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Bob Mann (459 KP) rated The Happytime Murders (2017) in Movies
Sep 28, 2021
Why did some muppet green light this?
Man, this is grim.
The Happytime Murders is set in LA where puppets and humans live together but without much harmony, in a somewhat clumsy parody of racism. In this setting Phil Philips (voiced by Muppets regular Bill Barretta) is a disgraced ex-cop puppet – the first of his kind -drummed out of the force for an indiscretion and now making ends meet as a PI.
But someone is progressively bumping off members of “Happy Time” – an old muppet-style show on the Puppet Television Network featuring Phil’s old flame Jenny (Elizabeth Banks). When a murder hits home close to Pete, he teams with his old police partner Connie (Melissa McCartney) to catch the murderer.
One problem with this film is that the concept – rude puppets – is not new: “Avenue Q” have done this way better on stage and “Team America: World Police” on film. So from the outset the content doesn’t really shock. But the worst problem is that for adults, the screenplay by Todd Berger is just NOT FUNNY ENOUGH. It’s a bad sign when you can count the moments you moved from a smile to a light chuckle on one hand: just three times in fact (with the silly string scene, with the wringing-out scene (“look away”) and with a parody of a famous interrogation scene).
So, based on the ‘laffs-per-minute’ count, this is 90 minutes of my life I’d like back please. Actually, if you cut out the regular swearing and came up with a suitable story about silly string, then – cartoon puppet violence and all – the kids might enjoy it much more!
The only other mildly entertaining aspect for me – which grudgingly earns it an extra half Fad – were the closing titles that showed how some of it was filmed.
McCarthy delivers much of the same shtick we’ve seen from her in all of her recent movie outings, which doesn’t really wash well with me anymore. Banks is good as the love interest Jenny, but has little to do.
It’s directed by Brian Henson, son of the late and great Jim Henson. I’m all for “experiments”, and I notice that this was released under the “Henson Alternative” brand, which is perhaps appropriate, but some experiments work and some just don’t. I personally think this is one that doesn’t extend the Henson brand and needs to be quietly forgotten with a line drawn under it.
Definitely NOT recommended. If someone asks you to go to the cinema with them to see this, tell them to get stuffed!
The Happytime Murders is set in LA where puppets and humans live together but without much harmony, in a somewhat clumsy parody of racism. In this setting Phil Philips (voiced by Muppets regular Bill Barretta) is a disgraced ex-cop puppet – the first of his kind -drummed out of the force for an indiscretion and now making ends meet as a PI.
But someone is progressively bumping off members of “Happy Time” – an old muppet-style show on the Puppet Television Network featuring Phil’s old flame Jenny (Elizabeth Banks). When a murder hits home close to Pete, he teams with his old police partner Connie (Melissa McCartney) to catch the murderer.
One problem with this film is that the concept – rude puppets – is not new: “Avenue Q” have done this way better on stage and “Team America: World Police” on film. So from the outset the content doesn’t really shock. But the worst problem is that for adults, the screenplay by Todd Berger is just NOT FUNNY ENOUGH. It’s a bad sign when you can count the moments you moved from a smile to a light chuckle on one hand: just three times in fact (with the silly string scene, with the wringing-out scene (“look away”) and with a parody of a famous interrogation scene).
So, based on the ‘laffs-per-minute’ count, this is 90 minutes of my life I’d like back please. Actually, if you cut out the regular swearing and came up with a suitable story about silly string, then – cartoon puppet violence and all – the kids might enjoy it much more!
The only other mildly entertaining aspect for me – which grudgingly earns it an extra half Fad – were the closing titles that showed how some of it was filmed.
McCarthy delivers much of the same shtick we’ve seen from her in all of her recent movie outings, which doesn’t really wash well with me anymore. Banks is good as the love interest Jenny, but has little to do.
It’s directed by Brian Henson, son of the late and great Jim Henson. I’m all for “experiments”, and I notice that this was released under the “Henson Alternative” brand, which is perhaps appropriate, but some experiments work and some just don’t. I personally think this is one that doesn’t extend the Henson brand and needs to be quietly forgotten with a line drawn under it.
Definitely NOT recommended. If someone asks you to go to the cinema with them to see this, tell them to get stuffed!
Debbiereadsbook (1557 KP) rated Hunt In The Night (Blood and Bonds #3) in Books
Aug 9, 2024
Saved the best for last!
Independent reviewer for GRR, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 3 in the Blood and Bonds series and you really MUST read book 1, Touch in The Night and book 2, Bleed in The Night. It is a continuation of the ongoing story arc, and much is NOT recapped.
Book three has to be my favourite!
This book follows Mason, the police detective tasked with finding out who is killing haemophiles and humans, and more importantly, WHY. He is joined by Cai, a former police dective who wa turned against his will. There is some clashing at first, but Mason finds himself attracted to Cai and he is straight, right?
So, book three. It wraps up everything that has been happening, with a big fat bow. BUT! I did NOT see that coming at me, not at all! I had it all worked out, who was doing all this and why. Then, I'm thrown for a loop as to who turned Cai those ten years ago, and it appears the bad guy was playing the long game.
THEN! There was another thing thrown at me that I did not see coming as well! I mean for the most part, this book kinda threw me, but in the best way!
Again, the book is told only from Mason's point of view but I knew it would be, so I was prepared.
I'm being deliberately vague, I know but I don't want to give you spoilers.
We get, eventually, a wonderful wedding of Jesse and Emory (from book 1) and there is a return of Tyler and Lucien (book 2) for said wedding. So it was nice to catch up with them.
But the best bit?? The epilogues! Told from Emory, Lucien and Cai's points of view. While I would have LOVED to hear from them in their respective books, getting this little glimpse into the minds of the haemophiles was the best thing! We get the fear of these guys, at falling for a human, and the joy they feel at finally admitting they needed someone in their lives. I loved it because it was so unexpected! This is not a spoiler thing, either, cos other reviews have mentioned it already, and I NEEDED to say how much I loved getting into THEIR heads, just for this little bit.
I cannot fault this one, I really can't so...
5 full and shiny stars!
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 3 in the Blood and Bonds series and you really MUST read book 1, Touch in The Night and book 2, Bleed in The Night. It is a continuation of the ongoing story arc, and much is NOT recapped.
Book three has to be my favourite!
This book follows Mason, the police detective tasked with finding out who is killing haemophiles and humans, and more importantly, WHY. He is joined by Cai, a former police dective who wa turned against his will. There is some clashing at first, but Mason finds himself attracted to Cai and he is straight, right?
So, book three. It wraps up everything that has been happening, with a big fat bow. BUT! I did NOT see that coming at me, not at all! I had it all worked out, who was doing all this and why. Then, I'm thrown for a loop as to who turned Cai those ten years ago, and it appears the bad guy was playing the long game.
THEN! There was another thing thrown at me that I did not see coming as well! I mean for the most part, this book kinda threw me, but in the best way!
Again, the book is told only from Mason's point of view but I knew it would be, so I was prepared.
I'm being deliberately vague, I know but I don't want to give you spoilers.
We get, eventually, a wonderful wedding of Jesse and Emory (from book 1) and there is a return of Tyler and Lucien (book 2) for said wedding. So it was nice to catch up with them.
But the best bit?? The epilogues! Told from Emory, Lucien and Cai's points of view. While I would have LOVED to hear from them in their respective books, getting this little glimpse into the minds of the haemophiles was the best thing! We get the fear of these guys, at falling for a human, and the joy they feel at finally admitting they needed someone in their lives. I loved it because it was so unexpected! This is not a spoiler thing, either, cos other reviews have mentioned it already, and I NEEDED to say how much I loved getting into THEIR heads, just for this little bit.
I cannot fault this one, I really can't so...
5 full and shiny stars!
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated The Secret Agent in Books
Nov 1, 2017
The story of a reluctant spy and a tragic plot
Joseph Conrad continues to write about the dark side of humanity, similar to his other work the Heart of Darkness. The book reads like two separate tales - that of the Verloc family and that of the anarchists.
Set in bleak Victorian London, the novel follows the life of Mr. Verloc, a secret agent, who also is a married businessman on the side selling inappropriate bric-a-brac. His friends are a group of anarchists of which three people are most prominent. Although largely ineffectual as terrorists, they are well known to the police. Verloc is also secretly employed by the Embassy as an agent provocateur. And here it all falls apart.
The more intriguing part of the book surrounds the family, especially his wife Winnie who essentially behaves like a timid matriarch before becoming distraught over the thought of being hanged. Stevie, Winnie's brother who has a mental disability, is treated more like a son than a sibling. And when he encounters tragedy, Winnie changes into a completely different person.
At times, the political aspect can be long-winded, but it ends in a major climax so it's worth getting to the end.
Set in bleak Victorian London, the novel follows the life of Mr. Verloc, a secret agent, who also is a married businessman on the side selling inappropriate bric-a-brac. His friends are a group of anarchists of which three people are most prominent. Although largely ineffectual as terrorists, they are well known to the police. Verloc is also secretly employed by the Embassy as an agent provocateur. And here it all falls apart.
The more intriguing part of the book surrounds the family, especially his wife Winnie who essentially behaves like a timid matriarch before becoming distraught over the thought of being hanged. Stevie, Winnie's brother who has a mental disability, is treated more like a son than a sibling. And when he encounters tragedy, Winnie changes into a completely different person.
At times, the political aspect can be long-winded, but it ends in a major climax so it's worth getting to the end.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated The Viper in Books
Jan 15, 2018
This book was engaging from the very first page. I was left guessing right up to the very end! Some books in the crime/suspense genre leave a bitter taste in your mouth when you finish, but this one did not.
I was intrigued from page one because right off the bat one of the main characters is in the hospital in a semi-coma. Fredrik is lying there & his detective partner is talking to him while his wife looks on. Then suddenly they are in the middle of the investigation into a billionaire's death. The plot bounces back & forth between the present time & the past few months when the investigation was taking place. It wasn't hard to follow at all despite the jumps in time frame. In fact, I think that part was a big reason why the book was so engaging.
There was also plenty of blood & gore, but it wasn't to the point that I was grossed out. It fit seamlessly in with the plot. The characters are well written & believable, not too out in left field. The plot was suspenseful & there was a lot of great police work mixed in with a healthy dose of luck, just like a real investigation. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
I was intrigued from page one because right off the bat one of the main characters is in the hospital in a semi-coma. Fredrik is lying there & his detective partner is talking to him while his wife looks on. Then suddenly they are in the middle of the investigation into a billionaire's death. The plot bounces back & forth between the present time & the past few months when the investigation was taking place. It wasn't hard to follow at all despite the jumps in time frame. In fact, I think that part was a big reason why the book was so engaging.
There was also plenty of blood & gore, but it wasn't to the point that I was grossed out. It fit seamlessly in with the plot. The characters are well written & believable, not too out in left field. The plot was suspenseful & there was a lot of great police work mixed in with a healthy dose of luck, just like a real investigation. I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
A dense, rich plot (1 more)
Tons of interesting cultural glimpses
I loved this book. Translated works can sometimes be clunky, with little nuances lost along the way, but this one was so smooth and evocative that it didn't really feel translated at all. Kudos to Jonathon Lloyd-Davies.
The basic plot involves 2 missing girls: the 1989 kidnap and murder of a 7 year old and the more recent disappearance of Press Director Mikami's teenage daughter. With the anniversary of the original crime coming up, Mikami is charged with organizing a PR visit by the police commissioner to the family of the murdered 7 year old and discovers a previously unseen clue in the case files along the way. The insight into the minutiae of Japanese daily life is fascinating: the sense of failure Mikami feels from having been transferred to criminal investigations to press director, cops stopping to purchase a visiting gift of rice crackers before stopping at the victim's home, Mikami's knowledge from the glimpse of a home shrine that a key witness has passed away.
While this can be a slow read, I suggest sticking with it. Take it in small doses. It's worth it.
The basic plot involves 2 missing girls: the 1989 kidnap and murder of a 7 year old and the more recent disappearance of Press Director Mikami's teenage daughter. With the anniversary of the original crime coming up, Mikami is charged with organizing a PR visit by the police commissioner to the family of the murdered 7 year old and discovers a previously unseen clue in the case files along the way. The insight into the minutiae of Japanese daily life is fascinating: the sense of failure Mikami feels from having been transferred to criminal investigations to press director, cops stopping to purchase a visiting gift of rice crackers before stopping at the victim's home, Mikami's knowledge from the glimpse of a home shrine that a key witness has passed away.
While this can be a slow read, I suggest sticking with it. Take it in small doses. It's worth it.
Lindsay (1779 KP) rated Old Loves Die Hard ( Mac Faraday Mystery #2) in Books
Sep 7, 2017
Old Love, Die Hard is done well. You get to meet up with Mac’s Ex Wife. The mystery starts once she is in town. There are two murders once Mac takes his ex-wife to this penthouse in Spencer Inn.
Did Mac do the murders? Did his ex-wife go and killed her lover? There is not much going on. Who is behind all the murders. We meet or at least learn about his two children. Who would murder Mac two children mother?
Lauren Carr is one talented writer. She brings you along to find out who the killer is. One thing I love about her mysteries is that you never know who the murderer is? I have read a few of her books already and reviewed a few of them. You are welcome to read my reviews that are part of this audio book palooza. My reviews are Cancelled Vows, A Fine Year for Murder, Killer in the Band, The Murders at Astaire Castle, Candidate for Murder, 3 Days to Forever, Kill and Run. We do see what Mac is up to and we also got David O'Callaghan in being the chief of police. Lauren Carr series are all interconnected which is cool. You can read them as stand alone as well.
Did Mac do the murders? Did his ex-wife go and killed her lover? There is not much going on. Who is behind all the murders. We meet or at least learn about his two children. Who would murder Mac two children mother?
Lauren Carr is one talented writer. She brings you along to find out who the killer is. One thing I love about her mysteries is that you never know who the murderer is? I have read a few of her books already and reviewed a few of them. You are welcome to read my reviews that are part of this audio book palooza. My reviews are Cancelled Vows, A Fine Year for Murder, Killer in the Band, The Murders at Astaire Castle, Candidate for Murder, 3 Days to Forever, Kill and Run. We do see what Mac is up to and we also got David O'Callaghan in being the chief of police. Lauren Carr series are all interconnected which is cool. You can read them as stand alone as well.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Green Lantern (2011) in Movies
May 18, 2018
Boxing Glove ends up as Punch Line
Yet more proof that DC was capable of making slightly shoddy movies even before Zach Snyder was put in charge of their operation, Green Lantern may end up being better remembered as the butt of a whole series of jokes now that Ryan Reynolds has been much more successful playing a character for the opposition. Test pilot is given magic ring by dying alien which initiates him into universal police force (the 'Green Lanterns'); ring allows him to convert his willpower into giant green boxing gloves and anything else he can think of.
Too much blatant CGI, obviously, and also the storytelling is botched - the film is frontloaded with stuff about the Guardians of the Universe, Space Sector 2814, and many other things that could have been introduced more gradually in the course of the movie. Generally tries too hard to do too much and doesn't make enough use of Reynolds and Blake Lively (but, hey, they have kids now, so it wasn't like the movie was a total waste of time for them). Fingers crossed that DC get past this sometime soon and put a proper Green Lantern in one of their JLA-related films.
Too much blatant CGI, obviously, and also the storytelling is botched - the film is frontloaded with stuff about the Guardians of the Universe, Space Sector 2814, and many other things that could have been introduced more gradually in the course of the movie. Generally tries too hard to do too much and doesn't make enough use of Reynolds and Blake Lively (but, hey, they have kids now, so it wasn't like the movie was a total waste of time for them). Fingers crossed that DC get past this sometime soon and put a proper Green Lantern in one of their JLA-related films.
ClareR (5996 KP) rated Gallowstree Lane (Collins and Griffiths #3) in Books
Feb 11, 2019
Fans of The Wire or Broadchurch will love this.
I didn't realise until after I'd finished this, that it was actually the third in the series - not that it made any difference whatsoever to my enjoyment!
It's a really well told, gritty police procedural, heavy on the character building. In fact I became very attached to these characters: the struggling single parent WPC; the teenaged boys who had become involved in drug dealing; the officer involved with a big operation; the DC investigating a murder. I didn't like the big drug dealer though (which I think was the whole point. He was a man devoid of conscience).
The mothers in this really resonated with me: women trying to do their best , one working long hours and sacrificing time with her baby to be able to provide for him in a job she loves; the other, a woman who risks losing her son to drug dealing and violence. Both women backed into impossible-to-get-out-of corners.
I really, really enjoyed this book, and I'll be buying the first two in the series to read and catch up!!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and to the author, Kate London, for reading along with us!
It's a really well told, gritty police procedural, heavy on the character building. In fact I became very attached to these characters: the struggling single parent WPC; the teenaged boys who had become involved in drug dealing; the officer involved with a big operation; the DC investigating a murder. I didn't like the big drug dealer though (which I think was the whole point. He was a man devoid of conscience).
The mothers in this really resonated with me: women trying to do their best , one working long hours and sacrificing time with her baby to be able to provide for him in a job she loves; the other, a woman who risks losing her son to drug dealing and violence. Both women backed into impossible-to-get-out-of corners.
I really, really enjoyed this book, and I'll be buying the first two in the series to read and catch up!!
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole and to the author, Kate London, for reading along with us!
Micky Barnard (542 KP) rated Beautiful Broken Things in Books
Feb 20, 2019
The fragility of teen friendships
This was a contemporary YA about friendships, there was no romance and it didn't need it. This friendship triangle was a subtle but delicate dance of power imbalance and loyalty. The pacing was steady as the story ebbed and flowed through drama (real not unnecessary) and steadier times.
Caddy was the protagonist and Rosie was her best friend but the story very much revolved around Suzanne, a 16 year old teen, abused and with significant psychological effects. I never understood the lack of police involvement in her past, but I was able to read past that issue. It was a powerful story, wings were spread, influences bad and good happened and the apple cart was well and truly knocked over.
This story built to a crescendo and for the last 10%, I felt like I'd been hit with a mallet. It was powerful reading and my heart had a few fissures that needed mending. I am so glad I am reading this at a time when there's a book two out, even though it has stood alone for a few years.
Sara Barnard writes from the young person's perspective so well. Her characters' feelings towards their parents and their parents' reactions are very real. I remain impressed.
Caddy was the protagonist and Rosie was her best friend but the story very much revolved around Suzanne, a 16 year old teen, abused and with significant psychological effects. I never understood the lack of police involvement in her past, but I was able to read past that issue. It was a powerful story, wings were spread, influences bad and good happened and the apple cart was well and truly knocked over.
This story built to a crescendo and for the last 10%, I felt like I'd been hit with a mallet. It was powerful reading and my heart had a few fissures that needed mending. I am so glad I am reading this at a time when there's a book two out, even though it has stood alone for a few years.
Sara Barnard writes from the young person's perspective so well. Her characters' feelings towards their parents and their parents' reactions are very real. I remain impressed.
Ashley Valencia (5 KP) rated Fantastic Beasts: Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) in Movies
Mar 31, 2019
This film was just a mess. There are so many characters thrown in that it's hard to care about any of them. They aren't given enough time to be fully fleshed out or even memorable. I don't remember the names of even half of them. And while we see Grindelwald commit a few crimes, in the end his motivation is to stop police brutality and prevent World War 2 from even happening. If he's painted as anything in this film I would maybe say he was more of an anti hero than a villain and that's not what he was supposed to be. Don't even get me started on his non relationship with Dumbledore. JK Rowling wants all of the credit for having a gay character without doing any of the work. I find it to be annoying. In the trailer, Dumbledore is shown in front of the Mirror of Erised, that shows him Grindelwald. So I had some hope that their relationship would at least be mentioned in the film. Nope. Not even a little. They had a gay character in the same way the live action of Beauty and the Beast did - in that they didn't. Unless you squint.