John Early

Maddie’s Secret (2025): John Early Cooks Up Something Good

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Maddie’s Secret” is the feature length directorial debut of comedian John Early (Search Party, DC League of Super Pets), who also wrote the film himself, and stars as its title character. The cast also includes Kate Berlant (The Moment, A League of Their Own), Eric Rahill (The Paper, Let’s Start a Cult), Kristen Johnston (3rd Rock from the Sun, The Exes), Claudia O’Doherty (Love, Killing It), Conner O’Malley (I Saw the TV Glow, Rap World), Vanessa Bayer (Saturday Night Live, I Love That for You), and Chris Bauer (The Deuce, The Wire). This film is about a woman who is struggling with bulimia while also trying deal with her friendships, her past, and online fame due to her presence on a cooking program.

© 2026 – Magnolia Pictures

It is only appropriate that “Maddie’s Secret” goes by its particular title, because the film itself feels like a secret. Upon its release more than a month ago, “Maddie’s Secret” happened to only play in select locations, including the Boston area. As the movie happened to be playing near me, I thought I would check it out. After all, I have heard decent things about it, and I had no interest in seeing the new “Minions” movie.

“Maddie’s Secret” is no longer just a secret, it is a hidden gem. This movie rocks. If someone were to describe “Maddie’s Secret” to me on the spot and I had no idea what it was, part of me would assume that this film is not for me. Heck, even the name sounds like a straight to DVD title found in the middle of Walmart or a trashy Lifetime original. Do not judge this book by its cover.

© 2026 – Magnolia Pictures

This film stars John Early. When I was watching the opening credits, I was a tad confused, as I thought this film was about a woman, and yet a man is playing the lead. Turns out both of those things are true. Having watched enough “Saturday Night Live,” I cannot say that this is the first time I have seen someone playing a character of an identity that is different than their own. I am surprised to say Early shines as the lead. He does a fantastic job tapping into the character’s emotions, struggles, and occasional excitement. It is not to say the performance is going to win an Oscar, but I was shocked with how much I bought into it. Given the film’s particular lead and tone, I was especially delighted to notice how seriously it takes bulimia. Maybe such a sentiment is not as valid as can be, because, again, I do not have bulimia, nor do I know anyone in my life who does. Not that it is any of my business if I did know someone who secretly had it. But I would love to know what people who have bulimia would think of this film. From a dramatic point of view, this film excellently handles Maddie as she struggles with her eating disorder in more ways than one. This is true when talking about the effects of the disorder itself, her interacting with important characters along the way, and seeing her closest relationships develop, I would love to know how many people would relate to this character or see themselves in this character.

Tone-wise, part of me can imagine an alternate reality where this particular movie would fall apart like a house of cards. I did not see any trailers prior to watching “Maddie’s Secret,” so I was not entirely sure what to expect from this film, but it finds a fine line between comedy and drama. It is never laugh out loud funny, but it is often capable of delivering a chuckle. At other points, it is deeply moving and powerful. “Maddie’s Secret” finds a unique balance in its material, sort of like “Everything Everywhere All at Once” did several years back.

On the surface, this movie seems like it is about someone who finds a passion in cooking and uses it to better her life. To a certain degree, that is true. But as Maddie’s success is on the rise, she is also dealing with a home life that is maybe not all it is cracked to be. She has familial problems lingering in the background. Not to mention, she has bulimia, which is probably one of the most interesting sells one can have when pitching a movie like this. For the record, I have, to my surprise, not heard of the term bulimia nervosa prior to watching this movie. If anything, I am glad I watched “Maddie’s Secret” simply because it put a spotlight on the concept.

Speaking of characters I admire, another one in this film is Julie, played diligently by Vanessa Bayer. From scene one, she has a massive pinch of enthusiasm and often maintains a youthful spirit. She comes into the film at an integral point in Maddie’s journey, where things are not particularly going as great as they could be. Despite the movie getting serious at this point, Julie’s presence calmed the vibe down in a sense. Julie is a character that I could see certain viewers finding annoying, but that is not the case for yours truly.

This movie is a bit down to earth on its more dramatic moments, but tends to sometimes jump the shark in its more comedic scenes. The biggest example that comes to mind is when Maddie initially finds success on social media. Not that I have any problem with how the movie presented her success, but shortly after, she has a meeting with her boss, who tells Maddie that she breached her contract with the company. So, instead of being fired, Maddie becomes an on-camera personality within said company. Debatably, the movie jumps the shark just enough in this scene, if the company sees money, then why not follow it?

To my surprise, this film is also one of the more gorgeous-looking ones I have seen recently. For starters, some of the lighting really pops. There is one intimate scene in particular that is neatly colored. Also, this may be a tad unexpected to say because this project deals with an eating disorder, but with the story centering itself around food, it is not always easy to keep your mouth from watering, except for the occasional over the top, gross scene. This movie does not quite get as gross as say “The Substance,” but there are select visuals that are slightly off-putting. Even with a moment or two that made me want to look away, I could not keep my eyes off of “Maddie’s Secret.”

© 2026 – Magnolia Pictures

In the end, “Maddie’s Secret” is an engaging movie that delivers a one of a kind vision from John Early. While none of performances in “Maddie’s Secret” are going to win any major awards, each one fits perfectly within the context of the project. The dialogue is also often perfectly timed and realized. There is a perfect pace to many of the film’s lines. I have no idea if this is a film that is going to have any replay value down the line, but I do think it is worth watching at least once. “Maddie’s Secret” is, if nothing else, a totally unique dramedy, and I am going to give it a 7/10.

“Maddie’s Secret” is now available to rent or buy on VOD.

Thanks for reading this review! Also, be sure to check out my latest episode of Movie Requests! It is an original video series where I ask your favorite stars what movies they think I should talk about! In this episode, I review Elijah Wood’s request, “Festen,” aka “The Celebration!” If you want to watch the episode, click the video above! Also, be sure to like the video on YouTube and subscribe to my channel if you want to see new episodes of Movie Requests as soon as they drop!

My next review is going to be for “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass.” Stay tuned! Also, coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “The Odyssey,” “Her Private Hell,” “Haunted Heist,” “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” “I Want Your Sex,” and “The Invite.” 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 “Maddie’s Secret?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite movie revolving around food? One recommendation that comes to mind is “Chef.” It is a fantastic story with clever writing, good performances, and it makes you hungry. It is excellent. Check it out! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Eternity (2025): Romance Isn’t Dead in This Clever Take on the Afterlife

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Eternity” is directed by David Freyne (Dating Amber, The Cured) and stars Miles Teller (Whiplash, Top Gun: Maverick), Elizabeth Olsen (Avengers: Age of Ultron, Godzilla), Callum Turner (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, The Boys in the Boat), John Early (Search Party, At Home with Amy Sedaris), Olga Merediz (Blockbuster, Orange is the New Black), and Da’Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers, People of Earth). This film is set in an afterlife where people are presented with endless realms called eternities, one of which they can choose to remain for as long as they are dead. The story revolves around a love triangle in which a woman named Joan is forced to choose between spending the rest of her afterlife with her first love who died at war, or the man with whom she built the rest of her life.

Prior to watching “Eternity,” I have not seen a single trailer for the film. Anytime I go into a film without having seen a trailer, part of me gets a pep in my step, as blindness can often lead to a great surprise. I ended up checking out “Eternity” about a week before its release. The film had a press screening in Boston, a city from which I live 20 minutes north. I thought I would take advantage since I had a free Thursday night.

I am pleased to say that “Eternity” is quite good. It is not my favorite film of the year, and there are some notable problems I will bring up during the review. But it is a film that keeps a good pace, contains a likable cast, develops its characters nicely, and offers a fun take on what may happen after people die.

“Eternity” is not the first story I have seen brought to the screen that focuses on the afterlife. The film does tend to remind me a bit of other takes on it I have seen. This film reminds me of is the NBC series “The Good Place.” While I have not seen the whole series, the production design feels very similar with lots of bright colors filling the frame. As for both properties’ takes on the afterlife, that is where some of the differences start to come in. For instance, “Eternity” gives people some options on how exactly they spend their afterlife. There is a whole area of tents set up advertising all sorts of places where people can go spend the rest of their afterlives, and the possibilities feel nearly infinite. “Eternity” also establishes that there is not exactly a “Hell” or some equivalent to it where people wind up when they die. Everyone gets a chance to pick their eternity, and if they try to leave, they get chased down and sent to this film’s closest concept to Hell, which is a black void. More on that later… Also, one thing to note about these distinctions… It should not come as a surprise that there is no Hell because some of the eternities are based on seemingly unattainable desires, or bad habits. There is even an eternity dedicated solely to cigarette smoking!

A24 is a distributor whose movies always tends to get a reaction out of me, and “Eternity” is no exception. As I watching “Eternity,” a thought popped in my head that I do not tend to experience that often. Of all the A24 movies I have seen, “Eternity” may have the most franchise potential. Sure, A24 has the “X” trilogy and “The Souvenir” has two parts, but there is some really good world building and lore establishment in this film to the point where if another story in its universe were announced, I would be onboard. This film ends in a way where its main trio might not have much more of a story to tell, but I would not mind seeing another installment featuring new characters. This movie focuses on a love triangle, but it would be interesting to see what it is like for someone who never found love to have a chance to do so once they enter the afterlife. This could even spin off into a TV show. Maybe each new episode could feature the staff dealing with new people who are dying each day. They could probably make a whole season about someone who died if they wanted to go in that direction.

This film does not have a major antagonist. The biggest problem our characters face throughout the movie is that Joan is forced to choose between two men she’s loved at certain points of her life. That is the everlasting dilemma affecting our main trio. Although as mentioned earlier in the review, if someone leaves their eternity, they have to go on the run and avoid getting placed in a black void. Frankly, I think this movie would be better off if it did not have this consequence. It basically shames people for making the wrong choice even if they had the best of intentions while making it. For those who read my review for “Bone Lake,” sorry if this comment sounds familiar, but it works here too. The consequence sounds like something brought up during an episode of YouTube’s “Pitch Meeting” series, where the Executive Guy asks why a particular concept is a thing, to which the Screenwriter Guy responds “So the movie can happen!”

That said, “Eternity” is still pretty funny. In fact, this whole movie feels like an extended “Simpsons” episode. I cannot tell you every single joke or sight gag in this film, but for the most part, the movie seems to be running at a mile a minute. If you like that kind of humor, I think you will dig “Eternity.” This movie might be worth watching a second time to see if there are any jokes I missed.

Overall, this film is quite creative. There is a whole world built around what happens when people die. It gives its characters a week to choose where they would like to spend the rest of their time. I like how the film establishes there being a whole staff that has to acquaint dead people to their new environment. That said, when it comes to being a romcom, that is where things become a little more familiar. When it comes to the breakdown of how Joan navigates her dilemma, I could see certain key points of her journey coming from a mile away. That said, never once did I get the sense that any point in her journey was broken, and I do think said journey was slightly enhanced by both men being in her actual life. She had someone she was getting to know, but lost too soon. Then she had another man with whom she spent more than sixty years. It is a compelling dilemma and makes for a great story. All three of the main characters are layered and give all the exposition the audience needs to know for the rest of the movie to play out exquisitely.

In the end, “Eternity” is not only funny, but it made me think. I am 26 years old and I have never had a partner. If anything, this film made me not only think about what happens after I die, but it makes me wonder what is going to happen throughout the rest of my life. If the afterlife somehow ends up being similar to what this film presents, it makes me think much harder about any crucial life decisions I am going to make. Also, one last note, this film proves that Da’Vine Joy Randolph is a comedic force. I would love to see her as the lead in a comedy one day. I loved her in “The Holdovers.” She is also fantastic in “Eternity.” She is incredible at what she does. I am going to give “Eternity” a 7/10.

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

© Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.

Thanks for reading this review! My next review is going to be for “Wicked: For Good!” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “Sentimental Value,” “Zootopia 2,” and “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.” 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 “Eternity?” What did you think about it? Or, if you could choose to spend the afterlife in one place, real or imaginary, where would it be and why? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!