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Movie Review: “Mortal Kombat II”

Some of us, like myself, try to forget the abysmal 2021 Mortal Kombat movie. Thankfully, the filmmakers took notes from dissatisfied fans and made a sequel that pays homage to the video game while achieving a bloody good time.

In “Moral Kombat 2” fan favorite champions, including the addition of washed-up 80’s action-movie star, Johnny Cage, are pitted against one another in the ultimate battle to defeat the dark rule of Shao Kahn that threatens the Earthrealm. There is not much more to the story than that. This film plays out more like a high quality, theatrical tournament from the game. Though you would think that would garner another misfire, the martial arts and action sequences are almost magnetizing. There’s a lot more effort and creativity put into the fights as well as who’s fighting in them.

Last time around we were so focused on an uninteresting and random Cole Young, that it was difficult to care about the plot. The second film shares the wealth, with screentime for the entire cast, and highlights the entertaining characters, especially Karl Urban as Johnny Cage. And while Urban is a bonus, the heart of the film beats through Adeline Rudolph as Kitana. Her back story and commanding performance gives the plot a morsal of depth. It shows us there is potential for a deeper premise with compelling character development.

“Mortal Kombat II” is a significant improvement over its predecessor, providing more thrills, graphic, high-energy battles, and crowd-pleasing entertainment that fans of the video game might call “flawless victory”, but the average moviegoer can label it as a lively and enjoyable popcorn flick.

Rating: B-

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Movie Review: “The Devil Wears Prada 2”

Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway return to portray their iconic roles as Miranda Priestley and Andy Sachs. While some may have been skeptical at first, this stylish dramedy is a sequel we didn’t know we needed.

Twenty years later Andy is an awarding winning journalist, who has just been let go from her publication, along with her fellow journalism colleges. She receives a life-changing phone call to return to Runway and become the magazine’s features editor in hopes of saving the company from financial struggles and the decline of print journalism. Things have changed since the last time Andy was here. These days, the things Miranda used to say to her employees are not appropriate anymore and she even has to hang her own coat. Read full review here.

Rating: B+

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Feature Flix: “Mother Mary” Interview with Filmmaker David Lowery

“Long-buried wounds rise to the surface when iconic pop star Mother Mary (Anne Hathway) reunites with her estranged best friend and former costume designer Sam (Michaela Coel) on the eve of her comeback performance.”

This week I had the opportunity to speak with acclaimed filmmaker, David Lowery about his newest thriller, “Mother Mary”. Starring Anne Hathway and Michaela Coel.

“Mother Mary” opens in theaters April 24, 2026.

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Movie Review: “The Drama”

Have you ever dared to ask yourself, what’s the worst thing you have ever done? In the new dark comedy, The Drama, the answer rocks the lives and upcoming nuptials for a happily engaged couple that now questions everything. Writer/director, Kristoffer Borgli brings audiences a twisted romantic tale that’s sure to inspire some tough conversations.

Robert Pattinson and Zendaya play Charlie and Emma, a newly engaged couple who are just a week away from their wedding. As they are sampling food and several glasses of wine with their best friends, the four of them light-heartedly discuss “the worst things they have ever done”. The evening quickly turns sour when Emma reveals a dark past. Friendships are broken, and the seemingly solid foundation between a blissful couple begins to crack. This raises a thought-provoking question of whether you can truly love every version of your partner? Read full review here.

Rating: A

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Movie Review: “The Pout-Pout Fish”

Based on the bestselling series of children’s books by Deborah Diesen, “The Pout-Pout Fish” is a heartwarming, animated underwater adventure that is sure to turn anyone’s frown upside down.

The film stars Nick Offerman, Nina Oyama, and “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks. Offerman voices Mr. Fish, who always carries a pout on his face because he has been taught to avoid strangers all his life, isolating himself from the world. Suddenly, his quiet, loneliness is interrupted by a sea dragon named Pip. He accidentally destroys her home and reluctantly agrees to help her find a wish-granting fish named Shimmer, who might be able to help her create a new home for her soon-to-be very large family. However, Pip and Mr. Fish need to find her before Benji, a cuddle fish, does first and uses up her one wish for his own purposes. Read full review here.

Rating: B

“The Pout-Pout Fish” opens in theaters March 20, 2026.

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Movie Review: “Project Hail Mary”

Project Hail Mary is the second film adaptation of a book by Andy Weir and is directed by the hilarious dynamic duo, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Their comedy is prevalent throughout the film, but the whopping two hour and 36-minute runtime needs more than humor to keep audiences engaged.

Ryan Gosling stars as Ryland Grace, a science teacher who has woken up alone on a spaceship light-years away from earth with no memory of who he is or how he got there. As he slowly starts to remember his mission, he learns he must stop a mysterious substance from killing the sun and save Earth from extinction. Thankfully, an unexpected friendship with an alien life form leads to a touching bond that just might be the key to saving the world. Read full review here.

Rating: B-

“Project Hail Mary” opens in theaters March 20, 2026.

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Movie Review: “I Can Only Imagine 2”

I Can Only Imagine 2. Photo Credit: Jake Giles Netter

It has been 8 years since the release of “I Can Only Imagine”, the story of Bart Millard, a young musician who came from an abusive childhood and went on to become the lead singer of the hit band MercyMe. But is this sequel another musical hit?

“I Can Only Imagine 2” picks up long after the death of Bart’s father, with whom he had reconciled after years of trauma. His band MercyMe is hot off the heels of their breakout success from their record-breaking song and are currently living the dream. But Bart’s world stumbles when he discovers his son, Sam, has a life-threatening illness. His obsession to consistently monitor Sam negatively weighs on him and his family. When newcomer Tim Timmons joins the band on their biggest tour, yet he forms an immediate and uplifting bond with Sam. Tim’s faith in Sam and his fresh outlook on life inspires Bart to regain the relationship with his son he had always hoped for with his own father. Read full review here.

Rating: C

“I Can Only Imagine 2” opens in theaters February 27, 2026.

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GOOD LUCK, HAVE FUN, DON’T DIE Interview w/ Academy Award Winner Sam Rockwell

“A man claiming to be from the future takes the patrons of an iconic Los Angeles diner hostage in search of unlikely recruits in a quest to save the world.” Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell stars in the new sci-fi comedy, “Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die”. I had the opportunity to speak with Rockwell about the film and his iconic Oscar speech.

“Good Luck, Have Fun, Don’t Die” opens in theaters February 13, 2026.

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Movie Review: “Solo Mio”

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Kevin James returns to the romantic comedy scene in Solo Mio, a light-hearted, charming tale surrounded by the scenic backdrop of Italy.

James stars as Matt Taylor, a man who finds himself at a loss when his fiancée leaves him at the alter in Rome. With their honeymoon already planned and paid for, he moves forward with the trip and tries his best to take pleasure in the all-inclusive honeymoon package. Thankfully, two, fairly odd, couples taking part in the package notice Matt is single. They take him under their wings and Matt quickly forms an unlikely friendship with the couples as a fifth wheel. However, five becomes six when Gia, the owner of a small coffee shop, takes an interest in Matt. Read full review here.

Solo Mio opens in theaters February 6, 2026.

Rating: B-

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PEOPLE WE MEET ON VACATION Interview w/ Tom Blyth, Emily Bader, Emily Henry, & Brett Haley

“Poppy wants to explore the world and Alex prefers to stay home with a good book, but somehow they are the very best of friends. They live far apart, but for a decade they have spent one week of summer vacation together.”

Based on the Best-Selling novel by Emily Henry, “People We Meet on Vacation” is the first best film of 2026. The movie is a nostalgic, enchanting, and comforting romantic comedy.

I had the opportunity to sit down with the stars (Emily Bader & Tom Blyth), author (Emily Henry), and director (Brett Haley) in New Orleans (one of the primary filming locations) to discuss, when they knew what they wanted out of life, what kinds of questions they ask to get to know someone, and more!

“People We Meet on Vacation” premieres on Netflix January 9, 2026.

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