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Spontaneous (2020)
Spontaneous (2020)
2020 | Comedy, Horror, Romance
7
8.0 (2 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Witty funny script (1 more)
Katherine Langford
Last 1/3 of the film (0 more)
Explosively Good
A fun, bloody love story. Quite an odd concept, definitely more a Rom-Com with an explosive twist. Students at a high school in their final year start combusting at random. Never knowing how long they will live does this change their perspective on life.
The film is very likable, very witty with some funny exchanges and the relationship feels very genuine for the likable duo. It's bloody without being overly gory for people exploding. The only down side the film seemed to lose it's direction a little bit in the final third. Overall though a fun and quirky, Rom-Com with a difference.
  
Dead School
Dead School
Laura Gia West | 2019 | Young Adult (YA)
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
A quick, enjoyable, quirky read that does not fit into the usual slots for describing a book.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

Dead School by Laura Gia West was described by reviewer David Nora on Goodreads as "Harry Potter meets Beetlejuice". I would not agree completely with the description but it is close.

Tina Crocker hates Valentine's Day and school. She failed at life, love, and everything else she has tried except for playing her guitar. She decides to participate in the school's talent school, kills it, and dies on stage. She is transported to Dead School where she finds out just how much of a failure she has been. Can she pass Dead School or will she fail at this too?

Dead School is not a dark novel and many reviewers did not like the book because they expected it to be. Reading the description shows it is not. In her debut novel, West takes a different look at being dead. Her main character is a failure, sarcastic, flawed person in life and the hereafter but she is likeable.

Dead School is a quick, enjoyable, quirky read that does not fit into the usual slots for describing a book. Go into this with an open mind and just enjoy it.

I am looking forward to reading more from Laura Gia West.

Review published on Philomathinphila.com, Smashbomb, Goodreads, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble on 3/2/19.
  
Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)
Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)
2012 | Comedy, Drama
10
7.8 (4 Ratings)
Movie Rating
A Favorite
In Safety Not Guaranteed, three reporters go on a wild goose chase to track down a man who put out a want-ad for a time travel partner. I want to keep this is as short as I can because, if you haven't seen it yet, I want you to go in knowing as little as I did. What starts out as a quirky adventure turns into a touching story as truth starts to unfold. Everyone can think of something they would go back in time and change, but Darius (Aubrey Plaza) secretly has a reason that would put ours to shame. Sometimes it's the little things that can make all the difference.

You'll come to love Darius within the first ten minutes of the movie. Plaza plays the role well with quirky quips that crack me up. Definitely an easy character to root for.

My only problem with the film was that it ended way too soon. At only 86 minutes, it's a quick watch that keeps you entertained the whole way through. There is more that I want to expand on outside of the fun, unique premise and the wonderful protagonist, but this is definitely one you should experience for yourself with as little to go on as possible. It finds a way into your heart and sticks with you. For that, not only am I giving it a 100, but it knocks off Spider-Man 2 to crack my All-Time Top Ten List. See it.