CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Walt Disney Pictures
Kumail Nanjiani is the Only Reason to See ‘Stuber’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 14, 2019 - 9:17am Rating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Kumail Nanjiani is reaching the next level of stardom. Recently, he was the best thing in the rebooted “MIB: International” (as a cartoon sprite), and now he is the only reason to indulge in “Stuber.” Kumail portrays a nervy UBER driver named Stu (get it?), and upholds everything about the buddy movie that is enjoyable. The rest of it, including his buddy Dave Bautista, land with a dull thud.
Another Winner from the Creative Team of ‘Toy Story 4’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 19, 2019 - 8:08pm Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – When you’ve brought to life one of the greatest animation series ever produced, there is not much to prove. The “Toy Story” series has relied on the strong and emotional stories since 1995, and after a nine year break comes back for one more intriguing spin for their characters, finding a new path in “Toy Story 4.”
‘Dark Phoenix’ Rises Above Typical Comic Book Action
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 5, 2019 - 10:30am- 20th Century Fox
- Beast
- Dark Phoenix
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- James McAvoy
- Jean Grey
- Jennifer Lawrence
- Jessica Chastain
- Magneto
- Marvel Entertainment
- Michael Fassbender
- Movie Review
- Nicholas Hoult
- Patrick McDonald
- Professor X
- Quicksilver
- Raven
- Simon Kinberg
- Sophie Turner
- Tye Sheridan
- Walt Disney Pictures
 Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Leave it to Marvel Entertainment to produce another “marvel-ous” take on their angst-ridden superhero characters. The latest X-Men film, called the last of this series, is “Dark Phoenix,” and it contains comic book action that is unprecedented for its originality and sheer power. It’s another winner.
‘Aladdin’ Remake Doesn’t Live Up to Animated Source
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 23, 2019 - 6:42pmRating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The Walt Disney Studio (cash) obsession with turning their animated film hits to live action movies continues this Memorial Day weekend with “Aladdin,” which adapts the 1992 classic. What worked in 2018 with “Beauty and the Beast” falls flat with this title, because the animated version plays better.
Disneynature’s ‘Penguins’ in Flight with the Flightless
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 18, 2019 - 5:32am Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – It is the tenth anniversary of Disneynature, the arm of Walt Disney Pictures that releases a new nature doc around every Earth Day. This year the naturally visual interest of “Penguins” are their subject, and the film does a nice job on the life cycle journey of these fascinating flightless birds.
‘Incredibles 2’ is a Sequel That Returns for Fine Fun
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 15, 2018 - 4:59pmRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – If you liked Pixar Animation’s original “The Incredibles” of 14 years ago, then you’ll find a lot to like with this sequel, which puts these “supers” back in their suits for another go around to save the world. The action in “Incredibles 2” picks up almost immediately after the original film left off.
Story is Just a So-So for ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 23, 2018 - 1:51pmRating: 3.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “Solo: A Star Wars Story” is one intergalactic space adventure that sadly never makes the jump to light speed. The end result Is not awful, it’s not great, it’s just kinda okay… it slavishly attends to the beats hinted at in the original trilogy without offering much in the way of surprises, or freshness.
‘A Wrinkle in Time’ Can’t Smooth Its Bizarre Fabric
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 8, 2018 - 6:08pm Rating: 2.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Although I am an admirer of Oprah Winfrey, it’s unfortunate that the best way to describe “A Wrinkle in Time” – with her role as goddess problem solver – is Worst. Episode. of. Oprah. Ever. The film, based on a novel from 1962, caves into effects over cohesiveness or story.
‘Cars 3’ Puts Series Franchise Back on Right Track
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 16, 2017 - 7:41amRating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The Cars movies continue to be the kiddieland of Pixar Animation franchises. Kids adore them, parents tolerate them. Unlike the best of Pixar’s output, the Cars films are lovingly crafted cartoons aimed squarely at kids with far more attention detail than the average fare you’d find scrolling through Netflix. The best that can be said is that “Cars 3” represents a considerable step up from “Cars 2”.
Cut of Nostalgia in ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on May 5, 2017 - 12:31pmRating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – When I first saw “Guardians of the Galaxy” I was unfamiliar with the comic book source. I enjoyed the film, but worried it might be just a little too nerdy and obscure to develop a following. Now with “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” the series has solidified itself as the class clowns of the Marvel Studios cinematic universe, and it’s been embraced for it.
