Tag: product review

We were given free passes to see the Aladdin screening in exchange for this post. But my opinions are all my own.

Have you heard about the new live action Aladdin remake?! It’s out in theaters today!! Perfect timing for holiday weekend movie plans.

Our screening happened to fall on Zach & Lucy’s birthday which made seeing this film all the more special for them. They have seen the original a couple times, so they were familiar with the characters, story & songs.

And speaking of songs, if you’re like me & have all the Aladdin songs memorized, you won’t be disappointed. The new film features most (if not all!) the original songs plus new ones sung by Jasmine (played by Naomi Scott). Lucy said her favorites are the new Jasmine songs about her having a voice called Speechless.

This new Aladdin mostly follows the original storyline. But there is enough subtle updates & changes to make the film more relevant to current times to keep those of us old school fans of the cartoon interested.

Zach’s favorite parts were when Aladdin & Jasmine leaped & jumped through their city of Agrabah.

And the dancing. Both kids loved the dance scenes. They even played Genie & Aladdin once we got home with Lucy moving her hands to “direct” Zach to dance.

I know it’s hard to live up to the iconic Robin Williams as Genie, but I think Will Smith was great! Zach & Lucy laughed at Genies antics.

I loved how the main characters all showed kindness & the lessons like just being yourself & not being seduced by wealth & power came through.

Check out the official trailer here! If you’re looking for an inside activity to stay cool with your kids this weekend, Zach, Lucy & I would recommend seeing Aladdin!

I saw something recently had made me laugh out loud. And wish that I’d had my mom or Nana or aunt beside me! In honor of this almost being Mother’s Day, let me tell you about the film POMS.

POMS is an uplifting comedy about Martha (played by Diane Keaton) a woman who moves into a retirement community and starts a cheerleading squad with her fellow residents, Sheryl (Jacki Weaver), Olive (Pam Grier) and Alice (Rhea Perlman), proving that it’s never too late to follow your dreams. The film will be released in theaters today Friday, May 10, 2019. You can view the trailer here.G

It’s rated PG-13 & I agree with that. This isn’t a film I’d take my (almost) 7 yr olds to. (More kid films though to come! Message me if you’re in Raleigh & a fan of Secret Life of Pets…)

If you’ll be with your mom this weekend & looking for a fun, feel good, chick flick, go grab a drink then watch POMS.

Happy mother’s day y’all!

I was given a ticket to see POMS in order to write this post but it didn’t sway my opinion.

I was given a pass to see Captain Marvel for the sake of this review. My opinions weren’t swade by their generousity.

Unless you’ve been hiding under blankets to stay warm from all our cold rain or even illness like us, you’ve probably heard that the newest Marvel film is coming out this weekend!!

Wondering who you should see it with?!

Bring a girl friend who also loves superhero action films with bad ass female main characters!

Bring your husband/guy who’s also a Marvel Comic series fan -the one who’s seen all the Marvel movies & is excited to be ready for End Game. & be sure to see the opening credits nod to Stan Lee as well as stay until the very end in true Marvel fashion!

Bring your kids, but IMO only if they’re tweens or older. While Zach & Lucy are getting more interested in super heroes but I still think they’re not quite ready for Marvel’s fight scenes. But I can’t wait in a few years to introduce Lucy to Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel.

I honestly didn’t know the back story behind Captain Marvel. I knew it was a female centered film & figured I’d learn as I watched! The back story of the war between the Skrulls & Kree was also news to me but I was able to catch on quick.

I loved watching Carol discover her true strength & power along with her history. I was cheering her on & thought how she allowed her strength to shine through her emotions & dare I say her humanity was one of my favorites. Along with the cat!!

Captain Marvel is set mostly in the 1990s – the music, clothes & vehicles took me back to middle & high school years & had me singing along!

If y’all are looking for a fun new Marvel film to see this weekend, go check out Captain Marvel then come back & tell me your favorite part!

So I’ve seen a few movies recently (yep, I’m talking about you A Wrinkle in Time & Black Panther), but my favorite for a sweet coming of age, love story is Love, Simon. It’s out in theaters today!

Here’s a quick view of the film from the trailer.

This is one of the first times I’ve watched a movie where the main character (Simon, played by Nick Robinson) is in high school & instead of seeing myself as the teenager, I saw myself as the parent.

Yep, I’m getting old.

But I did LOVE how Jennifer Garner & Josh Duhamel played Simon’s parents with hilarity & grace & love.

Love, Simon is directed by Greg Berlanti (Dawson’s Creek, Brothers & Sisters), written  Isaac Aptaker & Elizabeth Berger (This is Us), & based on Becky Albertalli’s acclaimed novel, Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda which I’d now really like to read.

The core theme of Love, Simon is that everyone deserves a great love story. & 17 year old Simon Spier is trying to figure that out as a closeted gay guy who’s fallen for an anonymous classmate who he’s connected with online. I laughed & cried through him wrestling with coming out to his family & friends along with trying to identify the mysterious Blue.

Go check out Love, Simon with friends this weekend, or with your middle or high schooler (it’s appropriately rated PG-13)!

While 20th Century Fox did provide me ticket to the screening of Love, Simon, I wasnt otherwise compensated for my review & my thoughts are honestly my own.

A Wrinkle in Time came out in theaters today! Do you have tweens? Kids I’d say 8 & up? Read A Wrinkle in Time together then go see this movie! I always say to read the book first, but I didnt for this film. So you can be like me & watch the film & then request the book at the library too!

A Wrinkle in Time starts telling the story of Meg Murray’s family- her scientist parents & their relationship. Her Dad disappeared 4 years ago & Meg’s having a lot of trouble at school.

Meg’s super smart brother Charles Wallace (played by the adorable & talented Deric McCabe) is trying to help. He brings around Mrs Whatsit, played beautifully by Reece Witherspoon, who shows up surprising Meg & her mom. Then Charles Wallace takes Meg & her friend Calvin to meet Mrs Who, who speaks mostly in quotes, played awesomely by Mindy Kaling.

& then the kids are off. (I’ll let the details come out when you see the film.) But know it’s magically & I didn’t understand the science behind the how.

I LOVED the costumes of the Mrs. Their make up & wardrobes were fanciful & amazing. I mean just look at Mrs. Whatsit below!

then there’s Mrs. Which – oh mama Oprah. Her hair, costumes & her words amazed me! Y’all know I watched her show back in the day religiously. Loved seeing her in this film & knowing that with her role in A Wrinkle in Time, she will help guide a whole other generation of women, young women & girls to believe in themselves.

I loved the Mrs. as the “fairy god mothers” of this Disney film. They helped guide these middle schoolers on their journey to try to find Mr Murray & bring him & them back home.

I loved the self confidence journey we watched Meg go through. The theme of being your own warrior is one I want to instill in my own kids & I’m sure you do in yours.

For adults, does it have cheesy parts? Slightly slow parts? yes. Will the tween crowd love & swoon over Storm & Levi? Absolutely!

I was given pass to see A Wrinkle in Time in exchange for this review, but the free movie pass didn’t sway my opinion or review.