Q’s Reviews – February 18, 2020

The Photograph. Two love stories are intertwined over the ages.  LaKeith Stanfeild is Michael and Issa Rae is Mae.  They are both beautiful people who command our attention on the big screen.  They have good chemistry and their romance feels real.  But all of this is packaged in a rather pedestrian story.  We get to know them through flashbacks as we meet their parents and relive the events that shaped their character.  The supposed big secret is obvious from the beginning.  Michael and Mae learn from understanding their pasts which ultimately leads them to true love.  This film would be a good rental for a rainy day.  Rated PG-13 for sexuality and brief strong language.

Downhill.  Despite starring Will Ferrell (Pete) and Julia Louis-Dryfeus (Billie) this is not a comedy.  It tries to take a serious look at a marriage under stress but comes up short.  Pete and Billie are enjoying a ski vacation with their two youngish sons in an upscale Alpine resort.  An avalanche bears down on them and they barely escape.  Pete runs for cover leaving Billie and the kids to fend off the advancing snow on their own.  This cowardly act gravely unsettles their entire familial relationship. They work through their anger and angst and reevaluate their lives and relationships – with no resolution.  This film is based on the Swedish/French picture “Force Majeure”, which is much better.  Rated R for language and some sexual material.

Sonic The Hedgehog.  Having no prior experience with “Sonic” I wasn’t expecting much but did enjoy this light-hearted live-action cartoon.  Based on the Sega videogame, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG, Sonic is the world’s fastest and bluest hedgehog.  He has a new home in Green Hills, Montana.  Sonic is enjoying his new life on earth, when he and his best friend Sheriff Tom (James Marsden) head off to San Francisco to escape the evil Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey).  Robotnik plans to dissect Sonic to find the secret of his power and then take over the universe.  Loads of action and adventure are fun as this family-friendly film delivers the goods.  Rated PG for action, some violence, rude humor and brief mild language.