Netflix And Chill: Single All The Way (2021)

Thanks to a gradual easing open of the gates over the past year or so, Christmas movies can now be tailored to include main characters representing the LGBTQ+ community. Because, as all of us were already aware, a love story between two people can play out in very similar ways, no matter what the genders or sexual preferences of those involved. In fact, the pleasant surprise is that these movies already seem to play out a bit funnier, a bit smarter, and with more resonance than some of the many other movies that retread the well-worn, and enjoyable, snow-covered paths that we visit every year at this time.

After another disastrous episode in his love life, Peter (Michael Urie) convinces his best friend, Nick (Philemon Chambers), to join him as he visits his family for the Christmas holidays. The plan is to pretend that the two have finally committed to a relationship with one another. Nick is already well-known to the family, and already well-liked. Things change quickly, however, when it turns out that Peter's mother, Carole (Kathy Najimy), has set up a blind date between her son and a handsome new resident of their small town (James, played by Luke Macfarlane). Peter and James actually get along very well, but everyone else can see that the real love story to root for is one between Peter and Nick. Everyone can see it apart from Peter and Nick themselves.

Although it can be comforting to see Christmas movies made by people who have long spent their time working under that seasonal umbrella, there are many films all the better for being made by people less inclined to feel beholden to every trope and story beat. That's the case here, with neither director Michael Mayer nor writer Chad Hodge having broken in their snow shoes throughout their careers. Both know exactly what is needed, because viewers watch these movies with certain expectations, but they fill the journey to the predictable ending with plenty of fun little surprises (from moments of humour that are genuinely funny, a great selection of references, and a cameo appearance from a singer known best for expletive-laden covers of popular hit songs).

It helps a lot that this is cast well, but that's not to undermine the great work done by Mayer and Hodge, with the latter treating almost every cast member to at least one great moment. Urie is a likeable lead, playing up his haplessness at times, and doing well with the comedic moments he has while being blindsided and frustrated by how things unfold around him. Chambers is really sweet, the kind of unselfish and good-natured soul that needs to eventually be seen for the great love he could be by our central character. Macfarlane is handsome and nice, and I have enjoyed seeing a few Christmas movies this year that have allowed other characters to become potential obstacles to true love without being complete douchebags. Najimy is a very cool and accepting mom, matched by Barry Bostwick as Peter's father, the latter happy to just say outright what others are thinking during the first half of the movie. Jennifer Coolidge is the overly dramatic Aunt Sandy, the role is perfect for her and she even gets to deliver a meta-statement about how gay people seem to love her, and Melanie Leishman and Jennifer Robertson portray sisters with different levels of nerviness. Madison Brydges and Alexandra Beaton also get to stand out, playing two teenagers who more actively plot to start pushing Peter and Nick to see what they actually have between them.

I often justify my ratings of Christmas movies by reminding people that I rate them AS Christmas movies. A good Christmas movie isn't necessarily the same as a good movie. I'm sure people are tired of me underlining that point. Single All The Way is a good Christmas movie, but it's also actually just a good movie. It may not be quite as good as Happiest Season, the film that came along last year to remind everyone that gay people also like some Christmas cheer, but it's very enjoyable.

7/10

P.S. Here is a huge list of every Christmas movie I have ever reviewed, either here or over at Flickfeast.

If you have enjoyed this, or any other, review on the blog then do consider the following ways to show your appreciation. A subscription/follow costs nothing.
It also costs nothing to like/subscribe to the YouTube channel attached to the podcast I am part of - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCErkxBO0xds5qd_rhjFgDmA
Or you may have a couple of quid to throw at me, in Ko-fi form - https://ko-fi.com/kevinmatthews

Prime Time: Slay Belles (2018)

I wanted to like Slay Belles, I really did. It had so much to appeal to me, not least of which was the plucky nature of it. This is a film made with very limited resources by people who seem to want to just create something fun. Unfortunately, the fun doesn't really come across that well, and it ends up just being annoying and sloppy.

Three women (Alexi, Dahlia, and Sadie) are heading for a but of urban exploring at a neglected Santa Land venue, to record their antics and put them on the internet, when they cross paths with a dangerous Krampus. It's not looking good for them. On the plus side, however, they also end up crossing paths with Santa Claus. He just doesn't look quite as they imagined him to be.

Directed by Dan Walker, who also co-wrote the movie with Jessica Luhrssen, this is quite the little oddity. There are some fleeting moments of decent gore, and a fairly good Krampus creation, but it's not enough to satisfy those who are seeking a good bit of bloodshed and nastiness. There is humour, I guess, but none of it worked for me, and I cannot imagine many finding things hilarious (although it's all subjective, so who knows). The horror elements are never there for long enough to be effective, sandwiched in between the attempts at comedy, and therefore rendering them completely ineffective.

What you're left with is a film that is happy to be about nothing more than three attractive women in eye-pleasing costumes bickering with someone who doesn't look like Santa, while he proves he actually is Santa. If that sounds like a fun time to you then go for it. It quickly became tiresome for me, and the slim 77-minute runtime dragged.

Kristina Klebe, Susan Slaughter, and Hannah Wagner play the three leads. They're not great, but they do what they're asked to do for the sake of the silly plot. Barry Bostwick is more fun in the role of Santa. Diane Salinger is also fun, playing a bartender named Cherry, and Stephen Ford is amusingly ill-prepared as someone who may be able to help our leads. Richard Moll has a cameo, as does Darren Lynn Bousman, who is also an executive producer.

It seems to me that someone wanted to make a film, and they got just enough people and resources together to get it done, but didn't have enough imagination or wit to create a final product matching whatever was in their head. On the one hand, at least they got their movie made, and fair play to them for that. On the other hand, this is almost painful at times, and I would have much preferred to see something made with an even lower budget by someone with a better vision, approach, and style.

2/10

https://ko-fi.com/kevinmatthews

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Released in a glorious year that also saw my shining soul gifted to the world, The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the film that you already know all about. Initially a stage show, the success of the film started to grow and grow when it became an adored audience participation event.

I have walked by theatres that were putting on a production of the show, admiring all of the audience members in their variety of costumes (wearing everyday clothes to one of the shows would surely leave you sticking out like a sore thumb), and I am aware of the various cues that get the audience involved with the unfolding events on stage/screen. It looks as if every fan has a bloody good time, letting their hair down and just enjoying the company of kindred spirits who are all there for the full experience.

This is why I have watched the movie about three times now, with this being my third viewing. And, I'm sorry for those who are about to be upset with me, I still don't enjoy it.

Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon) are a pair of young lovebirds who end up stranded on a dark and stormy night, leading to them asking for help at the home of Dr Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry). It's a very special night for the doctor and his friends, and Brad and Janet may wish they had never crossed over his doorstep.

Okay, I wasn't entirely honest when I said that I don't enjoy this movie. There are parts of it that I enjoy. The first 4-5 songs are great. In fact, the film maintains a decent amount of momentum right up until Tim Curry sings the last notes of "Sweet Transvestite". It then dips, before lifting back up again with both "I Can Make You A Man" and "Hot Patootie - Bless My Soul". And then it dips again. And just keeps dipping, slumping further and further down towards a whimper of a finale.

The cast all do well enough, with the three leads all fantastic and nice turns from Richard O' Brien (who wrote the show, and adapted it to the screen with director Jim Sharman), Patricia Quinn, Charles Gray, Nell Campbell, and Meatloaf. Everyone stands in the mighty shadow of Curry, who gives one of his most iconic performances, performing every line with great gusto and a sense that he is savouring the taste of every single syllable.

The big problem here is the material. While it's often said that The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a musical parody tribute to the b-movies that all came before it, I have never found enough here to put it in line with those films. Yes, the silly plot and individual elements here and there will ring a bell to anyone who has watched sci-fi and horror films, particularly from the '50s and '60s, but it's all TOO silly and slapdash to feel like a well-crafted homage. The opening title song and details of the closing sequence aside, there's very little in the main body of the film that feels affectionate or indebted enough to the wealth of source material that O'Brien had to draw on.

Everyone will rush to tell me that I am missing out by not watching this with the intended audience, and it's something I will happily try out one day, but a film should also work as, well, a film. This doesn't. It's not absolutely awful, thanks to a few good songs and that amazing turn from Curry, but I have never thought it as anything great. Which didn't stop me buying it, AND Shock Treatment (an odd sorta-sequel that I will be checking out in the next few weeks, hopefully).

Fans can buy the film here.
American fans can buy it here.

Blast Vegas AKA Destruction: Las Vegas (2013)

Or, the alternative title that I gave it, Malcolm In The Maelstrom.

Sometimes I already know, just from the title and the stars, that I'm going to love a film. It usually happens with films that turn out to be genuinely great movies, but it also happens with films that make me laugh from start to finish because of how inept they are.

Blast Vegas falls into the latter category. It's horrible. It's full of characters that you will struggle to care about. The special effects are pretty dire. Yet I loved it (never fear, my rating reflects the reality, as opposed to the fun I had, pointing and laughing at everything).

Frankie Muniz (oh dear, oh dear, how did he slide so far so quickly?) stars as Nelson, a young man on holiday in Las Vegas with a bunch of guys who will put up with him just because he can be their designated driver. Those same guys take some Egyptian relic and fool around with it for a while, bringing about some REALLY bad weather and the beginning of the end of Las Vegas. Nelson, amidst the chaos and carnage, wants to find a girl that he's taken a shine to (Olive, played by Maggie Castle) and is helped along the way by a club singer named Sal (Barry Bostwick).

I had fun with Blast Vegas, I can't deny it, but I'd only ever recommend it to someone who could approach the film in the same way that I did, ready to point and laugh at the thing and then never want to watch it ever again. The screenplay, by Joe D'Ambrosia and Tom Teves, is suitably silly. Nobody is going to watch this and expect to hear any memorable dialogue, but it's good to watch the events unfold, with the script embracing the ludicrous premise as an excuse to get some easy laughs (yes, there's an Elvis or two in the mix).

Director Jack Perez is, of course, also responsible for promoting the fun factor of the movie, helped no end by Barry Bostwick, who seems to enjoy himself immensely in his cliched, comedic role. Muniz and Castle are appealing leads, while Michael Steger, Andrew Lawrence, Summer Bishil, Jillian Nelson and some other people should all be remembered for . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ummmm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . also taking part in the proceedings. Okay, none of the supporting cast members really stand out, but they do what's asked of them. I think.

If it sounds like I had LOTS of fun with this movie, people may be wondering why I still rate it so low. Well, none of the fun really makes up for the ridiculousness that fills almost every scene, whether it's an opening sequence that features a cameo by John Landis for no apparent reason, some typically dubious special effects, or even the same stretch of road being used - albeit shot from different angles - when people need to try driving through the extreme weather. And, for anyone else who manages to watch the entire movie, if you can explain to me why people keep running in front of the ONE VEHICLE on an otherwise empty street, while a deadly storm keeps raging on, then please send answers on a postcard. Or, y'know, just post a reply below.

I've seen much worse than Blast Vegas, but that's mainly because I watch a lot of terrible, terrible movies.

3/10

http://www.amazon.com/Blast-Vegas-Frankie-Muniz/dp/B00HRD0FHQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389654599&sr=8-1&keywords=blast+vegas

The Skulls III (2004)

The second sequel to The Skulls (as I’m sure you already gathered from the title) improves slightly on the previous movie thanks to one significant difference – the protagonist this time around is female.

Clare Kramer plays Taylor Brooks, a determined and smart young woman who finds a loophole allowing her to be considered for acceptance by The Skulls, a secret society that’s not really all that secret. If you have seen the previous movies then you know the drill by now – someone gets to join The Skulls, things become a bit strained, deceit and/or death occurs, everything goes sour for the new recruit, a plan is hatched to fix everything and cancel the lifetime membership.

J. Miles Dale directs this time and he does just what you’d expect with a second sequel to a middling teen thriller. Joe Johnson’s script tries to surprise but savvy viewers will always know exactly what’s coming.

Kramer isn’t too bad in the lead role and her character is easier to root for than the previous protagonists as she overcomes extra adversity and discrimination due to her gender. Bryce Johnson sneers capably enough, Steve Braun is just fine in the role as supportive fellow Skull newbie and Dean McDermott and Maria del Mar are both pretty bad as two detectives trying to solve a case that is revealed as the movie progresses (the main character is telling her side of things to the police as the movie gets underway). Barry Bostwick fans may be pleased to see . . . . . . . . . . Barry Bostwick in a prominent role. He does okay but it’s more of a fun performance than anything remotely realistic and  believable.

The Skulls III shouldn’t exist but it does and it’s actually quite watchable. It’s not really all that good but it’s not really all that bad either. Which is why it gets such an average rating.  

5/10

If you have enjoyed this, or any other, review on the blog then do consider the following ways to show your appreciation. A subscription/follow costs nothing.
It also costs nothing to like/subscribe to the YouTube channel attached to the podcast I am part of - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCErkxBO0xds5qd_rhjFgDmA
Or you may have a couple of quid to throw at me, in Ko-fi form - https://ko-fi.com/kevinmatthews
Or Amazon is nice at this time of year - https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/Y1ZUCB13HLJD?ref_=wl_share