July Movie Round-Up: Nope, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, DC League of Super-Pets, The Gray Man

Whew, I have had a busy July at the movies. If you want a slew of recommendations that cover a full cinematic spectrum, keep reading for some quickfire reviews:

Nope: Where do I begin with this movie? At this point, every Jordan Peele film is a must-see event, and the less you know about the plot, the better. So all I can say is, check it out. I do think Get Out and Us are slightly superior films, natch, but the man can still craft a hell of a movie. This time around, he has come up with an homage to old Hollywood and cheesy sitcoms, the relentless chase for the perfect shot, and a sci-fi mystery that unfolds in funny and frightening fashion.

Daniel Kaluuya and Keke Palmer star as OJ and Em, siblings who have taken over their father's business as horse handlers for film and TV productions. When mysterious events start taking place at their isolated ranch, they realize a UFO might be responsible, and documenting evidence of its existence could help alleviate some of their financial woes. What follows is an insane plot to lure out this UFO that gets increasingly complex, gory, and frantic. It's a weird and bizarre thrill ride and you will never be bored for a second. But I am certainly going to need to read a lot of think pieces and listen to a lot of spoilerific podcasts of this film now. Because like with anything from the mind of Jordan Peele, there are a lot of layers to peel back, and with every answer the film gives you, it will only invite more questions. However, rest assured, you won't be bored for a second, and the film is a visual spectacle. Also, the few times Kaluuya deploys the film's title, you will laugh like a loon. Oh it's so fun. 

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On: This movie is an absolute dream. I was vaguely aware of the YouTube videos of Marcel the Shell, as voiced by Jenny Slate, but I was thoroughly unprepared for what an emotional rollercoaster I would be taken on when I went to see this movie. For an hour and a half, we follow a documentarian (Dean Fleischer Camp, who created this character with Slate back when they were still married - this feels like a relevant detail considering that in this movie Dean is recently separated from his wife) who has moved into an Airbnb and discovers a one-inch-tall shell named Marcel and his grandmother, Nanna Connie (magnificently voiced by Isabella Rossellini). He decides to make a movie about Marcel and Connie, and oh my god. It is the most heartwarming, emotional, and uplifting thing you may watch all year.

I simply cannot describe it. On paper it seems ridiculous - it's a talking shell with tiny shoes and a googly eye. But Slate voices this character with such a perfect blend of innocence and charm, and all the little ways in which Marcel has re-purposed large human objects to meet his tiny shell needs are insanely creative and magical. At one point I started crying and was like "why am I crying about a SHELL?!" Please seek out this movie. I know it sounds like the fever dream of someone who was very high, and yes, I'm sure substances were involved in the scripting of this film. But the result is absolutely extraordinary, and I am already desperate for this to win the Best Animated Feature Oscar next year. 

DC League of Super-Pets: If you have a pet owner in your life, take them to see this animated movie. They will have lots to relate to, as will you. I went with my boyfriend, who owns a dog and loves DC superheroes, so this movie was a slam dunk in every way and I would keep elbowing him to go, "It you!"

Directed by Jared Stern who also co-wrote the script with John Whittington, this is the tale of Krypto the Superdog (voiced by The Rock), who is Superman's pet. A series of events transpire whereby Superman and the entirety of the Justice League (all of whom are voiced by a veritable who's who of stars) are trapped by an evil...guinea pig. Krypto has also lost his powers like his master, so he must team up with a group of pets who have just recently broken out of an animal shelter after getting super powers. It's a great, inventive story, you won't be bored for a second, and it is wall-to-wall jokes about pet ownership and Batman's personality. This is an animated film that caters equally to kids and adults, with a fantastic voice cast, quality animation, and a stellar script. Enjoy!

The Gray Man: Directed by the Russo brothers, this movie got a lot of press for being the most expensive one bankrolled by Netflix to date. When you watch this film, you'll certainly note the money must have gone to the incredible cast, numerous foreign locations, and splendidly choreographed action scenes. However, the money certainly didn't contribute much to my enjoyment of the film. 

Based on a novel by Mark Greaney, this is the story of rival CIA agents chasing each other across the world and getting into numerous fights. The leads are played by Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans, and Ana de Armas provides a significant assist along with Jessica Henwick and Rege-Jean Page (who sadly does not sport his British accent). It's all very pretty to look at but they are working off a very clunky and boring script. It's mostly just a series of expensive action sequences strung together with silly dialogue. I would be hard-pressed to tell you about a single scene in this movie because it was so dreadfully forgettable but I certainly did not mind staring at Ryan Gosling for two hours. I don't know what he was saying, but I sure liked watching him say it. If you are an action fan, this could be a wonderfully mindless way to spend your afternoon. But if you're seeking a bit more substance, you may need to give The Gray Man a pass.