IT (2017)

IT (2017)

8/10

Starring

Jaeden Lieberher

Bill Skarsgård

Wyatt Oleff

Jeremy Ray Taylor

Sophia Lillis

Directed by Andy Muschietti

There was a lot of noise about this movie, and I have to say, it lived up to the hype.

If, like me, you were old enough to have seen the 1990 TV miniseries IT when it was released, your expectations for this movie will be high. I remember how much I loved Tim Curry’s performance in the original, and I was worried they’d mess up this remake. But I give kudos to the writers and the studio for deciding to do a remake twenty-seven years after the awesome 1990 miniseries—a timeframe that aligns with the novel’s tale of Pennywise, who returns to haunt the town of Derry, Maine, every twenty-seven years. Pennywise’s main dish? Children, whom he terrifies before devouring.

The movie is based on Stephen King’s 1986 horror novel of the same name. IT was his 22nd book and 18th novel. The plot focuses on the town of Derry, where local kids are mysteriously disappearing one by one, leaving behind bloody remains. A group of bullied kids, united by their horrifying encounters with a shapeshifting demon (who takes the form of a clown), decide to face their fears head-on and take down the clown. But are they ready to confront their deepest fears? That’s the question you’ll see answered when you watch this movie.

What makes this movie so thrilling is how Pennywise hunts the children individually, preying on their worst fears. The visual effects of these fear-induced scenes are genuinely freaky. These moments keep you on edge, wondering what the final outcome will be and hoping that death isn’t the fate of any member of The Losers’ Club.

Pennywise is played by Bill Skarsgård, a Swedish actor. While his performance is undeniably scary, what really makes this movie stand out is the visual effects—both of his character and the children’s phobias. These elements will freak you out to your core. I don’t recall the 1990 miniseries being half as scary or thrilling as this version, nor do I remember the visual effects being so compelling. This remake is designed to keep you glued to the screen with its thrills and terrified by its events.

This movie has been hailed as the best adaptation of any Stephen King book, and it’s been raking in cash at the box office, setting new records along the way. You have to go see this movie, especially in preparation for the sequel, which is set to be released in 2019.

The House (2017)

The House (2017)

6/10

Starring

Will Ferrell

Amy Poehler

Directed by Andrew Jay Cohen

The movie is weirdly funny, and regardless of the critics panning it and the Rotten Tomatoes audience ratings being as low as they can be, I found it gainfully entertaining.
The studio, on the other hand, will not feel the same way. The movie was not only a critical nightmare but also a commercial failure, grossing $34 million at the box-office against its $40 million budget.

This comedy stars Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler as parents of an aspiring child who wants to go to college. The fun in this movie comes from the blend of over-the-top comedy and everyday occurrences, glazed with comedic mistakes that ended up making me laugh all the way through its 80-minute runtime.

The plot follows a couple, Scott and Kate (Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler, respectively), who pick a university with their daughter and then apply. When the same university finally accepts them, they’re overjoyed, and nothing in their wildest dreams could ruin the occasion.

Like every good parent, they already have plans and financial structures in place to make sure their child gets the best education without financially bankrupting themselves. Their financial backing comes from their community college fund, as their time has come to be beneficiaries of the fund.

The two believe everything is in place to fulfill their daughter’s dream—until the head of the neighborhood committee decides to go in a different direction. The head has other plans for the money: he wants to build a water park for the community and gets the committee’s backing to move forward, shelving Scott and Kate’s needs.

Now, the two are left stranded. They’ve maxed out all forms of financial assistance they could get their hands on, and with no hope in sight, they need to find a way to make things happen for their daughter.

Their friend, who is a gambling addict, comes up with a plan that makes sense when you think about it: the house never loses. He suggests they turn his house into a casino and invite their friends in the neighborhood to come play. Their hope is that the more people play, the more money the house will make, and they’ll finally be able to afford to send their daughter to college.

The House is a funny comedy, and for me, it’s worth seeing when you get around to it. I can understand why many hate it for the same reasons I’ve come to like the movie, but I feel it’s best in this case to get a feel for it yourself.

The Big Sick (2017)

The Big Sick (2017)

7/10

               

Kumail Nanjiani

Zoe Kazan

Holly Hunter

Ray Romano

Directed by Michael Showalter

Everyone likes a good romantic comedy. The problem is, many romantic comedies are just cheesy and full of clichés. This has made it hard to find one that balances fun with a romantic atmosphere well enough to be categorized as a must-watch. The Big Sick is a must-watch, a movie you will watch and be hooked from the start.

Like classic romantic comedies, you find yourself rooting for the couple, waiting for them to finally catch a break and live happily ever after. The Big Sick, on its path to happily ever after, drops a bomb on you as you watch. You’re left still believing it will work out (with your fingers crossed), but not knowing how.

Loosely based on the real-life romance between Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, this movie starts with Kumail Nanjiani playing himself, struggling to make it as a standup comic. To pay the bills, he also works as an Uber driver on the side.

Kumail’s life takes a big turn one day when someone in the audience yells, “WHOOP!” He approaches her and introduces himself. Her name is Emily Gardner (based on Emily V. Gordon and played by Zoe Kazan), and their romance starts that day. As their relationship grows, Emily opens up about her life to Kumail, hoping to build a relationship on trust. Kumail, on the other hand, has some issues he’s afraid to share with her. He’s Pakistani, and his mother wants him to marry a Pakistani woman. With that in mind, she’s been trying to arrange a marriage for her son.

Kumail knows that if he tells his family he’s in a relationship with a white woman, they’ll cut him off, and out of fear of losing his family, he keeps that part of his life a secret from Emily.

Like all good movies, those two parts of his life eventually collide, causing a rift in both relationships. But another big bomb drops courtesy of Emily, and it’s something neither of them expected or could have imagined. Kumail is left struggling, scared, and unsure of what lies ahead for him, his relationship with Emily, and his family.

This movie was a massive success, both critically and commercially, and there’s no doubt in my mind that if you watch it, you’ll agree it’s a must-watch. It is nice to see a story of two lovers, play out in a way you never expect it to.