Parthenope is a coming-of-age drama that premiered at Cannes last year that released wide in the U.S. written & directed by Paolo Sorrentino, the film stars Celeste Dalla Porta, Gary Oldman, Silvio Orlando, Luisa Ranieri, Peppe Lanzetta, and Isabella Ferrari. The film follows an Italian woman, Parthenope (Porta), who searches for happiness during the long summers of her youth, falling in love with her city and its many memorable characters.
Anytime there is a new A24 film, sign me up. To see a Paolo Sorrentino film in theaters? I’m there. Given the mixed reception this film has been receiving, I went with reserved expectations. From what I had seen from photos and other marketing materials, the film looked stunning and I had a feeling Celeste Dalla Porta would be incredible. That’s exactly what I got, plus a little bit more, but I can still understand why the film is getting the mixed reception it is getting.
Right out the gage, Celeste Dalla Porta’s performance is unreal. Her character benefits on the way others tend to sexualize her without giving much thought into her feelings aside from a few people here and there. Porta is truly a star in the making. She was initially supposed to be in Sorrentino’s last film, but her scenes were cut short for some reason. It appears the filmmaker felt bad enough and built a film around her. Her performance reminds me a lot of Margot Robbie in The Wolf of Wall Street. I can easily see her career explode after this. There is also another scene-stealing performance from a famous actor that has amazing dialogue. His last line will stay with you long after he leaves the scene. It’s beautiful.
The film’s director of photography, Daria D’Antonio, won an award for her work on the film back at Cannes, and it’s well deserved. It’s rare you get a film that has stunning cinematography like this. D’Antonio manages to capture the beauty of this city that transports you to its location. You feel all the warm colors she puts on screen. She understands the kind of film Sorrentino is going for by establishing there is beauty everywhere in this city. It’s through her work that she is able to enhance what is already a somewhat inconsistent script.
I don’t want to say the script is messy at all. It’s actually quite brilliant, especially in the moments that make you think. I think the problems lie within the lack of characterization in the beginning and within how our lead character is sexualized by the male gaze and directed by a male filmmaker, but I am going to make a counterargument to that here soon. First off, the lack of characterization in the beginning is jarring. The prologue is wonderful and sets the stage for what’s to come perfectly. It’s when the film jumps years in the future that it can be hard to understand why we should care about these characters.
The film relies on having an episodic structure. That may not be for everyone. Personally, I found this approach to be captivating. It leans into how these specific moments made Parthenope into the person she is today. The film can rely a little too much on things I don’t agree with, but I believe Sorrentino is making a point with this. Parthenope’s brother is clearly in love with her, and there is even a moment when she has a fling with a priest. It can be uncomfortable, and I don’t quite agree that they were necessary, but I believe Sorrentino’s point here is how we take advantage of the beauty around us and how beauty can still come out on top. It’s a film that has a lot of heavy themes that are going to divide viewers. At the same time, I can easily see this becoming a cult classic down the line.
At 2 hour and 17 minutes, the film feels longer than it should. We spend a lot of time in these moments rather than getting the needed pieces to fill in why characters are the way they are. Had the film found a way to improve its pacing by adding in much needed context, I think the film could have flowed better. With the slow burn pacing, it’s a lot to ask viewers to be on board, especially when Sorrentino’s main objective is to have this serve as a love letter to his home country. There is awe and beauty with where he’s from, but from his perspective, it can be a huge undertaking with what he includes in this story. Based on where the film ends, many can see the resemblance with I’m Still Here in its time jump. Instead, I would have preferred more to lead up to that moment.
There’s a lot to unpack with Sorrentino’s work that I believe will have viewers appreciate the film more down the line. Given how much the character goes through, I think having a female director co-direct with those scenes would have helped show the significance of what this character goes through. I can see where Sorrentino is conveying the idea that this person represents his home country and how his country always preserved, but it is missing that emotional impact that it needs to get that point across.
Overall, there is a lot to admire in Parthenope, but there are still things that hold it back from being better. Celeste Dalla Porta turns in a stunning performance. The cinematography had me in awe in every single image. The episodic structure may be divisive amongst viewers, but I found that’s also where the film shines. The themes are questionable, yet I believe that’s Sorrentino’s intent. Even through the film’s flaws, I still enjoyed this quite a bit and found it to get better and better as time went on. By the time it reached its conclusion, I didn’t want it to end.
Liquor Bank is a new short film that I had the privilege to recently screen. It is the true story of a military veteran battling his demons and a loyal man trying to save him. The film comes from director Marcellus Cox, and stars Antwone Barnes & Sean Alexander James.
Something about me – I am a BIG supporter of short films. They don’t feel as popular as they should, but they help those worked on the film get through that door. It’s an important aspect of filmmaking that often goes overlooked. I have also helped with a local short films festival over the last few years that take screen films from all over the world. Too be honest, I have been having to cut back on taking requests for review due to my busy schedule. When the executive producer, Adam Freed, personally reached out to me to review the film and told me what it was about, I knew I had to. I’m so happy I accepted, because this was great.
When it comes to short films, you have to get in and get out and make your message clear. It can either be a story told over time, or it can be told through a section of what feels like a larger story. This film chooses the latter. It feels like the film is only a section of larger story, and yet, we get so much out of it. Those are my favorite kinds of shorts. When Antwone Barnes & Sean Alexander James share the screen, cylinders are firing off. There is a dynamic conversation between the two that results in emotion and tension. Without getting into specifics, there’s one scene that I had to watch twice. I couldn’t believe how real it looked.
Any short film has to work through its lead. The film find the perfect choice through Antwone Barnes. Barnes is effective as the leading man that makes me see him in other leading roles. He never overplays the role. His performance is contained enough to the point where it shows how much veterans are trying to control. Then, there is Sean Alexander James, who I believe many viewers will love, because they can see themselves in. No matter what, James’ character won’t give up on Barnes’ character. Seeing what he does to help him will certainly viewers to not give up. More importantly, I can see veterans easily connect with it.
It’s clear writer & director Marcellus Cox has a deep relationship with the story. I, too, worked on a short film several years ago titled Coming Home that you can find on Prime Video. The lead actor, who was also the director, was also a veteran. Where that story that we did felt like one perspective for veterans, this also felt like a new perspective that hasn’t been told before. Telling a story full of emotion can also be tough to get out of your characters. You can tell Cox spent a considerable amount of time with each actor to have them be as realistic as possible.
The only two small aspects I think has the potential to be better is within the sound design and with one particular shot. When James’ character goes to check in on Barnes’ character, he talks through the door before opening it up. It did sound like Barnes’ voice sounded dream-like, like Barnes’ character was hearing him in his head. Also, the scene with the knife felt very sudden and rushed. I would have like to have seen more built up to it to show Barnes’ mindset.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Liquor Bank. I can see viewers, especially veterans, strongly connecting with it. I hope they will get the idea that there is help, no matter how hard it might be to get that help. The film also shows another perspective of not giving up on veterans that I found deeply impactful. The performances are great under its strong direction and script. I hope to see this breaking through in festivals going forward!
Zero Day is an American political thriller limited series that premiered on Netflix recently with all 6 episodes. The show stars Robert De Niro, Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Plemons, Joan Allen, Connie Britton, Bill Camp, Dan Stevens, McKinley Belcher III, Clark Gregg, Gabby Hoffmann, Matthew Modine, and Angela Bassett. When former U.S. President Mullen (De Niro) is called out of retirement to find the source of a deadly cyberattack, he discovers a vast web of lies and conspiracies.
I’m not going to lie – I was really looking forward to this show. I mean, look at this cast. It’s perfect. One of my favorite working actors, Dan Stevens, is also in it. Having such a cast is one way to grab your interest. With a 6-episode count, that did concern me. I genuinely couldn’t name one perfect miniseries that only had 6 episodes. The only show that comes to recent memory is The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live. That show had a great thing going for it up until the last 2 episodes were rushed. Unfortunately, I felt the same way here.
Going into this, there is already a lot of unbelievability for a concept that does feel like it could be real. The show quickly goes over the day that would be known as Zero Day. Everyone is consistently saying how 3,000 people died, but we only saw one die. You can’t just say it over and over again and expect viewers to buy into the severity of the issue. As of two days ago, there was 341,368,121 people in the U.S. 3,000 people doesn’t sound that serious, especially when we don’t get to see what happens on a larger scale. Plus, bringing in someone who is played by an 81-year-old to track down those who did this is far-fetched. It could have worked had the show explored the character having dementia, but that’s barely explored.
On top of all of this, the show has a lot of characters that are either unlikable or not given enough context to be liked. We spend a lot of time with disgusting people. Instead of showing the importance of accountability in government, the show tries to make us sympathize with them. Even then, it can be too hard to fully get on board. Yet, the cast still is great. Everyone chews up every scene they are all in. I can understand why everyone felt like doing this, especially with De Niro on board. At the same time, I can’t totally understand why De Niro wanted to do this. I guess money wins over sticking to values of keeping things in theaters. Yes, this is a show. Even De Niro said it felt like shooting 3 films back-to-back, which is exactly what this should have been. When you have 6 episodes to lay out a foundation, there’s never enough time fully flesh them out.
I certainly have my frustrations with the show, but I still enjoyed the first half a lot. There was something thrilling with the high-stakes concept. There were twists and turns at every corner with De Niro’s character having the most interesting backstory. In the end, I couldn’t quite understand how or why he did what he did without a scratch. For a show that wants to make it clear that there is corruption in the government, it fails to give De Niro’s character accountability. Maybe it has something to say about how there will always be corruption no matter what. Needless to say, when it cut to black, I was ultimately let down by what it could have been.
The only characters I could say that I enjoyed were given by Jesse Plemons & Dan Stevens. Plemons plays a large part in the story with a conclusion that had me shook. It was deep and thematic. I also enjoyed Stevens’ arc. He didn’t have as much screentime as I was hoping. His American accent is always impressive and I loved how there was an actual change to his character. Angela Bassett is perfect as the sitting president, but I was still let down by the little character development she had. As for everyone else, their talents exceed what the script can give them at times.
The script can be quite messy. It’s stronger in the first half, but falls into cliche territory in the latter half. There are far too many concepts and characters involved that do not get proper closure. When everything is revealed in the end, it does go on far too long and is at its most unbelievable. There’s a part of me that appreciates it for acting as a callback to the political thrillers on the 90’s. Since this is a TV show, I still feel like this could have been Netflix’s House of Cards comeback. Unfortunately, viewers are not going to get that.
The show also has a running song throughout it that’s titled Who Killed Bambi by Sex Pistols. I guess there’s some relevancy within the song, especially when you figure out De Niro’s character keeps hearing it. To be fair, I’d also be losing my mind if I also heard it. The way the song plays throughout is redundant and annoying. It makes sense when it shows the proper backstory, but then they keep playing it! I feel like I need to reiterate that this is only 6 episodes… You only have so much time to leave a healthy impression. It’s entertaining and passable, but also fails at explaining why we need this show.
Overall, Zero Day is entertaining between its high-stakes concept and likable cast, but falls short with too many ideas and redundancy in script. With 6 episodes, at least it’s not too long to get through. Personally, this could have been excellent had it have more breathing room with a 10-episode count. I think viewers will find it entertaining, but will immediately forget about it.
Leibniz – Chronicle of a Lost Painting is the 7th & final screener I received and have officially watched that premiered at the 2025 Berlin International Film Festival. Written & directed by Edgar Reitz & Anatol Schuster, the film stars Edgar Selge, Aenne Schwarz, Lars Eidinger, Michael Kranz, Antonia Bill, and Barbara Sukowa. Queen Charlotte commissions a portrait of her love, Leibniz. During the portrait sessions, the philosopher and a young painter engage in conversation that brings them closer together.
Like every entry I screened before, I went into this not knowing much. That’s the way I prefer it. It makes for a unique experience. This particular genre and time period is one that probably interests me the least. I enjoy it, but I haven’t been particularly fond or energized by the genre. Where the film succeeds is when it functions like a play. Set in a singular location for most of the film, that’s where the film has the opportunity to showcase many of its amazing components.
When the film focuses in on Edgar Selge & Aenne Schwarz’s dynamic is where I found myself most interested. I personally would have preferred the film just be the two of them, but I get why it’s not. At 105 minutes, the film could have done more to enhance the characterization on the smaller characters. Anything I may have against the film comes down to personal preference. The film succeeds on a technical level. The co-direction seems to help bring the location and the characters to life. The production design is immaculate, while the cinematography uses some new camera shots, like one particular POV shot, that floored me and made me want more.
The film is at its best within the dialogue and the timing. I love films like this and this is something I would have liked to have seen more of. I don’t know if it was just me, but I found the subtitles quite small and hard to read at times, which is something I don’t ever complain about. Maybe I am just getting older. Who knows. I think for a film that focuses so much on dialogue and may interest an older crown, it may help if the subtitles were bigger. The dialogue, too, was confusing at times, and I couldn’t quite tell if that was me not understanding how the people talked or not. I will give credit where credit’s due and appreciate the film for being in its authentic language versus using English and having actors mimic an accent. This is very authentic in its approach.
Overall, Leibniz – Chronicle of a Lost Painting is a technical achievement, even if it may not be for me. It’s components work in tandem to create something authentic from its performances and script to the direction and cinematography. It’s hard to say if this would ever play in the states. Much like the other entries I have seen out of the Berlin International Film Festival, this is one I hope more people get to see.
We Believe You is a Belgian drama written & directed by Arnaud Dufeys & Charlotte Devillers where it had its premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film stars Myriem Akheddiou, Laurent Capelluto, Natali Broods, Ulysse Goffin, and Adèle Pinckaers. Akheddiou stars as 40-year-old mother, Alice, who finds herself fighting to protect her children in a justice system that scrutinizes her instead of their father.
I knew almost nothing going into this, which has been one of my favorite things about the Berlinale entries. I try to go into movies knowing nothing about it, but with trailers nowadays, it’s hard to get around that sometimes. With these entries, I am able to go in blind. Seeing that this had a short runtime, I fit it into my busy schedule. I am happy to report that I did, because this has to be one of the most profound movie I have ever seen.
With such a short runtime, it’s remarkable what the film accomplishes. The themes and subject material are heavy to stomach at times. Even though I don’t feel like I could watch this again anytime soon, it is a necessary watch that more need to see. Between its play-like structure and its material, I was able to easily connect with it. It’s rather hard for a movie like this to reel you in on an emotional level with a short runtime. Its play-like structure gives every actor plenty of time to shine with the dialogue they are given, but this approach also gives the talent time to showcase their emotions as they hear other talk. I couldn’t get over how powerful the direction was especially for a feature debut. The score also comes in at the right times that kept my attention.
The common through line with all the Berlinale film entries I have seen so far have a powerful female character at the forefront. Myriem Akheddiou delivers a realistic, genuine, heartbreaking performance that will stay engrained into your brain long after you watch it. Her emotions, along with her dialogue, convey the importance of telling this type of story. The ending may leave some viewers wanting more. To me, I see the ending as a sense of hope. If we can believe in those who come out with the truth, especially from a younger generation, it will work out in the end. I loved the message this film ends on. It’s perfect.
Overall, I have a good feeling that We Believe You may go down as one of the most important films of the year. I genuinely hope this gets a large release, because I believe this is a story that will speak volumes to others. Its direction helps bring this world to real life while the script offers a lot of detail. Its subject material can be hard to get through at times, but it’s a film I believe everyone should seek out when it becomes available.
Cleaner is an upcoming British action thriller from director Martin Campbell. The film stars Daisy Ridley, Taz Skylar, and Clive Owen. When a group of radical activists take over an energy company’s annual gala who is ready to murder everyone in the building, it is up to ex-solider turned window cleaner, Joey Locke (Ridley) to save everyone inside, including her younger brother.
Director Martin Campbell has has an interesting filmography throughout his career. He’s had his highs, such as Casino Royale, but also lows, such as Green Lantern. If you take the latter of the two out, he’s been playing it safe ever since Edge of Darkness. His work prides on taking big name actors and setting them on this big epic action quest. The problem lies within the structure and how it reaches that point. It takes forever to get to what viewers are wanting. Unfortunately, that’s the same case here with a side of unoriginality. Fortunately, I still found myself entertained between its pacing and star power.
Anyone who watches this will immediately see how much it is a remake of Die Hard without the smart & witty dialogue. You have a down on their luck character with the right experience that can fight their way through the bad guys to save everyone in a tall building, including a loved one. I could have been talking about either one of those movies. There’s even more with how much it replicates, but I’ll keep that to myself at the moment.
I don’t know if I’d say if this is worth the watch at the theater, but it does remind me of a movie my family and I would rent and watch at home. It’s fun and entertaining. Even though it takes 2/3’s of the movie to get to the main event that everyone is wanting, there’s something about the pacing and energy that makes it not a bad watch. There are areas of improvement, but I also believe this is the best that we could have gotten.
Fans of Daisy Ridley will rejoice by the fact that she is not part of the problem. Sure, the dialogue that is given to her is cliche and the direction in the drama is not great, but it’s clear she’s here for the action. Her career post-Star Wars has been interesting to say the least. She has been doing a lot of smaller stuff and still manages to standout with her full commitment. If anything, this feels like a good demo reel for Ridley that showcases her action and stunt work. Hopefully, it can bring her to something that is better down the road.
Speaking of standouts, I was also quite impressed by Taz Skylar’s performance. The film does a good job at subverting expectations with his importance. I was let down with how little screentime Clive Owen is given, but Skylar makes up for it with a memorable performance. It lacks the right character development, especially with the themes of the environment being the driving moment, but he still makes up for it with a performance that makes me curious as to what he will do next.
The lead up and motivations for the film is quite similar to Die Hard. I didn’t know much going into it, yet I was expecting more The Raid over Die Hard. Choosing something similar to The Raid would have made the film far more exciting. Instead of hanging on the outside of the building for most of the film, Ridley could have been an army against the antagonists in entire building. That would have been amazing. I liked her motive to save everyone here though. Her autistic brother was also in the building and the dynamic between the two was truly captivating, especially when we know where they both come from.
The story of how Ridley’s character goes from ex-solider to window cleaner doesn’t make much sense. We see her climbing around her kitchen as a kid… and that was motive to be a window cleaner? It’s a stretch just to pull this concept off. She is also an ex-soldier, but I don’t get that impression at all until the third act. She is late and all over the place. The film doesn’t give you the impression that she is capable of taking down a group of bad people, but Ridley’s charm makes up for it and makes it totally believable.
I am lowkey surprised this didn’t go straight to streaming. With the little marketing this film has received, you’d think it would be. The movie even throws in a big name actor with little screentime just to make it more appealing. The visual effects, while are only in the beginning, have a horrendous look to the skyline from the building. It’s completely unbelievable that these are real people in a real location, lacking any tension.
Finally, I want to touch on the ending a little bit. I don’t have a problem with how it ended, but how it’s presented. The ending pans out on characters without ever showing their face. It’s clear the talent couldn’t partake in this shot so they got stand-in’s and had voiceover to make it seem like they were there. It ends on a nice note, but it lacks any believability. I suppose that’s the best way to explain this film. It lacks a lot of believability, but it’s still fun with its star power and action when it is there.
Overall, Cleaner is flawed entertainment. Daisy Ridley carries the film, but also shows why she deserves a better script. When the action is there, it is a lot of fun. Taz Skylar is an actor I would be interested in seeing next with a standout role alongside Ridley. I don’t ever like saying skip a movie you want to see in a theater. Instead, I can see this doing far better when it hits streaming.
Paddington in Peru is the third installment in the Paddington franchise that started in 2014 and comes 7 years after the second entry. This entry find Paddington traveling to Peru with the Brown family to find his missing aunt. As they search for her, they soon find themselves in a greater mystery with antagonist foes trying to get in their way. The film stars High Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Carla Tous, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas, and Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington under new direction from Dougal Wilson in his feature directorial debut.
If you know me, I am a huge fan of the first two Paddington movies. They took me completely by surprise. As much as a third one sounded appealing, I also had my reservations much like everyone else when Paul King & Sally Hawkins were not returning. Paul King directed the first two and Sally Hawkins was the heart & soul of the first two as Mary Brown who was the sole reason why Paddington has a human family. The third entry is nowhere near as good as the first two, but it’s still a solid addition in this franchise.
What director Dougal Wilson does so well is respecting the legacy of the first two films. Immediately, the film throws you back into that silly, sarcastic off-beat humor. It’s not quite as good as the first two, but it enjoyable. I could see viewers being turned off by this as it’s not the first two. I am coming at this from the perspective that there are new people involved who did the best they could, and I’d say they did an admirable job.
If things were any different, Colin Firth would have been the voice of Paddington from the get-go. It feels like everything worked out, because Ben Whishaw jumps back into the voice of Paddington like he never left. It’s impressive how he can still put in so much life in this character, especially after such a long wait for this one. His voice establishes a youthfulness to the character, all while still making him incredibly likable for viewers of all ages.
I would have liked more of Paddington’s arc in the beginning to double down on the conclusion’s themes. Without giving anything away with the conclusion, I believe the film could have started with Paddington having a sort of identity crisis. That would have made his journey even more impactful.
The film also has to deal with overcoming Sally Hawkins’ departure and having Emily Mortimer taking over her role. I am never a fan of actors replacing other iconic characters. If Hawkins could never come back, I would have been okay with the first two ending there. Hawkins brought so much soul to the first two movies, but Mortimer manages to take on the role gracefully. She has the same mannerisms that made me forget there was ever a difference. There is just one particular scene involving a flashback to when the character first met Paddington. It’s awkward, because they can’t show Hawkins. I would have been okay without this flashback.
As for the other characters, I have mixed feelings. Hugh Bonneville has one of the best stories as he has to prove that he has to be more fearless. It’s funny and entertaining, and I love how the films continue to raise the stakes for the character, yet it still feels similar to what we saw in the last entry. The film can even be redundant with Paddington having to get to his aunt. We got that with the last film. Instead, to get around Sally Hawkins’ departure, I think the film could have picked up after the last one and have Paddington and his aunt traveling to Peru. That would have been different and exciting. The middle portion also has a bit too much exposition that does feel forced to help us better understand what’s going on. Maybe that’s the film trying to overcompensate for what they lost, but it’s still entertaining nonetheless.
It’s quite clear the films don’t really know what else to do with the kids of the family anymore. Believe it or not, they are still played by the same actors of the first two. Judy Brown barely has a presence an Jonathan Brown serves more of a plot device more than anything else. It does feel like the film tries to rely on giving us what we saw before to keep within the same tone. Instead, it doesn’t give the characters the proper development that made them so compelling.
Viewers might also be mixed on the villains played by Olivia Colman & Antonio Banderas. They are both great in their roles as they embrace the insanity of their characters. It can be too much for viewers. I am not sure why the film wanted two villains as it doesn’t quite give them enough purpose for the story. Again, I still think they did a great job with what they are given.
Where I felt like the first two acts were passable, the third act not only gives us a lot of adventure, but it also gives an emotionally charged & impactful ending. Instead of going for bleak, it honors the journey that started from the first one. It reminded me why I became a fan in the first place.
Overall, Paddington in Peru was a great time through its flaws. It’s difficult to strike gold twice, but striking gold three times is nearly an impossible feat. Still, the film honors what came before to give us something that feels conclusive if they decide to end it here. If you are a fan of these characters or adventure films, I think you’ll have a good time. Just don’t expect a flawless masterpiece like the first two are.
Dog Man is a new 2025 animated superhero comedy film based on Dan Pilkey’s children’s graphic novel series from the same name. It serves as a spin-off and and story within a story of 2017’s Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie. The film has an ensemble cast that includes Pete Davidson, Lil Rel Howery, Isla Fisher, Poppy Liu, Stephen Root, Billy Boyd, and Ricky Gervais. This is not only Universal’s second movie to come out this year, but it’s also the second one to have “Man” in the title. What’s more ironic is that I am giving them both the same score.
I can’t say I was looking forward to this at all. I knew nothing about it and nothing about interested me. I even had an invite to go see this early at a press screening, but tapped out the night before because of how tired I am. I felt like it wasn’t worth it. That says a lot when I saw every Universal movie that I have been invited to for the last year. I even saw Migration, which happened to be the movie that put me on the map for Universal’s screener list, so I am eternally grateful. This… was just not it. I am glad I didn’t sacrifice my sleep to see this.
With a 72% on Rotten Tomatoes and hearing the laughs surround me in the theater, I know this is going to be a hit. The film has a $40 million price tag attached to it, and I am already seeing where the film will make $30 million in its opening weekend. That’s great! Even if movies are not for me, I am glad that there are movies that help keep the theater business thriving. In recent years, it makes sense for studios to capitalize on family friendly movies as they almost never fail.
What I did like about the film is how it wears its heart on its sleeve through its humor and themes. The humor has a sarcastic tone that reminded me of DreamWorks’ original works with some strong scenes that stood out. I didn’t quite understand the sarcastic tone as it almost felt out of place, but there are some standout moments that did make me chuckle. The film even manages to have some meaningful character arcs with Petey (voiced by Pete Davison), having the strongest one that will connect with families.
Maybe I saw it in the wrong format, but I felt like my head went through blender after I saw it in Dolby. I know someone else who also watched it and enjoyed it in the same format. I think I am just more easily overstimulated. I don’t need loud noises and the plot changing every 5 minutes to be entertained. As someone who was not familiar with this property at all, I didn’t see the point in it at all. This was supposed to be a Captain Underpants spin-off, but you’d never know it. Considering it’s been 8 years since that movie, it’s hard to believe why no one thought it would be a good idea to have a connection to something that is far more popular.
The origin of how Dog Man becomes the titular character is not only dark, but it doesn’t make any sense. What we know about these characters before they have to become the same person is simply bizarre. So, they both died and became the same person? I know it’s a kid’s movie, but what a strange concept. They literally tie on the head of a dog of a human, but also give the character dog arms. This sounds like a concept better suited for a Tim Burton stop-motion picture. Once again, I am not familiar with the material its based off. Instead, it would have been better if there was no origin and we just saw this character as it was to begin with. Petey is already a cat. Why couldn’t we get the same thing with a dog? At least the dog could have a voice.
Since the film resolves around a character that mainly makes dog noises, it’s harder to relate to the character. Due to this, the film has Pete Davidson & Lil Rey Howery talking a LOT. I don’t mind Davidson and I really like Howery. It’s within the script and the direction that makes them be consistently loud and obnoxious for little to no reason. Sitting right next to a speaker throughout with everyone consistently yelling was not enjoyable.
The film also has multiple storylines going on at the same time. It feels like it’s changing every few minutes that it made me forget what happened moments earlier. Instead of trying to be exciting, it comes off boring and lifeless. I will say I like the animation, especially when it mimics its comic book style. When the plot changes every so often, why should I care though? I don’t even think the kid version of me would have enjoyed this.
I am not meaning to sound harsh. This is a film that has substantial potential. I love this type of humor. It reminds me of DreamWorks and Illumination’s earlier works. Similar to Despicable Me 4, I don’t need the plot to consistently change throughout. It feels like I got whiplash. It’s the equivalent of doom scrolling on TikTok. I think the film could have been better had it slow down in its pacing. The film is moving so quickly. By the time it gets to its third act, it stretches out for about 30 minutes to meet a reasonable runtime.
Overall, Dog Man will win over families and fans of the material, but this one is not for me. I don’t think I could recommend this to anyone who is neither familiar with the material nor anyone who doesn’t like genre. For me, there was plenty of missed potential that could have been better capitalized had it slow down the pacing and give the film more of a purpose. I don’t need to be overstimulated to be entertained. Maybe watching this in a quieter setting would make me appreciate it more.
Picking up right from the last episode, the doctors begin treating the same guy who started spazzing out in the last episode. The situation is resolved pretty quickly within the episode’s opening minutes. Shortly after, more madness ensues. It’s astonishing how much is packed into this episode. This is most stressful episode yet, but also a heartfelt one where we learn more about the characters.
Much like the previous episodes, you are still seeing a large portion of what’s going on from Robby’s perspective. You have your moments with the side characters where Robby will pop in here and there. As someone who likes to keep themselves busy and like to help people, this episode actually made me question why I didn’t go into this field. This show just gives you a transparent view of this world. Just when you think someone isn’t going to make it, they end up pulling through, because these are trained professionals. I can’t even begin to understand how Robby can juggle so many cases at the same time. He can just flip like a switch.
We get more of Whitaker in this episode, who I believe will go down as a fan favorite by the end of the season if he isn’t already. In the prior episodes, we’ve seen him have to switch his clothes on multiple occasions. He doesn’t do it once, but twice in this episode. The guy isn’t safe from anyone. It’s admirable how he still keeps on going even when he doubts himself. There are people who believe in him. I think many people will see themselves in this character.
We finally get McKay’s backstory! She has been quiet around Javadi, who she knows has been lowkey judging her. McKay ends up confiding in another patient around the same age as her. We learn a lot more about McKay through this dialogue, which is one of the best conversations I have seen so far in the show. Fiona Dourif’s performance as McKay is outstanding. She manages to find this balance between being a doctor and being a person. When Javadi comes in and messes up the moment, McKay doesn’t even yell at her. She is honest about why she did was not okay in the hopes to make Javadi better at her job. It’s such a heartbreaking storyline that I deeply connected with.
Coming from the last episode is a storyline involving a teenager who is seeking an abortion. The story really goes to show how much the doctors care about her situation. This storyline actually ends the episode on a clever cliffhanger that worked better than last week’s. Without getting into any spoilers, I do wish it went a step further. If it went that extra step, my jaw would have been on the floor. You’ll know what I mean when you see it.
The patient from a few episodes ago who came in with sickle cell finally gets the treatment she needs, but it ends an interesting story with Dr. Mohan. She’s really focused on developing a relationship with patients instead of helping them at times. She talks to this patient and her wife like everything is okay. Just as Robby checks in, she immediately changes her tone with what’s going on. She tells Robby how bad she really is, forcing Robby to be real with all of them. Why didn’t she do that before? She ends up helping the patient though. I get the sentiment of developing relationships with patients to make them feel more comfortable, but there needs to be a line. I am really intrigued as to what’s going to happen next for Dr. Mohan.
As for other things, the guy with chest pain from the first episode is still trying to get treatment. A stolen ambulance is still on the run, forcing some employees to bet on it. A kid comes in puking blood. An older lady gets treatment for a dislocated shoulder with some of the best one-liners. I really like that character. This is just an all around terrific episode with so much to add. The events that are happening isn’t just happening to keep us on our toes. It’s happening to paint a realistic picture of what this life looks like.
I have two small issues with the episode. For how quickly the opening scene is resolved, the show didn’t need to end there on a cliffhanger. Ending it there last week amounted to nothing as it was not one of the show’s main focuses. Also, the episode clocks in at about 46 minutes. For a show that capitalizes on the hour format, I really want to be in this show in real time. I understand you probably aren’t thinking about it, but when you know how short it is, it does take me out of the illusion that I am right there with these doctors.
Overall, another impressive episode. I was looking away at times, because I couldn’t bare the thought of someone getting hurt again or worse. You just never know what’s going to happen in this show. This episode also manages to fill in the gaps with who these characters are. We’ve got 10 episodes left! I can’t wait to see what happens next. Please, let there be enough people who watch this to warrant a second season.
The Pitt is a new medical drama created by R. Scott Gemmill, which premiered on Max on January 9, 2025, with its first two episodes. The series unfolds over the course of a single 15-hour emergency department shift at a fictional hospital in Pittsburgh, with each episode covering one hour of the shift. The story is led by Dr. Michael “Robby” Rabinavitch, a seasoned senior doctor portrayed by Noah Wyle.
As of this publication, four episodes have aired. After becoming a huge fan of the first few episodes, I reached out to Warner Brothers, and they kindly granted me early access to each episode—up to two days ahead of their official release. I’ll be posting my reviews every Wednesday night at 9 p.m. EST, a full 24 hours before each episode premieres on Max at 9 p.m. EST on Thursdays. With Episode 5 premiering this week, I’ll be releasing my review later this Wednesday at 9 p.m. EST. In the meantime, here are my reviews of the previous episodes to catch everyone up on my thoughts so far.
Episode 1
The first episode of The Pitt immediately throws you into the madness. Fans of 24 and ER will have plenty to enjoy here. ER is especially fitting here as it not only comes from the Gemmill who worked on the show, but also stars Wyle who starred on the show. I was really curious about Wyle, because he seems like someone I’ve seen before, but to be honest, I think I am getting him mixed up with Thomas Jane. After learning more about Wyle, though, it’s clear he’s the perfect fit for the role. His dedication to the medical field is evident—beyond his time on ER, he’s been deeply involved with organizations like Doctors of the World, among others. It’s clear he’s the ideal person for the role.
I don’t know much when it comes to understanding the terminology the show throws around. Yet, it does a great job at simplifying it to help us better understand. To be fair, I didn’t even think this would be a show for me, which says a lot with the praise I am giving it. Between the intensity and character development, there is more than enough to keep viewers invested.
Even though the show covers an hour in real time, it’s still short of an hour in runtime. We learn a lot about so many characters. Since I am now covering the show, I have seen this episode twice and I am picking up on even more, because the show is throwing a lot at you, and it’s easy to miss things the first time around. It’s a show you want to watch immediately, but watching it at 9pm EST might be too late. It will give you a lot of anxiety, which might keep you up at night. With so many storylines unfolding, there’s plenty to get invested in.
The show doesn’t hold back on the graphic scenes either. Someone comes in from a possible hate crime that leads to a resident passing out (I don’t blame them). A patient makes herself sick to protect their child from hurting other people. A child consumes drugs. A doctor steps a little too close to the edge on the top of a roof. Most of these situations involve Wyle’s character. It’s quite remarkable how collected and knowledgeable he is throughout, even when he’s still reeling over something traumatic. While it doesn’t show what happened during the pandemic exactly, we get glimpses of what it was like for them during that time. I really respect how the show covers how the pandemic still gives the employees trauma. On top of that, he’s also dealing with the possibility of the hospital shutting down with a higher up consistently pestering him.
The only setback I have with this episode involves a patient who speaks a foreign language that no one understands. It takes a while for everyone to understand where the patient comes from. Personally, I don’t quite understand why no one decided to use Chat GPT to figure it out. That would have resolved that issue immediately. It could have not even been Chat GPT. I am just throwing that out there as an example. It just felt like it was a conflict that could have been resolved easier.
VERDICT: 4.5/5 (Amazing)
Episode 2
The show keeps up the momentum all thanks to stellar direction and a tremendous performance from Wyle. Wyle’s performance as Robby is intelligent, cool, collected, and always knows what to say and do. He’s the perfect mentor to everyone around him. He’s not arrogant, but he won’t be afraid to be honest. With the amount of things he’s multitasking, it’s impressive how good he is at his job.
There’s a particular side story involving an older patient where Robby has to be real with the patient’s adult children. The children give Robby more problems, but he’s still patient with them, because he knows what they have to decide is not an easy choice. The fact that he rarely gets mad shows how much he cares for people and for his job.
This episode fleshes out its characters and storylines more. You can see where nothing is ever rushed, which is helped by its hour-by-hour format. You become more and more invested with these stories that you want to see resolved. The show lays out plenty of mystery as well to reel us in to see what happens in the end. At the same time, you just know things are going to only get worse since these employees still have 13 more hours to go. It’s hard to believe this show won’t release its final episode until April 10th.
All the side characters are also relatable and admirable. Most notably, the female characters are well written with some amazing performances. Taylor Dearden as Dr. Melissa “Mel” King is likable as a socially awkward individual. Fiona Dourif is great as Dr. Cassie McKay who has more experience with life over the other ones she works with. She’s a lot more socially aware and it’s clear in this episode that she has quite a bit of personal problems she has to deal with. Then, there is Shabana Azeez as Victoria Javadi who is trying to prove that she’s worthy of her job and not because her parents work there.
Gerran Howell plays as fourth-year medical student Dennis Whitaker who lacks confidence even when he is incredibly smart. The way his character ends this episode will surely set the tone for his character for the rest of this season.
While these storylines continue to progress, the show has a realistic tone to it all. Everyone is consistently busy dealing with people’s problems, but the show still finds time to have heart & humor. It’s quite remarkable how much is jam packed into each episode. You really feel everything with these characters in real time.
VERDICT: 5/5 (Perfect)
Episode 3
Picking up right from the last episode, the show wastes no time getting you back into it. The way this show flows so far can either make you binge watch it or anxiously anticipate for the next episode. This is the equivalent of a weekly episodic show where you can talk about it with your coworkers at the water cooler. You could also binge watch it, but binging all 15 episodes in one sitting sounds overwhelming, which is why I’m okay with the episodic format. Plus, I wouldn’t recommend missing out on this show. The fact that it also releases at a specific time makes it an event worth watching.
Starting where the last episode ended, Gerran Howell’s character as Dennis Whitaker continues to try to revive someone he felt close to. Unfortunately, it doesn’t end well. You’d think he’d give up afterwards, but he keeps going. There’s even a comedic side plot involving him having to get new clothes. That’s the reality of people who work in this field. They have to make their best judgement and keep going. It has to be draining and traumatic at the same time. It’s no wonder Wyle’s character as Robby is still reeling from the pandemic.
You’d think with the amount of arrogance Robbie exudes, he’d show no sympathy. That continues to not be the case. He takes the time to respect those who passed. He checks in with those around him. He’s genuine with everyone around him. Given what his colleague almost went through in the first episode, I hope he doesn’t try to do the same at the end of this season.
More and more madness ensues. Not only are prior storylines still going, but new situations arise. Someone with a nail in his chest comes in. A girl who won’t wake up also comes in who has a connection with a comatose patient from the prior episode. There’s an open heart surgery. An EMT gets their shoulder hit by a truck. The anxiety doesn’t stop.
Other notable characters in this episode are Dr. Trinity Santos, played by Isa Briones, and Dr. Frank Langdon, played by Patrick Ball. Santos has a lot of arrogance that needs to be checked. People might be annoyed by her. Similar to Squid Game’s Thanos, Briones does a great job at playing a character that is not meant to be completely liked. The difference is that what she does is a result of a coping mechanism. Langdon could be arrogant, but it’s clear his arrogance is in check. He does have experience that makes him an effective right hand for Robby. Whenever he has down time, he’s always concerned about getting his kids a dog, which shows how he can keep going with the amount of things he has to go through.
Dr. Samira Mohan, played by Supriya Ganesh, has a notable scene with Robby. Robby calls her out on going too slow. She tries to reassure him by saying that she has the highest success rate, where Robby argues that the slower she goes, the less people they can treat. He snaps her out of it, persuading her to do more. I’m really interested to see what she does next.
There is so much more that occurs that I won’t even spoil it. There are twists and turns at every corner that will keep you engaged. The episode concludes with Robby helping a grieving woman with a connection to a patient from the first episode. Robby didn’t deal with the patient directly. It’s interesting to see the person who tried to help the patient versus the person having to deal with the fall out.
I could see where the daughter of the older patient might be a little much or even selfish to some people, but I believe the actress played the character perfectly. It makes complete sense to want to hold onto your loved ones longer. Considering how much time is spent with this storyline, it’s going to be interesting to see how it ends.
Now I just need to know if Robby gets that bathroom break in the next episode. At least there’s more reality to that over 24.
VERDICT: 5/5 (Perfect)
Episode 4
Episode 4 continues to solidify the fact that this is one of the best shows out now that you don’t want to miss. It’s actually impressive how production is able to pick up right after the last episode as though there was no break in between.
We see the conclusion of the older man with his two kids. At what first seemed like it wouldn’t amount to much, ended up bringing together some of the show’s core themes. We see his children reach peace with the decision, but we also see where Robby has flashbacks from the pandemic that took place in the same room. It shows how the scars never go away. It’s incredibly poignant. The talent who played the son and daughter of the dad were incredible.
This episode slows down quite a bit. There’s a trans character who gets their arm cut who finds some respect from the people treating her. Robby finally gets that bathroom break. A grumpy patient finally gets the treatment he needed from the first episode. Whitaker goes through something comedic that’s going to require him to change clothes again. It’s an episode where it felt like a lot of storylines are starting to come to a close. You even get to see Dr. Mohan taking on more responsibilities since her talk with Robby.
Now that I have seen all 4 episodes twice, it’s quite remarkable how I’m catching new details that make more sense. The amount of things everyone has to go through all while staying calm not only shows how well crafted the story is, but also how committed the talent is to their characters. The show is a true love letter to the the heroes that work in this field.
The only thing I didn’t like in this episode was the very end. Just as everything starts to resolve, a brand new issue comes up at a convenient time that makes us wait for the next episode. Personally, it would have been okay if the show ended before that happened to help us breathe a little until the next episode. I understand the point of it is to show the job never stops. It just felt like incredibly convenient timing to keep us wanting to see the next episode. Nonetheless, I’m curious to see how this plays into the next episode.
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