Reviews & previews: Spring & summer
Tentpoles are coming.
“Avengers: Infinity Wars” represents the first of the summertime cinematic obsession with superheroes, special effects and sequels. What follows:
– DEADPOOL 2: May 18
– SOLO: A Star Wars Story: May 25
– JURASSIC WORLD Fallen Kingdom: June 22
– ANT MAN and the WASP: July 6
When “Jurassic World” (2015) opened, a female general manager persona equated a power suit and beige heels. When the reptiles begin escaping, you overlook the executive trouncing around the compound without turning an ankle. It’s a testimony to the Ginger Rogers dance statement that women do everything men do “only backwards and in high heels.”
On Racked, Kenzie Bryant wrote: “I do remember when she’s running from the tyrannosaur thinking this is super impractical. But at the same time, she’s dressed appropriately for what she has to do that day. Why wouldn’t she be wearing heels? She doesn’t have quick, easy access to any other wardrobe and she wants to save her nephews. She toughs through it.”
When June brings on “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” Bryce Dallas Howard will wear boots.
“A Quiet Place” has an opposite issue. The jump in your sleep all night silent survival monster thriller resonates due to its concentration on the ordeal of one lone family.
Barefoot tip toeing while they wear parkas and gloves at the abandoned grocery nearly destroyed my suspension of disbelief despite the sign language and sound suppression activities later on. Shivering tough footsies have overlooked options – socks, moccasins, shoe socks, or ballet slippers (which should be added for sequels).
Ultimately, on belief suspensions, you can’t have it both ways. Since there are shots of dirty (non bleeding or scratched) feet walking the forest, the cold town scene should be eliminated. The premise would harken more to primal native tribes, which fits latter pain endurance scenes.
***
“I Feel Pretty,” a PG-13 comedy about body image and confidence stars Amy Schumer as Renee Bennett an insecure average woman. Her whiplash/multiple personality knock on the head comes after an fitness instructor has preached, “Change your mind, change your life,” attitude adjustment. She awakens thinking she’s a glam bombshell.
Renee’s new confidence empowers her to live fearlessly even though her outer appearance hasn’t changed, Her obsession with “looks” has a constant reminder – she works for a cosmetics company.
Directors Marc Silverstein and Abby Kohn have “Not that into You,” “Never Been Kissed,” and “How to Be Single” among their screenplay credits. Two of the film’ s six producers are familiar to Marshall fans – McG and Mary Viola. McG directed “We Are Marshall” and Viola co-produced. They teamed for “The Duff,” which featured Mae Whitman as a “designated ugly friend” in a John (“Breakfast Club”) Hughes inspired look at high school pecking order.
On the red carpet, Viola complimented her “partner in crime,” McG, for his green suit, adding, “This movie means a lot to me personally – and should resonate with anyone who has ever struggled with self esteem (which is basically everyone).”
After viewing “I Feel Pretty,” I’d boast that it elicits a mature Hughes flavor without sentiment. Ms. Schumer does comedy without any raunchiness. She shines. Her pre- and post- head bang character goes from a timid, permission to speak “excuse me I’m Renee” vocalization to a grab the mike stand up showoff.
Empowerment stands solid. The acceptance of self (short, tall, thin, heavy, white, black, poor, rich) symbolizes a metaphor of life’s enduring prejudices. Keeping the focus on a bullseye, the wealthy and glam (by society’s standard) reveal flaw crises all their own. The story underscores that hot girls don’t get asked out as they intimidate males. No body shaming or body better mandate, Schumer’s her own worst enemy until learning beauty does not bring perfection.
One female critic called “I Feel Pretty” a glorious roller coaster of tears to glee. She felt so confident that she considered testing laws that prohibit public nudity. Oprah has rendered an “A+” verdict, too.
Tony Rutherford is a film reviewer for HuntingtonNews.net and a member of the Huntington Regional Film Commission.