By: Hunter Montroy

Aside from catching new films in theaters on opening weekend, there are some I catch later on, or they’re simply films not even from this year. For that reason, I just want to give my quick thoughts on some of them.

Friendship:
The latest project from Tim Robinson is very tailored to his form of comedy. The script and his acting feel straight out of Detroiters or I Think You Should Leave. In the case of Friendship, it continues to work—the jokes never get old. Paul Rudd is a great addition, starring alongside Robinson, and the character he plays really complements him. The absurdist nature of each character, especially Robinson’s, surprisingly works given how over-the-top most people are in their actions throughout. The way writer/director Andrew DeYoung captures adult life and the awkwardness of forming friendships turns this film into a bit of a horror, as Robinson’s narcissistic, obsessive personality digs deeper.

It’s What’s Inside:
I had no prior knowledge of It’s What’s Inside, so it was a cool film to experience going in blind, and I think it works best that way. A group of friends gets together before one of them gets married. The groom invites an old friend they haven’t seen in a while due to a college conflict. He brings a device he’s been developing, which allows you to swap bodies with another person. The film explores the lives these characters experience and the differences they feel living a totally different life in someone else’s body. It’s What’s Inside was a very fun, casual watch. Nothing too fancy, but certainly entertaining.

Smokin’ Aces:
Smokin’ Aces has been on my watchlist for a long time. I’ve typically enjoyed Joe Carnahan’s work over the years—he’s great at making films that fall into the 6–7 out of 10 range. Narc is the exception, in my opinion. Smokin’ Aces is exactly that for me: a decent 6/10. Fun and over-the-top, crammed with a stacked cast, but with a story I couldn’t care less about. Even with all the big-name actors, Jeremy Piven is leagues ahead of everyone else in the film. Every scene with him is elevated in the best way. Smokin’ Aces is pretty fun, but I’m not itching to rewatch it anytime soon.

Smile 2:
Bigger budget. Getting fancier with the camerawork and scene execution. Parker Finn really makes a mean-ass film here with Smile 2. The main character goes through so much that by the end, I was like, “Jesus Christ Almighty.” After watching it, I’m just so glad Finn puts so much care into these films, making them feel extremely refreshing and entertaining. The main leads in both Smile 1 and 2 have killed it. Finn gets some next-level performances from his actors, I must say.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter:
There’s not too much to say here. It’s competent—not awful, not great. It gets very close to being something, but never quite gets there. If someone else had been in the director’s chair, they might’ve made it a banger.

The Last Stop in Yuma County:
I really enjoyed this slow burn. It takes its time to build and build as more characters gradually find their way into a diner being held hostage. Some characters are unaware, while others are fearing for their lives, knowing one wrong move could set everything off. Most of the film takes place in one location, and it rarely loses steam during the 90-minute runtime.

Novocaine:
Truly a dogshit script. Completely cringeworthy bad. The action is kind of fun. Jack Quaid plays his usual self from The Boys, except this time he doesn’t feel pain and fights to rescue the girl he’s in love with. That’s about it.

Dream Scenario:
Dream Scenario feels similar to my experience watching Friendship—absolutely bonkers and full of imagination, making it something you’ve never quite seen before. By the end, you’re caught up thinking about it and diving into online discussions to sing its praises. Dream Scenario is obviously very different from Friendship, but both are uniquely original. Dream Scenario had more for me to latch onto during my viewing, and I got a lot more out of it. Nicolas Cage delivers a great performance throughout, and by the time the credits roll, you’re left feeling so defeated after watching everything his character goes through.