CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.
Michelle Rodriguez
‘Fast X’ is a Full Scale Assault on the Laws of Logic
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 18, 2023 - 11:39pmRating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – A lot of blockbusters require you to check your brain at the door. “Fast X” requires a full scale lobotomy. To the uninitiated, Vin Diesel’s blatant disregard for the laws of gravity and physics represents a full scale assault on the senses, reason, and logic in its effort to bring audiences down to its star’s lunkheaded level.
On-Air Film Review of ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 1, 2023 - 11:19amRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 30th, 2023, reviewing “Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves,” another film adaptation of the geek game. In theaters March 31st.
Faster & Furiouser! On-Air Review of ‘F9: The Fast Saga’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 24, 2021 - 12:41pm- Chalize Theron
- F9
- Fast & Furious Saga
- Franchise
- Helen Mirren
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- John Cena
- Jordana Brewster
- Kurt Russell
- Ludacris
- Michelle Rodriguez
- Monroe
- Movie Review
- Ninth
- Pat Über TV
- Patrick McDonald
- Scott Thompson
- The Morning Mess
- Tyrese Gibson
- Universal Pictures
- Vin Diesel
- WBGR-FM
- Wisconsin
Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on June 24th, 2021, reviewing the new film “F9,” the ninth “Fast & Furious” film, in theaters beginning June 25th.
‘The Fate of the Furious’ is a Vehicle Running on Fumes
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 13, 2017 - 4:17pm- Charlize Theron
- Chris Morgan
- Dwayne Johnson
- Elsa Pataky
- F. Gary Gray
- Helen Mirren
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Jason Statham
- Kurt Russell
- Ludacris
- Luke Evans
- Michelle Rodriguez
- Movie Review
- Nathalie Emmanuel
- Scott Eastwood
- Spike Walters
- The Fate of the Furious
- Tyrese Gibson
- Universal Pictures
- Vin Diesel
Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Bigger, Dumber, and Duller…that’s the name of the game this time in this ongoing franchise which is now so ludicrous it makes Bond films seem like the epitome of realism. While it’s true this is the first time Oscar winners and a “Fast and the Furious” film have ever been associated together, there’s a dearth of inspiration in this eighth go around, as this series is now operating almost completely on autopilot.
‘Smurfs: The Lost Village’ Should Have Remained Undiscovered
Submitted by JonHC on April 11, 2017 - 11:34amRating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There are only a few times that I have left a film mentally shouting, “Won’t someone think of the children?” Not through some self-righteous religious fit, of course, but through a general concern for the animated films created for our young. “Smurfs: The Lost Village” is either made for a specific crowd in mind or made for a crowd without a mind.
Relentlessly Action-Packed ‘Furious 7’ Actually Has a Story, Too
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 3, 2015 - 8:16am- Adam Fendelman
- Chris Morgan
- Djimon Hounsou
- Dwayne Johnson
- Elsa Pataky
- Furious 7
- Gal Gadot
- Gary Scott Thompson
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- James Wan
- Jordana Brewster
- Kurt Russell
- Ludacris
- Luke Evans
- Michelle Rodriguez
- Movie Review
- Nathalie Emmanuel
- Paul Walker
- Tony Jaa
- Tyrese Gibson
- Universal Pictures
- Vin Diesel
Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – I’ve never classified myself as a “Fast & Furious” franchise fan. Nor have I been a hater. I’ve fallen somewhere in between – willingly watching the popcorn flicks but then quickly going about my life as fast as the furious action ended. Until “Furious 7”…
Wham Bam Pass the Popcorn, Man For ‘Furious 7’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 2, 2015 - 11:25pmRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The “Fast & Furious” franchise of films has probably one of the strangest evolutions in action history. What began as a rebellious street race movie, has morphed into a sort of superhero saga. “Furious 7” amps up that element of it, creating a mythic and magical “Kingdom of F&F Cars.”
‘Machete Kills’ So Over the Top, it Has No Bottom
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 11, 2013 - 8:16amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – You gotta love director Robert Rodriguez. When other filmmakers are slogging through their important films, he’s out convincing big stars to blow off cinematic fireworks, giggling all the time. The excess is the thing, more so and more so, in his new film “Machete Kills.”
Light, Speedy ‘Turbo’ is a Great Race for Kids
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 17, 2013 - 10:03amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Summer vacation means summer animated movies, and nothing will give the kids more of a break than rooting for a snail that becomes as fast as an Indy race car. Why not put him in the Indianapolis 500? Ryan Reynolds is the voice of that miracle mollusk named “Turbo.”
Formula Takes Another Lap in ‘Fast & Furious 6’
Submitted by BrianTT on May 23, 2013 - 12:53pmRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “How did you know the car would be there to break my fall?” Everything you need to know about the current tone of the “Fast & Furious” franchise exists in that line. Not only are these people superhero enough to leap through the air from one vehicle to another but this is a world in which automobiles are designed to BREAK falls. It’s ridiculous, insane escapist entertainment, and while the bloated running time and less-exciting setting makes “Fast & Furious 6” a slight step down from the more well-paced “Fast Five,” it’s still a damn fun ride that’s sure to please the audience out to see a sixth installment of vehicular man-sanity.