Obsession (2025): Partner Problems Ensue in This Terrifying Film

Posted on by Jack Drees

© 2026 – Focus Features

“Obsession” is directed by Curry Barker (Milk & Serial, The Chair) and stars Michael Johnston (Teen Wolf, Slash), Inde Navarette (Superman & Lois, 13 Reasons Why), Cooper Tomlinson (Roommates, Milk & Serial), Megan Lawless (The Hate U Give, The Girl from Plainville), and Andy Richter (Conan, Madagascar). This film is about Baron “Bear” Bailey, who has a crush on his friend and co-worker Nikki. When he uses a One-Wish Willow to get his crush to love him, Bear soon realizes that Nikki becomes a bit a more clingy than he anticipated.

So, I finally saw it. This is the movie that I said I would watch week after week after week after week. Even when it dropped on VOD, I said to myself, no, I am going to check this out in a theatre. I essentially have a self-imposed rule that I will only review movies as long as I see them in theaters. Therefore, “Obsession” is getting my two cents.“Obsession” is one of several films recently that has caught my eye, not just because of the content, but because of who was making it. This film is the product of Curry Barker, who prior to this film, was known for his YouTube background. Barker is just the latest YouTuber to take their talents and translate them to feature filmmaking for the cinema. I am glad to see more of these people getting their foot in the door, especially if they make a good movie. In the case of “Obsession,” I would say this is a good movie.

Is “Obsession” groundbreaking? No. It is very simple in terms of its concept and structure. But it does not mean it lacks cleverness. The concept of the film is that Bear wishes that his crush, Nikki, would love him more than anything in the world. The good news for him is that the wish comes true! The bad news is the wish comes with various consequences. And this should not come as a huge surprise based on the exact wording Bear uses to declare his wish. He wishes that Nikki would love him more than anything in the world, and boy does she. There is love, and then there’s whatever kind of attachment Nikki has for Bear. It is a kind of love that is so deep that you would think she would never leave Bear’s side. It results in some eerie scenes and concepts that kind of makes me glad I am still single at the age of 26. I will not spoil what happens in this movie, and while I recommend it to a lot of audiences, I may steer clear of recommending it to cat people given one or two of the horrific concepts that this movie handles.

Despite being single, I have had a crush or two throughout my life. As a single man who wonders where things could have gone with those crushes had I made the right move at the right time, I adored this movie. And I think many other people are going to find something to appreciate about it too. Relationships are hard, I will not deny that. But arguably just as hard, at least in today’s world, is initiating a relationship. We see this play out between Bear and Nikki, who are good friends at the start of the film. As the story progresses, Bear increasingly gives Nikki the idea that he has feelings for her. When Bear fails to confess those feelings, he uses a Wish Willow to make Nikki fall in love with him. If only it were that easy. Not all relationships are created equal, but one of my biggest fears is if I had a good friend, and I wanted to be more than friends with said person. Asking for that to become a reality is daunting, considering what we have is supposedly great.

As highlighted earlier, “Obsession” is good, but not groundbreaking. Part of that is highlighted by some of the choices in the screenplay. The first two acts of the film to me are clear highlights. I found them relatable, sometimes fun, and they kept me hooked. As soon as this movie dived into act three, I found just about everything that happened next to be quite predictable. I do not mind predictable movies, but there was a level of predictability in this one that sort of lessened the experience. There is also a moment where two people are talking on the phone, only for one person to say to meet them at “x location,” suggesting “it’s important.” If you are familiar with this frankly, beyond insufferable cliche, I think you can probably imagine what happens next.

The screenplay is not entirely flawed. Not even close. The dialogue, even from some extremely minor characters like Carter Harper (Andy Richter) is brilliantly executed. The film’s standout star, Inde Navarette, is given a goldmine of material to work with as Nikki. She nails each scene. I did not know her name before this movie, but I am ecstatic to know it now, because I think her killer performance is likely an indicator of how bright her career is going to be.

I also like how this film handles the character of Bear (Michael Johnston). Because the moments leading up to that big wish of his, I was rooting for him, and I did not envy being out of his shoes. This is a character that in very little time, I found myself attached to based on his one fantasy. Some say there are plenty of fish in the sea, but he seemed so dedicated to his future with his crush that I could not help but admire his efforts to make that happen. If anything, Bear’s journey felt like it could have belonged in an excellent short film. But to my pleasant surprise, the film expands its simple concept and fleshes out its main character nicely. Though it should be noted that “Obsession” just so happens to be inspired by Curry Barker’s own short. Regardless of the length, this project made me a Curry Barker fan. I am curious to see what he does next, whether it is another small budget horror movie, or a super-sized epic. Even though this movie is yet another spin on “The Monkey’s Paw” or any other “be careful what you wish for” tale, I think Barker did a good job at bringing it to life and I would like to see him continue making quality cinema.

In the end, “Obsession” is a solid horror flick, even if it is fairly familiar. In fact, Curry Barker himself says he based this movie partially on an episode of “The Simpsons.” Even so, I thought this was a lot of fun. It showcases some pure chemistry between Bear and Nikki, from the moments where the two are simply friends to the point where they become something else entirely. The entire cast does a good job, but Inde Navarette in particular is given quite a bit to do and she kills her role. This is a role with awards potential written all over it. The third act of the film is the weakest point, but it does not mean it is necessarily awful. It is just the most inferior part of what is ultimately an enjoyable flick. If you are into horror, this is worth checking out at least once. I am going to give “Obsession” a 7/10.

“Obsession” is now available to watch in theaters, on VOD, and on Peacock for all subscribers.

Thanks for reading this review! As a reminder, THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 2ND, I will be sharing my latest episode of Movie Requests, featuring special guest Elijah Wood! If you want to see the promo for the episode featuring my interaction with him, click the video above! I had a chance to meet Wood in Philadelphia earlier this year. On Movie Requests, one does not simply walk in and do a film review, they must go find the one guest to rule them all! If you want to see this episode as soon as it drops, please subscribe to my YouTube channel! It will also be available here on Flicknerd.com in a dedicated post.

My next review is going to be for “Maddie’s Secret!” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass,” “The Odyssey,” “Her Private Hell,” “Haunted Heist,” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Obsession?” What did you think about it? Or, given the recent stream of online content creators transitioning to feature filmmaking, what is a movie you enjoyed recently made by someone famous for creating online content? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Jackass: Best and Last (2026): Old Meets New in This Big Pile of Laughs

Posted on by Jack Drees

© 2026 – Paramount Pictures

“Jackass: Best and Last” is directed by Jeff Tremaine, who also directed the previous “Jackass” movies. This film’s cast includes Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Wee Man, Dave England, Danger Ehren, Preston Lacy, Poopies, Zach Holmes, Jasper, Rachel Wolfson, and Dark Shark. This is the fifth, and supposedly final “Jackass” movie, which showcases a mix of old and new stunts, footage, and shenanigans from its team of foolish daredevils.

When I watch movies, I traditionally make an effort to check out any previous installments before seeing the big, fancy, new installment. In 2015, I binged all the “Fast & Furious” movies before watching “Furious 7” in the theater. In 2017, I did that with the “xXx” movies before watching “Return of Xander Cage.” In the case of “Jackass: Best and Last,” I cannot say I have taken monumental efforts to familiarize myself with the lore of the property. Granted, what is there that I need to know aside from the basics? A freakshow named Johnny is the head honcho, and people do stupid, nonsensical things for others’ amusement.

I have put on an episode of “Jackass” here and there and found myself entertained. I am a casual watcher. When it comes to the movies, the only one I have seen is “Jackass Forever,” the installment prior to this newest one. But I had such a balls out time watching that film in theaters that I knew I had to be at the next “Jackass” movie opening weekend. Little did I know, sitting in that AMC auditorium as a 22-year-old college student that the following film would probably be the last one.

I am not going to pretend I had any kind of raw, emotional connection to the “Jackass” franchise. Had I watched it more, this film would have served as a more emotionally fulfilling conclusion perhaps. I know names from the franchise. I know faces from the franchise. Though it is not like I had MTV on all the time growing up watching these hooligans engage in tomfoolery. Though with a film like “Jackass: Best and Last,” this is not necessarily something in which I would need an emotional connection to fully enjoy. Watching grown men hurt themselves, while painful for those on the receiving end, is also sometimes hilarious.

In addition to its comedic emphasis, “Jackass” also has a dramatic factor, almost like watching Tom Cruise hang on the side of a plane like he did in “Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.” Only thing is, typically as I am watching Cruise pull off a big stunt, it is for a work of fiction. I would imagine if Cruise, in real life, did not pull a stunt like that off and perhaps died while trying to do so, the work would be scrapped. As I am watching some of the stunts in “Jackass: Best and Last,” I have a strong feeling that everyone involved is going to be okay. In fact, this movie appears to have fewer stakes than ever considering how it is using a lot of older footage. Yet at the same time, I am watching some of these clips and part of me simply wants to look away because I am nervous that the person in said clip is going to get hurt, possibly killed.

It does not mean the clips are not funny. In fact, even though I have seen some of these clips already, such as “Magic Trick,” they hold up after some time. That said, it is slightly disappointing to have the last movie of the franchise be a greatest hits compilation. If anything, it feels somewhat lazy compared to having the cast go all out and commit to doing their most ambitious dares yet from start to finish. At the same time, I kind of get it, some of the cast members are not spring chickens. That said, this feels more like a combined series finale with a clip show. It is kind of like when “Seinfeld” had a big final episode, as well as a separate retrospective. Only in the case of this latest “Jackass” installment, it is as if those episodes were combined into one project.

Of all the “Jackass” projects, I would have imagine that “Jackass: Best and Last” may be the weakest entry point of the franchise. Not necessarily because the main cast has aged, but rather because the movie feels the most like a love letter to those who stuck around so long. This movie feels like a culmination at times, as if it were building up to something. When I watched the last movie, “Jackass Forever,” there was no real buildup or culmination. It was just a group of people acting like idiots the entire time, and somehow it worked. This is not to say that “Jackass: Best and Last” has a plot or a story. Things happen, of course, but as a “Jackass” movie, this has more layers than I would expect.

Yet as I say all this, some of these bits were first time watches for me, like Big Red Rocket from “Jackass Number Two.” As an individual bit, I thought this was quite entertaining, as were some of the other vintage clips like Brad Pitt’s Abduction. While I would have loved to have watched these clips for the first time during their original run, I do appreciate getting an opportunity to have my first experience with these clips be in a theatrical environment with a crowd of people. Granted, it was a small auditorium. It held less than 50 people, which, goes to show the downside of reclined seats in cinemas nowadays. I know people say they are comfortable, but goodness, has the theatre lost a sense of community because of them. Although on that note, there are some scenes in this film that make for some delicious popcorn entertainment, but others that would make for weird watches while eating. Just a warning.

This is supposedly the last “Jackass” movie. There are moments that contribute to its finality and wrap things in a satisfying bow. If it truly is the end, then the franchise has had a good run. Johnny Knoxville and crew have done plenty to entertain the masses over the years, even if they almost killed themselves doing some of those things. But frankly, if the “Jackass” name were to live on without Johnny Knoxville, I might still show up. It is kind of like “Jurassic Park.” It does not matter who is playing the lead as long I get to watch dinosaurs trying to eat people. “Jackass” delivers pure entertainment out of daunting situations, twisted games, and scary stunts. It is balls to the wall fun. “Jackass: Best and Last” is no exception to the rule.

In the end, “Jackass: Best and Last” is a lot of fun, even if it has hints of, admittedly, somewhat understandable laziness. Seeing the main cast and crew come back together one more time made for an absolutely entertaining ride. If this is the end of the road, it is not the worst way to go out. I have no idea if this movie is going to have a ton of replay value down the line. Although if anything, it does make me, as a “Jackass” novice, want to go back and see parts of the franchise that I may have missed. “Jackass: Best and Last” has plenty of laughs and I am going to give it a 7/10.

“Jackass: Best and Last” is now playing in theaters. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! As a reminder, this very blog, Scene Before, is now 10 years old! In honor of the 10th anniversary, I am working on an original video series, Movie Requests, and my next guest who will be on the series is “Lord of the Rings” star Elijah Wood! I got to meet him in Philadelphia over the spring, and I got to hear his film suggestion. What did he pick? Find out on SUNDAY AUGUST 2ND here on Flicknerd.com! If you want to see the episode as fast as possible, please subscribe to my YouTube channel!

My next review is going to be for “Obsession!” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “Maddie’s Secret,” “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass,” “The Odyssey,” “Her Private Hell,” and “Haunted Heist.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Jackass: Best and Last?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite “Jackass” episode or movie? Part of me wants to dive into the franchise a bit more, so I will gladly take any recommendations! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Supergirl (2026): A Colorless, Boring Super Snooze

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Supergirl” is directed by Craig Gillespie (Dumb Money, Cruella) and stars Milly Alcock (Upright, House of the Dragon), Matthias Schoenaerts (The Danish Girl, Red Sparrow), Eve Ridley (3 Body Problem, Emerald), David Krumholtz (The Santa Clause, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle), Emily Beecham (Daphne, 1899), David Corenswet (Pearl, Twisters), and Jason Momoa (Aquaman, A Minecraft Movie). This film is about Kara Zor-El, also known as Supergirl, as she races to hunt down an adversary who harmed her dog, Krypto.

The DC Universe started with a big bang last year with the incredibly enjoyable “Superman.” It brought a particular flair to comic book movies that gave me a solid first impression of what its cinematic universe could be. It was helmed by James Gunn, who alongside Peter Safran, is forging the timeline in which this movie belongs. Now a year later, we get “Supergirl,” directed by Craig Gillespie. While I have not seen all of his filmography, he can crank out a decent picture. “I, Tonya,” while not the best sports movie I have seen, was stunning to look at and brought an excellent performance out of Margot Robbie. More recently, he did “Dumb Money,” which is not only based on an unbelievable true story, but it is also very funny. I recommend checking both movies out.

Craig Gillespie has proven that he can be a visionary director. I thought his work on “I, Tonya” came off as something that only he could helm. Sadly, “Supergirl” feels like it was made by a committee. For all I know, “Supergirl” was Gillespie’s vision. He could have had final say on just about everything. I highly doubt it, as this is a cinematic universe, and certain checkboxes need to be marked off so future stories can happen and the timeline is not ruined. That said, if Gillespie made most of the choices as this film’s director… I will praise him in certain regards.

The action scenes, while not the best I have ever seen, are sometimes fun to look at. I also saw the film in IMAX, which features an exclusive, taller aspect ratio in select scenes. I thought the occasional enhancements added to some sequences. They did a better job at enhancing the experience than “Mortal Kombat II,” which was a fun movie, but the aspect ratio switches in that project’s case were oftentimes distracting. I thought he also got some good performances out of the cast, most especially Jason Momoa. Although to be fair, I could clearly tell Momoa was just happy to be in the movie regardless of the script or director, simply because he finally got to portray Lobo, a role some would argue he was practically born to play.

But who am I kidding? I nearly fell asleep watching this movie.

If anything, “Supergirl” feels like it is directed by someone doing a lackluster James Gunn impression. I like James Gunn, for the record. In fact, he even produced this movie. I think Gunn has some bangers on his resume including “Guardians of the Galaxy,” “Slither,” and even “Superman,” which kicked this universe off. But “Superman” had elements of a project that James Gunn would normally write or direct, but those elements are not entirely effective in this case. I would want to give points in regards to keeping the cinematic universe consistent, but at the same time, not really, because I thought “Superman” was fun whereas “Supergirl” was melatonin in the form of a comic book movie. “Superman” had quite a few laughs, some good music, and a great villain in Lex Luthor. “Supergirl” on the other hand was not that funny, had some odd song choices, and had a fairly forgettable antagonist.

When I hear the terms “summer movie” or “summer blockbuster,” I think of big, loud, fun, adventurous escapes where you can munch popcorn and have a good time. This is not the only kind of movie that should come out during the summer, but that is often the stereotype that comes to mind. I expect to go into movies featuring superheroes, robots, dinosaurs, fast cars, or even robotic dinosaurs that are able to turn into fast cars, you name it, expecting to have fun. Sitting through “Supergirl” gave me the sense I was sitting in a cosmic DMV. The film felt soulless and tiresome. I hate to say that especially because this film follows an incredibly joyous and exciting “Superman” film from the year before.

I knew exactly how my experience with “Supergirl” would wind up from the opening scene. One of the first things shown on screen in this tinkle-riddled terror of a film is Krypto the Superdog pissing on a newspaper. I will not judge. When you gotta go you gotta go. But you took this adorable, albeit sometimes vicious sidekick that Superman had in his movie last year, and he does one of the most unattractive things any creature can do. Also, this is not the only reference to things coming out of particular holes during the movie. As these references continued through the dialogue and visuals, I was almost convinced someone was trying too hard to cater to the under 5s.

In fact, much of the movie revolves around Krypto. Well, sort of. Krypto does not exactly do much in this film. Krypto the Superdog is not doing a ton of “super” things. Part of it is due to what ends up being Supergirl’s inciting incident. Krypto gets shot with an arrow, leaving Supergirl with three days to keep him from dying. On paper, this should work. People want to see a dog’s owner kick butt whenever their pet gets put in peril. This could have been the “John Wick” of comic book movies! Maybe we will get to see Kara kill a guy with a pencil. For whatever reason, the movie does not give enough time to fully engage me into Kara and Krypto’s connection. I may sound like a moron, because I thought “Superman” did a good job at handling Krypto. He was cute, but not cuddly. This movie fails to give the dog a role this time around that matches the decency of the one he had in his previous go. When it comes to Krypto’s presence in “Supergirl,” he is nothing more than a pawn.

For those who have not been on the Internet that long, chances are you will run into, get this, sexist men who think women belong in the kitchen. Imagine that! If you clicked on this blog to see if there was a man running it with that viewpoint, you have come to the wrong place. I am not a woman, so my opinion here may not be as valid, but I think women deserve a better movie with its particular lead. This is not to say that Kara is a weak character. Judging by her powers and some of her actions in the film, she is quite strong. However, I wish the film gave her more of a personality. Yes, we see she loves to party. Yes, we see she loves her dog. But I never found myself attached to the character. Milly Alcock is not given the best material to work with, which may play into why a good portion of her line delivery feels flat in every other scene.

Part of my lack of enthusiasm towards Kara may be part of the film’s intentions. There is a line in this film given by Kara that sums up the differences between her and her super-cousin, Clark. She says that Clark sees the good in everyone, whereas she sees the truth. First off, did she steal Wonder Woman’s lasso? Give that back! It belongs to her! Second, I reflect on last year’s “Superman” with the sense that not only did I have fun watching it, but Clark maintained a sense of fun despite the many obstacles standing in his way. There is almost no fun to be had in “Supergirl.”

The film tries to be comedic, but I rarely even chuckled. In fact, while my auditorium was not quite sold out, there were a decent number of people there of various ages. I do not think a single person uttered a sound during the entire movie.

To top things off, Superman does appear in select sequences of the film, all of which are arguably the most fun parts of the entire runtime. “Supergirl” to DC sort of plays like “The Book of Boba Fett” does to the “Star Wars” universe. Not only does the film come off as cheap and fail to meet a certain standard, but I found the best part of it was when another character perhaps equal in terms of prominence got some of the spotlight. In this case, Superman is The Mandalorian, who shows up partway through the project and reminds the audience that it is time to have some fun. Supergirl, the “Boba Fett” in this example, is the character who, to my most unpleasant surprise, makes me want to fall asleep whenever she is on screen. Do I despise this character? No. I just was not that engaged with her, partially because I was not convinced she was wholly engaged in her own journey.

Going back to the time when I initially watched this film’s first trailer, I had a bad feeling about how this experience would go, but I was hoping to be wrong. Much like one particularly political intro to a 2016 episode of “The Simpsons,” I must say, “being right sucks.” There is a line from that trailer that made me nearly facepalm. Specifically, when Supergirl has a bunch of guns pointed at her, and she says to everyone holding said guns, “This is not going to end well – for you guys.” She sounds like a stand-up comedian dealing with a heckler, but she is turning her gears way too hard as she hopes to come up with a clever comeback, all the while she has nothing in the tank so she gives a response that makes said comedian go, “better than nothing.”

In fact, speaking of firsts, this script just so happens to be a first. The screenplay is written by Ana Nogueira, who has previous writing credits in theatrical productions and a short film, but “Supergirl” is her first feature-length script. You have to get your start somewhere, but I am not convinced that doing a second film in a cinematic universe featuring well-known comic book characters is the best way to get your feet wet. However, I do think it is smart to have a woman write the screenplay. I think a female perspective would enhance a project like this one. That said, I wish the screenplay had more to write home about and did not make me want to snooze. There is not a single character in the lineup that I found compelling, even if their respective performers are showing signs of effort.

If there is one thing I think DC has done better than Marvel, it is prioritizing female leads in their own films. We saw it in the DCEU with “Wonder Woman,” and with the current DCU, it only took two movies to make such a reality happen. Granted, we also live in a market that over time has likely become more noticeably open for female-led superhero movies. Plus, as general concepts, Supergirl and Wonder Woman have greater longevity than say Captain Marvel or Black Widow. I highly doubt that “Supergirl” is the second film simply because a woman is the lead. Though if this universe began in 2008 like the MCU did, chances are the world might not have been ready for a female-led superhero film following the failures of Marvel’s “Elektra” and DC’s “Catwoman,” at least from a financial point of view.

This is the second film in the DCU, so the timeline is still young. It is not easy to know where things will go from here. There’s “Clayface,” which sounds promising. Another “Superman” project is on the way. Also, just because this one project was a dud does not mean I am not looking forward to those other two. Sure, maybe my overall optimism about this timeline is lower than it was previously, but I am still onboard. In fact, for all I know, this universe could still turn out better than the previous one. We still have not gotten a deep dive into characters like Batman and Wonder Woman. Those characters are arguably more important to the overall state of DC than Supergirl. If those characters are featured in projects that are not up to a certain standard, then maybe an instant reboot may be necessary. The same can be said if future projects, regardless of the character, happen to showcase the same level of mediocrity that “Supergirl” did.

Also, going back to what I said about this film’s soundtrack, this film has one of the weirdest song placements I remember hearing in any movie ever. Towards the film’s end, there is a big action scene, the picture morphs into slo-mo, and in the background, Jimmy Eat World’s song “The Middle” starts playing. This is a great song. I love this song. I used to work at a Staples location, and this song would play constantly during my shifts. It was one of the highlights of my time there. Too bad they ended up playing a soft, quiet, cover version of it. For all I know, maybe there was a reason why they could not use the original song, but this cover version was not a good fit. Speaking of things that are not good fits, this movie was not exactly a good fit for my schedule. There is a list of more worthwhile things I could have done with my time. Watching this movie kept me from doing those things. Time is too valuable to waste on bad movies. I do not recommend watching this one.

In fact, to my surprise, I think I had a better experience watching the 1984 “Supergirl” movie starring Helen Slater. Sure, it looks dated at times, the villain is a bit over the top, the special effects are laughable, and some of the dialogue is plain awful. But there was a sense of wonder to be had with that film. The score is brilliant, the cinematography is sometimes beautiful, and even if her journey sometimes made for a questionable watch, I liked seeing Supergirl develop as a character. Is the movie flawed? Unquestionably. But it didn’t make me want to fall asleep unlike this 2026 counterpart.

In the end, “Supergirl” is a disappointment. Not only because this is simply a bad movie by itself, but because this sets a bad vibe for the DCU as a whole. Again, this is only the second film, so maybe this will wind up being the one bad movie in the entire run. Perhaps “Clayface” or the next “Superman” installment will change everything. But is this movie as super as its title suggests? Not really. This film lacks color, personality, and fun. I go to a big budget comic book movie with flashy heroes expecting to at the very least have fun. When these kinds of films lack fun, then what is the point of watching it? This wound up being one of the biggest bores of the year, sadly. I am glad to see Jason Momoa finally got to play Lobo, and maybe he will get to play the character again. Although I wish said character had a better start. Milly Alcock tries as the lead, but she is not given decent material to work with. If you want to watch a great DC film, just go watch “Superman.” If you want to watch a solid Craig Gillespie film, go back and watch “Dumb Money.” Avoid “Supergirl” if you can. I am going to give “Supergirl” a 2/10.

“Supergirl” is now playing in theaters everywhere. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! As a reminder, in addition to putting out film reviews like this one, I am also doing a special series in honor of Scene Before’s 10th anniversary called Movie Requests, which features me reviewing movies requested by your favorite stars. Be sure to check out my latest episode featuring Sandi Harding, who suggested I should review “The Goonies!”

I am also happy to announce that the next guest who will be featured in the series is “Lord of the Rings” actor Elijah Wood! I had a chance to talk to Wood in May during a convention in Philadelphia. With his permission, I was able to get his film suggestion. Hopefully, his suggestion is good enough that way he and I can have quite the fellowship! If you want to see the episode of me reviewing Wood’s film of choice, it is going to be out Sunday August 2nd! I will share the review here, but if you want to see the episode as fast as possible, please subscribe to my YouTube channel!

My next review is going to be for “Jackass: Best and Last!” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “Obsession,” “Maddie’s Secret,” “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass,” “The Odyssey,” and “Her Private Hell.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Supergirl?” What did you think about it? Or, have you seen the 1984 “Supergirl” movie? How does it compare to this new one? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Toy Story 5 (2026): An Incredibly Relevant Fifth Entry to Pixar’s Flagship Franchise

Posted on by Jack Drees

Photo by Pixar/Pixar – © 2026 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

“Toy Story 5” is directed by Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo, WALL-E) and stars Tom Hanks (Cast Away, The Polar Express), Tim Allen (Last Man Standing, Home Improvement), Joan Cusack (Saturday Night Live, Toys), Conan O’Brien (Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Conan), Scarlett Spears (Wicked: For Good, General Hospital), Greta Lee (Russian Doll, The Morning Show), Shelby Rabara (Steven Universe, Goliath), Mykal-Michelle Harris (Mixed-ish, Raven’s Home), and Craig Robinson (The Office, Brooklyn Nine-Nine). This film follows an eight-year old Bonnie as her toys watch her become obsessed with a tablet right before their eyes. The sudden shift prompts the toys to wonder about their future, as well as Bonnie’s.

Photo by Pixar/Pixar – © 2026 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

I do not know about you, but to me, “Toy Story 5” felt inevitable. This was especially true when “Toy Story 4” came out in 2019, started its box office run with a bang, and ultimately become one of Disney’s several billion-dollar grossers that year. That said, there is something about this franchise that works just about every time. Each story, in some way, tends to justify its existence. Some more than others, but still.

The original “Andy trilogy” remains one of cinema’s most remarkable achievements through its technological feats, great storytelling, likable characters, and balanced presentation that is perfect for all ages. While I found “Toy Story 4” to be much weaker than the original three, I still found the film to be incredibly entertaining. It is also one of the best-looking animated films I have ever seen. There are one or two shots involving a cat that linger in my mind to this day.

When I heard Pixar was doing a “Toy Story 5,” I was onboard. Then I heard what it was about and I knew I was going to get my tickets ASAP. For those who need to know, “Toy Story 5” showcases what happens when modern technology plays an important role in Bonnie’s life, thus prompting her to abandon her toys. I do not have much of a connection to today’s youth, but I come across tons of younger people who, based on an initial impression, seem to be seriously attached to their electronics. Quite often, when I go out to a restaurant, I will find a family nearby whose children are staring at a tablet. I am not going to pretend I was not in the same boat as a child. I would occasionally bring my Game Boy Advance SP or Nintendo DS to a restaurant to kill time before food arrives. Heck, as an adult, I bring my laptop to a restaurant to write material for this blog.

Electronic addiction knows no age.

Overall, I thought “Toy Story 5,” much like “Toy Story 4,” is not quite in the same boat as the original Andy trilogy. But this is by all means a step up from the last movie.

This fifth installment starts off with a bang. There are a couple key moments that introduce major threads. Including one involving an army of Buzz Lightyears designed with a modern twist, and another where we see a ton of abandoned toys warning Bonnie’s toys about the dangers of tech. It was at this point that I was convinced that I was watching a horror flick. Then when we introduce Bonnie… We see this truly heart-shattering moment where she asks her parents why she does not have any friends. She asks such a question after the movie reveals she is still playing with traditional toys, but those around her are relying on LilyPads to entertain themselves. 

Photo by Pixar/Pixar – © 2026 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

I do think it is slightly interesting though that only now in the “Toy Story” universe we are seeing technology come to life. We have been through four movies and a ton of other electronics have been featured throughout. These include TVs, game systems, and phones. Now that a tablet has entered the chat, we have our first instance of a pure electronic device as we define it come alive. It is a bit odd as Andy had a gaming console in his room, something specifically designed for play, and we never saw that do the same. Then again, perhaps I am being a bit harsh. After all, it relies on various wired connections, whereas the LilyPad is a wireless tablet that does need charging, but its setup is friendlier for multi-purpose handheld use. So… Does that mean if Andy had a Game Boy growing up, that would come to life too? Would a Nintendo Switch come to life in this universe? That is a portable device to some degree. So many questions.

Though as I say that, the LilyPad, while it definitely behaves a lot like an iPad, has a design that appears to be more of a reference to LeapFrog devices, which are geared towards younger audiences. After all… LilyPad… LeapFrog… The two names are quite similar. Granted, LilyPads come in more colors than green, but still. Maybe the device is supposed to take elements from both LeapFrogs and more traditional, everyday tablets like iPads, as devices like iPads are more likely to be used for social purposes. Also, given Pixar’s connections to Apple, I am surprised they did not implement select Apple sound effects or Easter Eggs like they did at certain points in “WALL-E.”

Photo by Pixar/Pixar – © 2026 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Another thing I should note is that this is Jessie’s story. Not Woody’s. I have no problem with that. After all, when breaking down the “Toy Story” movies, it is not exactly about the toys themselves, but more so their relationship with whoever possesses them. With this being a “Toy Story” installment, it should not be a shock that there is some thread in the story having to do with “x toy” feeling apprehensive that “y person” will not play with them anymore. All of Bonnie’s toys, but Jessie most especially, is nervous that LilyPad is going to replace them for good. I like this obstacle. It taps into the fear that children could grow up without an imagination because they are staring at screens all day. In fact, there is a great scene where we see Bonnie, whose face is still as can be, staring at her tablet nonstop. One of my favorite moments involving Bonnie’s attachment to the device is seeing her dad come into her room. When Bonnie is communicating with her dad, she is not looking at him. She is looking at the device and talking at the same time. Bonnie is genuinely hooked.

If you ask me, I think there is a place for tech in younger people’s lives. We live in a world where not everyone has to be in the same room to socialize anymore. Of course, nothing can replace the in-person experience of hanging out, but it is cool to know that people can come together to play games online, chat online, and all other sorts of things. If anything, this film feels more like an anti-peer pressure movie as opposed to an anti-tech movie. The way the story plays out taps into Bonnie’s social life, and how the LilyPad has enhanced it significantly. She has always had the toys, but not anyone who wanted to play with her. It kind of reminded me of when I was a child and I was still playing Nintendo games whereas other people I knew were diving into first-person shooters.

Going back to Woody, while it definitely made for a good marketing push to have Woody and Buzz reunite, I think this movie did not necessarily need Woody in it for it to flow. Sure, Woody plays a bit of an essential role when he comes on screen and he is trying to save abandoned toys. But this is a story that probably could have been done almost as effectively without him. Of course, Tom Hanks does a good job with the role. No surprise there. That said, he has way less to do this time around than the other movies.

That said, I am glad Buzz has stuck around for this movie. This film dives further into an ongoing element of his story that has been touched in previous movies, and I thought they did a great job with it. By the end of the film, I was satisfied with where they took it.

Photo by Pixar/Pixar – © 2026 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Although this movie is not all tech… There is some play, and this film may have some of the coolest play scenes yet. It shows what is going on in the kid’s imagination while playing with the toys. It brings in some cool frames and backgrounds. This also unleashes a clever Easter Egg involving Conan O’Brien’s character, Smarty Pants (middle). As a human character plays with him, we see in their imagination that the character has a hat of reddish-orange hair, much like the actual Conan O’Brien.

Speaking of Smarty Pants, I do not think there is anyone else on earth more qualified to voice this character than Conan O’Brien. I say that not just because I am a fan of him as an entertainer, but during his late night hosting days, I have noticed that O’Brien has a unique ability to take the most terrible or odd bit and spin it in a way where it can be as entertaining as possible. In actuality, that is just a nice way of saying that I have mixed feelings about the character.

As a 26 year-old, toilet humor has not aged well with yours truly. Not to say it cannot work. In fact, it sometimes does in this movie. But it does feel a bit odd that Pixar decided to use toilet humor. They usually aim a little higher when it comes to attempts at humor. I was surprised to say I never gagged or cringed at any of the jokes from this character, but there are times that I wish I laughed just a little harder. Some of the jokes tend to repeat themselves or come off as some variation of a joke that has been told previously. Maybe it is to reflect the simplistic nature of the character compared to the LilyPad, which is the fancy dancy piece of modern technology, but some of the jokes got old fast.

Even with its flaws, “Toy Story 5” is worth watching. It is beautifully animated, as should be no surprise given how Pixar’s films are usually stunning. The voice cast all play off each other perfectly. The film is kind of sad to think about, because it reveals that technology is so integrated into people’s lives to the point where we cannot live without it. In some cases, we might not even have friends because of it. “Toy Story 5” is not necessarily a movie that begs its viewers to put down the tablet or step away from the computer, but more so reminds people to have a decent balance between technology and real life.

Photo by Pixar/Pixar – © 2026 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

In the end, “Toy Story 5” is a fantastic movie. It is a perfect watch for the entire family. Is it the best “Toy Story” installment? No. But it does not mean that you should brush it aside. If anything, the most prominent critiques I have for this film are that some of the jokes are better than others, and as much fun as it is to see Woody and Buzz, much like old times, you could almost take Woody out of the movie and have it feel no different. Keep Buzz though. His presence is essential to the story. This movie showcases the ups and downs of technology in daily life. It serves as a cautionary tale as to what can happen with constant use of technology, but the movie does not suggest that tech should be destroyed in its entirety. Pixar is responsible for the two best animated films this year so far. This movie and “Hoppers.” The studio has been on fire lately. I am going to give “Toy Story 5” an 8/10.

“Toy Story 5” is now playing in theaters. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! As a reminder, in honor of Scene Before’s 10th anniversary, I am currently working on an original web series called Movie Requests. It is a video series that sees me reviewing movies suggested by some of your favorite stars. Be sure to check out my latest episode featuring Sandi Harding, the owner of the last Blockbuster Video on the planet, located in Bend, Oregon. In this episode, Harding suggests I should talk about “The Goonies.” To hear my thoughts on the movie, click the video above! If you like the video and want to see more episodes of Movie Requests, hit the like button and subscribe to my YouTube channel! I also share the videos on this blog, but the fastest way to be alerted about them is to subscribe on YouTube!

My next review is going to be for “Supergirl.” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “Jackass: Best and Last,” “Obsession,” “Maddie’s Secret,” “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass,” “The Odyssey,” and “Her Private Hell.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Toy Story 5?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite “Toy Story” movie? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Disclosure Day (2026): Spielberg’s Latest and Most Complex UFO Story

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Disclosure Day” is directed by Steven Spielberg (Close Encounters of the Third King, The Fabelmans) and stars Emily Blunt (Edge of Tomorrow, The Fall Guy), Josh O’Connor (Challengers, Emma.), Colin Firth (Love, Actually, Kingsman: The Secret Service), Eve Hewson (Bad Sisters, The Knick), and Colman Domingo (Sing Sing, Wicked: For Good). This film is about a meterologist and a cybersecurity expert who find themselves in the center of a movement to unveil government secrets about alien life.

© Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Sort of in the way that there are no two words in sports that seem to match the excitement of “Game 7,” there are no two words in cinema that seem to match the excitement of Steven Spielberg. Or… At least that seems to have been the case until recently. Prior to “Disclosure Day,” Spielberg’s two directorial outings post-COVID were “West Side Story” and “The Fabelmans.” Both films are astounding in their own way, but neither was a financial success. Sure, both came out at a time where moviegoers were staying home more and perhaps more selective with what they chose to see. But if the sales for Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” say anything, we still live in a world where a director’s name can be a huge selling point for a film. Spielberg is one of the best in the industry, so of course I bought a ticket for “Disclosure Day” as soon as I could.

When I see a ton of actors I recognize in one movie, it often gets me excited to see how they play off each other. I always get the impression that these people know what they are doing and do it well. At the same time, it is a little distracting, because having seen this cast’s faces, I already have an idea of what to expect from them. Thankfully, everyone in this film is brilliant. From Josh O’Conner, who does a great job allowing the audience to feel the wonder of the story. To Colman Domingo, whose character’s direct mannerisms do a fantastic job balancing the film’s overall tone. To Emily Blunt, who… What can I say? Emily Blunt has never been better. And there is a chance she will never be better than she is in this film.

© Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

We are only halfway through 2026, but I hereby declare that the race for Best Actress is already over. If we get a performance that somehow surpasses the incredible talents and range on display from Emily Blunt, then this is likely going to be one of the greatest years for cinema ever. Blunt is tasked with so much throughout the film, some of which I downright refuse to spoil. I remember watching the trailer, and seeing that moment where she was speaking gibberish during a weather forecast. It is super engaging in the full context of the film. I was also shocked at how well the gibberish came across. When I heard it in the marketing, part of me thought, “Well, that’s probably gonna end up sounding like nails on a chalkboard.” I was delighted to be colossally wrong.

Speaking of surprises, John Williams has still got it. I really shouldn’t be surprised. It’s John Williams. He’s done some of the best film scores. But there was a magic to this one in particular. The dude is 94, which in my mind meant a couple things. Between his previous experience and his old age, he’s already done so much great work to the point where it makes me wonder if he’s possible to deliver something as memorable as he did back in the day. I was wondering if he was just going to phone it in. But at the same time, with age comes knowledge. And knowledge is power. Trust me when I say this score is mighty powerful.

© Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Prior to seeing “Disclosure Day,” I heard from some people who had already seen it comparing it to Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet.” For the record, I have liked every film Christopher Nolan has helmed. “Tenet” included. It is not his easiest film to understand, even after several viewings, but it is an experience unto its own. There are few movies that gave me something akin to it. I can see why the two films share some similarities. Both feature clever sci-fi concepts, contain brilliant musical scores, and run at a rather quick pace. In fact, one thing I thought both movies did very well is that they set the tone and got straight to the action from the first minute. The movies may be long, but they do not waste time. Much like “Tenet,” I would also like to watch “Disclosure Day” a second, perhaps a third time. And unlike “Tenet,” one of those reasons is not because the sound mixing was sometimes terrible. The sound in this movie is actually quite great. In fact, technically, this film is one of the best overall cinematic experiences of the year. The color palette had this old school pop to it. The editing was impeccable. There is not one shot in the movie that I thought looked questionable.

Although like “Tenet,” “Disclosure Day” can sometimes feel clunky. “Tenet” is clunky in its complicated, confusing approach to its story and progression. “Disclosure Day” on the other hand feels a little more straightforward and easier to digest. Yet as the film enters its climax, it does sometimes feel riddled with conveniences. The climax is exciting and it did have me, at times, on the edge of my seat, but nevertheless. Am I rooting for the protagonists? Sure. Yet at the same time, there seems to be a lot of dumb luck that throws things off for me. Much like Edgar Wright’s “The Running Man,” the climax of “Disclosure Day” is most definitely the weak point. This film’s climax is much better. Despite its flaws and recently mentioned conveniences, it is undoubtedly entertaining and fits the flow and spirit of the story.

If I had to rank the Steven Spielberg-directed UFO films, I think I would put “Close Encounters” on the bottom. It is a good movie, but I like certain parts of it more than others. At the top, is “E.T.,” which has solid characters and an emotionally powerful ending. “Disclosure Day” is somewhere in between. It is good, but not fantastic. That said, I am curious to know if the ranking could change after multiple viewings. That said, figuring out my next viewing for this film is going to be tough. I have so many movies to watch, and so little time.

© Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

In the end, “Disclosure Day” is a thrilling, albeit confusing ride. Even with its flaws, I do think this movie is worth watching at least once. And depending on how that initial viewing goes, maybe it is worth watching again. Not necessarily because it could end up being your favorite movie on the first go. I say this because this comes off as a movie that I imagine getting better as I digest it and unpack it. Maybe the same could be true for you. Although if there is any reason to watch this movie at all, it is Emily Blunt, who gives a career-defining performance as Margaret Fairchild. Trust me, look forward to seeing some of the best acting of your life. I am going to give “Disclosure Day” a 7/10.

“Disclosure Day” is now playing in theaters. Tickets are available now!

Thanks for reading this review! In case you missed it, be sure to check out my latest episode of Movie Requests, featuring Sandi Harding, the owner of the last Blockbuster Video that is still open! She requested I should watch “The Goonies!” What did I think of it? Watch the video and find out! Be sure to like the video and subscribe to my YouTube channel if you want to see new episodes of Movie Requests as soon as possible!

My next review is going to be for “Toy Story 5!” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “Supergirl,” “Jackass: Best and Last,” “Obsession,” “Maddie’s Secret,” “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass,” and “The Odyssey!” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Disclosure Day?” What did you think about? Or, what is your favorite Steven Spielberg UFO film? Or even, your favorite film of his in general? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

MOVIE REQUESTS – Sandi Harding Requests THE GOONIES (1985)

Posted on by Jack Drees

Welcome everyone to the seventh episode of Movie Requests! This is the series where the Movie Reviewing Moron sets himself out on an adventure to find notable people who are willing to give suggestions on movies for him to watch and talk about! The series is being done in honor of 10 years of Scene Before. I thank everyone for tuning in for the past decade.

In case you missed it, Movie Requests has recently bumped its guest list from 10 to 15! Today, we are going to be taking a request from one of the original 10. Although on top of the original 10, please look forward to reviews from newly added guests like Melissa Barrera, Adam Conover, Joe Gatto, Tessa Thompson, and Elijah Wood!

In the last episode, I reviewed Chris Hardwick’s request, the 1985 film “Real Genius,” which I found to be a hilarious, well-timed comedy that holds up to this day. Today’s request was also released in 1985. Specifically, “The Goonies!” Much like “Real Genius,” I had not watched “The Goonies” in full. Though I was once at my grandparents’ house and they had it on the television as I was in the room doing something else. That is the closest I have gotten to actually watching the movie, unless you count me finishing a previous program on TV, and then flipping through channels once that film started until I found something else. It is not that I had no interest in “The Goonies” whatsoever, but I never had the complete motivation to turn it on, even after buying a used copy of the 4K Blu-ray a couple years back.

Today’s guest is none other than Sandi Harding! Locals and staff know her as the Blockbuster Mom, while many people also know her as the owner of the last Blockbuster Video still standing, located in Bend, Oregon. If there is a guest who is absolutely perfect for this series, it is the one who has seen thousands of movies go in and out of her store. So, I thank Harding for her participation and suggesting I should give “The Goonies” a watch.

If you would like to hear my thoughts on Sandi Harding’s request, “The Goonies,” click the video at the top of the top of the page! Want to know more about who will appear in this series? Check out the poster above! Be sure to also like the video on YouTube and subscribe to my channel that way you can see more episodes of Movie Requests as soon as they drop! I will also be sharing the episodes, much like this one, here on Flicknerd.com if you prefer watching them from this site. If you want to see more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

The Breadwinner (2026): An Unfunny Comedy That Really Wants You to Buy a Toyota and Watch Shark Tank

Posted on by Jack Drees

“The Breadwinner” is directed by Eric Appel (Die Hart, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story) and stars Nate Bargatze (Your Friend, Nate Bargatze, Nate Bargatze: Hello World), Mandy Moore (Tangled, This Is Us), Colin Jost (Saturday Night Live, Tom & Jerry), Zach Cherry (Fallout, Severance), Martin Herlihy (Saturday Night Live, The Running Man), Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick, Eternals). and Will Forte (Scoob!, The Last Man on Earth). This film is about a dad living in the suburbs who must adapt to a stay-at-home parent lifestyle when his wife gets the opportunity of a lifetime to take her invention to the next level.

I love comedy. I think the world is a better place for having it. Sadly, comedy films are at a bit of a low point. This is not to say that they are dead, there have been wins here and there, but the comedy genre does not feel the same as it did pre-COVID. Part of this may be because a lot of mainstream comedies are finding their way onto streaming services. While some viewers may not care, it kind of turns me off, and makes me think that the people who made the movie do not have much faith in it.

So, when I found out that “The Breadwinner” was going to be a theatrical release, I was pleased. Well, sort of. Because the trailers, while not the worst I have ever seen, did not look fantastic. I cannot say I outright laughed at anything the trailers had to offer.

But you know what? Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. Perhaps “The Breadwinner” listened to me every time I watch a comedy trailer, see all the funny jokes, and complain that there is nothing else that happens to be funny when the film comes out. The good news is, there are moments of the film that I did not see in the marketing that made me laugh. Kumail Nanjiani plays a supporting character and he is easily the best part. He has the funniest lines and visual gags. If there is any reason to see this movie, it is him.

Beyond that, I cannot come up with another reason to check this project out. That is unless you want to watch an hour and a half commercial that technically qualifies as cinema.

I have seen Nate Bargatze do standup both through prerecorded specials and live events. He puts on a good show. While not my favorite comedian working today, I think he has a knack for family-friendly humor. The kind that you would expect to fly on an episode of “America’s Got Talent.” Given his success with the standup scene, I was wondering if Nate Bargatze would be able to bring something fresh to the comedy film genre. While the film does feel rather on brand for Bargatze’s standup persona, I think said persona is perhaps handled better on a stage rather than a screen.

“The Breadwinner” feels like an extended episode of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and not a very good one. Nate Bargatze plays Nate Wilcox, the “average guy” character with a steady job. Mandy Moore plays Katie, a stay at home mom. They have three children and all live in the suburbs together. When Katie gets an opportunity to make something of herself outside the home, it throws Nate off and forces him into the stay-at-home dad role. For Nate, this goes about as well as you, and probably he, would expect. Speaking of things that did not go well, the jokes are more often misses than hits. At no point did the battleship sink. You can only have Nate Bargatze fall down so many times and expect it to be hilarious. The attempts at humor are not only unfunny, but a lot of them feel been there, done that, and in certain cases, done better.

This is a PG movie, and I did see some children at my screening. I would be curious to know how well this comedy is going to age for the younger viewers who check it out. But as a 26-year-old who has quite a few flicks under his belt, the jokes come off as too familiar and predictable for them to work.

This film sort of takes me back to when Happy Madison comedies dominated theatres. And by that I mean, the film reminded me of what I sometimes hated about those movies. This is a glorified, shameless, endless commercial.

Product placement and in-film advertising is nothing new. Also, this is a Sony movie, so this is most certainly nothing new for them. This film reminds me a lot of “The Emoji Movie,” which so incessantly flashes brands on the screen and even makes them interwoven so heavily into the plot to the point where part of the climax would not be possible if it were not for the Twitter bird mascot saving the heroes. With this being a Sony movie, of course, they decided to put in some tie-ins to their properties. There are a couple noticeable nods to “Jeopardy!” for example, that are frankly inoffensive.

But would anyone like to guess how the story moves forward when Katie decides to take her invention to the next level? She goes on “Shark Tank,” of course! Do not get me wrong. A lot of people would, realistically, kill to bring their product on that show for the chance of getting a deal. But I would be willing to bet five bucks that if this were not a Sony movie, “Shark Tank” would make no appearance in this flick whatsoever, as that is also a Sony show. Also, the scene is about as dumb as can be.

Are you seriously telling me that in regards to Katie’s invention, that Kevin O’Leary says he’s out because Nate walks onto the set while eating a donut and presenting himself as the antithesis of a fashion model? Would the real Kevin O’Leary do this? I don’t think so. Some of you might be saying, “Come on, it is a character, let him be.” Yeah, but judging by Nate Bargatze’s performance that lacks any and all transformation, I am not quite sure how much acting is really going on in this film. Not to digress, but the movie tries to present this whole gag where Nate becomes known as “the donut guy.” I understand the Internet can be odd and rude, but this has got to be one of the dumbest viral trends I have ever seen. Then again, I remember a time when portions of the Internet thought the Harlem Shake was cool, so there is that.

“Shark Tank” is not even the biggest culprit of this film’s neverending stream of commercialism. Because this movie really wants you to buy a Toyota. And frankly, it fails miserably. Not just because “The Breadwinner” is a terrible movie by itself, but also because if this were a genuine Toyota ad, I would question its messaging. My mom and I saw the film together, she liked it by the way. Upon discussing our difference in opinion, one of the first things I said to her as we left the cinema is that the film paints Toyota as an anti-family company. If anything, Toyota is the villain. Somebody give Nate Bargatze a Ford so he can go to town on a Toyota dealership!

Oh, and don’t forget to remind Nate Bargatze to take that Toyota to Walmart for some errands! And also don’t forget to tell the talent to take every other brand name cereal off the shelf to make sure everyone knows that is exactly what the family is buying! This movie cost $25 million to make, and I am sure most, if not entire the budget was paid for with this endless charade of brand bootlicking.

There is not much legitimate acting going in this movie, but based on the direction everyone is given, they fulfill the basic requirements of their roles. The women who play the Wilcox sisters, Stella Grace Fitzgerald, Birdie Borria, and Charlotte Ann Tucker, are sometimes adorable and play off the other characters well, even if some of their jokes feel like they are written for a Disney Channel original movie.

Going back to what I said about this film feeling like an extended “Everybody Loves Raymond” episode, the more I think about this film’s director’s background, I can see why. While Eric Appel has a lot of experience behind the scenes making material within the comedy genre, most of his material is TV-based. Even his more recent feature films did not get theatrically released. He directed “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story,” which is a Roku Original. Beyond that, some of his more recent projects include the “Die Hart” films on Prime Video, where Kevin Hart plays a version of himself. …Doesn’t he do that in every other movie he’s in too?

Plus, the writers of this film do not have much experience on the big screen either. In addition to starring in the film, Nate Bargatze also has a screenwriting credit. Upon looking at his IMDb, this is also Bargatze’s first acting credit in a feature film. The other writer, Dan Lagana, mostly has a TV background. The two also produce the film as well alongside Jeremy Latcham, a former Senior Vice President of Production and Development of Marvel Studios. So, you have all these minds coming together who for the most part, are not exactly known for feature filmmaking. I am not against these people giving filmmaking the old college try. But as for this try, it was a fail. These people got their start, but it was not the finest of beginnings. If anything, I am glad to see a studio put their money where their mouth is, which judging by this film’s content, their mouth was probably on a Toyota’s trunk fairly recently, and put a comedy in theaters. That is nice to see in this day and age. That said, this does feel like a comedy that was probably intended to go to streaming, but somehow wound up on the big screen.

In the end, “The Breadwinner” made me lose some brain cells. Nate Bargatze is a talented comedian, but I frankly think standup is where he is best. I am not sure how much of a future he is going to have as a movie star. I do not know if he is aiming to pursue more film roles, but if he does, I hope they are superior to what he has given here. The worst thing about this film is simply the fact that I did not find it funny. Yes, I emitted a chuckle here and there, and Kumail Nanjiani saves the film whenever he pops up on screen. But I was expecting more from someone who is killing it in the standup scene. Instead, “The Breadwinner” is essentially this year’s version of “Easter Sunday,” starring Jo Koy. It is a film that wastes the talent of a successful comedian, as well as my time. I am going to give “The Breadwinner” a 2/10.

“The Breadwinner” is now playing in theaters. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! This Tuesday, July 14th, get ready to make it a “Blockbuster Night!” Or… Day, I do not care. Your choice. Either way, I say such a thing because the next episode of Movie Requests is going to feature Blockbuster Video owner Sandi Handing! She owns the Blockbuster Video in Bend, Oregon. That is the last one still open! I had the privilege of meeting Harding in November, when she requested I should watch a certain movie whose title will be revealed when the next episode of Movie Requests officially drops! You can catch the video on Tuesday July 14th on Flicknerd.com and YouTube! Make sure you subscribe to my channel! It may not give you superpowers, but it will make you super aware of when exactly this episode drops! And isn’t the power of knowledge the greatest thing of all?

My next review is going to be for “Disclosure Day!” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “Toy Story 5,” “Supergirl,” “Jackass: Best and Last,” “Obsession,” “Maddie’s Secret,” and “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “The Breadwinner?” What did you think about? Or, have you seen any of Nate Bargatze’s standup material? Look, I may have been harsh on this movie. Although Bargatze is not a comedic hack. He can put on a good show. I will look forward to his next standup special or upcoming gig in the New England area, but “The Breadwinner” was not for me. Ah well, can’t win ’em all. Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Another World (2025): A Stunning Animation with One of the Year’s Most Action-Packed Climaxes

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Another World” is directed by Tommy Kai Chung Ng (Shi Wai, Tale of Rebellious Stone) and stars Suet-Ying Chung (The Lyricist Wannabe, Time), Hiu-Tung Choi (Say I Do to Me, Left on Read), Louis Cheung (Keeper of Darkness, Narrow Road), Kay Tse (Band Four, Legal Affair), Will Or (A Foggy Tale, Drifting), and Thaimay in a film about the journey between a spirit guide and a young girl whose anger threatens to turn her into a monster.

“Another World” was barely on my radar prior to seeing it. I did not see any major trailers or posters, but I came across some ads for it on social media, and found out it was playing at a local theater in Boston. There were barely any showtimes available, which served as a challenge for actually being able to see it, but it also became an incentive. Maybe this film could be one of those hidden gems. Plus, GKIDS has a decent track record when it comes to their slate of international animated flicks they choose to distribute for the US audience.

“Another World” seems to ask the same question that a lot of other great pieces of cinema tend to ask, “What does it mean to be human?” When it comes to its analysis of the human condition, there is something there. Much of the film is centered around the relationship of Yuri and Gudo, the latter of whom is a soulkeeper constantly learning about Yuri’s human traits. He finds out about the concepts of being tired, hungry, what it means to long. Having these two polar opposites work together made for a fascinating relationship that ties everything together.

The film itself feels somewhat jarring when it starts. It is not exactly clear who or what this movie is about. In fact it is so jarring at a certain point that I nearly tuned out. Thankfully, the film does become a bit clearer by the second half. That said, it is kind of heady. Not “Tenet”-heady, but heady nonetheless. The climax of the film, while definitely entertaining and watchable, does feel somewhat convoluted. It is not convoluted enough to the point where it falls like a house of cards, but if you are going to watch this movie, go in making sure you are ready to use your head once or twice.

Granted, this is an animated film, so it is not like suspending disbelief is an impossibility. Sticking with the climax, this is arguably when the film is at its best. This is a 2D animated film, which nowadays is always a treat to see in a world where it feels like every major release is 3D animated, even if there is some kind of hybrid style implemented into the project. But there is a particular action sequence in the final ten minutes that has so many flashy cuts that I was under the illusion that I was flipping through pages of a comic book or playing a fantasy video game. In fact, the pace at the end feels like a reward for sitting through everything that comes before. It is not that this film is boring, but rather an occasional slow burn. It takes its time. The climax offers maximum exhilaration and a unique sense of immersion. The final twenty or so minutes of the movie are debatably worthy of a tech demo between the crisp sound mixing, stunning framing, and immaculate cuts that made my eyes nearly fly out of their sockets.

If you read my reviews for “I Love Boosters” and “The Mandalorian and Grogu,” you would know that I look at both films on opposite sides of the color spectrum. The former is as bright and lively as can be, while the latter is about as gray as an office with endless cubicles. I bring those two movies up as “Another World” feels like what happen if those two projects came together and had a lovechild. I thought the use of color in “Another World” was perfect and effectively differentiated the afterlife from the real world. The afterlife often has, no pun intended, a lot more life put into it. Whenever this movie takes place in the real world, the color palette is sometimes a bit darker. A bit less pleasing to the eye. While the latter may sound like a negative, it matches some of the more unfortunate events that happen through the story in said environment. It also seems to play into the general idea that life itself, as beautiful as it can be, is a struggle. This is not to say that all struggles are eliminated in this film’s afterlife, but when it comes to the afterlife scenes, the color palette feels like they belong in a Nintendo game. Yet for whatever reason, it finds itself intertwined with a story that refuses to hold back on its serious nature. Overall, the film looks fantastic and shows off some gorgeous animation.

Was this film worth the semi-short drive to Boston? Perhaps. Is it going to be my favorite animated film of the year? Probably not. “Hoppers” was pretty, and I apologize for the pun, dam good, so that is going to be hard to top. Is this film a must see? I would not say that is the case when there is so much else out right now. Granted, if you reading this review the day it is published, good luck finding a showtime for this film. I highly doubt you’ll find it in a theater near you. It took me a month to finally get this review out. Better late than never. When it comes to that age old question, “What does it mean to be human?”, I would argue this film effectively taps into that idea, but there are so many other movies that handle this topic better, and by extension, offer a superior viewing experience. This is not a bad movie, but I have no idea how much exactly I am going to remember from it by the end of the year. Maybe that would make for an interesting second viewing down the line, and frankly, while I am in no rush to watch this film a second time, I would not say I am against the idea.

In the end, “Another World” is a beautiful film. It is not a picture that I would instantly tell you to rush out and see, but I would recommend it to people looking for some grit in their animations. In North America, much of the animated material that is popular around here is aimed towards families and children. Tell the kids to skip this film. It is not officially rated by the MPA, but I would probably put it somewhere around the PG-13 mark given the violence. That said, should you watch “Another World,” look forward to same top-notch voice acting, stunning scenes, and an intriguing story despite some occasional convolution. I am going to give “Another World” a 7/10.

Based on recent Internet searches, “Another World” is neither playing in theaters or available to watch at home as of this review.

Thanks for reading this review! Before we go any further, I would like to apologize as it took me some time to get this review out. Life has been busy, but fun. I cannot complain. I have also been watching a lot of movies recently to the point where I have had little time to talk about them. That, and I am also hard at work on updating Scene Before’s original series Movie Requests, whose next guest is… Sandi Harding!

If you do not know the name Sandi Harding, you may nevertheless be familiar with her business. Harding owns the last Blockbuster Video still standing, located in Bend, Oregon. What movie do you think she recommended? Find out TUESDAY JULY 14TH on Flicknerd.com and YouTube! If you have not done so already, subscribe to my channel, that way you are able to watch the new episode as fast as possible! Also, if you are not busy, check out my last episode featuring Chris Hardwick, who suggested I should watch the 1985 comedy “Real Genius!”

My next review is going to be for “The Breadwinner.” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “Disclosure Day,” “Toy Story 5,” “Supergirl,” “Jackass: Best and Last,” “Obsession,” and “Maddie’s Secret.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Another World?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite animation released so far this year? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Masters of the Universe (2026): Travis Knight Strikes Magic with His Latest Movie Based on Toys

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Masters of the Universe” is directed by Travis Knight (Kubo and the Two Strings, Bumblebee) and stars Nicholas Galitzine (The Sheep Detectives, Purple Hearts), Camila Mendes (Do Revenge, Riverdale), Alison Brie (The Disaster Artist, Together), James Purefoy (The Following, Pennyworth), Morena Baccarin (Greenland, Deadpool), Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson (Vikings: Valhalla, The Innocents), Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids, Sausage Party), Jared Leto (Blade Runner 2049, Suicide Squad), and Idris Elba (Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Pacific Rim). This film is based on the Mattel franchise of the same name and follows Adam who is sent from his home planet of Eternia to Earth at a young age. When he grows up, he is tasked with returning a magical sword back to his home planet, which he must save from the evil Skeletor.

I am a “Masters of the Universe” novice. Partially because I would have no clue where to start. Well, sort of, as I started my relationship with the franchise weeks ago when I checked out Amazon MGM Studios’ “Masters of the Universe” in theaters. Yes, I knew certain characters from the franchise, and sometimes I would talk in Skeletor’s cartoony voice because I thought it sounded cool. But I was born in 1999. I was not watching He-Man when I was a child, I was watching “SpongeBob.”

Despite my lack of knowledge of “Masters of the Universe,” I was mildly impressed with some of the film’s marketing. Note that I said mildly. It looked a little more serious than I imagined the property to be, but I was open to seeing what the crew cooked up behind the scenes. I am glad to say I thought the crew delivered something delicious.

This film feels like a Saturday morning cartoon brought to the big screen. Or, perhaps a more meta version of a Saturday morning cartoon. There are one or two nods to how absurd some of the concepts of the property happen to be. The film is basically this year’s “Thor: Ragnarok.” I do not know if this is going to have the lasting appeal that “Thor: Ragnarok” would for some people, but nevertheless.

Interesting enough, “Masters of the Universe” tends to take a lot of notes from the Marvel playbook. It presents the origin story of Adam, who we later come to know as He-Man. In fact, much like Thor, a particular incident brings him down to earth. Though whereas Thor was brought down as a consequence for his foolishness, Adam was brought down so he could be safe. If anything, his arrival, and therefore extended time, on earth is similar to that of the title character of the “Sonic the Hedgehog” movies.

Nicholas Galitzine continues his hot streak of enjoyable films this year between this and another Amazon MGM project, “The Sheep Detectives.” Galitzine plays Adam, who despite being on earth for several years, has not fully embraced the planet. His connection to his planet’s lore is not exactly helping him in his work life, dating life, social life. It makes him look like a bit of a dork. He spends time looking for a sword, which also does not help. Galitzine serves as a convincing lead and brings a dose of fun to the final product.

Given how little “Masters of the Universe” has grossed so far against its $170-200 million budget, this movie continues the Jared Leto curse. I said this before, I will say it again. Jared Leto is a great actor, and I will stand by that notion until the day I die. Sure, he did not play my favorite Joker, but he commits 110% with just about every role he is given, even as the lead in “Morbius,” a movie so bad that Spider-Man could not swing in time to save it. If you had no idea that Jared Leto was in this film, then there is a chance that you could end up watching it from start to finish failing to realize Leto is in front of you by the end of it. Leto plays Skeletor, and as a result, we never end up seeing his face. Leto is given some of the film’s finest material. There is a moment early on where he is delivering a vicious monologue, and once he raises his fist, he just stands there in awkward silence trying to emphasize that he is done, which prompts Evil-Lyn (Alison Brie) to softly affirm her understanding. I laughed quite a bit.

Speaking of Evil-Lyn, I thought Alison Brie was well cast as the character. This film is essentially a Saturday morning cartoon brought to life, and if you have ever seen Brie in real life, you might notice how large her pupils are. I mean that as a compliment. She is adorable. That said, the large pupils really work in Brie’s favor for this role, as she is not given a ton of lines to work with, but her character does spend a lot of time churning up wacky facial expressions. I thought Brie could have been given a tad more to do, but from a non-verbal perspective, I thought she did a great job with the character.

Daniel Pemberton composed the score for the film, which delights me to no end as he is quickly becoming one of my favorite composers between the “Spider-Verse” films and more recently, “Project Hail Mary.” Nearly every track feels larger than life. The real highlight of the music though is Brian May. Yes, the one from Queen, who dropped in some satisfying guitar solos.

This film is directed by Travis Knight, and overall, I thought he did a decent job at presenting a fun story with a balanced pace, despite a longer runtime. The film is 2 hours and 20 minutes long, but never once does it feel long. It is never boring.

This film is not doing so hot financially. About a month into its release, it has yet to make its budget back. Not a lot of people are checking it out in the theatre. But when it comes to those who did check it out, a majority of the reactions seem to be positive. Granted, overall, they seem to lean into mixed territory, but more people seem to like this movie compared to those who do not. This should not be surprising as Travis Knight seems to have a knack for bringing toy staples to the big screen. In 2018, Knight directed the “Transformers” spinoff “Bumblebee.” I personally think “Masters of the Universe” is a bit of a step down from “Bumblebee.” I think there is a little more humanity and wonder in “Bumblebee.” “Masters of the Universe” most certainly has those two elements, but not quite to the same degree. Even so, Knight does a great job at bringing Eternia to life and bringing things down to Earth precisely when he means to.

Also, if you check this movie out, be sure to stay for the credits. There’s bonus material as soon as the credits roll, in the middle, and at the end. You’re welcome.

In the end, “Masters of the Universe” is not the best movie I have seen this year. But if you are looking for something that could put a smile on your face that delivers on humor and action, this movie gets the job done. One note of caution for families… Even though is based on toys, part of me questions exactly how family-friendly this movie is. Granted, it is PG-13. So, not every child is likely going to be able to watch it right away. That rating is not unusual as the Michael Bay “Transformers” movies were also based on toys for example. Those were all PG-13. I watched those movies as a kid and turned out fine. But there is a running gag about “fisting” that makes me wonder if someone of a younger age could end up watching this movie and say something in public that maybe they should not be saying. Just something to keep in mind. Granted, I laughed myself silly whenever that gag played out. Does this movie make me want to explore more of the “Masters of the Universe” lore? I am not entirely sure. Perhaps if a sequel comes out, I will be there. I had fun with this movie. But if I am bored one day, I definitely have a greater chance of diving down a rabbit hole than I did before. The movie has a solid cast with some big names, a talented director, and despite feeling a bit paint by numbers at times, I found myself quite entertained. I am going to give “Masters of the Universe” a 7/10.

“Masters of the Universe” is now playing in theaters everywhere. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! As a reminder, be sure to check out my latest episode of Movie Requests, featuring comedian and television host Chris Hardwick! He requested I should watch “Real Genius,” starring Val Kilmer. To hear my thoughts on the movie, click the video above and check it out! Also, if you want to see new episodes in the fastest way possible, do yourself and I a favor by subscribing to my YouTube channel!

My next review is going to be for “Another World.” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “The Breadwinner,” “Disclosure Day,” “Toy Story 5,” “Supergirl,” and “Jackass: Best and Last.” If you want to see these reviews and more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Masters of the Universe?” What did you think about it? Or, since we are on the topics of Travis Knight and movies based on toys, has anyone here seen “Bumblebee?” What are your thoughts on it? And if you have not seen it, please leave this post and go watch it. You will thank me once it is over. Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Movie Requests – MEET FIVE MORE GUESTS!

Posted on by Jack Drees

Hey everyone, Jack Drees here! It is time for another update on Movie Requests. Remember that time I said I asked 10 people if they wanted to suggest a movie for me to review, and those people said yes? Well… That is true, at least in part. Because after I began the series, I continued my search for more people! This is the 10th anniversary of Scene Before! It would be amateurish of me to stop at 10 people! It is too predictable! I have to crank things up to an 11. Heck, why stop at 11? This is 15!

Before we go any further, if you have not done so already, be sure to follow Scene Before either with an email or WordPress account, or subscribe to my YouTube channel, that way you can check out new episodes of Movie Requests whenever they drop! I appreciate your support!

I want to remind everyone of how things are done here. For those who do not know about Movie Requests, this is a series where I ask people what movies they think I should talk about, I capture their response in a short video, which is recorded in person with their permission, and I review the movie based on their choices. There are no virtual videos or AI alterations to the recordings. So far, we have six people down in the series including Bryce Dallas Howard, Jason Mewes, Joel David Moore, Katee Sackhoff, Brian O’Halloran, and Chris Hardwick. If it were not for these additional guests, we would be halfway through the series. But I am having too much fun! Why stop now?

Like before, I am not going to list any of the movies that were picked for this series. Instead, I will name each special guest one at a time, and when it comes time to drop their episode, I will reveal their movie of choice. With that said, let’s meet the five guests who will be joining Scene Before’s 10th anniversary celebration!

Melissa Barrera

Please welcome our first of the five guests, alphabetically by last name at least, Melissa Barrera! You may have seen her on the big screen as Vanessa from “In the Heights,” as well as Sam Carpenter from the “Scream” franchise, specifically the fifth and sixth installments. You may have also seen her on the small screen as Liv Rivera on Netflix’s “Keep Breathing” and Michelle on Peacock’s “The Copenhagen Test.” You can also catch her right now on Broadway’s “Titanique,” where you can see her play Rose Dewitt Bukater. Barrera also stars as Joey in of one of my favorite movies of 2024, “Abigail.” If you have not seen it, please check it out. It has a killer child ballerina vampire. What more could you want?!

Adam Conover

Hi! He’s Adam Conover! And this is the introduction that totally explains everything you need to know about him. Conover is a comedian whose special, “Unmedicated,” you can find on Dropout, in addition to his YouTube channel! On said channel you can find an assortment of long-form videos on topics ranging from entertainment to politics to artificial intelligence. Conover is known for his comedy series “Adam Ruins Everything,” which aired for three seasons on truTV. It is inspired by a CollegeHumor series of the same name. He also hosted the Nickelodeon game show “The Crystal Maze,” which premiered in January 2020. He currently hosts the podcast “Factually! with Adam Conover.” If you are in the mood to laugh in front of this know-it-all’s face, you can catch him doing standup during his Big Divorce Energy Tour.

Joe Gatto

I was not able to find Larry. But I did find Joe Gatto out in the wild! Known for being one of the “four lifelong friends” from TV’s “Impractical Jokers,” at least until the early 2020s, Gatto is practically put on earth to make people laugh. If his big eyes did not suggest that this man is one of the funniest people to come out of Staten Island, New York, then his commitment to fearlessly surviving dozens of daunting challenges given to him by his three best friends certainly will. On top of appearing in the hit comedy series, he also starred in “Impractical Jokers: The Movie,” and served as a panelist on the TBS game show “The Misery Index,” where contestants must rank incidents based on how embarrassing they are. Gatto is also a standup comedian, who you can catch on tour at a city near you. Gatto’s 2024 special, “Messing with People” is available to watch now on YouTube.

Tessa Thompson

Up next is an actress whose name is not only well known, but happens to be the only one in this series that is alliterative. Grammar. It is fun sometimes. Anyway, please welcome Tessa Thompson!

Okay… Lynne is her middle name. I guess one could argue it is not an alliteration. Let me have my moment.

You may know Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. She has portrayed the character in several projects including “Thor: Ragnarok,” “Thor: Love and Thunder,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “What If…?,” and “Marvel Zombies.” Apparently Thompson really likes working with Chris Hemsworth, as the two also co-starred in 2019’s “Men in Black: International.” She also starred as Bianca in the “Creed” trilogy, as well as Josie in one of my highlights of moviegoing in 2018, “Annihilation.” Some of her TV projects include “Copper,” “Veronica Mars,” and “Westworld.” Thompson just finished up her run on the Broadway play “The Fear of 13,” in which she starred alongside Adrien Brody. The play is based on true events and is about a man who is sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit.

Elijah Wood

And lastly, I promise I am playing no favorites with this next guest… But he is most certainly one guest to rule them all. Please welcome Elijah Wood! This actor is best known as Frodo in the “Lord of the Rings” franchise, having appeared in all three films in the original trilogy, as well as “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.” Wood also stars as Patrick in “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” as well as Mumble in both “Happy Feet” movies. By the way, “Happy Feet” was my second Hollywood feature I saw in a cinema. If you are a fan of science fiction film franchises being brought to television, then Wood has you covered. He stars in Disney XD’s “Tron: Uprising” and “Star Wars: Resistance.” You can also find him in live-action shows like “Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency,” “Wilfred,” and “Yellowjackets.” One of my favorite works from Wood is the 2013 film “Grand Piano,” where he plays the lead character, Tom Selznick, who must play the piano at a concert without hitting a wrong note or he dies. That movie is music to my ears. Literally.

And as a reminder, I am still in the process of reviewing movies requested by Rosario Dawson, Sandi Harding, Michael Rooker, and Amy Sedaris. If you want to know more about those guests, I made a separate post several months ago explaining who they are and what they’ve done. I thank each and every single participant for appearing in this series. You made this movie nerd proud.

Thanks for reading this post! The list has gotten bigger, and so has my drive! The next episode of Movie Requests will be available Tuesday July 14th and it will feature special guest Sandi Harding! Even if you do not know the name Sandi Harding off the top of your head, chances are you are familiar with the place where she works. Sandi Harding is the owner of the last Blockbuster Video still standing, located in Bend, Oregon. You can find her in the 2020 documentary “The Last Blockbuster,” which sums up this very story. If you want to watch this episode of Movie Requests when it drops, it is going to be available here on Flicknerd.com, but to access it as early as possible, do yourself and I a favor by subscribing to my YouTube channel!

For the record, these guests are not being presented in the order by which they were recorded. Sometimes there will be a reason why I pick a certain guest for a certain date, like Katee Sackhoff on May the 4th as she is tied to “Star Wars.” Also, given how I have recorded a relatively even amount of men and women in this series, I also do not want to do too many episodes in a row featuring someone of a single gender. I just did a couple episodes in a row featuring guys. Now it is time for one of the gals, so, Sandi is up next!

As a reminder, I also dropped a new trailer for the series, showcasing all of the guests I have recruited, including the five newbies! Check it out, give the video a like, and as I said in the beginning, click the fancy-dancy subscribe button so you can get notified of what’s new in the series as soon as possible!

If you want to see more from Scene Before, follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account! Also, check out the official Facebook page! Also, I will ask the same question I asked when I introduced this series’ original set of guests, what movies do you think these guests chose? Keep in mind, each person picked something different. There are no duplicates in this series. All of the movies that you saw reviews of thus far are not getting a second appearance. That said, leave your theories down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!