Category: Below – Above Average

Is This Thing On? “Review”

Release date: December 19, 2025 (USA)

Director: Bradley Cooper

Screenplay: Will Arnett, Bradley Cooper, Mark Chappell

Producers: Will Arnett, Bradley Cooper, Weston Middleton, Kris Thykier

Running time: 2h 4m

MPAA rating: R

Checked it out after seeing this is based on a true story. Let’s Discuss!

Without spoilers or wanting to come off as to harsh, this movie is just too long. I did fall asleep after the first hour as the pacing was just so slow. I expected something more inline with Song Sung Blue but sadly I left a little blue that this was mostly a 6/10 okay to fine movie at best for me personally.

What’s the story all about? Will Arnett (Playing Alex Novak) is facing an impending divorce. Juggling their personal lives with their friends & family ties. During this, Alex finds his purpose in New York within the comedy stand up scene. Maybe I missed the growth in the 20minutes I nodded off. But the ending was sweet, but didn’t have that emotional moving feeling like Song Sung Blue, or characters I connected with which empowered me to cheer on the character.

Love to hear your thoughts in the comments below, hopefully you had that connection and magic that didn’t get cast on my viewing experience.

Thank you for taking the time to come by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. While posting The Plague I realized I need to add some new categories to the site and thus 2026 can truly begin :D.

Happy Movie-Going fellow movie-goers :D.

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Anaconda “Review”

Release date: December 25, 2025 (USA)

Director: Tom Gormican

Producers: Tom Gormican, Andrew Form, Bradley Fuller, Kevin Etten

MPAA rating: PG-13

Running time: 1h 40m

Distributed by: Sony Pictures Releasing

Sometimes a movie doesn’t need a storyline….Anaconda

When the cast is having fun. I actually had a laugh with Anaconda. For a short movie, this did feel long, and at 6 minutes to the end, I did check the time. Sometimes a story isn’t needed, cutting that out, this movie could have gotten to a 7….

Alas, this is an okay movie at best. a 6/10 for this “Unofficial Official sequel reboot of Anaconda”. If you haven’t seen headlines. There are surprises in this feature, which were fun. Especially for those of the original.

Otherwise, a lot of the beats the trailer covers, including a lot of the funny scenes.

The bar was so low on this one, a potty humor joke was my first laugh, believe it or not :S.

Popped review for Anaconda, going in at a 6/10. If you were one of the few laughing your ass off in my performance. I’m glad you had a fun time :D.

I appreciate you taking the time to come by and see our movie, “Reviews”. What did you think of Anaconda? Let me know in the comments below. Stick around, though, as coming up next is Marty Supreme’s “Review”.

See you in the next one, fellow movie-goers!

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We Bury the Dead “Review”

Release date: January 2, 2026 (USA)

Director: Zak Hilditch

MPAA rating: R

Producers: Grant Sputore, Kelvin Munro, Ross M. Dinerstein, Joshua Harris, Mark Fasano

Running time: 1h 34m

Distributed by: Vertical, Umbrella Entertainment

Secret Movie time and despite thinking it was Primate – Dice landed on We Bury The Dead!

This feature will make for a solid streamer. One of those movies you see raved about on social media with high scores, but honestly, it’s just an okay movie with a unique offering in the zombie genre.

Daisy Ridley plays Ava Newman, a wife on a mission to find her missing husband. After a catastrophic military disaster occurs on the island, Ava joins a military organization of civilian volunteers that bury the dead & maybe uncovers far more than advertised.

Honestly, cut 15 -20 minutes off this movie, and it may have been a fine to good movie. But without getting into spoilers. The ending is rather weak & doesn’t hold well for the writers on this one. Good streamer if you’re looking for something unique in the zombie space, but otherwise a 6/10 Popped score.

It’s neat being able to watch a mystery movie that you’re unaware of what could be until it’s playing on screen. Sometimes that’s a hit. Other times a unique tale was told. But alas we still have Anaconda tomorrow to check out and sometime this weekend – Song Sung Blue / Marty Supreme to wrap up the year of 2025.

Happy Holidays to all fellow moviegoers! I’ll see you in the next batch 😀

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After the Hunt & Good Fortune “Reviews’

Release date: October 10, 2025 (USA)

Director: Luca Guadagnino

Cinematography: Malik Hassan Sayeed

Producers: Luca Guadagnino, Brian Grazer, Allan Mandelbaum, Jeb Brody

Screenplay: Nora Garrett

Running time: 2h 19m

Double batch “Review”…. you know what that means :(…. let’s a go!

Rapid Fire – Watch the trailer then watch last 30-40minutes of a 2 Hour 20minute film. Nothing really gets developed until then and the pacing never really picks up. It’s just long, feels long and to top it off. Adds a ticking sound track multiple times through the movie adding to the feeling of feeling long. It’s not bad but it’s not good. Above Average at best. A good background movie streamed at home.

*Spoiler Rapid Fire?* – Movie will show the consequences for 4 different accounts. When a rape is real – How it affects the victim & the predator. When rape is made up for revenge / to hurt someone – How it affects the victim & the saboteur.

6/10 Popped Score.

Release date: October 17, 2025 (USA)

Director: Aziz Ansari

Producers: Aziz Ansari, Alan Yang, Anthony Katagas

MPAA rating: R

Running time: 1h 38m

Genres: Comedy, Action

Fantastic cast. Great trailer. So why’s the film edited/written this way? Where’d it go so wrong?

Rapid Fire – Was looking forward to this one. While it had good moments, the majority of the good stuff is from the trailer. Not only was it in the trailer, but the trailer also had the scene in its entirety. Scenes shifted in & out so casually the film felt extremely dry. Not really all that funny sadly. Mostly Seth Rogen & Keanu were doing all the heavy lifting. Other actors did fine but the material provided was not good.

At best 6.5, but a Popped score of 6/10.

With that rapid-fire double “Review” – Stick around for Black Phone 2 with a little bit of everything before I hit the hay at 3 am: D.

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A Big Bold Beautiful Journey “Review”

Release date: September 19, 2025 (USA)

Director: Kogonada

Screenplay: Seth Reiss

MPAA rating: R

Running time: 2h 19m

Producers: Seth Reiss, Youree Henley, Ryan Friedkin, Dan Friedkin, Bradley Thomas

Well, that was a Journey…. Let’s Discuss!

The movie opens up with David (Played by Colin Farrell) going to a Car Rental Agency and heading off to a wedding where he comes across Margot Robbie’s character Sarah. The Wes Anderson style oddness to the Car Rental Agency was fascinating and a storyline I was very intrigued by. This meeting between David & Sarah was very much the opposite for me personally.

Separately, the characters were interesting. Had lots of depth and layers to explore when their big bold beautiful journey begins and plays out. Sadly for me, I couldn’t get behind their chemistry. The relationship felt forced and I didn’t connect to them in this way.

Played within the trailer, the school scene was where I begun to enjoy both the movie and this relationship. But sadly the movie only had a few moments for me that had this impact of enjoyment. Often times I was left waiting for something to happen and to be past the silent awkwardness of the scene.

It’s a journey. The journey will take you through moments of their lives which was a worthy watch. Just wish the relationship part could be removed and shorten this movie down by 30 minutes. But hey that’s just my feelings and thoughts. How about yourself? Did this journey feel big bold & beautiful? Let me know in the comments.

With that being said, giving this feature a Popped score of 5.5. A barely above average movie with some okay fine moments but overall, probably something to stream and enjoy at home. Cinematography was nice. Had some moments of La La Land even but otherwise….it’s a movie.

Not the best week for movies as we jump into the next feature of this weeks batch. Him. Something that’s going to be very polarizing for sure. Marmite or Vegemite comes to mind :D.

Thanks for coming by and taking the time to visit Popped for your movie “Reviews”. After Him will be Xeno, a movie I’ve seen no trailer for and only a movie poster 😛 oh boy! haha.

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The Roses “Review”

Release date: August 29, 2025 (USA)

Director: Jay Roach

Producers: Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jay Roach · See more

Screenplay: Tony McNamara

Story by: Warren Adler

Running time: 1h 45m

Trailer seemed to show a lot but the actors are what intrigued me. I was expecting a comedy!

Maybe I wasn’t connected with the characters. Maybe it was the humor. Maybe I expected something else from it…. whatever it is. This movie left me in a funk for awhile after the ending dropped.

You’re setup with the couples introduction. Setting up Theo’s dream (Played by Benedict Cumberbatch) along with Ivy’s dream (Played by Olivia Colman). Skip forward 10 years (Which personally would have been nice to seen the relationship while it’s good and connect us to them.) they have a daughter and a son. Setting up the event between the dynamic. It takes the destruction of Theo’s dream and a rise and success in Ivy’s that changes the tide for this couple into a negative spiral.

While they start to resent one another. Their marriage greatly suffers. This is the movie that you’re watching. It’s not a funny light hearted feature. It’s not necessarily depressing. But it’s sad for sure. Something I’d never like my marriage to end up as.

I wont dive into all the story beats but if you check it out. I hope you enjoyed it. It’s based on reimagining the 1989 film The War of the Roses. Taking a slightly different and more modern cautionary tale.

It was mostly fine until that ending. I had movies that do this style of ending. 6/10.

Thanks for coming by Popped for your movie “Reviews”. Hopefully next batch keeps above the 7’s. It’s been a minute since we had a scary movie right…? Ha, Horror has been the vastly majority lately so let’s continue it with The Conjuring next Thursday.

Either Thursday or across the Weekend I’ll try watch Splitsville also. There’s a movie called The Threesome….worth checking out? Let me know in the comments :D.

Until next batch though, happy movie going 😀

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Sketch “Review”

Release date: August 6, 2025 (USA)

Director: Seth Worley

MPAA rating: PG

Producers: Tony Hale, Steve Taylor, Stephen James Taylor, Daryl C. Lefever, Katelyn Botsch

Running time: 1h 32m

Genres: Comedy, Adventure, Fantasy

I’m a little old for this one but totally get the messaging and can see this being a solid good or even great watch for those with children / children dealing with loss. – Rapid “Review”

When a little girl is dealing with the loss of her mother. A sketch book with extremely dark thoughts is her form of coping and release of those inner feelings. While her dad and brother bottle those feelings in and try to focus on her coping mechanism the story of this family is truly a touching tale.

Throw in a magical pool of water that heals and restores creations to life and those sketch’s you get a surprisingly dark yet touching story. It’s PG but maybe for the younger ones have a parent watch this with you. Felt like Zooapocalypse was so much? Maybe watch this in a bright room or when you’re a little older.

6/10 but others I can see rating this 7/10

With Sketch, we’re all caught up and ready to get back to regular “Reviews” – Weapons & maybe Freakier Friday to come over this weekend.

Thank you all for coming by Popped for your movie “Review”. Apologize for the rapid catch up but I’m back and on track to hit 100 Movies for 2025 :D.

Shout Out to Ne Zha 2 releasing in English Dub in a couple of weeks 😀 Super hyped!

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The Fantastic Four: First Steps “Review”

Release date: July 25, 2025 (USA)

Director: Matt Shakman

Running time: 1h 55m

Adapted from: Fantastic Four

MPAA rating: PG-13

Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

It may have been just over a week since my last “Review” but I’ve been watching a lot of movies. Let’s catch up shall we with a rapid fire “Review” session…..that doesn’t bold well for what’s to come :S.

The short of it was that I found the movie to be, just okay. Yea the marketing killed this for me just like Captain America Brave New World…… kind of a buzz kill after actually enjoying Thunder Bolts :S.

Since this is a rapid fire to catch up let’s put it this way.

It’s better than BNW but story and plot points I felt like it could have been skipped. I enjoyed the family but Incredibles did it better.

Fell asleep during space birth and felt like I didn’t miss much with silver surfer.

My wife thoroughly enjoyed it though having not even seen a trailer and likes this version of Fantastic 4 more than any previous version.

So if you want to enjoy Disney Marvel movies I need to avoid the trailers…somehow :S. 6/10

This batch isn’t bad but it’s certainly a luke warm batch.

Appreciate you coming by Popped and apologize for the rapid fire catch up. 6 movies in under 2 weeks was a grind after returning from Comic Con :D.

Love to discuss more thoughts in the comments if anyone’s interested.

Next up – Together

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Smurfs “Review”

Release date: July 18, 2025 (USA)

Director: Chris Miller

Music composed by: Rihanna, Henry Jackman

Producers: Rihanna, Tyran Smith, Ryan Harris, Jay Brown

Running time: 1h 32m

MPAA rating: PG

Going to make this quick as need to pack for Comic Con! 😀

Quick thoughts. Movie was overall okay. It had good content and fun scenes within it. For a short movie it sure got boring at moments. Could have cut the Rihanna songs personally for the classics but we eventually got some :D.

Loved the Sponge Bob short at the beginning. Also cool setup for a sequel in the mid credit scene. Thought the multiverse stuff would be explored more from what’s shown in the trailer but alas it’s mainly the worlds been shown from the trailer.

MVP goes to the turtle, loved him. Also was cool for No Name Smurf to have his journey. Was a little distracting having James Corden be the voice as a No Name character. His voice actor certainly isn’t.

It’s got some lore building to the world which is cool and I’m down for a sequel. It’s an okay to fine movie at best. 6/10 for Smurfs Popped.blog “review” :D.

Thank you all for coming by Popped.blog. I’ve seen an increase in traffic to the sight recently and appreciate all those recent subscribers 😀 Once live and Comic Con have been caught up on. Let’s dive into the second half of the year like I WANTED TOO back in late June early July :D.

A las until next time movie goers. I’ll see you, next time. Happy Fantastic 4 viewings this weekend and excited to see if this keeps momentum for the MCU or the ride to Dooms Day is going to be a dry spell of nothingness.

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Hurry Up Tomorrow “Review”

Release date: May 16, 2025 (USA)

Director: Trey Edward Shults

Running time: 1h 45m

MPAA rating: R

Screenplay: Trey Edward Shults

Producers: The Weeknd, Reza Fahim, Kevin Turen, Harrison Kreiss

What’s the story about? Or at least the purpose of this movie? I had no idea going in…. still no idea coming out. Let’s discuss, Hurry Up Tomorrow.

PSA – If you’re sensitive to strobe effects / flashing lights. Please be warned going into this movie. I’ve never had a movie display a warning card prior to the films beginning on this. I even had to close my eyes during some scenes in the first half.

I’ll be frank with this one. Unless the context is in the music. I have no idea the purpose of this feature. It started to get good with Ortega’s character Anima going all out. She was so good…. then the movie ended and sizzled and I even looked at my watch minutes before the title card popped up as the ending didn’t seem insight but I lost track of how long the movie had been playing for.

It’s okay at best. If I’m being fair it’s a weak 6. With a somewhat okay enough plot with curious to learn characters that you’ll keep with it. But the purpose and potential felt wasted with the ending. To be honest if it wasn’t for the weak ending it maybe a watch this weekend. With how the ending left me though I’d say its a streaming movie at best unless you want to see Jenna Ortega in a good roll unlike Death of a Unicorn.

There’s better movies to check out this weekend but if you do see Hurry Up Tomorrow. What did you think of it? Did I miss a lot from not understanding the lyrics to the songs being sung? (My wife calls my tone deaf when it comes to music) Placing this at a 3 with a combined 6 depending on who’s watching it.

It’s better than death of a unicorn so I’m knocking that down to a 2.5 so this stands above it.

To the point, pretty quick. But thanks for coming to Popped for your Hurry Up Tomorrow “Review”. Those were my thoughts and I’m hopeful for tomorrow’s feature to be at least good with Final Destination.

P.S No end scene to H.U.T so feel free to walk out after the title card.

Thank you again and see you next batch.

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