Folks, there comes a time in every feline’s (and I suppose, human’s) life that you must stop and take stock of where you are, where you have been, and where you are going in life. We’ve just gone through what I can say without a doubt was the weirdest, longest year of my (and probably your) life. And judging by how 2020 is going, the weirdness ain’t over yet, so don’t start getting complacent and think you don’t need to worry about stuff anymore!
Now, to get your mind off all this craziness, how about we go over our movie/TV reviews for March.
WandaVision (2021)
WandaVision is set about three weeks after the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019). It follows Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany), living an idyllic suburban life in the town of Westview, New Jersey, trying to conceal their true superhero identities.
The first three episodes of the show were a compelling mystery, two of which were in black and white and resembled old sitcoms like The Dick Van Dyke Show and Bewitched. However, there were certain points in those episodes where something strange would take place without explanation. I like when a show can string you along as long as some answers keep the audience on the edge of their seats. I also really enjoyed how the show paid homage to these old sitcoms as well.
Soon enough, we begin to learn behind the scenes [SPOILER ALERT] that Wanda, in her grief, has created this town, Westview, and uses her incredible abilities to control everyone in the town to create a sitcom in which Vision is alive. But something more nefarious is going on underneath it all that even Wanda is not aware of.
When the show first started, it was very different from anything else that we’ve seen before in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and that was intriguing. But as the series progressed, it started to feel like more of an MCU property, and that’s when the show became stale. Overall, I was entertained throughout the series. It was an interesting concept, and I hope the MCU will continue to think more out of the box for future shows.
All nine episodes are now streaming on Disney+.
8 paws out of 10
I Care a Lot (2020)
This 2020 psychological thriller/comedy written and directed by J. Blackeson follows Marla Grayson (Rosemund Pike), a scammer who makes a living by convincing the legal system to grant her guardianship over older people she pretends can no longer take care of themselves.
This movie garnered a lot of interest due to its shocking topic and and the way it brought the issue of conservatorship abuse of older adults to light. The film definitely has a cool aesthetic and is surprisingly gripping as we wait for the scammer’s downfall. However, the film is frustrating with all setup and no follow-through.
The movie’s first act is deeply compelling and suspenseful as it goes to great lengths to depict the elaborate nature and reach of Marla’s legal scam. But then her grift takes an unexpected turn when a doctor, also part of her grimy operation, helps her land a “cherry,” an extremely wealthy woman with no family. Marla believes she’s hit the jackpot after she’s appointed guardian for Jennifer (Dianne Wiest). But the cherry turns out not to be who she says she is and is connected to the Russian Mafia, led by a powerful crime boss (Peter Dinklage).
While the movie has a compelling story, after the first 30 minutes, it doesn’t seem to know what kind of movie it wants to be. Marla is the protagonist of the story, and we never come to understand what her motivations are or how she got to this place. At times it feels like you’re watching three different movies, and it goes on a bit long. The ending leaves the audience feeling unsatisfied.
The acting is superb, but the story could have used a couple more rewrites.
The film is now streaming on Netflix.
4 paws out of 10