Synopsis: When her best friend Danny ropes her into taking her spot at the Women's Arm Wrestling Championship, nice girl baker Melanie must trade whisks for barbells as she trains to face off with the reigning champ for a chance at newfound badassery and the grand prize.
My thoughts: This is basically as paint-by-numbers as a comedy can be. Luckily the cast are able to elevate it above a "bleh" comedy with strong performances and enough heart to make you care about what's going to happen even though if you step back you can clearly see where it's going but in the moment the performances suck you in and you stop thinking a few steps ahead and you live in the moment they created for you. Kudos to the director for knowing how to get that energy from their cast to elevate the film beyond the words on the page.
Final verdict: 3.5 failed bakeries out of 5.
Synopsis: A tender and sweeping story about what roots us, Minari follows a Korean-American family that moves to a tiny Arkansas farm in search of their own American Dream. The family home changes completely with the arrival of their sly, foul-mouthed, but incredibly loving grandmother. Amidst the instability and challenges of this new life in the rugged Ozarks, Minari shows the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.
My thoughts: Steven Yeun is a powerhouse and Yeri Han is delightful and hilarious, even when she's not drinking urine. The plot is engaging enough to hold your attention and the ending is about as good as a movie in this genre can be. That being said some parts ran longer than it needed to and there was some pacing issues but overall a quality flick.
Final verdict: 3.5 "Mountain Dew" out of 5.
Synopsis: Geocache champion Pilialoha "Pili" Kawena, age 12, is abruptly lifted from her busy New York life and dropped into rural O'ahu to help care for her grandfather. Initially skeptical about her new surroundings, Pili finds a cryptic pirate's journal in her Papa's studio hinting at a 200-year-old shipwrecked treasure hidden away in the island's caves and mountains. With her older brother and new friends in tow she uses her clue solving skills to lead them on an adventure of a lifetime through the natural wonders of Hawaiʻi. As she learns to respect and love her native culture she also discovers not all secrets should be shared and that the real treasure in life is 'ohana -- her family.
My thoughts: If you thought Golden Arm was formulaic, then watch out. Finding 'Ohana takes the Goonies script and places it in Hawaii. Now the filmmakers know this and intentionally lean into it so as a viewer you know that they know. It's a fun romp still but The Goonies did it better and knowing that just doesn't lend me to be able to give this a better rating.
Final verdict: 3 Goonies retreads out of 5.
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