Black Widow

 

 

 

 

The only thing wrong with Director Cate Shortland’s Black Widow is that it is being shown on TV, while it is playing in theaters.  Otherwise, it is one of the best action pictures in years!

 Writer Eric Pearson, working with the story by Jac Schaeffer and Ned Benson, has crafted an interesting and offbeat story about family and mixed it with more than enough action to make it soar above all the preceding films in this genre.

The women…Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh and Rachel Weisz…are exceptional on all levels.  And, since the film is about women overcoming the dominance of an evil man, the film scores on that level, as well.

Black Widow is a must-see and deserves a 4.8 out of 5.

 

 

F9: The Fast Saga

 

 

 

 

 

 

Writer/Producer/Director Justin Lin’s F9: The Fast Saga joins the Action-Film-As-Cartoon genre with the most improbable action scenes ever, including shooting an airplane with two passengers into space to destroy a satellite…and getting them back!

 Of course, some of this Disneyland onscreen is fun, but seeing Vin Diesel walking around with a puffed-out chest looking for its bra and a mouth pursed like he’s constantly chewing week-old sour pickles is not so much fun.                                                                                                                 

The film is “saved” by the women, especially Michelle Rodriquez, Jordana Brewster and Charlize Theron.

Of course, the ending strongly hints there will be an F10 and, possibly, beyond, but F9: The Fast Saga is not the best of the litter.

I give it only a 3.2 out of 5.

 

 

The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard

 

 

 

Director Patrick Hughes’ The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is more a Roadrunner cartoon than an action film.

It moves from silly to stupid and, sometimes, to something interesting and worthwhile…mostly when Salma Hayek or Morgan Freeman is on the screen.

 

Although it starts out lame with wooden-sounding expletives, it does have a  few fun segments and an upbeat ending that will satisfy those watching its TV run.  But there are better ways to spend your movie theater dollars.

I give The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard a 2.8 out of 5.