Three more movies:

“Anna and the Apocalypse” is a zombie apocalype musical that just doesn’t work. Zombie comedy is a soap bubble that requires an absolute respect for the absurd reality of the material. Musical comedy is a soap bubble that requires, in addition to first rate talent and musical material, an absolute respect for the absurd reality of the form. The two requirements clash fatally. The material isn’t awful, and the cast is not without talent, but impossible demands require superheroes, and there are none on the screen.

“Green Book” is amazing. It’s an odd couple road trip movie, two forms that have a lot of strength separately, and play into each other beautifully here. Add in some social relevance, and a fair amount of actual historical truth, and the result is magical. Highly recommended.

“Mortal Engines” is a train wreck. It’s a post-apocalyptic story with steam punk sesibilities, which means it’s visually stunning, but impossibly stupid. There seems to be a rule that post-apocalyptic stories based on YA books involve brain-damagingly bad world building. And then there is a the fact that, while the characters seem well conceived, and the cast presents them heroically, there are far too many characters, and way too much plot, for a single movie, even if large parts of the movie weren’t dedicated to absurd visuals. And then there is the fact that the villain is a mustasche-twirling cut out. Wonderful inspiration for steam punk creations, but otherwise to be avoided.

Uncle Hyena