Film & TV

Mel Brooks’s comedic masterpiece, 'Young Frankenstein,' showcases the talents of a director, writer, and performer whose innate sense of humor has kept audiences laughing for over half a century -- a loving and hilarious send-up of Mary Shelley’s classic novel and the iconic Universal monster films of the 1930s and jampacked with comedic powerhouse performances.

'Eden' is a nastier, meaner, dirtier piece of filmmaking than anything he’s ever attempted, as Ron Howard leans into the rot of civilization -- spearheaded by Sydney Sweeney, pushing herself far beyond the glossy persona that dominates her public image.

It seems like true crime stories have a tendency to frustrate the audience, usually by showing how flawed or biased the criminal justice system can be. That’s especially true here, where that trope compounds with the fact that the system in Italy has certain quirks that would seem wacky to those of us in the U.S.

John Hughes loved making movies about the problems of white teenagers who were supposed to be middle-class but always seemed rich. 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' is the quintessential teen comedy, with snappy writing, likeable characters, and a message about making the most of your youth before it slips away.

'Les Musiciens' is a quiet film, the type that is mostly relegated to arthouse theaters or the smallest screening room at the local multiplex, but its understated charm makes it superior to many movies occupying the larger screens.

The humor in Naked Gun films, both old and new, is essentially ceded to dad jokes, assuming your father is a semi-dirty old man who never quite moved beyond his early teens. Viewers get pratfalls, dumb (but often laugh-worthy) one-liners and plenty of sexual innuendo. Those who warm to this formula should find at least a smattering of laugh-worthy scenes in the new film.

Abraham expects a lot out of his boys and is disappointed by Max’s inability to learn quickly. Even his little brother Rudy mocks him for it, which is one of the only things Rudy ever does in the movie. Showing that rift between father and son is vital in making later developments make more sense, but it still ends up feeling undercooked.

As for action, there is plenty. Too often, summer blockbusters forget that action sequences are a means to an end -- not the point. Gunn understands that good storytelling relies on a connection to characters and that smart storytelling always trumps spectacle.