Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)

There’s lots of good comedy here–from the celebrity satire and cameo-littered mockumentary framework to the outlandish songs and dim-witted lead–but it does start to wear thin even within the short run-time, and the predictable plot (props for the spoof of the “choosing what really matters” moment with the stage manager though) doesn’t do much to fill in the gaps. Still, a serviceable comedy that gets laughs, even if it’s just from pure ridiculousness (see the wolf attack/marriage proposal).

5

Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)

Six years after the events of “Wreck-It Ralph,” Ralph and Vanellope, now friends, discover a wi-fi router in their arcade, leading them into a new adventure. (IMDb)

The first half is mediocre; the initial plot feels contrived–as is the case with most post-happy-ending sequels–and the internet-related humour, aside from a few clever bits, generally feels gimmicky. The second half is much stronger: There’s an amazing unexpected musical number, an awesome appearance from the Disney princesses, and an authentic and touching character dynamic that emerges between the two leads as they figure out how to maintain their friendship amidst their differences.

7/10 (Good)

 

A Million Ways to Die in the West (2014)

As a cowardly farmer begins to fall for the mysterious new woman in town, he must put his new-found courage to the test when her husband, a notorious gun-slinger, announces his arrival. (IMDb)

The hat full of shit and sex jokes fail to impress (the recurring chaste prostitute gag aside), but the abundance of casual f-bombs and the million ways to die-schtick together make for a fun parody of the typically brooding Western genre that looks great to boot. Unfortunately, the too-long story (a point for being unexpectedly so, I suppose) and its lead (MacFarlane is more like a comedian on set than an actual character) never really feel like anything more than empty vehicles for the humour.

6.5/10 (Alright)