Jenniffer Wardell

1 month ago | vaildaily.com | Jenniffer Wardell

Turns out even Paddington can have an off day. Though the first two movies in the series are generally beloved, the quality dips noticeably for “Paddington in Peru.” It’s still cute enough to appeal to kids, but all the little touches that elevated the previous movies are gone. The script is a mess, the main villain tips too far into cartoonishness, and the new setting is completely wasted. Though Ben Whishaw is still a delight as Paddington, the majority of what’s going on around him falls short.

1 month ago | vaildaily.com | Jenniffer Wardell

How funny do you find blood splatter? The answer to that will determine how you feel about “The Monkey,” the latest from “Longlegs” director Osgood Perkins. Loosely based on a Stephen King short story, the horror-comedy utilizes a lot of its absurdity in a series of dramatic, cartoon-like deaths. Though there’s also plenty of fringe ridiculousness, including Elijah Wood playing one of his textbook weirdos, it’s clear that the deaths are what Perkins is really invested in.

2 months ago | vaildaily.com | Jenniffer Wardell

One of the biggest problems with Marvel movies is most of them aren’t allowed to be themselves. Instead of trying to tell a good story, or even just giving us a deeper understanding of the main character, the average Marvel movie is really just connective tissue. It’s a stepping stone in some larger plot gambit by the studio, tying in this streaming-only character and teasing this mega villain that will be really dangerous three movies from now.

2 months ago | vaildaily.com | Jenniffer Wardell

Horror can carry a lot of metaphors, but it needs to be the right metaphor. In 2020’s “Invisible Man,” Leigh Whannell reinvigorated a classic movie monster by tying it into the concept of abusive relationships and being stalked. It gave the old monster a new face, one that presses primal buttons and reinvigorated it for the modern world. There are deeper things going on, but all of them are scary. In “Wolf Man,” Whannel has once again tried to find the monster in the metaphor.

Jan 9, 2025 | vaildaily.com | Jenniffer Wardell

If you love Wallace and Gromit, you’re going to love “Vengeance Most Fowl.”The series’ first-ever sequel blends some of the duo’s greatest hits with brand-new hijinks that have the classic Wallace and Gromit feel. There’s a very slow boat chase, murderous mechanical gnomes, and a faceoff between Gromit and the series’ greatest villain. At the same time, all of it is wrapped in the comforting silliness that fans of the series will find as warm and comforting as a perfectly made cup of tea.