June 2020 - Reel Film Nerds

Episode #176: Tributary – The Lovebirds

By Matt on Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Let the new streaming film reviews continue! Today your movie gurus discuss a new Netflix rom com murder mystery, wow talk about an interesting genre! The Lovebirds starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani. Extracurricular topics include inflation, movie trailers revealing too much, and the film Independence Day.

The Lovebirds is a fun witty movie with some great comedic parts throughout the film. There are also a handful of scenes where it falls short or just flat out does not need to be in the movie. Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani have excellent chemistry especially when they are arguing nonsense. Those are some of Matt’s favorite LOL scenes and he doesn’t LOL ever. It was a nice change of pace having the film based in New Orleans instead of New York City or LA like typical films of today. The writers also paid homage to previous great films like Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut and the spy rom com Date Night.

Is this film going to win a ton of awards and set records, nope. It is a fun exciting LOL movie that is well worth a watch if you have Netflix. Mike gives The Lovebirds an OK rating with 2.5 out of 5 Reels. Matt, always the more lenient reviewer, awards the film an average score of 3 out of 5 Reels.

Next week the guys keep the new streaming comedies going with a brand new Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga premiering on Netflix Friday June 26, 2020. Thanks for listening to our latest podcast, we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Chat at you next week!

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike Talent to review you can email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com, listeners we are talking to you.

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The Lovebirds

Director: Michael Showalter

Writers: Aaron Abrams, Brendan Gall, and Martin Gero

Stars: Issa Rae, Kumail Nanjiani, Paul Sparks, and Anna Camp

Release Date: May 22, 2020

Storyline from IMDB

A couple experiences a defining moment in their relationship when they are unintentionally embroiled in a murder mystery. As their journey to clear their names takes them from one extreme – and hilarious – circumstance to the next, they must figure out how they, and their relationship, can survive the night.

Watch The Lovebirds trailer below.

Episodes

Episode #175: Tributary – Artemis Fowl

By Matt on Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Check it out everyone, we finally got a new film to watch! Thanks to Disney not waiting for movie theaters to open, you can now catch Artemis Fowl (originally slated for theaters) on their streaming platform Disney Plus. Extracurricular topics today include National Treasure, COVID-19 movie delays, and Dolby Atmos.

Based on the popular books series, Artemis Fowl follows the son of a criminal mastermind, with the same name, on a quest to rescue his father while discovering a second world exists with fairies, trolls, and more. To call Artemis Fowl mediocre would be high praise. This is a rough film that suffers from Matt’s #1 complaint, the story or lack thereof. This world is beautiful, fun, and interesting but the story doesn’t live up to it’s characters or environment.

Clearly the story must be great in the books since they are a world phenomenon but the filmmakers dropped the ball on their translation to the big screen. The acting was rough but we aren’t going to slam the lead, it is literally his first film ever. The sets are gorgeous and the digital effects are also well done. Both your hosts agree, this is not a must see film. It is a hard pass unless you read the books then maybe. We are sorry to report Mike and Matt are back to agreeing everyone, yes again, graciously awarding Artemis Fowl 2 out of 5 Reels.

Next week the guys keep the new streaming films rolling with another movie that was supposed to hit the theaters this year. Currently streaming on Netflix, The Lovebirds starring Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani. Thanks for listening to our latest podcast, we hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Chat at you next week from the Internets!

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike Talent to review you can email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com, listeners we are talking to you.

Artemis Fowl

Director: Kenneth Branagh

Writers: Conor McPherson, Eoin Colfer, and Hamish McColl

Stars: Ferdia Shaw, Lara McDonnell, Josh Gad, and Judi Dench

Release Date: June 12, 2020

Storyline from IMDB

Artemis Fowl, a young criminal prodigy, hunts down a secret society of fairies to find his missing father.

Watch the Artemis Fowl trailer below.

Episodes Legacy

Episode #174: Legacy – Back to the Future Part III

By Matt on Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Our summer retrospective on the Back to the Future franchise comes to a close today with Back to the Future Part III written and directed by Robert Zemeckis and produced by Steven Spielberg. Topics not related to time travel include what happened to fun movies, drinking, and Mike and Matt are old.

Back to the Future Part III is a great film arguably at least as great as the original. Doc and Marty are back for another adventure in time but instead of going to 2015 or 1955 Marty attempts to rescue Doc from 1885 before Mad Dog Tannen snuffs him out. What really sets this film apart from the previous film, other than being a fun western, is it’s a completely new story. The movie does not have large portions of the film before it to rely on. It is a fun comedic take on a western that also pays homage to the genre. Back to the Future Part III is a must see especially if you are a fan of the first two films. Mike Talent awards the film a surprising perfect score with 5 out of 5 Reels! Matt also really loves this movie but still thinks the original is a better watch. He gives Back to the Future Part III 4.5 out of 5 Reels.

Next week the guys will review a new film that was supposed to be dropping in theaters this summer but well you know the apocalypse got in the way. One of Disney+’s first straight to streaming films Artemis Fowl starring Ferdia Shaw and Colin Farrell. Thanks for checking our little review show. Chat at you next week finally with a new movie!

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike Talent to review you can email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com, listeners we are talking to you.

Back to the Future Part III

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Writer: Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale

Stars: Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Mary Steenburgen, and Thomas F. Wilson

Release Date: May 25, 1990

Storyline from IMDB

Stranded in 1955, Marty McFly learns about the death of Doc Brown in 1885 and must travel back in time to save him. With no fuel readily available for the DeLorean, the two must figure how to escape the Old West before Emmett is murdered.

Watch the Back to the Future Par III trailer below.

Episodes Legacy

Episode #173: Legacy – Back to the Future Part II

By Matt on Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Our summer retrospective on the Back to the Future franchise continues today with Back to the Future Part II starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd. No beating around the DeLorean here, we really go off topic a ton in today’s podcast. Matt and Mike talk about space, movie remakes, and the chaos of rioting in the streets on top of COVID-19.

Back to the Future Part II is a really fun film that takes place in the future, well technically the past now, and tries to explain some of the paradoxes and problems if time travel was possible. Altering history even a little bit can drastically change the world you have come to know and love. It is fun watching flying cars, flying skateboards, and the occasional flying punch. Did we mention Michael J. Fox plays multiple characters in this film, not just old and young Marty McFly? Back to the Future Part II is a really fun creative film but it relies on the original film a tad much. The alternate timeline was not a favorite of Matt’s especially how much time the movie spent in it. The guys are back to not agreeing on ratings, well this week. I know what you are thinking Mike is a harsh movie goer but guess what it’s Matt this week! Mike awards Back to the Future Part II 4.5 out of 5 Reels while Matt on the other hand only gives the time travel classic 4 out of 5 Reels.

Don’t forget if you have not seen any of the Back to the Future franchise films they are all available to stream on Netflix this instant. Next week the guys close out their look back at the time traveling trilogy with the franchises final film Back to the Future Part III. Thanks for checking our little review show. Chat at you next week about time traveling to the 1800’s.

If you have a film you would like Matt and Mike Talent to review you can email us at nerds@reelfilmnerds.com, listeners we are talking to you.