Wrap Up: What I Was Watching In August 2019
My movie choices this month have been all pretty light since I’ve been in a ‘keep rewatching Great British Bake Off episodes’ mood for this last half of summer. With blockbuster movie season winding down into a bit of a dry spell before going full force into award contenders, it’s nice to just watch some of the lighter movies for a break.
Stranger Than Fiction
Amazon Prime
A coworker found out about my deep love for all things Emma Thompson and was shocked I hadn’t seen this one yet. It held up way more than I expected and was a really interesting watch. For the first time in a while, I saw an older-ish movie that hadn’t been redone or repeated - and that was a legitimate joy.
The Verdict: 3.5/5
Destination Wedding
Amazon Prime
This was one of the best surprises of a movie I’ve seen in a long time. I had only vaguely heard about this one, but a bantering Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder for an hour and a half or so was more than I ever knew I wanted. It’s hilarious, backhandedly romantic and the best movie you’ve never heard of.
The Verdict: 4.5/5
The Spy Who Dumped Me
Amazon Prime
I had every intention of seeing this one in theaters but it slipped through the cracks. Mila Kunis and Kate McKinnon play off each other pretty well in this action-comedy hybrid, but there are so many double-crosses and ‘what side are you on’ kind of twists that by the end, you just want the answer.
The Verdict: 3.5/5
Veronica Mars
HBO Now
There are few series more dated to the early 2000s than Veronica Mars, and the movie is no exception. It was a fun revisit to the characters, but I was a bit disappointed in some of the plot aspects, and it is extremely obvious that the creator felt like he had to cater to fans with it being crowdsourced.
The Verdict: 3/5
Where’d You Go Bernadette?
In Theaters
I read this book earlier this year (basically devoured in two days) and loved it. I have been looking forward to this adaptation for a while, and to be honest, I was a little let down. As a movie in and of itself, it’s pretty solid, but there are so many inexplicable changes from the book that I couldn’t help but be disappointed.
The Verdict: 3/5
Falling Inn Love
Netflix
I knew this was going to be bad going into it. And I didn’t care. There’s an odd level of joy that comes with a Hallmark-esque movie like this. The writing is terrible, the plot is predictable, but there is a goat named Gilbert that deserved more screen time than he got. Only enjoy this one with a bottle of wine and a friend.
The Verdict: 1.5/5
Empire Records
Netflix
So many people have been surprised when I told them I hadn’t seen this one and said it was right up my alley. They weren’t wrong. It’s a solid ‘90s film. Some aspects of it aren’t great and seem dated, but it is a really fun time capsule, and it has a really solid soundtrack. Definitely worth a watch on streaming.
The Verdict: 3/5
I’m determined to find a new ‘challenge’ to set for myself in my movie watching but can’t quite figure out what kind of goals to make. Is there anything you want to do more of when it comes to your media intake? Or even just have more or less of it?