“After leaving Silver Falls following Alex’s love confession and her kiss with Cole, Jackie Howard spent the summer in New York City. When Katherine...
“Happy Gilmore” meets Texas pride in Austin Nichols’ promising directorial debut about a man and his quirky group of friends who are trying to save more than a municipal golf course.
At first glance “The Salamander King” may not seem like much to look at, but much like its unconventional characters, this film has a whole lot of heart. The movie follows a golf professional (Ryan Hansen) who runs a financially struggling municipal golf course for the city of Austin aka “Muni”. Naturally, the city hires a consultant (Adrianne Palicki) from California to help bring in money. She is not exactly welcomed with open arms, and the staff finds her presence threatening as her focus of “making money” loses sight of what the course is truly about: Community.
Outsiders and those who “keep Austin weird” feel at home at this golf course. This isn’t a rich snooty resort. “Muni” is a place where anyone can feel safe to “let their freak flag fly” and be their true self while quite possibly making their dreams come true. As we see in the film, a shy girl who had virtually nothing can eventually turn pro. It’s moments like those in the movie, that warm your heart and reminds you why it’s nice to take break from the depressing world news with a brisk, light-hearted comedy.
It is great seeing Hansen star in a more likeable leading role. He has incredible chemistry with his entire cast, especially with his on-screen love interest, Palicki, who provides a nice balance of normalcy and witty humor. Most importantly, director Austin Nichols lets his love of Austin, TX shine throughout the film. He shows the beauty, uniqueness, and delicious flavors of the city through a 1990’s style lens.
There is a certain nostalgia to underdog stories like these. And the opening sequence to the tune of “Take on Me” absolutely adds to the comfort feeling. But there was a time where comedies like “The Salamander King” ruled the box office and made for a great theatrical option over something so heavy or bloody. I can only hope this movie could lead to that genre returning to theaters. But, in the meantime, I am grateful for the opportunity see it during this year’s Dallas International Film Festival.
Rating: B+
Interview with Director Austin Nichols and Star Adrianne Palicki
The first “Accountant” surprisingly charmed and entertained audiences. While I did not expect a sequel, I certainly don’t mind getting to see Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal team up again. Though it’s hard to beat the refreshing plot of the original film, this second installment adds up to a solid watch.
Ben Affleck returns as Christian Wolff, an unusual accountant with a brilliant mind that can calculate far more than tax returns. Read the full review here.
Rating: B
“The Accountant 2” opens in theaters April 25, 2025
“Drop” premiered at this year’s South by Southwest with rave reviews about the exhilarating new thriller. It’s not easy to get back into the dating world, especially after a traumatic relationship. Director Christopher Landon takes audiences on a horrifying first date in what might eventually become an instant cult classic.
The film follows Violet, a widowed mother, played by “White Lotus” star Meghann Fahy who is going on her first date in years. With the help of her sister, who’s agreed to babysit her son while out, she musters up the courage to put herself back out there and meets with a charming photographer played by Brandon Sklenar. Unfortunately, this potential for romance turns into a mother’s worst nightmare as Violet is bombarded with anonymous texts that threaten her son’s life. Trapped in a high rise, upscale restaurant, she must figure out who is behind the messages to save both her son and her date’s life.
If you’re familiar with Landon’s work on films like “Freaky” or “Happy Death Day”, you’ll have an idea of his style of horror. He adds an element of comedy that allows you to breathe a little easier through his character’s high stressed situations. While there are moments of comic relief, “Drop” creates an anxiety-inducing setting with time constraints and focus on suspense. But don’t be fooled by its frightening premise, the film has a few jump scares, but it never takes itself too seriously. In fact, expect a few eye rolls when entering ridiculous and campy territory. It’s Fahy’s devoted and captivating performance that will sell you on any absurd action.
The heart of this film lies with Meghann Fahy, who continues to shine in any role she plays. But “Drop” succeeds in blending romance, wit, and tension into a simple yet tech-savvy, entertaining thrill ride that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
The new drama, “The Friend”, starring Naomi
Watts and Bill Murray is an adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s novel about an
unconventional friendship between a writer and her late friend and mentor.
The film follows Iris, a writer and professor living in
New York City. She has just learned about the unexpected passing of her
longtime mentor and dear friend, Walter. The heartbreaking news has shocked her,
and she isn’t fully able to process how the death has affected her due to the
pressures of finishing the novel she had been working on with Walter and having
to take care of his Great Dane, Apollo, which Walter has inconveniently passed
on to her. To make matters worse her apartment does not allow pets, and finding
a new home for Apollo is proving that Iris is taking on more than she can chew.
While Apollo starts out as an imposition in Iris’ life,
he quickly becomes a blessing. He fills a void as a representation of Walter and
helps her cope with the tragic loss – further proving the healing benefits of an
emotional support animal. The film is more of a character study. While we see how all the people in Walter’s
life are impacted in different ways by his passing, we focus on the one who
seems to be internalizing most of her feelings. I wouldn’t say there’s a whole
lot to unpack here, the message is straightforward, and the story is simple,
but the delivery is well done through its heartfelt performances and the subtle
progression of Iris and Apollo’s therapeutic bond.
Outside of the captivating flashbacks between Walter and
Iris and the dynamic between Iris and her new furry friend, the film lacks
creativity. It follows a familiar formula we have seen many times before and
there’s nothing necessarily inspiring about the visuals or filmmaking. However,
it is a solid watch that tackles heavy, yet relatable themes about friendship,
grief, and life in general. And it never hurts to watch a heartwarming and
easy-going story about the positive impact of companionship.
