College Basketball Preseason Top 25

It's hard to believe that with all the time I spend watching TV and movies, then blogging about it, that I would have time for other obsessions. Well, I find a way, and the other big obsession is college basketball. I'm not an expert or anything, but I do spend a ridiculous amount of time following, collecting stats, and preparing for the upcoming season. In keeping with the tradition of blogging about something to justify the time spent on it, here are my top 25 picks for the season, plus a couple teams I'm looking out for.
I do want to make something clear. This is how I expect them to end the season overall. Several of these teams will start pretty rough. So, when Kentucky or Duke loses that early season "gimme" game, I'm not feeling embarrassed for having them in the top 5.

Last Year: 
Top 25
Conference Picks
2014-15:
Top 25
Conference Picks

1. Kansas

This season is one without a clear favorite. So many teams have obvious holes, a lot of roster turnover, or will have to make big jumps from where they were last season. Given that kind of uncertainty, I'll stick with the most reliable team out there: the Kansas Jayhawks. They'll be led by the backcourt of Devonte Graham and Frank Mason who led them in minutes last year. Between Perry Ellis, Wayne Selden, and others leaving or graduating, they lost around half their minutes played, points, and rebounds from last year. The frontcourt will need players like Landen Lucas and Carton Bragg to step up. Ole Miss Transfer Dwight Coleby could play a big role too. Maybe this is the season when Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk finally matches his potential. Oh, and there's Rivals' #1 ranked recruit, Josh Jackson at the wing. I don't know who exactly is going to be the alpha on this team, but I don't worry at all that something will step up.

2. Virginia

After three top ten seasons with a fair amount of turnover, it's safe to say that Virginia is a good system, not just a good recruiting class. This may be the biggest test of that though. Defensive god and ACC Player of the Year Malcolm Brogdon is gone. So are reliable big men Anthony Gill and Mike Tobey. That's over half of their points and rebounds from last season. Substantially more of their minutes played return though (57%). That includes Senior Point Guard London Perrantes who was arguably last year's most important player. A lot of rotation players such as Devon Hall, Darius Thompson, Isaiah Wilkins, and Marial Shayok should be fine with increased roles. The key to the season could be Memphis Transfer Austin Nichols. He's a former top recruit and should give the front court all the talent it needs. Tony Bennett also has a quartet of top recruits (all rated by Rivals between #43-60). If even one of them is ready to step up in their first season, then Virginia is one of the deepest and most complete teams in the country. My only real concern is the lack of true bigs currently, although someone could and probably will step up there.

3. Duke

I've got a bad feeling about this. I can almost copy and paste what I said about them last year. Between potential Naismith Player of the Year candidate, Grayson Allen, four year, heavy-usage players Matt Jones and Amile Jefferson (returning from an injury), and rising Sophomore Luke Kennard, they have positions 2-4 covered. They have so much depth there that losing Brandon Ingram will hardly even be noticed.
Point Guard and Center are not necessarily a sure thing. Last year proved that Allen and Jones are serviceable at best as the lead guard. That means that freshman Frank Jackson (#12 recruit on Rivals) must work out. Whether he ends up Tyus Jones (2014-15) or Derryck Thornton (2015-16) could be the difference between a dominant national championship run and a frustrating season that struggles more than they should on paper. On the plus side, Center is likely to be improved. Jayson Tatum, Harry Giles, and Marques Bolden are at the top of this year's recruiting class and could all theoretically play in the middle (Although Giles is beginning the season with an injury and has no set timetable for return). If even one of them works out or Sophomore Chase Jeter breaks out, it's hard to see Center being a problem. It is really hard to see a way that Duke doesn't come together as a top-tier team though. If I could be assured that the Point Guard situation will work out, they'd be an easy pick for #1 overall.

4. Kentucky

There is no reason to put Kentucky this high. From last year's team, they lost 69% of their minutes played, 75% of the scoring, 71% of the three point shooting, 70% rebounds, 71% assists, 67% steal, and 76% blocks. All-Conference guards Jamal Murray and Tyler Ulis left for the NBA, not to mention inconsistent big men Alex Poythress, Skal Labisiere, and Marcus Lee departing. That's about as much as any team in my top 25 has lost. Putting them at #4 is nonsense...
...except that they lost even more before last season and still finished #6 overall on KenPom. Calipari just has a way of putting a recruiting class together and getting them to coalesce by the end of the year.
There are a few returning players. Isaiah Briscoe will be a defensive stalwart on the wing. Derek Willis is a stretch 4 who always has a use. Isaac Humphries will be more comfortable at Center in his Sophomore year. Who knows, maybe even Dominic Hawkins and Mychal Mulder could be useful in a pinch. It's all about those recruits though. De'Aaron Fox is expected to start at Point Guard right away. Malik Monk should be a beast on a wing. Most missing from last year was front court talent that wouldn't get pushed around. That shouldn't be a problem this season with the trio of Bam Adebayo, Wanyen Gabriel, and Sacha Killeya-Jones, who are all top big men recruits. Shooting and guard depth is the big concern for 2016-17. I feel confident that Calipari will find a way to make it work. There's always the threat of another 2012-13 season though.

5. Villanova

Dammit. The Wildcats made me look stupid last year, when I didn't even put them in the top 25. There's no chance I leave them out this year, although my concerns this year are more valid than last years'. They lose starting Point Guard Ryan Arcidiacono and starting Center Daniel Ochefu to graduation. As you'll hear me say many times, I value having a strong point guard and big more than just about anything. Hopefully Sophomore Jalen Brunson can move comfortably to the point this season (he was recruited as a PG) and Darryl Reynolds or one of the currently no-name recruits or transfers can fill the void at center. Plan A was using big time recruit Omari Spellman in the middle, but the NCAA ruled him academically ineligible this season. The rest of the lineup is looking great though. First Team All-Conference guard Josh Hart is back as is championship game hero Kris Jenkins. Phil Booth and Mikal Bridges give them depth at the wings. Former A-10 Freshman of the Year, forward Eric Pachall will finally be eligible to help shore up the front court. In total, over 70% of the minutes and points return from the national champion team. The lack of a true star player didn't hurt them last year. I'm assuming the same goes for this season. Honestly, I'm not comfortable with them at #5, but none of the teams below them inspire me more.

6. North Carolina

UNC lost about a third of its production from last season, namely four year leader Marcus Paige and late-blooming star Brice Johnson. Their absence will be felt. Any team losing their Point Guard and lead big man are in trouble. Roy Williams brings in a good - not great - recruiting class. Mostly, they'll be relying on the role players from last year's squad stepping up. The back court of Joel Berry and Nate Britt are undersized but talented. Kennedy Meeks and Isaiah Hicks have the Center position covered. The Pinson's recent injury (no recovery timetable set) hurts the depth at forward which adds a lot of responsibility to Justin Jackson. My biggest concerns are that I don't know who the lead guard is and I don't know who is taking the last shot on that roster (Berry or Jackson, I guess).

7. Louisville

I won't be leaving them out of the top 25 this year. No one picked them last year and they finished as a top 10 team according to KenPom. Graduate transfers Damion Lee and Trey Lewis carried them last season. They are gone now. Penn transfer Tony Hicks should make up for some of that. Junior Quentin Snider is ready as well. They were already loaded at Center (Mangok Mathiang, Anas Mahmoud, Raymond Spalding) so Chinanu Onuaku going pro shouldn't matter much. It's really all up to Forwards Deng Adel and Jaylen Johnson improving enough or top 30 recruit V.J. King being ready right away. It's never easy to lose your top three players, but Pitino is known for his depth (except for some recent seasons). I'd certainly rather pick the Cardinals too high than too low again.

8. Oregon

The Ducks took everyone by surprise last season. I wouldn't say they deserved a one seed last season, however there’s certainly enough returning to be in the discussion for one this year. That is, as long as Dillon Brooks returns from his off-season foot injury in enough time and it doesn't linger. Even without him, rising Sophomore guard Tyler Dorsey, all-defensive big Chris Boucher, Villanova guard transfer Dylan Ennis, a healthy bench, and a decent recruiting class is still probably enough to win the Pac 12. With dynamic wing Dillon Brooks at full strength, they are a frightening match-up for anyone.

9. Indiana

The Hoosiers are loaded with high-upside players. Robert Johnson and James Blackmon are sweet-shooting Guards. O.G. Anuoby is drawing Victor Oladipo comparisons. Juwan Morgan ended the season strong. Center Thomas Bryant eschewed the pros to return for a Sophomore year. Recruits like De'Ron Davis (#35 on Rivals) and Curtis Jones (#69) could contribute right away. It would be nice for the offense if Senior stretch 4 Collin Hartman could return from injury quickly. However, the biggest concern is how to make up for the loss of four-year starter Yogi Ferrell at Point Guard. Maybe Johnson and Blackmon can share the role or Pitt transfer Josh Newkirk fits right in. Supposing they can figure Point Guard out, this is a scary-good team.

10. Gonzaga

Kyle Wiltjer and Domantas Sabonis combined to make one of the strongest front courts in the country last year. Eric McClellan was the WCC Defensive Player of the year. Kyle Dranginis was the ultimate glue guy. They are all gone, taking 2/3's of Gonzaga's statistical production with them. How can I have them even better this year? Transfers is how. The trio of Nigel Williams-Goss (Washington), Jordan Matthews (California), and Johnathan Williams (Missouri) are some of the top transfers for any team in any conference. They'll team up with All-Freshman Point Guard Josh Perkins and fifth year big man Przemek Karnowski for an imposing starting five. Center Zach Collins is Gonzaga's highest rated recruit (#21 on Rivals) in at least a decade, maybe ever. International recruits Jacob Larson (C), Killian Tillie (F), and Rui Hachimura (F) are X-factors like was Sabonis two years ago. Guards Silas Melson and Bryan Alberts can step up from the bench too. They are stacked as long as they mesh.

11. Michigan St.

In 2016-17, it was the Denzel Valentine show. He led the Spartans in minutes, points, assists, and steals. He wasn't the only loss though. Bryn Forbes and Matt Costello are gone too. Deyonta Davis went pro. Only one of the top six players is back. That would be Eron Harris, who could be Tom Izzo's next "do everything" wing. "Tum Tum" Narin should be fine as the new lead guard. Guys like Kenny Goins and Matt McQuaid can either start or bolster the bench. What is most interesting is that this is Izzo's best recruiting class ever, based on projections (Miles Bridges - Rivals #10, Joshua Langford - #20, Cassius Winston - # 29. Nick Ward - #41). It's doubtful they will be ready immediately, but Izzo's teams always come together by March. I'd have the team higher if Gavin Schilling and Ben Carter, their only proven big men weren't beginning the season injured. If they are out all season instead of part of it, this projection could be moot.

12. Xavier

The Musketeers will give Villanova a run for the Big East crown this year. First Team All-Conference wing Trevon Bluiett and "bursting with potential" Point Guard Edmond Sumner are back. Transfers Rashid Gaston (F - Norfolk St.) and Malcolm Bernard (F - Florida A&M) could be ready for the brighter lights. Freshman Guard Quentin Goodin (Rivals #75) and Forward Tyrique Jones (#115) will help too. Their success is no guarantee though. Myles Davis has been indefinitely suspended, severely hurting the back court. The greatest concern is the front court. Both James Farr and Jalen Reynolds are gone with no obvious replacements. They just have to find someone serviceable in the middle as the guards will do most of the work again.

13. West Virginia

Is "Press Virginia" for real? This is the season we find out. Bob Huggins' team was deep last season. It's still going to hurt losing Jonathan Holton and All-Conference players Jaysean Paige and Devin Williams. The incoming recruiting class isn't very strong, so everyone remaining will need to step up. That means guards like Jevon Carter, Daxter Miles, and Tarik Phillip need to increase the scoring load. They have plenty of forwards too, although I don't know who can be most relied on.

14. Wisconsin

I'm not so sure about Wisconsin. They bring back every single player of note from last season's Sweet Sixteen team. Senior PG Bronson Koenig and versatile Forward Nigel Hayes (also a Senior) will lead the team yet again. Other Seniors Zak Showalter and Vitto Brown will join them in the starting lineup along with Big Ten Freshman of the Year Ethan Happ. They finished last season #33 according to KenPom. 15th even feels a little high though for this season. Sometimes a team has already played to its potential. How exactly is Wisconsin supposed to improve? Are high usage Seniors like Koenig or Hayes really going to get any better?

15. Connecticut

Coach Kevin Ollie is keeping the Huskies relevant. Rodney Purvis and Jalen Adams are back in the back court, which will make up for the graduation of Sterling Gibbs. Center Amida Brimah is back for, by my count, his 25th season. Daniel Hamilton was the lead in rebounds and assists (and 2nd in points) last season. He's in the pros now. VCU transfer Terry Larrier will need to fill that role as best as he can. The rest will come down to a talented recruiting class that covers every position. Overall, this team looks to be much more balanced than last year's version.

16. Purdue

Even with Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year A.J. Hammons graduating, their front court, featuring Caleb Swaingan and Isaac Haas is one of the best in the Big 10. Guard play was a problem last year. Losing Raphael Davis hurts the back court defense. Kendall Stephens transferring doesn't help either. PJ Thompson is back to run the point as best he can. Michigan graduate transfer Spike Albrecht should help with the offense as well. It's still an imbalanced roster which they'll have to overcome.

17. Syracuse

New back court. Proven front court. That's the whole story for Syracuse this year. Tyler Roberson and Tyler Lydon are back with DaJuan Coleman, Providence transfer Paschal Chukwu, and freshmen Mathew Moyer (Rivals #40) and Taurean Thompson (#84) all at the forward/center positions. The guards are less certain. There's Colorado State transfer John Gillon and Nebraska transfer Andrew White. Frank Howard will need to step up and Freshman Tyus Battle (#33) better be ready for some minutes.

18. Iowa St.

The Cyclones were not a deep team last year. So, Georges Niang, Abdel Nader, and Jameel McKay all graduating is a big loss. Luckily, All Conference Point Guard Monte Morris and Senior wing Matt Thomas are back. They get a fifth year of Naz Long who was averaging over 30mpg before getting injured last season. And, Big 12 Newcomer of the Year Deonte Burton is returning. The one problem is that none of them are frontcourt players. That means Louisiana Tech transfer Merrill Holden, unheralded Freshmen, and some bit players from last year will have a heavy load immediately in the middle. In short, this is another imbalanced roster.

19. Arizona

This isn't the team Sean Miller thought he'd have a couple months ago. Terrance Ferguson (Rated #14 by Rivals) decided to go pro instead of enrolling. Redshirt Freshman Ray Smith, a former top 20 recruit, retired from basketball for good after a third ACL injury. Sophomore Alonzo Trier, who is expected to be the best players in the Pac-12, is having eligibility questions (although I'd assume he'll come back. With a returning back court of Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Kadeem Allen, they should be stable there. Dusan Ristic and Chance Comanche should fill in for the graduated Kaleb Tarczewski. There is a ton of talent on the roster, but it's less clear what everyone's roles will be than it was at the beginning of the summer.

20. Maryland

As I figured, Maryland wasn't worth those preseason #1 rankings in numerous other polls last year. Even though all the starters except for Melo Trimble are gone, I figure they'll be even better than how they ended up last year (#25 on KenPom). That's because Trimble is going to go "beast mode" this year (think, Otto Porter in 2013). Role players from last year like Damonte Dodd (C) and Dion Wiley (G) should serve him well. They will only go as far as Trimble takes them.

21. Creighton

The Bluejays were quietly a top 40 team last year according to KenPom. Almost every player of note returns, and they add troubled Kansas St. transfer Marcus Forster. Foster could either storm the league like he did as a Freshman or flame out like he did as a Sophomore. They're probably a top 25 team even without him. The only hole in the lineup is at Center after Geoffrey Groselle, who led them in rebounds and blocks, graduated. Hopefully, Freshman Justin Patton (Rivals #45) can step in or one of their reserve Forwards from last year will fill the void.

22. Butler

It's likely that I'm expecting too much from them. They finished #32 on KenPom last season and lost versatile Seniors Kellen Dunham and Roosevelt Jones. Forwards Kelan Martin and Andrew Chrabascz are still around, and that is key. A pair of Guard transfers, Kethan Savage (George Washington) and Avery Woodson (Memphis), should help out immediately. This may all hinge on Point Guard Tyler Lewis being able to be the floor general they need.

23. Texas

Basically, all of Rick Barnes' guys are gone. That means no Isaiah Taylor, Prince Ibeh, Cameron Ridley, Connor Lammert, or Javan Felix. That's a lot to lose, but Shaka Smart has reloaded with a lot of his own recruits. Sophomore Guards Eric Davis, Kerwin Roach, and Tevin Mack look ready to step up. Big man Shaquille Cleare will team up with Freshman Center Jarrett Allen (Rivals #15). It's a young team, but it looks like a more talented version of one of Smart's VCU rosters. Expect good things.

24. Cincinnati

I'm going to keep calling them a top 25 team until I'm finally right about them. After all, they bring back first team All-Conference Guard Troy Caupain and AAC Defensive Player of the Year Gary Clark (F). Plenty of solid bench players return as well to join a modest recruiting class. It's not an exciting roster, but it is an effective one.

25. St. Mary's

They bring back 98% of their minutes and points from a top 50 team last year. With a year of seasoning, it makes sense that they can break into the top 25 this year. Of course, the big question is how much better can they really get? It's not like Emmett Naar or Joe Rahon are "next level" players.

Major Sleepers

There's a bunch of teams I wasn't comfortable moving into my top 25 that have a chance to make a big leap. If any teams make me look like a fool when I look back on this in April, these are the ones that jump out.

Rhode Island

They finished last season #82 on KenPom. That's with star guard E.C. Matthews injured all year. He's back. So is just about everyone else like A10 Defensive Player of the Year Hassan Martin and former top rated recruit Kuran Iverson. Add Indiana transfer Stanford Robinson and you have a perfect recipe for a team prepared for a big leap.

UCLA

Despite being loaded with top rated recruits, UCLA somehow finished #79 according to KenPom last season. Frankly, that makes no sense. Rivals' #4 recruit, PG Lonzo Ball joins a trio of Guards who averaged over 30 mpg last year (Aaron Holiday, Bryce Alford, Isaac Hamilton). Center Thomas Welsh returns as well. He'll need to team up with Freshmen big men T.J. Leaf and Ike Anigbogu. And, I can't forget the fabulously named Sophomore Guard Prince Ali [fabulous he, Ali Ababwa]. UCLA should be a lock for the top 25 or even the top 10. They aren't, because I don't understand why they weren't better last year. I don't implicitly trust that Steve Alford will put it together this season with a similar roster.

San Diego St.

I just really like the Aztecs. On paper, losing MWC Defensive Player of the Year Skylar Spencer and Winston Shephard, who led the team in assists and rebounds, should hurt a lot. The defense is so automatic that some other defensive stalwarts will step up, no doubt. Offense has always been their problem. Jeremy Hemsley and Trey Kell should see an uptick in their scoring. Forward Malik Pope is always on the verge of stardom. Then there's the trio of transfers, Montaque Gill-Caesar (Missouri), Max Hoetzel (Indiana), and Valentine Izundu (Washington St.). Perhaps one of them can help with the offense. Seriously, just a little more offense and this is a top 25 team, easy.

California

This isn't a deep roster. They were barely a top 30 team last year. Guard Jordan Matthews transferred. Forward Jaylen Brown was a lottery pick in the NBA draft. Guard Tryone Wallace graduated. What makes them a sleeper is that Ivan Rabb should be one of the best players in the country next year. He'll have help from Senior wing Jabari Bird, All-Ivy League Guard Grant Mullins, and, hopefully, Freshman Point Guard Charlie Moore (Rivals #55).

Florida St.

This is another team that looks better on paper than on the court. Xavier Rathan-Mayes is "the man" when he needs to be. Dwayne Bacon was on the All-Freshman team last year. Center Jonathan Isaac is Rivals' 8th rated Freshman. There's a bunch of other solid recruits too. Malik Beasley leaving for the draft could even be argued as addition by subtraction.

Mid-Major Sleepers

If you are looking for any teams from smaller conferences that are primed to make big leaps, these are the best candidates.

Wichita St.

Ok, the Shockers are not a mid-major team. They just belong to a mid-major conference. This is my way to mention them without putting them in my top 25.
Fred Van Vleet and Ron Baker are gone. There's no way for me to overstate their importance to the last four years of Shockers success. People forget though that they have been a top 20 team according to KenPom for the last five seasons: one before they arrived on campus. In other words, it would be foolish to assume Greg Marshall's team will fall off the map this season without Van Vleet and Baker in the back court. It helps that MVC Freshman of the Year Markis McDuffie (F) is back. Connor Frankamp (G) will have a chance to do more in the backcourt now. Some mix of Landry Shamet (G), Zach Brown (F), Rashard Kelly (F), and Shaquille Morris (F) should fill out the starting lineup. The recruiting class isn't looking great, but Marshall has a history of making the most out of unheralded recruits.

Princeton

They finished last season 65th according to KenPom and every starter and key bench player is back. That includes the All-Conference trio of Spencer Weisz, Henry Caruso, and Steven Cook. I don't really believe in teams automatically getting better just by bringing everyone back. They don't have to get that much better though to make some at-large noise for the tournament, or better.

Monmouth

Last year's darlings are back. They barely missed the tournament last season. They lost MAAC 3rd Team All-Conference Guard Deon Jones but are otherwise returning intact. That means MAAC Player of the Year Justin Robinson (G) and MAAC Freshman of the Year Micah Seaborn (G) return to this Senior-led team. They finished 88th on KenPom last season and there are no new players to speak of. How much better can they really get, especially when their front court isn't all that imposing.

Ohio

It's all about balance, my friends. In the back court, the Bobcats have MAC 2nd-team All-Conference Guard Jaaron Simmons and MAC All-Freshman Guard Jordan Davis. In the front court, they have MAC Player of the Year Antonio Campbell and former Michigan St. big man Kenny Kaminski. They only lost one contributor from last year's team. It's fair to question how much better a team that finished last season 139th on KenPom can really get. In the last 5 seasons, the biggest jump by any team was St. Louis jumping from 129th to 14th in 2011-12. A big jump is unlikely, but not impossible.

Lehigh

Ok, there's a lot of better final choices. Harvard returns Siyani Chambers from a redshirt season and recruits better than any Ivy League team. Alec Peters can still do some damage for Valparaiso. UAB has a ton of returning players. UNC Wilmington should be really good too. I'm picking Lehigh though because I like a longshot. They finished the season 171st on KenPom, but PG Kehron Ross and Center Tim Kempton are both First Team All-Conference players. Guards Kyle Leufroy (All-Freshman Team) and Austin Price (All-Conference 3rd Team) are back too. Basically, all the best the Patriot League has to offer are on the Lehigh roster. Will that matter?

Movie Reaction: Doctor Strange

Formula: (Inception + House M.D.) * Marvel

It's no secret that I am in relative awe of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is a series that just released its 14th installment in 8 years and continues to get bigger and bolder in the storytelling. They are as confident that they know what they are doing as any studio around. The individual films aren't perfect. None of them rank as my favorite blockbuster for their respective years. They are consistently and reliably good though. What's most impressive about the Universe how Marvel and Disney built out the stories. There's no way that Doctor Strange could work in Phase One. Too crazy. Too weird. But, after a straight-forward team up like Civil War, it's not too much. They won't scare away audiences. It's kind of like how Thor: The Dark World was buffered by terrestrial-bound Iron Man and Captain America sequels.

Doctor Strange is the most exposition-heavy installment since Phase One. It's a completely new world (or world-view) with very few ties to what we've seen so far. The idea is that Dr. Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is a famous and exceptional neurosurgeon. He's kind of a know-it-all and conceited, but in a charming, roguish way that his not-quite girlfriend, Dr. Christine Palmer (Rachel McAdams) has a hard time resisting. The movie wastes no time getting to the accident that leaves him without the use of his hands. He goes on a desperate quest to heal himself that leads him to a secret society in Nepal (or a Nepal-like country). There, he meets The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) and Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor), who train him in a mystical magic that allows him to conjure energy, move across dimensions, and potentially control time -- to be honest, I don't really understand the powers, but they make sense in the movie. He ends up battling Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen), a former pupil of the Ancient One who has turned to the dark side - er - dark dimension. It's a lot for any audience to handle coming in with only the knowledge from the other 13 movies. It works while you are watching it though, and that's what matters the most.

This is the most Oscar-friendly cast assembled for a stand-alone Marvel movie*, which seems fitting, given the complexity of the topic. Benedict Cumberbatch looks very comfortable in the role even though the performance reminded me way too much of Gregory House (maybe it's just the voice). Rachel McAdams doesn't have a lot to do, although when she shows up, she is, of course, delightful. Swinton is a natural pick for a role like the Ancient One, which has to be both impenetrable and vulnerable at times. Ejiofor is too good for the lack of importance of his role in this film, but the story isn't done with him yet. Mikkelsen just makes a good villain. Basically, all you have to do is cast him in the role and I'll buy into it.

*Of the core five characters, four have had Oscar nominations (Cumberbatch, McAdams, Swinton, and Ejiofor). In fact, three of the nominations have been successive in the last 3 years and the fourth was a win back back 2008.

I wasn't crazy about the movie. I think it mistakes "cool visuals" for "good visuals" a little too often. Someone watched Inception a few times before joining the crew for this film. It's an obvious comparison, except Doctor Strange shows less restraint. It's easy to get lost by the staging of an action sequence in a way that is more confusing than disorienting. I eventually accepted that 90% of the story logic is gibberish to me. In the future, all I'll need to know is that when Doctor Strange shows up in another Marvel movie is he's going to do some magical stuff with his hands that I don't need to understand much beyond that. And I'm okay with that.

One final bit worth noting is that the comic relief is a bit off in this installment. Cumberbatch is a funny actor, but he isn't the Paul Rudd or Robert Downey Jr. type who can self-start the jokes. He needs someone to play off, kind of like how Chris Evans has Scarlett Johansson or Anthony Mackie. Cumberbatch gets Ejiofor and Newton and a humorless Makkelsen as a villain. That's rough. McAdams would've been great if she was used more. Comic relief is essential to the Marvel movies and it wasn't quite there this time.

I liked Doctor Strange although I'm picking at it harshly. Sorry. I appreciate it more for the characters that it has added to the MCU than the story it tells. I look forward to seeing Dr. Strange try to out-ego Tony Stark or diagnose alongside Bruce Banner (I know, different kind of doctors). If this is the last time we go to Nepal, that's fine with me. I guess that makes Doctor Strange a mid-tier Marvel movie. Given that it's about a character that casual viewers don't know, lacking any obvious connection to other installments, and in a more abstract realm of the universe, I'd call that a success.


Verdict (?): Weakly Recommend

Movie Reaction: Hacksaw Ridge

Formula: The war scenes from Forrest Gump + The boot camp scenes from Captain America: The First Avenger

Hacksaw Ridge is one of the most rigidly formulaic movies you'll see this year. Every beat in the story is something expected that you've seen before. If you come away from that movie thinking that you've seen something revolutionary, then I would like to congratulate you on seeing your first war movie ever, since surely, that is the only reason why you could've not seen it all coming.

Hacksaw Ridge is also one of the most crowd-pleasing movie you'll see this year. It is designed with precision to tap into something inside of you that makes you feel good and inspired. If you come away from that movie thinking that it was cheaply sentimental, then I would like to give you a hug and ask "who hurt you?", since that is the only reason that you could come away from this cold-hearted.

There's some wiggle room in both of those assessments, but I'll stand by most of it.

This is Mel Gibson's return to directing after taking a decade off. He's been through some stuff in that time and has acted in some questionable films, but it's nice to see him back in Braveheart mode.

The film tells the story of Desmond Dos (Andrew Garfield), an army medic who becomes the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor. It tells his story in the expected fashion (chronologically and from the beginning). The audience sees where and how he grew up. He's got an alcoholic father (Hugo Weaving) and a fiance (Teresa Palmer) -- don't worry, of course we get to see their "meet-cute". We follow him to boot camp so he can fight in WWII. There's a tough but caring drill instructor (Vince Vaughn) and a scene where we learn everyone in the troop's nick-names (It's a war movie, after all). When it's revealed that Dos refuses to fire a gun for religious reasons, he then has to work twice as hard as everyone else in boot camp to make it through and win their respect. Eventually, he makes it to the battlefield: a ridge in the Pacific that U.S. forces keep losing to the Japanese in bloody conflicts.

That's when the movie shines. Mel Gibson has never shied away from showing some stark violence, and he puts that to good use in a story about an army medic. He does a great job depicting the confusion and messiness of battle. For large chunks of time Dos completely disappears since he's there for the cleanup, not the fighting. His work as a medic is equally exciting though, since he has the added tension of not being able to fight back if attacked. So much of that latter part of the movie works because, even if the story is exaggerated, it's still damn impressive that someone would do what Dos did and live to tell about it.

Andrew Garfield is pretty great throughout. The Forrest Gump comparison is fair, even though he's not mentally handicapped. Garfield has a goofy accent and is as earnest as any man alive. It's hard not to root for him by the end. Teresa Palmer is charming in a cookie-cutter role. Vince Vaughn has fun playing somewhat against-type. Hugo Weaving hams it up too much and still manages to put together an effective redemptive arc. The soldiers are all from that same factory of 1950s-looking white guys that all the WWII movies pull from. None of them stood out, but they all did fine work selling the "war is hell" of it all.

It's true that I don't ever need to see a WWII movie again, ever before I saw this. It's such a thoroughly explored topic that it produces diminished returns now. For some people, that's going to be enough to turn them off completely. This film falls victim to "checklist storytelling" (i.e. the story is checking off events rather than telling a natural story), which could also annoy people. Its heart is in the right place though and there's efficiency to the narrative. The emotional beats feel earned by both the time put into them and the performances by the actors. This is a much better use of Mel Gibson's talents than Get the Gringo. 

 Verdict (?): Weakly Recommend

Delayed Reaction: Knock Knock

The Pitch: Two attractive women show up at a man's house while the rest of his family is away, then make him suffer for his transgressions.

I don't think I'm a fan of what Eli Roth has to offer. I could never get more than a couple minutes into Hostel. Cabin Fever I only kept with because of Rider Strong. I didn't realize that Knock Knock was his movie until the opening credits. I was just interested in seeing something recent with Keanu Reeves after how surprising John Wick was.

The basic point of Knock Knock is something like "all men are cheaters if pushed". It's all about role reversals that give an interesting perspective. What turned me off is that it turns into what I can only describe as a "victim fantasy". It's kind of like if you ask somebody to come up with an acceptable reason to commit rape. That's several steps further than the movie goes, but it seems to come from the same head space. It's pretty uncomfortable to watch.

The campy tone didn't work at all for me. It left Roth too much rope to not worry about the details of the story. Essentially, this is a home invasion movie. What makes home invasion movies scary/effective is the element of "this could happen to you". By shooting this like a cartoon world, those stakes are gone, so it turns into "isn't it fun to see Keanu Reeves get stabbed with a fork?". I don't think it's a coincidence that I disliked this about as much as Cheap Thrills.

Look, I don't think Keanu Reeves is a great actor either. However, I do think he's very good at picking projects that allow him to get around that. As part of the campy tone of the movie, I think Eli Roth told Keanu to give in to ever bad instinct he has. There are several scenes that [intentionally] play like they were in The Room. That's not an aesthetic that I enjoy.

Verdict (?): Weakly Don't Recommend

Delayed Reaction: Vertigo

The Pitch: Jimmy Stewart stalks follows a woman around who he falls in love with. She dies, but that's not where the story ends.

Any time a movie is considered a "best" there's some unavoidable expectations. Whether it's the best movie ever made (According to Sight and Sound) or just the best Hitchcock movie, that's a lot to live up to. I've accidentally seen a lot of Hitchcock's movies recently. My critique is pretty much the same in all of them:
-Jimmy Stewart is great.
-I enjoy how each of Hitchcock's movies are basically a single idea or gimmick that he stretched into a full length film.
-The visuals are superb. I'd upgrade that to "masterful" if I was any sort of expert about camerawork.

The story only keeps you guessing so much, which was a nice change of pace. Sometimes, dramatic irony* is even better at building tension than the unknown. The ending is abrupt and fitting and probably my favorite thing about the film.

I tend to overthink my Reactions for these older movies. I think it comes from a place of, "They've proven their worth over decades. Who am I to suggest that they aren't perfect?" It's something I need to break myself of.

*I think that's the right way to use it.

Verdict (?): Weakly Recommend

November Movie Preview

October sure sucked. There's no way to talk around that. The potential Oscar players all flamed out. The sequels fell short of matching their predecessors. There wasn't even an adult-targeted blockbuster to keep things interesting. Thankfully, November is here and it is loaded. There's at least two movies every weekend that I plan to see ranging from drama to comedy and indie to blockbuster. If I come out of this month disappointed, then we really can call 2016 a weaker year for movies.

2016
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct   
2015

Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec 

2014

Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

2013

Mar |  Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec

11/4

Doctor Strange
Stephen Strange is a surgeon who can no longer work after an accident. During a quest to heal himself, he gains mystic powers and becomes a super hero.
Working For It: The "Marvel Studios" at the beginning of the trailer decided this for you one way or the other. I like (not love) the Marvel movies, so it has my interest. They've assembled a strong cast. Benedict Cumberbatch is a nice, counter-intuitive pick for a superhero. It also has Rachel McAdams, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mads Mikkelsen, and Tilda Swinton. Those are four people I normally don't imagine in a movie together. If Mikkelsen is anywhere near as good a villain as he was in Hannibal, that's exciting.
Working Against It: Marvel has been dipping its toes into the more extended universe realms (i.e. not bound to this Earth). Guardians was pretty great. Thor: The Dark World not so much. It's hard to say where Doctor Strange will land. Anecdotally, this has been the Marvel movie with the biggest gap in excitement between comic and casual fans. Casual fans have no idea what this is actually about. Comic fans are picking up on all sorts of details and saying things like "you know what that means" or "it looks like they're setting _____ up". I'm very curious to see how the movie does in the box office.
Verdict: I'm seeing it. That's never been in doubt.

Hacksaw Ridge
Andrew Garfield plays a WWII Army Medic who was a Conscientious Objector and eventually won the Medal of Honor for work on the battlefield.
Working For It: It's a throwback movie, by which I mean it's an earnest war movie about heroism. It's not looking to tear Desmond Doss (Garfield) down at all. He's not an anti-hero. Mel Gibson returns to directing after taking a decade off. I miss liking Mel Gibson, and everything I've heard about this movie indicates that it is pretty great. It also features Teresa Palmer (Lights Out, Warm Bodies), Vince Vaughn (going somewhat against type), Hugo Weaving, and Sam Worthington.
Working Against It: Yeah, it's another WWII movie. I have a high tolerance for war movies and even I'm getting tired of this topic.
Verdict: It's taking second position to Dr. Strange, but I fully intend to see it.

Trolls
Anna Kendrick and Justin Timberlake are trolls who sing and dance in a Dreamworks animated feature.
Working For It: I am big fans of both Kendrick and Timberlake. Kendrick in particular I'm always looking to see sing (it's why I saw The Last Five Years). This is a Dreamworks movie, so you know the bench of top notch voice talent goes deep. I won't even begin to list them, but you've watched and probably adored the work of all of them at some point.
Working Against It: Dreamworks ranks low for me among the animation studios. They have a history of overstuffing their films and losing the heart of the story. The exceptions, like the How to Train Your Dragon movies don't come along often enough for me to give Trolls the benefit of the doubt.
Verdict: It's already a busy weekend. This is not for me.

Loving [Limited]
The story of Richard and Mildred Loving (Joel Edgarton and Ruth Negga), an interracial couple sentenced to prison in 1958 for getting married.
Working For It: I've liked Edgarton since Warrior. Negga is newer to me. Jeff Nichols has built an impressive catalog (Midnight Special, Mud, Take Shelter) in a short amount of time. This is both a love story and a civil rights story which checks a lot of boxes.
Working Against It: I kind of get the sense that the trailer covers a bit too many beats. I worry that having seen it might step on some of the emotional heft of the film as it plays out.
Verdict: I want to see this, but it's really going to depend on how busy things already are when this expands out to a theater near me.

11/11

Almost Christmas
An ensemble comedy about a family reuniting for their first Christmas without the family matriarch.
Working For It: It's a film with an African American dominated cast that isn't tied to Tyler Perry. That's an immediate plus. Danny Glover is the patriarch of the family. Mo'Nique is an outspoken aunt. Gabrielle Union and Omar Epps look like the romantic leads. There isn't much about this that I can't immediately guess going in, and I'm fine with that.
Working Against It: Christmas family comedies are rarely much good. They're either overstuffed like Four Christmases, tonally erratic like The Best Man Holiday, or more zany than funny like Surviving Christmas. This might be all three.
Verdict: Too early in the season to successfully pull my Christmas heartstrings.

Arrival
When alien vessels show up all over the Earth, a linguist (Amy Adams) is called in to find a way to communicate with them.
Working For It: Simply put, the reviews I've heard after in premiered on the festival circuit are more favorable than the trailer would suggest. I love Amy Adams, but the story seems pretty mechanical. Like a slightly more active Day the Earth Stood Still. I'm trusting director Denis Villeneuve (Prisoners, Enemy, Sicario) to deliver. Also, I believe the trailers and TV spots are holding back elements of the story so no one is spoiled by the time they get to the theater.
Working Against It: I accidentally covered it a couple lines up. A story about how to communicate with aliens sounds more intellectual than active on screen. If there isn't more too it than that, I'm not sure that Adams (and Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker) is enough to keep me interested.
Verdict: It's very likely that I'll be seeking it out.

Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk
A soldier is honored during the halftime show of a football game while flashbacks of what happened in Iraq contrast with the actions he is being praised for.
Working For It: Ang Lee is an amazingly diverse director, so I don't doubt his abilities to shoot the hell out of a war story. He's assembled an eclectic cast, including Kristen Stewart, Vin Diesel, Chris Tucker, and Steve Martin. I don't know much about Joe Alwyn, who plays the titular character. That anonymity could be a blessing or a curse.
Working Against It: While I don't deny that Ang Lee is a great filmmaker, none of his films have connected with me. When I watch one of his movies, it's like meeting a pretty girl with no personality.
Verdict: I figure significant Oscar buzz is the only thing that will get me to seek it out.

Shut In
Naomi Watts is trapped in a snowstorm in a rural area trying to save a young boy from something insidious.
Working For It: Naomi Watts + horror sometimes means The Ring. It's got Jacob Tremblay from Room too.
Working Against It: A horror movie released two weeks after Halloween. That's kind of like when a "prestige movie" gets released in mid-February so that it gets lost in the Oscar season. There's no strategy to releasing a generic horror movie shortly after Halloween. That's just dumping it.
Verdict: I've already forgotten about it.

Elle [Limited]
A successful woman tries to track down the man who raped her.
Working For It: It's supposed to be a career-defining performance for Isabelle Huppert with dark-horse Oscar potential. The trailer makes this look like equal parts drama, thriller, and even dark comedy.
Working Against It: I have a low frequency for seeing films with subtitles in theaters. More importantly though, I'm not a huge fan of director Paul Verrhoeven (Basic Instinct, Total Recall).
Verdict: I won't be looking for it.

The Love Witch [Limited]
A 60's throwback movie about a witch who makes men fall in love with her.
Working For It: It's technicolor and pulpy. That immediately gets my attention. Sometimes, all a movie needs is a good gimmick like that.
Working Against It: It looks like it's from the Casa de mi Padre school of filmmaking. The joke is that it exists. I'm not sure I need to see 2 hours of it to appreciate it. The trailer sums things up pretty well.
Verdict: There's a chance I find it on Netflix someday.

11/18

Bleed for This
Miles Teller is a former world champion boxer who breaks his spine in a car accident. He's determined to get back in the ring though. Based on a true story.
Working For It: I'll see virtually anything with Miles Teller (Fantastic Four, War Dogs, Allegiant, Project X). That's because, when he's good (Whiplash), he's very good (The Spectacular Now). It also has Katey Sagal and Aaron Eckhart, who I like too. This film looks like it's taking a lighter tone than, say, Southpaw, which is a relief.
Working Against It: How many boxing movies do I really need to see? In the last two years, I've seen Grudge Match, Southpaw, and Creed (unless I'm forgetting about something), and I don't even like boxing. This looks fun, but I might've hit my limit. Also curious is director Ben Younger. Excluding shorts, his filmography is this: Boiler Room, Prime (that movie from 2005 about Meryl Streep as the psychiatrist for her son's lover), and the Army Wives pilot. That's light and not at all indicative of what to expect from the movie.
Verdict: I'll be looking for an alternative, but it's a possibility.

The Edge of Seventeen
Hailee Steinfeld is a high-school reject who is left reeling when her best friend starts dating her cool older brother.
Working For It: I've hit the age where high school comedies have started to lose their innate appeal. At least, that's what I tell myself. It's fun tracking how Hailee Steinfeld has grown since her Oscar nominated work in True Grit 6 friggin' years ago. If I'm being honest, the joke in the trailer I saw about Woody Harrelson critiquing her text for being a run-on sentence won me over.
Working Against It: Steinfeld is trying to do what Emma Stone did before her and Lindsay Lohan did before her (I'll stop there but I could keep going) by making a self-aware teen comedy. The trailer didn't convince me she can carry a movie like this. I'd happily be wrong about that.
Verdict: Someday, but not in a theater.

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
Seventy years before the Harry Potter books, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) navigates New York City's secret wizard community on a magical adventure.
Working For It: This is the best case scenario for the movie in just about every way. It's a J.K. Rowling-penned screenplay. Harry Potter veteran David Yates is directing. Redmayne, a recent Oscar winner and nominee, is leading it. Pretty much everyone in the cast from Ezra Miller to Katherine Waterson to Colin Farrell is someone I like. Whatever your opinion of the Harry Potter movies is, you have to admit that they have perfected the tone and style of that world. I struggle to find a way that this could disappoint me.
Working Against It: Nothing, really. I don't have to love something to like it. There's a high floor for how good the movie will be and a very high ceiling. I don't expect this to be one of my favorite movies of the year, but I'd be shocked if it was one of my least favorite.
Verdict: Absolute lock to see.

Manchester By the Sea [Limited]
Casey Affleck is forced to return to his childhood home in Massachusetts after his brother dies and he gets custody of his teenage nephew.
Working For It: This was my number one must see coming out of Sundance this year. Casey Affleck is supposed to be incredible. Michelle Williams too in a fairly small role (in terms of minutes on screen).
Working Against It: This sub-genre of dramadies about people returning to where they grew up after a family tragedy tends to disappoint (The Judge, This Is Where I Leave You) pretty often. All indications are that this is a notch or two above those, but it's worth noting.
Verdict: Try and stop me.

Nocturnal Animals [Limited]
A woman (Amy Adams) discovers that her ex-husband has dedicated a book he published to her. The novel tells a violent and vengeful story that she thinks might be a threat by dedicating it to her.
Working For It: Well, Amy Adams is perfect, so there's that. It's funny that the film also has Isla Fisher since I confused both of them for years. Then there's Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Armie Hammer, and Laura Linney. This is Tom Ford's follow-up to the excellent A Single Man. I honestly don't even care about the story as long as this film looks as good as his first.
Working Against It: This does appear to be a little more twist-based than A Single Man. After recent disappointment with twisty movies (The Girl on the Train, The Accountant), that worries me some.
Verdict: I'm really looking forward to this, but I can see how it could fall through the cracks in a busy season.

A Street Cat Names Bob [Limited]
A former drug-addict's life is turned around when he meets a cat who becomes his best friend.
Working For It: In a world where Inside Llewyn Davis was directed by someone like Rob Marshall, this is the movie you'd get. It looks light and inspirational, populated by a lot of "oh yeah, that guy from that show" actors.
Working Against It: I feel like I got all the good feelings I'm supposed to get from the movie in the 2 minute trailer. Why watch the whole thing?
Verdict: Doubtful to ever see it.

The Take [Limited]
Idris Elba is a loose cannon ex-CIA agent who is protecting a pick-pocket caught in the middle of a terrorist plan.
Working For It: If no one's going to cast Idris Elba as James Bond, then he'll just make his own Bond movie. I don't understand how Elba has gotten this famous without leading a blockbuster movie or even pulling in an Oscar nomination. How is The Take not a Europa production, directed by Luc Besson, opening on 2000 screens? It's just a matter of time.
Working Against It: This looks pretty generic.
Verdict: Whether or not I can see it in theaters probably won't be up to me. Even if it was an option, it's doubtful that I'd see it.

11/23 & 11/25

Allied
After WWII, an intelligence officer (Brad Pitt) discovers that his wife (Marion Cotillard) might be a spy for the other side.
Working For It: It's Robert Zemeckis, who's been a delight since moving back to live action in recent years (The Walk, Flight). I tend to see anything I can with Brad Pitt, because I like watching bonafide movie stars. Cotillard has a habit of showing up in movies I like even if she's not why I watched them.
Working Against It: I'm looking at this as Bridge of Spies 2. An older generation director making a WWII film with a dependable box office draw as the lead. It's not an exciting idea. I've seen forms of this story before. There's no urgency to see it.
Verdict: I assume I'll see it, but if you're keeping track, I'm saying that about a lot of movies this month. Something has to not make the cut.

Bad Santa 2
Billy Bob Thornton returns to rob a charity this time as a Santa Claus.
Working For It: I love Bad Santa. It's a movie that really revels in how wrong it is. There's no need for a sequel, but the premise is malleable enough that it doesn't ruin anything by revisiting the character.
Working Against It: Sometimes a movie is good on accident. I'm pretty sure Bad Santa is one of them, so it won't take much for the sequel to be awful.
Verdict: That's going to be a very busy weekend and it's fourth on the list of nationwide releases.

Moana
A young woman goes on a magical quest to save her island. She employs the help of a shape-shifting demi-god.
Working For It: Disney Animations is on a hot streak right now (Zootopia, Big Hero 6, Frozen, Wreck-It Ralph). If you think of this as Pacific Islander Frozen, it's very easy to get excited about this. Plus, the Rock singing and music from Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Working Against It: None, except maybe that The Good Dinosaur was a let down last year when released on the same weekend. Going further back though, Frozen and Tangled had similar release dates and were plenty good.
Verdict: This will be a priority.

Rules Don't Apply
The love story of two people who work for Howard Hughes (Warren Beatty). One is an aspiring actress he has under contract (Lily Colins). The other is one of his drivers (Alden Ehrenreich).
Working For It: Warren Beatty hasn't directed a movie in almost two decades. That alone is worthy of attention. I'm not crazy about his previous films (Reds, Bugsy, Dick Tracy), but I'm curious to see what about this made him come out of semi-retirement. I have a surprising fondness for Mirror, Mirror and much of that has to do with Lily Colins. Ehrenreich is going to be the young Han Solo soon, and I'll be curious to see how this compares to the similarly set Hail, Caesar! which he was also in.
Working Against It: Between Hail, Caesar! and The Aviator, I wonder what's left for this film to do.
Verdict: I have every intention to see it as soon as I can.

Lion [Limited]
The story of a man (Dev Patel) who was separate from and lost his family in India decades ago. Now he's determined to find them again based on the few memories he has from his childhood.
Working For It: It's a potential Oscar player and, from what I hear, has a massive tear-jerker ending. I'm already thinking of this as a version of Slumdog Millionaire that I'll like better. It has Rooney Mara and Nicole Kidman too. I like both of them. I don't recognize any of the Indian cast, but I'm sure they're good.
Working Against It: I can see this potentially getting lost in the season. There's nothing inherently about it that turns me off though. I only know director Garth Davis for a few episodes of the wonderful mini-series Top of the Lake. Perhaps, I'd like a few more credentials, although he has to start somewhere.
Verdict: If I don't see it, it won't be on purpose.

Miss Sloane [Limited]
Jessica Chastain is a lobbyist who is the best at what she does.
Working For It: I don't actually know the plot, kind of like how I don't remember the plot of Wall Street. Chastain carries herself in the trailer like the lobbyist version of Gordon Gecko, which is exciting. It also has Gugu Mbatha-Raw, John Lithgow, Alison Pill, Jake Lacy, Sam Waterson who are all actors I like.
Working Against It: Not much is known about the film yet, so it could be shit. Movies like this often have a lot of fun creating the lead/villain, then fail to build a similarly engaging story.
Verdict: I think I can wait on this.

Delayed Reaction: Major League 2

The Pitch: People probably won't notice if we do the same thing again.

I made two notes while watching this that sum up my thoughts pretty well.
-Thoroughly predictable at every turn, and I didn't mind it, in a benign sort of way.
-I think the sequel has made me appreciate the first one retroactively.

It's a representative comedy sequel in that it's basically the same movie as the first, only they attempt to do more. It all works ok. Mostly, it highlighted what the first movie did so well. And, I'm willing to admit that I'd probably enjoy more of this if I liked baseball more than I do. It's nice to be reminded of Charlie Sheen's movie star days. It's entertaining to compare his character arc in this with his brother's that same year in the Mighty Ducks sequel. Maybe there's only room in Hollywood for one Sheen/Estevez at a time (and it's usually Martin). Omar Epps is only a slight downgrade from Wesley Snipes. Bob Uecker's alcohol consumption patterns were fun to track.

Verdict (?): Weakly Don't Recommend

Delayed Reaction: Obvious Child

The Pitch: An abortion romantic comedy...That's about it.

This is a loaded movie, or rather, a loaded topic in an otherwise simple movie. Jenny Slate is better than I've ever seen her and does a wonderful job showing the complexity of the character. She and Jake Lacy have good chemistry that's purposely awkward. I'd watch a straightforward romance with them as the leads in a heartbeat. Richard Kind and Polly Draper do a lot to convey a full relationship with their daughter. Overall, this is a pretty average indie movie with above average performances.
Except, you know, for the one thing.

It's tricky to talk about abortion in a movie. It's more than a little politicized and is a complete non-starter for a large amount of the population. All things considered, it's handled well in the film. The director made this as a direct response to movies like Juno and Waitress (it took a while to get this made) and that shows. You generally don't see a relationship starting after an abortion in a movie and Obvious Child does it convincingly.

Having a stand-up set be a major moment of realization. Is that a trope? It's super specific, but I feel like I've seen it several times before. I didn't love it here because it was more sincere than funny. At that moment in the film, I get that making sure the emotion works matters more than jokes. I guess, I just didn't buy why that had to be the moment of self-discovery. I think I have too many residual Punchline vibes that any time I see stand-up in a movie, I get scared.

Verdict (?): Weakly Recommend