebrate the late Niki Lauda’s birthday with ‘Rush’

Jeff Mitchell

Niki Lauda would have been 72-years-young today (Feb. 22), but I am very thankful that Daniel Bruhl played the Formula-1 legend in director Ron Howard’s “Rush”.   “Rush” was my #2 film of 2013, and in my humble opinion, Bruhl deserved the Best Actor Oscar that year. Lauda was alive to see Howard’s film, although he didn’t like the rough cut.  Lauda was always a perfectionist (haha), but he gave his approval after seeing the premiere in a packed theatre, and as far as Bruhl’s portrayal of him:  “I think he…