Roadside Attractions

Cookie Queens (2026): An Empowering, Adorable Showcase of Tomorrow’s Entrepreneurs

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Cookie Queens” is directed by Alysa Nahmias (Unfinished Spaces, Wildcat) and is a documentary about Girl Scouts from varying walks of life all trying to reach their goals while selling the organization’s cookies.

Truth be told, I do not recall ever having a Girl Scout Cookie. That is despite having a younger sister in my household who was a Girl Scout herself. I was more of an Oreo guy growing up. Give me Double Stuf or give me death. Even as someone who is not much of a Girl Scout Cookie enthusiast, I found myself interested in “Cookie Queens,” as its trailer did an effective job at presenting something that was likely going to dive into the organization’s members’ business tactics of upselling while also presenting an adorable story about these young ladies finding their way as entrepreneurs.

To be honest, “Cookie Queens” surprised me. Well, not entirely. I went into this film expecting to enjoy it, which for the record, I certainly did. “Cookie Queens” by all means a delight that I think would make a great watch for families, especially for ones with young girls. After all, this is a film about young girls who are likely to serve as positive role models. I am not surprised by any of what I am saying, but what did surprise me was this film’s range in its cast.

I was expecting all of the Girl Scouts to be like one another in terms of their ambitions. While all the Girl Scouts establish personal ambitions during the film, I was moved to see that it did not solely focus on girls who were trying to sell thousands of cookie boxes in a season. Not to say that is not interesting, but I think much like the different flavor options Girl Scouts sells through their cookie brand, a little variety goes a long way.

The movie revolves around four Scouts in particular. One of those girls is named Ara, who struggles with diabetes and maintains a positive attitude the entire time she is on screen. While Ara has a set number of cookies she would like to sell, she is much more humble when it comes to what she wants to achieve as a salesperson. In fact, while some of the other Scouts are vying to go on big trips, Ara just wants to get stronger and be able to pull a wagon around without feeling the need to pass out. Ara seems to care about the little things compared to everyone else.

On the other side of the coin, you have Nikki, Olive, and Shannon Elizabeth…

No, this is not an “American Pie” spinoff. Get that out of your heads, you perverts.

Nikki wants to follow in her sister’s footsteps. Her sister was a Girl Scout who sold enough cookies and took a trip to Europe. She wants to go there as well. There’s Olive, who comes to find that no number is too high for her to try to achieve when it comes to her sales. As for Shannon Elizabeth, she wants to sell enough cookies to win a free summer camp.

What really brings this documentary home is how much it channels the stress of everyone involved in the process of selling Girl Scout cookies. Sure, the film occasionally shows the customers in some cases paying a little more for the cookies than they anticipated, but for those selling these cookies, this is not entirely fun and games. These young girls are taking time out of their day, going outside to wherever spot is most appropriate all in the hopes of making enough money to hit their goals. Not everyone associates being young with hard work. Youth is a time for play, all while growing into someone who will likely worry about hard work later in life. But that is not the case for the four girls who make up the main cast.

Not to mention, their families have to buy the cookies in advance, so that is money out the window, which makes it all the more stressful if only a certain amount of cookies end up selling by the season’s end. The documentary primarily revolves around young girls, but this is the part of the film that I would find many adults relating to or appreciating the most, especially as prices for everything continue to go up.

And for these young girls, selling cookies is not the only thing keeping them busy. For example, Shannon Elizabeth is also into karate. In fact, she implements her enthusiasm for martial arts into her cookie sales. Perhaps the funniest part of the film’s trailer features Shannon on a vertical video advertising herself as a Cookie Ninja, and telling her audience to “buy cookies, or else,” while wearing martial arts-appropriate clothing.

If I had any complaints about “Cookie Queens,” it would probably be that this film sometimes plays out like a scripted reality show. There are certain moments that feel somewhat fabricated, set up, or overdone, which are not the first terms I would expect to use when describing a documentary about young girls selling cookies.

Does this feel like a Girl Scouts commercial? I can see why someone says it is, but given how much the film dives into the downsides of selling cookies, I think the film is balanced enough to the point where it also critiques the organization. I said before the film features positive role models, but I also think that if some girls follow in their footsteps, they might find themselves under similar stress to the girls on screen. Yet there is also a saying that great risk means great reward, and this film shows that is possible with its main quartet.

On a more personal note, I do not know if this film is going to have any replay value for me down the line. Maybe it is because I am not the direct target audience. I was never a Girl Scout. I am a straight white male who does not eat Girl Scout Cookies. Yet let it be known that you do not need any attachment to the Girl Scouts organization or like Girl Scout Cookies to enjoy this movie. “Cookie Queens” is sometimes adorable, other times serious, and all times admirable.

In the end, “Cookie Queens” is a cute watch. Is it the greatest, most riveting documentary ever? No. But even though it is cute, it reminds its viewers that selling cookies is not always cuddly. Sure, some of it comes off as scripted, but even some of the more scripted moments offer entertainment value. The main cast is charming and likable, and I think the film could inspire young girls to dream big. I am going to give “Cookie Queens” a 7/10.

“Cookie Queens” is now playing in theatres. Tickets are available now.

Thanks for reading this review! As a reminder, the next episode of Scene Before’s Movie Requests is dropping Monday September 7th and it is going to feature actress Melissa Barrera! What film do you think this “Abigail” star suggested I should watch? Find out Monday here on Flicknerd.com and YouTube! Please subscribe to my channel if you have not done so already! And while you are at it, check out the preview above!

My next review is going to be for “Tony!” Stay tuned! Also coming soon, I will be sharing my thoughts on “Spa Weekend,” “Coyote vs. Acme,” and “Idiots.” 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 “Cookie Queens?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite Girl Scout Cookie? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Summer Camp (2024): Shelter Yourself Away from This Average Comedy

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Summer Camp” is written and directed by Castille Landon (After We Fell, Perfect Addition) and stars Diane Keaton (Book Club, The Godfather), Kathy Bates (Misery, The Waterboy), Alfre Woodard (Desperate Housewives, Memphis Beat), Beverly D’Angelo (National Lampoon’s Vaction, Entourage), Nicole Richie (The Simple Life, Great News) Josh Peck (Drake & Josh, Ice Age: The Meltdown), Betsy Sodaro (Duncanville, Disjointed), and Eugene Levy (American Pie, Schitt’s Creek). This film is about three childhood companions who reunite at the summer camp where they’ve bonded in their youth.

If you are asking why in the universe I, a 24 year old male, spent my time watching “Summer Camp” in a cinema, please note that if I were alone, I probably would have skipped this movie. But I was with other people and it seemed to be a fair equalizer. It has comedy, it has stars, and it is on the shorter side. It’s basically the same thing as “Anyone But You” all over again except this movie clearly does not have people close to my demographic as part of the target audience.

Was I looking forward to “Summer Camp?” Not really. But as MJ says in “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” “Expect disappointment, and you will never get disappointed.” That said, I cannot say I was disappointed with “Summer Camp” given my low expectations. But I also cannot say I was quite thrilled with it either because I did not find the movie to be that great. Is it better than I thought it would be? Sure. Maybe a little. But it is not saying much.

What did I like about this movie? While the overall structure of the film is somewhat predictable, there’s no real gaping holes in the story that threw me off. Everything in the movie makes sense to a certain degree and all the characters had their moment. Not only did they have their moment to shine during the movie, but the story effectively pays off its characters’ arcs. I thought each outcome the characters individually achieved were genuinely earned. The ride this movie takes me on is quite bumpy, but it ends on a note that I would consider to be a highlight. In fact, despite noting the characters being well constructed, I cannot say there are any performances in this film that really stand out. Sure, the main trio is “good enough” for the film to steadily progress and not have things falter significantly. But if anything, this film seems to rely on star power. Granted, not stars that a ton of my generation would generally recognize or care for.

Nevertheless, you have Diane Keaton, who’s had a storied career in her real life and is playing someone who’s trying to maintain a storied career in this film. There is also Kathy Bates, whose performance here is neither a titanic powerhouse or a complete and utter misery. She is doing her part to bind things together. You have Eugene Levy, who serves halfway decently as this movie’s aged boy toy. And… Yeah, that seems to be the entirety of his purpose, other than spewing wisdom or something. I am actually surprised they got a younger star like Josh Peck, who seems to maintain a nostalgia factor for gens y and z. I do not think this is going to get the younger audiences in. But then again, he was in “Oppenheimer,” which almost made a billion dollars at the box office. The characters themselves in this movie are not broken. For the most part anyway, there are some fantastical elements to their background or personality that I have trouble buying into. Speaking of their background, it sometimes feels surface level. We know their problems, but the movie is a bit rushed for those problems to have a semblance of depth.

As mentioned, this movie is a bumpy ride. One of the biggest problems that comes to mind with “Summer Camp” is that it feels inconsistent. At one moment it tries to be a comedy. In another instance, it tries to be a drama. Unfortunately, the tones this movie offers appear to clash a bit. And as a comedy, this movie honestly could have been funnier. Granted, there are no moments looking back where I put both my hands on my face to relieve myself of the cringe that I witnessed, but there are no jokes in the movie that truly sold me either. At best, the comedy is middle of the road. A lot of the comedy, and honestly, looking back at the trailer for the film confirms this for me, feels been there done that. There is another scene, also in the trailer, where a food fight breaks out. A scene like this one could conceptually come off as comedic, but when I watch it, the only things it comes off as just so happen to be forced and unrealistic.

I do like the themes this movie tries to highlight. The movie tends to tell its audience that life is short, and we should do whatever we can to make the most of it. If there is a hurdle in your life, you can overcome it. Life is not all work, all the time. You should also make some time for play. These are ideas that are well executed throughout the film. And given the target audience this film seems to be aiming for, it will probably sit well with them, despite this movie feeling rather disposable. It surprises me how much substance seems to have been delivered in a movie like this. If anything, I thought it was going to be a complete goof-fest. Again, the tones do clash, but there are highlights even when said tones butt heads. As far as the whole “elderly women friends” get together and find themselves experiencing shenanigans sub-genre, if that’s a thing, goes, this is, given time to marinate, a step up from “80 for Brady.” Unlike that film, “Summer Camp” seems to have more stakes and fewer conveniences. I actually felt like I was watching a movie as opposed to a random compilation of events and tired comedy gags.

Well, okay, there were tired comedy gags. Plenty of them in fact. I am not saying this movie is Shakespeare, but when you compare it to “Madame Web,” it is definitely watchable in parts. There are parts I would rather forget. Although to be real, I could forget this entire movie and be okay with it. But having seen the movie, I enjoyed what I saw. This is not the worst movie of the year. It is likely going to entertain some people and turn others off. As far as I go, I am somewhere in the middle.

In the end, “Summer Camp” is not going to win any awards. But I don’t think this movie deserves to be cast into a fire. At worst, maybe it deserves to be in the Walmart $5 bin when it comes out on DVD. It is not that funny, but I never found it to be overly annoying. It is harmless. At times, the movie is preposterous and utterly ridiculous. But cannot say it makes me wish to put a gun in my mouth. Maybe a water pistol. At least I’ll hydrate from that depending on what’s inside. “Summer Camp” tries to do several things at once, but I cannot really say it does any of them to such a masterful level. This is not the worst movie of the year, but it is by no means a summer spectacular. I am going to give “Summer Camp” perhaps one of the most generous 4/10s I have ever given. Part of me wanted to give it a 5, but between the overly fantastical backgrounds certain characters have, the varied depth some of them maintain, product placement, and the tonal inconsistency, I just cannot do that. I do not know. That could change. But for now, it is a 4.

“Summer Camp” is now available to rent or buy on VOD.

Thanks for reading this review! My next review is going to be for “Young Woman and the Sea.” Stay tuned! Also, look forward to my reviews for “Inside Out 2,” “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” “Thelma,” “Daddio,” and “A Quiet Place: Day One.” 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 “Summer Camp?” What did you think about it? Or did you ever go to summer camp in your youth? Tell me about your experiences in the comments! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Boy Kills World (2023): Bill Skarsgård Lets the Bodies Hit the Floor in This Adrenaline Rush of an Action Flick

Posted on by Jack Drees

“Boy Kills World” is directed by Moritz Mohr (Akumi, Ronin 2035) and stars Bill Skarsgård (Malignant, It), Jessica Rothe (Mary + Jane, Happy Death Day), Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey, Good Behavior), Brett Gelman (Stranger Things, Fleabag), Isaiah Mustafa (It Chapter Two, Murder at Yellowstone City), Yahan Ruhian (Warrior, Bullet Train), Sharlto Copley (Hardcore Henry, Monkey Man), H. Jon Benjamin (Bob’s Burgers, Archer), and Famke Janssen (X-Men, Taken). This film is set in a dystopian time and is about a deaf and mute person who is trained to become an instrument of death. Now he must use all that he knows to achieve revenge over the murder of his family.

If I were to make a top 10 most anticipated movies of 2024 list at the beginning of the year, there is a solid chance “Boy Kills World” probably would not have been on there. Why? Because I had no idea about it. But had I seen the marketing for it at the beginning of the year, I probably would have considered sliding it into one of the spots, or at least noting it as an honorable mention. “Boy Kills World” looked like a bloody good time. And if you put Bill Skarsgård, one of this generation’s great actors together with H. Jon Benjamin, one of this generation’s great voiceover artists, you may have a recipe for a winning combo. On paper, this sounds like my kind of movie. In execution, this is most certainly my kind of movie. It is like if “Deadpool” had a baby “John Wick: Chapter 4” and it just so happened to be set in a environment straight out of “The Hunger Games.” I am not even a huge “Hunger Games” fan, but my god, is this movie delicious…

“Boy Kills World” is as simple as can be when it comes to the premise. Basically, a guy has to survive against his enemies all to get to a specific person he needs to kill. But the way this movie goes about it is unbelievably satisfying. Technically speaking, this movie has a color palette that bridges a gap between grit and fantasy… Fluid camerawork that flawlessly showcases an endless series of incredible action sequences from start to finish… And on top of that, some surprisingly intricate and palatable production design. For a movie set in a dystopian future, I was pleasantly surprised to know how much pizazz said future has.

The costume design in this film is a bit of a standout to me. It is kind of all over the place in terms of color, design, and vibe. But the movie somehow makes all of those costumes feel consistent with one another. Each costume suits the characters’ personalities in addition to the personality of the movie itself.

Going back to the “Deadpool” meets “John Wick” comparison, this movie, much like those, involves our main character looking for a little payback in honor of those he loves. Also like both movies, our protagonist, in this case, Boy, is a mastermind when it comes to killing. The stellar choreography we see from him certainly adds to the thrills as well. And much like “John Wick: Chapter 4,” I found this movie to be very video game-esque. Every other moment, our protagonist has something new to fend off, and each time, it is done with a lovingly quick pace. The action not only looks great, but it is to some degree, nonstop. In fact, one could argue that this movie is more video game-like than “John Wick: Chapter 4,” because the main character does not speak. You ever play a video game like “The Legend of Zelda” or “Portal” where everyone has lines except for the main character? That’s what this movie reminds me of. Except in this case, unlike say Link from “The Legend of Zelda,” we actually get some context fed to us as to why Boy does not speak, and it works.

The closest we get to the main character speaking is H. Jon Benjamin being a guiding voice for our protagonist, and he does an excellent job all the way through. He has a lot of lines in this movie. While I sometimes complain about actors, particularly in voiceover roles, playing themselves like Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart practically did in “DC League of Super-Pets,” I am going to give H. Jon Benjamin a pass because there is an endless sense of energy in his performance. He is one of the best parts of this movie, and we do not even see him! On top of that, if you have never heard H. Jon Benjamin’s voice, turn on any episode of “Bob’s Burgers” right now because he is legendary. There is a saying in film that you should show instead of tell. That should always be the priority. But if you want to know how much I enjoyed this movie, I will remind you that H. Jon Benjamin’s “telling” is probably some of the coolest I have witnessed in cinematic history. He can make anything sound epic, and he is only helped by a dynamite script.

It only makes sense that someone like H. Jon Benjamin would have a voiceover role in this film, because not only does it feel like a video game, it has a lot of cartoony elements. Yes, the movie is live-action. But going back to the costumes, the movie rides a fine line with them to the point where they feel authentic, but fantasy-like. The violence is over the top, creative, and bloody to no end. A lot of the dialogue is expressive, comedic, and leans into an occasional digression here and there. Also, one of the key points of this movie is the Culling, which gathers 12 people who are going to be murdered on live television. The way the movie goes about handling something like this, to my surprise, makes me buy it. If you ever watch live sports, you would notice how riddled they are with commercialism and sponsorships. When we get to the Culling, we find out the assigned killers are dressed as breakfast cereal mascots. I do not want to see a future where we have deadly events like this. But if we ever get to that point, I can see a timeline where something like this happens. After all, people need to get paid, and big corporations need to sell cereal. It’s a win win. And in “Boy Kills World’s” favor, it adds to the humor of it all despite the movie being dark and gory. There is a fun side to it.

This movie is not only killer when it comes to style, but it slays when comes to substance. Story-wise, the movie does a good job at letting us get to know about not just our protagonist, but it also does the same when it comes to handling his sister. I thought she was a standout. From the marketing, this looks like a movie that was going to deliver on action, maybe let the story take a back seat. But no, I was pleasantly surprised by how invested I became in the plot, and the details of our protagonist. This movie has multiple winning combos. A revenge tale mixed with a dystopian vibe. One of this generation’s great physical actors mixed with one of this generation’s great voice talents. And on top of the sick action, you have an admirable story. What more could you want out of a movie like this?

In the end, it is a shame that “Boy Kills World” only made 3 million bucks at the box office, because it is one of my favorite films of the year so far. It kind of reminds me of one of my favorite comedies of last year, “Bottoms,” not only because it delivers on laughs, but because it is set in a world that makes up an occasionally absurd set of rules that I can somehow buy into. If you want to see action that pushes the limits, this movie is for you. If you are not a fan of blood, violence, gore, or seeing people get killed in creative ways, maybe stay away from this one. But I am a sick person, so this movie was certainly for me. I am going to give “Boy Kills World” an 8/10.

“Boy Kills World” is unfortunately, not playing in many theaters right now. I checked for showtimes in Los Angeles and New York City and could not find anything. If you live where I live, in Massachusetts, there is one theater playing it in Rockport right now. Not sure where else it is playing. But if it is playing near you, see it. I endorse this film. Otherwise, you can preorder it right now to watch on VOD.

Thanks for reading this review! My next review is going to be for “Challengers!” Stay tuned! Also, be sure to check out my reviews for “The Fall Guy,” “Tarot,” “IF,” and “The Garfield Movie.” 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 “Boy Kills World?” What did you think about it? Or, what is a movie you saw this year you wish more people were aware of? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Call Jane (2022): Elizabeth Banks Delivers a Stellar Performance in This Progressive-Centric Story

Posted on by Jack Drees

DISCLAIMER: Before we go any further in this review, I want to make an announcement. In all of my content that I have done on Scene Before, I have often tried to stray away from politics, especially in recent years. But “Call Jane” is a film that requires me to talk about certain issues that some would deem “political.” This is a movie about abortion after all, which can be defined as a human issue. But given the current climate, it is also political, not to mention religious. Therefore, if you decide to read on, you will hear certain thoughts I have on such an issue. I try to keep politics and entertainment separate, even during my yearly awards shows, but this is a case where I have little to no choice in this matter. With that said, enjoy my review of “Call Jane.”

“Call Jane” is directed by Phyllis Nagy, who also wrote “Carol,” in addition to scribing and directing a 2005 HBO film titled “Mrs. Harris.” This film stars Elizabeth Banks (The LEGO Movie, Pitch Perfect), Sigourney Weaver (Alien, Ghostbusters), Chris Messina (Birds of Prey, The Mindy Project), Kate Mara (Fantastic Four, The Martian), Wunmi Mosaku (Lovecraft Country, Loki), Cory Michael Smith (Camp X-Ray, Gotham), Grace Edwards (Schooled, Modern Love), and John Magaro (Orange Is the New Black, The Good Wife). This film follows a housewife in the 1960s who becomes pregnant and finds out said pregnancy could threaten her life. With few options available, she finds herself amongst the Janes, who despite certain laws being in place, perform abortion procedures. After finding out more about their efforts, she joins the Janes in their mission.

I did not hear much about this movie until a week or two before it came out. Although I was sold immediately upon seeing Elizabeth Banks’s name attached. She is easily one of my favorite actors, no, people working in Hollywood. She is easily the best game show host on television with her run on ABC’s “Press Your Luck.” I love her voiceover work in both of the “LEGO Movies.” Some of her physical roles like “Slither,” “Zack and Miri,” or even her supporting character in “Brightburn” stand out to me. The last movie I reviewed, specifically “Black Adam,” is no stranger to star power with box office behemoth Dwayne Johnson at the top of the cast. While Johnson may be a star, Banks is a thespian. Her talent knows no bounds. Even though I was not fan of her directorial effort in 2019’s “Charlie’s Angels,” I still have respect for her. In fact, she is directing another film set to come out soon, “Cocaine Bear,” a movie with a concept that is awesome as it sounds.

As for the film itself, this did not look like my type of movie, and to be frank, if I were not reviewing movies, I would have probably waited to watch this film when it came out for home viewing. That said, I went to go see this film in the theater a couple weekends ago. Was it worth the impromptu trip?

I guess you can say so.

If I have noticed anything about filmmakers and stars over the years, it is that they do projects that often align to certain values. Paul Feig, who once wrote an article suggesting “Why Men Aren’t Funny,” went on to direct a woman-centered “Ghostbusters” remake. Seth MacFarlane, who has often been vocal about his liberal opinions, has done a series of “Family Guy” episodes making fun of famous conservatives like Rush Limbaugh or Donald Trump. Regardless of whether how often people do projects aligning with what they think, I would say Elizabeth Banks, who happens to be the chair for the Center for Reproductive Rights Creative Council, was a solid choice to play the main character. Her experience with such matters in real life seem to translate with how effectively she plays Joy. To my lack of surprise, she is the highlight of the film.

While “Call Jane” does not have my favorite cast of the year, it does come with some great actors including the legendary Sigourney Weaver, Kate Mara, and Wunmi Mosaku. All of whom play their part very well. Each one feels representative of the time, and the dialogue occasionally did them favors.

Phyllis Nagy does not have a lot of directorial credits on her resume. Her only other one is a straight to premium cable film, therefore this is her first theatrically released directorial feature. “Call Jane” has one of my favorite early shots of any 2022 feature. I always enjoy when movies have extended takes and this movie is no stranger to that. It does such a thing beautifully. There are better directorial visions that came out this year, but this one stands out to me.

Unlike other films coming out this time of year, this movie is not going to win any notable awards. Partially because of its lack of marketing and the fact that there are supposedly better movies coming. That said, “Call Jane” is a movie that if it had a bigger budget and played in more cinemas, it would probably be in a larger conversation for Oscar contention. It is also a movie that makes its message clear, and knowing the Hollywood stereotype, there is often a tendency for the progressive voices to be heard or recognized when it comes to Hollywood filmmaking. Why do you think some of the more notable jokes during the Oscars in recent years were about Donald Trump or his colleagues?

“We don’t make films like ‘Call Me by Your Name’ for money. We make them to upset Mike Pence.” -Jimmy Kimmel (The Oscars, 2018)

There is a saying that not every movie is for everyone. That statement is often used to describe personal tastes. Even though I hated Tom Tykwer’s “Run Lola Run” because of its ridiculously fast-paced editing, I can see why people like it. Maybe that style appeals to people. My mom and I often have different tastes in movies. She often likes disposable comedies, I am more of an action junkie. Not everyone is going to like the same things. With “Call Jane,” this movie’s biggest weakness is that its viewers may automatically be turned off by its concept. I will iterate, I am pro choice, therefore I watched this movie with no opposition to some of the things happening on screen. But if you are pro life, there is a good chance that you might turn this movie off 20 minutes into it, possibly even before that.

Although at the same time, given the current political climate and the way things are, I think that this is a relevant story that was perfect to release this year, coincidental or not. “Call Jane” is a movie that I assume is going to resonate with individuals who have some sort of experience with unwanted pregnancy or abortion. But I do not know how many people this could convince to become more open-minded towards abortion whether it is for religious reasons, political reasons, or something else. This is a movie that to me, does not feel like propaganda, but could easily be interpreted as such depending on who you talk to. As for whether this movie does something to sway people in one direction or another in regards to abortion, that could take years to be answered. But unless this film becomes a big hit on streaming for some reason, the message of this film will likely not have as big of an impact some of its crew would probably want to achieve.

In the end, “Call Jane” is a difficult movie to judge because I think it ultimately depends on where one stands on abortion. That said, as a story, this was compelling and engaging. Therefore, I liked it. Elizabeth Banks is great as the lead, the supporting cast also shows their talent, including Chris Messina. He and Banks have one particular scene towards the end of the film that has not left my mind. This is a film that I would recommend, but only to certain people. This is the kind of movie that if you hear the concept, you might know right away whether or not it is worth your time. For me, it was. Maybe it will be for you, maybe it will not. We shall see. Despite my mixed recommendation, I do want to see what would happen if someone who is pro life watches this to the end. It could make for a fun experiment. Will the viewer see it as propaganda? Will they see it as just plain wrong? Could it change minds? Great movies have the power to offer new perspectives that people take with them and change who they are. I simply do not know if “Call Jane” is able to do that despite being a decent story. Given its decency, I am going to give “Call Jane” a 7/10.

“Call Jane” is seemingly finishing up its theatrical run. It is available for preorder on streaming platforms like Vudu.

Thanks for reading this review! My next review is going to be for the highly anticipated Marvel Cinematic Universe installment “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” While this may not be the movie I am not putting at the top of my hype list this year, it is the one releasing this year that I am mostly curious as to how it could possibly be pulled off. Between Chadwick Boseman’s death, rewriting the future of a cinematic universe, and the return of Ryan Coogler in the director’s chair, this could be something special. I will unveil my official verdict soon. I am seeing the movie tonight in IMAX 3D. If you want to see this 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 “Call Jane?” What did you think about it? Or, what is your favorite Elizabeth Banks movie? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!

Words on Bathroom Walls (2020): Inside Adam’s Head

Posted on by Jack Drees

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“Words on Bathroom Walls” is directed by Thor Freudenthal (Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters) and stars Charlie Plummer (Lean on Pete, Looking for Alaska), Andy Garcia (The Godfather Part III, Ocean’s Eleven), Taylor Russell (Lost in Space, Escape Room), AnnaSophia Robb (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Because of Winn-Dixie), Beth Grant (The Mindy Project, The Artist), Molly Parker (Deadwood, House of Cards), and Walton Goggins (Django Unchained, The Shield). This film revolves a boy named Adam. He’s in his teens and he has schizophrenia. Throughout the movie we see him adapt to a new drug, a new “father figure,” and a new school. Quite a few major aspects of his life change here. We get to experience what Adam’s life is like as he deals with voices inside his head, and potential effects of everything surrounding him internally and externally.

This is one of the films playing on a major weekend for cinema. Theaters in many territories, including my own, around the United States are reopening for business. Keep in mind, this pertains to a lot of theaters, but most notably to chains like AMC, Regal, and Cinemark. On this special weekend, this is one of the films available for customers in addition to other new releases like “Unhinged” and a selection of throwback titles including “The Empire Strikes Back,” “Inception,” “Black Panther,” and more.

I’ll be honest with you, when it comes to “Words on Bathroom Walls,” it never really struck me fancy. I never had any real attachment to it prior to giving it a watch. The main reason why I watched this movie, is because an outlet gave me RSVP access to watch the film online before it came out. When it comes these teen movies, they’re usually not my thing. Romance is not my thing either. But I’ve enjoyed certain movies with one aspect, another, maybe both, plus it is nice to talk about new content. So here we are.

This film is based on a book written by Julia Walton. I’ve never read the book, and after seeing this movie. I can’t say I’m gonna read it. Again, this is not my genre. Also, movies are more fun! Sorry, books! Nevertheless, I enjoyed this film for what it was. A solid story about somebody dealing with many forced adaptations, both internal and external. I think the screenplay, when translated into a visual medium, was incredibly well-realized. There was a scene that made me feel like I was watching some superhero movie like “X-Men” or something as opposed to some typical teen drama. This was well-written, and when it comes to the directing done by Thor Freudenthal, I approve. At times it gets a little dark, but the snappy vibe never escapes. In fact, this guy, unknowingly, was a part of my childhood for a few years.

For those who don’t know, Thor Freudenthal directed the 2010 movie “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” I was ten years old when I saw that movie, and I will point out, unlike “Words on Bathroom Walls,” that film got me to read the books which it happened to be based upon, so I’ll give it credit where it’s due. I have not watched that movie in some time, I think my most recent viewing was in 2012. However, looking back, one of the standout aspects of that film, is how much it maintained a quick pace, while occasionally relying on aspects of imagination or narration. Some of that translates well to this movie while being a completely separate thing. But also keep in mind, the movies are made for completely different audiences, so it really is a good thing that one movie is not like the other.

Those positive thoughts I gave on the screenplay? Yeeeah… It’s not all rainbows and unicorns. Keep in mind, this review is being written by a straight white male whose favorite movies are in the action genre or similar fields. Some of the dialogue is a cringefest. There are a couple cheesy lines that I thankfully don’t have implanted in my head at the moment, but they were nevertheless cheesy. I wonder if the teen girl crowd will not care as I think they may be one of the core demographics for this film. Who knows? I never read the book, and I may be unwarranted to ask such a question… But, maybe it worked in the book? I don’t know.

But most of the screenplay does make up for its faults. There are some really exciting, gripping moments that grabbed my attention. There feels like there is conflict in just about every single scene. Something could end up going wrong, changing the main character’s life, or maybe make my head spin upside down.

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I will say though, I have mixed thoughts on the main character of Adam. On one hand, I did feel bad for him. This movie does a good job at highlighting the misfortune of schizophrenia, in which case I was able to attach myself to him. But there are like one or two moments where this guy sort of gave a creeper or stalker vibe. I won’t go into detail, I will let you as viewers see this for yourselves. Although I will give props to Charlie Plummer, who plays this lead role admirably. There’s not much I have against Plummer as a performer and I would like to see more from him. This is sort of based on looks, but I would be interested to see him in maybe a Seth Rogen comedy of some sort, he looks like he could fit right in if given the proper script and role. Maybe “Neighbors 3: The Next Generation” if they ever decide to make that? Just an idea. I’m not claiming it, I don’t have an outline for it, I’m just spitting it out there.

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I also really dug Taylor Russell’s character. Not only was I able to buy the relationship between her alongside Charlie Plummer’s character. But as an actress, I think Taylor Russell has a solid future ahead of her. She did a really good job at portraying this brainiac student who cares a lot about which direction she’s headed in life. This becomes more likable later in the movie when we meet her family, which I won’t talk about because I would rather have you see the movie for yourself.

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Although I have to say, there’s one character who could arguably be my favorite in the movie, and that is a priest played by Andy Garcia. This character goes by the name Father Patrick and he’s just incredible in this movie. Garcia brings his A game here! Every other line out of his mouth is so dry yet charismatic! I could listen to this guy narrate an audiobook version of The Cheesecake Factory menu! He’s that likable!

In the end, I enjoyed “Words on Bathroom Walls.” I think it’ll get some attention at the theaters once they reopen. For all I know, maybe fans of the book will enjoy this film. But I don’t think I’ll ever watch this movie again. Once again, I’m not in the core demographic, so I may not be the best guy to trust when it comes to reviewing this movie. However, I did enjoy it. It was never boring, never completely insulting to my intelligence, and I did have fun, which most of the time, is something I think many of us want to experience after watching a movie. If you have fun, then bada bing bada boom. I’m going to give “Words on Bathroom Walls” a 7/10.

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Thanks for reading this review! Just want to want to announce that depending on where you live, tickets for “Tenet” are already on sale, or they are just about to go on sale. Over the past couple months, I’ve been holding onto a post that I think could help certain moviegoers when it comes to deciding where to go see “Tenet.” Given how tickets are about to go on sale here in the United States pretty soon, my post related to this will be up around the same time tickets drop. Stay tuned for that post and if you want to see more great content from Scene Before, be sure to follow the blog either with an email or WordPress account, and check out my Facebook page! I want to know, did you see “Words on Bathroom Walls?” What did you think about it? Or, are you going back to the movies this weekend? Do you plan on going back soon? Let me know down below! Scene Before is your click to the flicks!