Worth (2020)

A smooth and well-balanced mix of compelling legal procedural and emotive drama that ends nicely with the climax of Ken’s character arc (“You’re nothing like him”). Some of the script is a bit on the nose, some supporting performances slip up, and the dead screen-space for some of the dialogue scenes is strange, but it’s made up for by some moments of cinematic excellence (see the gradual realization on the train), great performances by the main trio, and some cool camerawork in other places.

6

Goosebumps (2015)

A teenager teams up with the daughter of young adult horror author R. L. Stine after the writer’s imaginary demons are set free on the town of Madison, Delaware. (IMDb)

An uninteresting new kid in town narrative doesn’t get much of a boost from the main sci-fi plot: It’s one-note (get rid of the monsters!), poorly founded (“one day they became real!”), and doesn’t fulfill the potential of its meta aspects (Stine’s backstory was left to a couple lines). Meanwhile, Minnette is fine and Black has his moments, but Rush (love interest) is forgettable and Lee (quirky friend) is just plain bad and unfunny. Only the inept cops of two scenes manage to generate laughs.

5/10 (Poor)

Escape Plan (2013)

When a structural-security authority finds himself set up and incarcerated in the world’s most secret and secure prison, he has to use his skills to escape with help from the inside. (IMDb)

The “escape plan” aspect here doesn’t disappoint; the film is full of cool and exciting tricks and cons, complete with a couple of badass Stallone voice-overs. Elsewhere though, the dialogue often feels contrived, the acting stiff, the bad guy cliche, the secondary good guys (Ryan and 50 Cent) inconsequential, and the final twist an unnecessary complication. But even with all of the aforementioned said, this remains an entertaining film punctuated by a few classic action-movie one-liners.

6.5/10 (Alright)