Moonshot Review

Written by: Max Taxe

Directed by: Christopher Winterbauer

Rating: 💩 Delightfully sh*tty

What do you do when Earth is falling apart and your boo thang is living on another planet? You follow them to Mars! Sophie (Lana Condor) is a bright college student with ambitious plans to save Earth. But her longtime boyfriend and her familial support system are all on Mars, so she decides to take the risk and head to outer space before implementing her big, environmental dreams. Walt (Cole Sprouse) is a sassy misfit who’s always dreamed of interplanetary travel, but his dreams are bigger than his budget. Not one to let this stop him, he sneaks onto a space ship and heads for the stars! Sophie may be a rule follower but she’s a helper at heart and agrees to help Walt stay hidden. The two develop a close friendship together they overcome obstacles and must decide what their hearts truly desire.

This movie is beyond cheesy. I actually watched it over a week ago and have been meaning to write it ever since but my memory blacked out how the movie ends and I didn’t want to watch it again 😂 That being said, this movie is a vibe. Sassy Cole Sprouse is always a delight, and the twist involving Zach Braff is hilarious! If you’re looking for a cheesy Gen Z romcom with space vibes, check out Moonshot now on HBO Max!

Review written by Zianna Weston

He’s All That

Written by R. Lee Fleming Jr

Directed by Mark Waters

Rating: 💩 delightfully sh*tty

High school student / influencer Padgett (Addison Rae) has the perfect life- the looks, the grades, the zip code (or so it seems), the boyfriend, the besties, and the endorsements. However that facade is broken when little miss perfect reacts poorly when she catches her boyfriend cheating on her during a live stream, jeopardizing her endorsements and her future. In an effort to gain back followers and to show that poser of an ex that she made him who he is, Padgett decides she is going to make over a loser and turn him into prom king- but the stakes aren’t high enough yet, so why not turn this into a bet with your bestie Alden? In walks Cameron (Tanner Buchanan, Cobra Kai) with a great head of hair hidden under a beanie, a rocking bod underneath a flannel, a camera permanently in hand, and misunderstood personality- there is no way that he could possibly be a hottie prom king candidate! Feelings are caught, and then hurt, and then repaired in this remake of the 2000’s classic She’s All That.

Honestly guys, I enjoyed it. Take your expectations down to zero- like seriously prepare yourself for the worst, and then you like me could be pleasantly surprised! It was campy and felt like a joke, but a joke that they were all in on. Queen Rachael Leigh Cook plays Padgett’s mom, Matthew Lillard graces our screens and provides a very candid narrative of the prom, and Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer has its moment in this film too.

Written by Edelia Weston

Single All the Way

Written by Chad Hodge

Directed by Michael Mayer

Rating: 🔥 that’s hot

Chronically single Peter (Michael Urie) doesn’t want to return home for the holidays sans boyfriend yet again. So he decides to convince his best friend and roommate Nick (Philemon Chambers) to come home with him and pretend that the two have fallen in love. But the plan is immediately thwarted by Peter’s mom (Kathy Najimy) who set him up with her hottie spin instructor (Luke Macfarlane). While Peter and gym hunk hit the picturesque town and the New Hampshire slopes, Nick spends time with Peter’s family and they grow to love him even more than they had before. Are Peter and Mr. Muscles a Christmas miracle, or has his perfect match been waiting under the mistletoe right in front of him all these years?

I personally love all the familiar tropes of Christmas movies, but I STRUGGLE to slog through the romcoms that are just too cheesy. My tolerance for cheese is high! But anything on par with the Hallmark channel is usually a hard pass. Single All the Way toes the line between camp and emotional depth brilliantly, allowing you to have all the familiar Christmas cheer without laying it on too thickly. The cast is perfect! The comedic talents of Kathy Najimy, Jennifer Coolidge, Michael Urie, and Jennifer Robertson create a fun family dynamic that kept me laughing from start to finish. If you are looking for a sweet Christmas romcom that is actually watchable I highly recommend checking out Single All the Way now on Netflix!

Review written by Zianna Weston

The Broken Hearts Gallery

Written and Directed by Natalie Krinsky

Rating: 💩 delightfully sh*tty

The Broken Hearts Gallery is the 2020 romcom you didn’t know you needed. Lucy (@yoyogeraldine) is a sentimental hoarder who can’t bring herself to toss the mementos that she’s saved from all of her ex’s. Fresh off a breakup, unemployed, and heartbroken, Lucy meets Nick (@dacremontgomery) and the two form an unlikely partnership that leads to creating an art exhibit designed to help people move on.

This movie is cheesy, funny, heartfelt, and it’s the lighthearted romcom that we desperately need. Many of the themes hit pretty close to home during this pandemic; hoarding, unemployment, uncertainty about the future, and the cathartic joy found in a renovation project. What I love about this movie is that it’s cheesy as hell, but it still manages to tackle deep themes. No one likes being rejected and heartbroken but this film did an excellent job of showcasing the power of friendship and open-communication to help heal the heart. Is this movie a cinematic masterpiece? No. But is it entertaining? Hell yeah. At The Basic Cinephile we will always get excited about a movie with a FEMALE writer/director, a diverse cast, and a plot that highlights strong female friendships. The Broken Hearts Gallery is now streaming in select theaters.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Charlie’s Angels

Directed by McG

Written by Ryan Rowe and Ed Sullivan

Rating: 🔥 that’s hot

Eric Knox, a powerful business owner and tech tycoon, has been kidnapped by his biggest rival. It’s up Charlie and his Angels to find Knox and recover the stolen software.

I was hesitant to re-watch this movie when I first saw that it was available to stream on Netflix because this film holds such a special place in my heart. I have so many fond memories of middle school slumber parties where we watched this movie for the millionth time. Would a childhood favorite hold up to my adult standards? I am pleased to announce that I still love this movie. The charming and sassy performances by Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu that originally made me fall in love with this movie are still entertaining. But I have a newfound appreciation for the way that this movie celebrates women.

The angels are sexy, powerful, silly, smart, and so much more. Men are constantly featured in action films completing stunts that are well beyond their physical capabilities in real life, whereas women are more often constricted to more realistic expectations. But in Charlie’s Angels we see both men and women jumping out of planes, flipping through laser fields, and completing all kinds of crazy stunts that are not even slightly realistic. What I appreciated the most about this film is that the angels were allowed to dress sexy and then carry out badass action scenes. Their sexiness did not place limitations on their physical capabilities or intelligence. Too often when women are portrayed as sexy that is their only defining attribute. Though their costumes are iconic they are not defined by what they wear, they are defined by what they are able to accomplish. This is a theme that I will always be inspired by and celebrate. The world would be a different place if there were more movies that portrayed women as sexy and strong. Charlie’s Angels is now streaming on Netflix.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Falling Inn Love

Written by Elizabeth Hackett and Hilary Galanoy

Directed by Roger Kumble

Rating: 💩

Gabriella’s (Christina Milian) life is falling apart when she wins an inn in New Zealand in an act of serendipity, and through renovations she discovers herself and a new life.

I love me a good romcom. Especially ones that involve people that can’t drive stick shift, hot shirtless men, and random scary goats. If you’re looking for a film of substance that will blow your mind with its innovative production and offer social commentary on the cultural zeitgeist, then look elsewhere. If you want to be entertained, this film is for you. The town is charming and has a Stars Hollow feel to it, the kiwi accent is very attractive, and the scenery is gorgeous. Falling Inn Love is one of my favorite rom com’s of 2019.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Love Hard review

Love Hard review

Written by: Daniel Mackey & Rebecca Ewing

Directed by: Hernán Jiménez

Rating: that’s hot

Unlucky in love Natalie (Nina Dobrev) has made a career out of bad dates as the writer of a dating mishaps column. But when her friend expands the radius of her dating app profile beyond notoriously vapid Los Angeles, her luck begins to change. She matches with Josh, a drop dead gorgeous man who actually has a good personality. Tired of writing mishap after mishap, she convinces her boss to let her fly to Lake Placid, NY to surprise Josh for Christmas and write her fairytale ending. But when she arrives, Josh (Jimmy O. Yang) isn’t who he said he was, and she only agrees to stay when Josh offers to help her land the real guy from the catfish photos (Darren Barnet).

This is your typical Christmas romcom with all the tropes; trimming the tree, Christmas caroling, and lots of holiday cheer. It’s cheesy as hell and had plenty of moments that made my cynical self roll my eyes. But it also surprised me. Jimmy O Yang is the heartbeat of this movie and he gives a vulnerable performance that really pulls you in with his insecurity. His character is so relatable and even though he is a catfish, he’s too lovable to root against. This film touched on a lot of deep themes like defining masculinity, being brave enough to be yourself, and how stifling it can be to live in someone else’s shadow. If you’re looking for a funny, cheesy Christmas movie with a surprising amount of depth, definitely check out love hard, now streaming on Netflix.

Review by Zianna Weston

Looking for more Christmas movie reviews?

Operation Christmas Drop review

Operation Christmas Drop

Written by: Gregg Rossen & Brian Sawyer

Directed by: Martin Wood

Rating: thank u, next

Congressional aide Erica (Kat Graham) gets sent to a remote Air Force base in the Pacific with one goal; shut it down. The base is thought to be a money pit and a waste of tax payer dollars. But when Erica discovers the true impact of Operation: Christmas Drop, the base’s annual humanitarian aid project that helps the remote islands in the region, Erica is forced to re-examine the bottom line.

This movie is based on a true story and I honestly wish Netflix would have just made a documentary about the true story instead because I’m sure that would have been fascinating! Instead we are left with an unbearably cheesy romcom with bad dialogue and a completely unnecessary CGI gecko. Everything about this movie felt forced and unnatural and as a result Operation Christmas Drop is a thank u, next 🙅‍♀️

Review by Zianna Weston

Looking for your next Christmas movie to watch?

Eat Pray Love

Directed by Ryan Murphy

Written by Ryan Murphy and Jennifer Salt

Based on the memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert

Rating: 🔥 that’s hot

Liz Gilbert is divorced, confused, and on a quest for inner peace. After realizing that she has always been in a relationship or overcoming a breakup she decides that she needs to get to know herself independently. Despite the concerns raised by friends and family, Liz decides to leave her home in New York City for one whole year to find herself in Rome, India, and Bali. Throughout this year she challenges herself and seeks to cultivate a stronger and more enlightened self.

This movie is relatable on many levels. I think everyone, regardless of age, has had a life crisis that has left you wondering, who am I? Everyone is going to answer that question in different ways, not all involving traveling the world, but I am a fan of Liz’s style and would probably opt for a similar post-divorce experience. The film is structured chronologically which works well for telling the story because she learns such vastly different lessons in each place that she visits.   

Because of the stunning filming locations, the movie is visually gorgeous. The filmmakers did a great job of capturing the essence of each location; the grandeur of Rome, the chaos of India, and the natural beauty of Bali. There were some abrupt moments in the editing choices that I didn’t care for when a song would end immediately, and the next shot would be coupled with silence. This didn’t fit with the vibe of the film and that would be my biggest critique. Another critique I have is that the film fell on the cheesy side. Every life lesson was wrapped up tidily with a bow on top, and I don’t feel like that necessarily reflects the complexity of our world. But overall, I really enjoyed this movie and will be booking a trip to Bali ASAP. Eat Pray Love is now streaming on Netflix.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Perfect

Written by Aaron Latham and James Bridges

Directed by James Bridges

Rating: 💩

A persistent reporter is working to publish a story about health clubs becoming the new singles clubs, but the story gets complicated when he falls for the lead aerobics instructor.

First of all, this film is delightful. It’s full of short-shorts, leotards, and pelvic thrusting. Jamie Lee Curtis and John Travolta are legends for a reason, and they carried this film on their backs. The outdated gender roles and fitness standards can stay in the 80s. But the fun music and aerobics montages can live FOREVER.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Tod@s Caen

Written by Cory Brusseau and Martha Higareda

Directed by Ariel Winograd

Rating: 🔥  that’s hot

A romantically cynical tv producer is presented with a challenge, make a notorious Casanova change his facebook status to “in a relationship” and her network will green light her new tv show.

This movie is fun, lighthearted, and made me LOL. I haven’t laughed that hard in the theater in a while. The two main characters are constantly breaking the fourth wall to give the audience conflicting dating advice which ads a fun and unique element. At its core it’s a cheesy romcom, but I’m an unapologetic lover of any genre that can make me laugh and this movie delivers. It’s a Spanish film with English subtitles for my fellow non-native Spanish speakers, but funny is funny in any language.

Review written by Zianna Weston

How Stella Got Her Groove Back

Written by Terry McMillan & Ronald Bass

Directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan

Rating: 👌🏼 ok

How Stella Got Her Groove Back. Single stockbroker Stella (Angela Bassett) and her friend (Whoopi Goldberg) take a trip to Jamaica where Stella meets a much younger man (Taye Diggs) and their short-term fling develops into something more serious.

This is a movie that gets referenced a lot in pop culture and I don’t know why but I was expecting more of a comedy. It’s got some funny moments, but it’s definitely more of a slow burning drama. Although the plot never really blew me away I can give you two good reasons to watch it anyways; Angela Bassett 😍 and Taye Diggs 😍. 

Review written by Zianna Weston