bobby-99344 Reviews

Christmas Carole (2022 TV Movie)

Had promise, but didn't deliver

[3/10 · 25 December 2022]

Another modern updating of a Christmas Carol.

For about the first 20 mins it held promise, but then seemed to wither in it's impact, storyline & authenticity as it went on. Perhaps it was in part because of it's short running time (basically a TV movie, but only 66 mins in length).

I wouldn't say it was awful, it passed the time. The acting was generally good. It gave me the odd smile (mostly nearer the beginning) and with some clever ideas, such as who the ghosts that visited were, I wouldn't say this is a totally awful film. Would I rewatch it a second time? Definitely not - I was glad when it was over, and it won't be revisited next Xmas.

A bit boring overall if nothing else!

Literally, Right Before Aaron (2017)

Good acting, but main character is awful

[2/10 · 5 November 2022]

I could only stomach 23 minutes of this film.

The acting is fine, and personally for me I found the production and editing ok too.

But the character of Adam, played by Justin Long (who does his best acting to be fair) is just not someone I can in anyway empathise with. I would suggest he is most definitely a narcisist.

23 mins in and him having behaved awfully several times (are we supposed to feel sympathy for this spineless man?) and frankly quite creepily, I decided to quit on it.

Maybe it would have got better, but I highly doubt that. Other peripheral characters annoyed me too - there's really not a lot to like here :-(

How I Met Your Father (2022–2023)

Went into it with a fully open mind, but just terrible

[1/10 · 30 May 2022]

I honestly started watching this with an open mind, deliberately not reading other reviews before I did.

I also forced myself to detach from association with HIMYM - for both good (the first approx 5 seasons being mostly excellent) and bad (particularly season 9, unforgivable) elements of that original show.

What immediately hit me was the use of the laughter track, and worst still how it switched on when there weren't even jokes being made (or perhaps very unfunny jokes). Everything was overacted, and the script and dialogue was just mindlessly mediocre. Also, in 2022 surely if a laughter track is to be used, why are they still so incredibly unbelievable? (can't AI 'help' it not sound like it's from a bad 90s sitcom?)

In short if this had been a show that was nothing to do with HIMYM, I wouldn't have got past the first 5 minutes. As it was a spin-off, I gave it the courtesy of 10 minutes, before realising it was winding me up relentlessly as it was just so, so bad.

Perhaps it will find its pace in the future, but I suspect ratings will likely fall off well before then. This is certainly unlikely to run for 9 seasons, whether they decide to kill off the Dad or not!

It Takes Three (2021)

Entertaining, if a little uneven

[8/10 · 22 April 2022]

It did make me laugh on more than one occasion, and I think it was very well acted.

The tone was uneven at points, but all the characters came across pretty authentic and engaging for the most part. I liked how 'the Jock', whilst a bit superficial, wasn't a total bullying piece of work, but actually under it just another teenager dealing with the joys of adolescence whilst making some questionable choices.

Whilst writing this review I've upped it one more star as the sound track was absolutely outstanding, and I'm going to seek it out!

The Witchfinder (2022)

Perhaps some missing the humour given the dark premise

[8/10 · 16 March 2022]

It's clear from the other reviews that most people are quite polarised on whether they love or hate this series. I myself am 3 episodes in, and am generally finding it entertaining.

Humour is a very subjective thing, but I'm not sure why some feel so strongly that it's lacking ALL humour. The one thing I can think is it does casually explore some pretty dark themes (the clue's in the title though) and I would say it's in many ways a shade or two darker than most episodes of 'Ghosts', which it's been compared to. Perhaps others are so stuck on the dark themes they cannot see the humour through it, which I do get.

For the most part though I think it is well written, frequently amusing, well acted albeit with some scenes you could describe as quite disturbing. If anything don't watch this series just before you head to bed (a mistake I fear I have made tonight!)

Toast of Tinseltown (2022– )

I'm glad it's not just be that was puzzled with how bad this was

[2/10 · 16 January 2022]

There was the odd scene that did raise a smile, and one scene that made me laugh out loud, but for the most part this new series was just plain boring. I'm a big fan of the first 3 series, which were surreal and full of extremely odd but appealing humour. This new series was so rarely funny that I watched a single episode across three different days as it was so boring at times and could barely hold my attention.

I won't watch again, versus the original 3 series that are very re-watchable!

Home Sweet Home Alone (2021)

Far, far better than I was expecting

[9/10 · 1 January 2022]

There's a lot of hate for this film, which I don't understand. I'm a child of the 80s, and the original 'Home Alone' was one of the first films I ever saw at the cinema. I loved it, and the (entirely predictable but brilliant) 'Home Alone 2: Lost in New York' that followed. Both written by the 80's legend John Hughes. I've re-watched both many times, and was highly skeptical of this new edition. Every sequel there has been since the first two films has been terrible, but I was pleasantly surprised with this!

I think the acting is great, and the motivations of all individuals is largely logical (granted, at points that is a stretch). It's no more absurd than the original two (perhaps at points less so).

I was surprised it was still almost as jovially violent as the original, which added to the enjoyment - and there were many moments that made me laugh out loud. There is also some disguised adult humour, which I won't spoil by quoting here, particularly with the Smart-device in the home.

Great cameo from the actor who played Kevin's brother Buzz in the original too - and this wasn't just a nod, it actually significantly added to the panning out of the plot.

All round very entertaining for all ages, and I'd recommend :-)