Movie Review The Bubble

The Bubble 

Directed by Judd Apatow

Written by Judd Apatow, Pam Brady

Starring Karen Gillan, David Duchovy, Pedro Pascal, Keegan Michael Key, Leslie Mann, Kate McKinnon, Fred Armisen

Release Date April 1st, 2022

The Bubble stars Karen Gillan, at the head of an ensemble cast, as a movie star being convinced to return to an action movie franchise she thought that she had left behind. Gillan’s Carol Cobb became a star in the Cliff Beasts franchise and appeared in 4 of the 5 Cliff Beasts films before abandoning the 5th sequel in favor of making a terrible prestige picture where she played a half Israeli, half Palestinian woman at the heart of the middle east crisis. If you can’t see why that’s a problematic role, one look at a picture of Karen Gillan should explain things. 

With this movie failing at the box office and nearly destroying her career, Carol is forced to take back her role in Cliff Beasts for Cliff Beasts 6. However, we’re also in the midst of a pandemic which means that Carol will have to spend several weeks in quarantine in a mansion style hotel in the outskirts of London before shooting can begin. Then she will spend several more months inside the bubble, a closed set intended to protect the cast and crew of Cliff Beasts from COVID-19.

Find my full length review at Geeks.Media, linked here. 

Movie Review Wonka

Wonka (2023) 

Directed by Paul King 

Written by Simon Farnaby, Paul King 

Starring Timothee Chalamet, Sally Hawkins, Olivia Coleman, Hugh Grant, Keegan Michael Key, Calah Lane 

Release Date December 15th, 2023 

Published December 5th, 2023 

Wonka is a spectacular good time. This musical from director Paul King charts the origin of everyone's favorite chocolatier, Willy Wonka, played by Timothee Chalamet, from his time before he opened his magical chocolate factory. Pressing aside the Johnny Depp take on the character, Chalamet's Willy Wonka feels more like a spiritual predecessor to Gene Wilder's iconic take on the character. He's charming, he's funny, and he has just a slight hint of impish, prankish, bitterness to him. It's a wonderful performance from Chalamet who carries the film with the presence of a movie star. 

Willy Wonka's early life was tragic. He lost his beloved mother, portrayed by Sally Hawkins, when he was quite young. But, her adventurous spirit lives on in her son who undauntedly threw himself into the world to seek his fortune and make his mother proud. Willy, also a magician by trade, has traveled the globe on just his wits and guts, and discovered flavors of chocolate that no one has ever dreamed of. He's managed to pack it all away in a magical suitcase with which he can whip up a unique chocolatey concoction on a whim. 

Having arrived now in London for the first time, he's hoping to achieve the dream his mother always had, opening a Chocolate shop in the most famous chocolate market in the world. But first, Willy needs a place to stay. In a lovely opening song, Willy explains how much money he has before quickly parting with all of it as he helps out those in need. It's a lovely, graceful song that shows a generosity of spirit in Willy as he gives his last coin to young woman with a baby so that they can find a place to stay on this cold English night. 

As for Willy, he's planning to bed down on a chilly bench when he's approached by a man named Bleacher (Tom Davis). Bleacher is a big intimidating and threatening man who appears to reveal a softer side when he tells Willy about a place to stay... on credit. Mrs. Scrubbit (Olivia Coleman) operates a boarding house where she will allow Willy to stay on the promise that he will pay for his room the following day. This comes with a caveat however as Willy has to sign a contract for his room. The contract is page after page after page of fine print. A naive Willy decides to sign it anyway and that sets a portion of our plot in motion. 

Find my full length review at Geeks.Media