Reviews by Jennifer

• February 20, 2016
• At Home, Drama, Thriller

It’s hard to comprehend the horror of being trapped in a mine for 69 days, but the film adaptation of the 2010 Chilean miner’s ordeal does a surprisingly good job of recreating this nightmare for the viewer. After a few minutes of getting to know the characters and watching...

• February 17, 2016
• Action, Animation, At Home

I always snort a little when I see an animated feature that’s rated PG-13, but in the case of Batman: Bad Blood, it’s actually pretty appropriate. It’s not just dark themes and comic book violence – we’re talking about conversation starters here: “Why is Batman in bed with two...

• January 29, 2016
• At Home, Comedy

Ben Whittaker (Robert DeNiro) is a retired widower who feels he’s already made the most of his free time. Without his wife, many activities lack the appeal they once had, and after a point, even the ones you enjoy by yourself lose their luster. Seeking structure, Ben visits his...

• January 2, 2016
• At Home, Documentary

It’s always a good sign when a documentary inspires interest in a topic you didn’t know you cared about. I had no particular attachment to Mary Tyler Moore prior to watching the PBS Pioneers of Television special Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration, but by the end, I wanted to...

• November 20, 2015
• At Home, Horror

It seems like all sorts of black and white movies center on a group of people cooped up in a big house while some sort of mystery unfolds. There’s generally a questionable character lurking around, an alarming body count…and a rainstorm. They don’t make ’em like they used to,...

• November 13, 2015
• At Home, Comedy

Thanks to her father (Colin Quinn), Amy (Amy Schumer) has spent almost her entire life believing that monogamy is for suckers. He basically sat her down and told her as much, left her mother, and proceeded to lead a self-centered life of screwing around. Somehow Amy’s sister, Kim (Brie...

• November 6, 2015
• At Home, Comedy, Music

Buddy’s Musical Christmas is essentially an animated retelling of the film, condensed into a tidy 44 minute package, rife with sweetness, song, and silliness. After it becomes abundantly clear that Buddy (voiced by Jim Parsons) is not like the other elves, Santa (voiced by Ed Asner) reveals that Buddy...

• October 10, 2015
• At Home, Comedy, Science Fiction, Television

Liv Moore (Rose McIver) is the sort of no-nonsense girl who also wouldn’t have time for zombies. She’s a smart, ambitious medical resident on the verge of beginning the life she always imagined. Her fiance, Major (Robert Lilywhite), is charming, funny, and sweet. What could go wrong? Well, for...

• August 20, 2015
• Animation, At Home, Family

Princess Rose (Sleeping Beauty) has spent her life trying to escape the curse of an evil witch which dooms her to prick her finger on the needle of a spinning wheel and fall into a hundred year slumber. Her whole life revolves around avoiding this fate, and just when...

• August 20, 2015
• At Home, Drama

I loved watching Inside Daisy Clover with my mom when I was little, but the only part that really stuck with me was Daisy (Natalie Wood) sticking her head in the oven. In fact, it came as a slight shock that an entire story precedes the head-in-the-oven bit. Little...

• August 7, 2015
• Books

There are few things more refreshing than a well-written book. It doesn’t really matter how interesting your story is if you lack the ability to tell it in a compelling way. Thankfully, Lisa Jakub is a child actress who grew up to be an adept writer with plenty to...

• August 3, 2015
• At Home, Drama, War

Directed by and starring Russell Crowe, The Water Diviner is an ambitious film that incorporates elements of romance, adventure, tragedy, action, and drama. You could simply call it a war movie, but really, the main thing you need to know is that The Water Diviner is about a grieving...