Below – Above Average – Page 5

Release date: March 8, 2024 (USA)

Budget: $85 million

Music by: Hans Zimmer; Steve Mazzaro

Kung Fu Panda 4 has returned since it’s last feature length film back in 2016. To my surprise there’s been a tv show spin off for Kung Fu Panda between 2016 and now 2024 which is probably why I was disconnected from the character after all these years.

I did have some fun for about half the movie however that start and ending was a slog to get through. If you want any surprise to the story or what’s going to unfold in this feature then I’d recommend skipping the trailer. It shows the whole plot….which you could probably peace together by the time the adventure gets going.

If you’re finding it hard to get through you wont have to wait to long as about 25 minutes in Po and our newly added character Zhen come across the Happy Rabbit Tavern while looking for passage to the main city. This was when surprise laughs and a spark of fun ignited the film and kept me going until the final few acts.

Happy Rabbit Tavern & The City for me personally was so much fun and kept me in the film. Outside of that I’m reminded this series has defiantly out lived my younger years and stayed with the youth with few jokes for the adults to get.

I probably wont be back for a fifth Kung Fu Panda unless something drastic happens like a cross over with Shrek or Puss & Boots… ? Possible? Na I doubt it but that would totally be fun.

I’d give Kung Fu Panda 4 a 6/10 some fun acts to help with the predictable and sloggy destiny of this movie coming and going in a eh batch of popped reviews.

Release date: January 5, 2024

Director: Bryce McGuire

Story by: Bryce McGuire; Rod Blackhurst

Distributed by: Universal Pictures

Budget: $15 million

Music by: Mark Korven

Kicking off 2024 with this movie wasn’t very exciting or interesting.

In short this movie felt very mid and average you honestly aren’t missing much by skipping or seeing this one.

What I had hoped for was, “IT” in a pool was very much not the movie I ended up watching. My hope is that this is part of the Universal horror universe that’s speculated to come after the black phone sequel.

I’d give Night Swim a very mid Popped score of 5/10

Honestly I don’t want to keep you here longer and have better films to watch coming up later in 2024 but alas I want to “Review” / Discuss all the movies I watch in the year to document and track my top 10 list.

Stick around as Popped improves in each batch as I add to 2024. Look back at 2021,2 & 3 and track my movies of each year post pandemic.

Watch this movie if you’re interested in killing an evening or have an hour and half free to add another movie under your belt. Night Swim will constantly remind you that this family has a swimming pool.

I’m not going to spoil what little this film can offer so I’ll leave it here and let me know what you thought when seeing this film. Hey if this ends up being apart of that horror universe then I’ll revisit and develop this dicussion.

Thank you all for reading this and let me know what you thought on this entry “horror” film into the year 2024.

Release date: January 12, 2024

Directors: Samantha Jayne, Arturo Perez Jr.

Story by: Tina Fey, Nell Benjamin

Distributed by: Paramount Pictures

Budget: $36 million

Cinematography: Bill Kirstein

Mean Girls 2024 or Musical as you may have not guessed from seeing the trailer but this adaptation is from the Broadway musical made into a feature length film.

When it comes to musicals I’ll usually say “I’m not a fan of Sound of Music but love more modern musicals like sweeney Todd, la la land” etc. Which carry the movie forward via the song rather what I perceived of the little Sound of Music I saw a random song outburst.

It’s been a hot minute since I watched the original Mean Girls but my golly I didn’t realize it had been 20 years :O wowzah!

The actors in this movie did a great job and honestly I loved the lot. My favorites would be Auli’i Cravalho playing Janis Sarkisian & Jaquel Spivey playing Damian Hubbard. Hands down I loved all their scenes the most. Mahi Alam playing Kevin Gnapoor reminded me of a funny character from The Guild Zaboo played by Sandeep Parikh.

I’d totally watch more from these characters in another 20 years if they decide to continue / remake this film once more for a newer generation.

The production team did a fantastic job brining this into 2024 with all the current social media trends and platforms. It was a good time and honestly a fun watch.

My Popped rating for Mean Girls 2024 Musical is a 7/10.

Now ratings may change throughout the year as we start to fill in our top 10 but currently for 2024 this is in my top 10. Stay tuned for more on this and my highly anticipated movies in 2024 in an upcoming post :D.

Thanks for reading and joining us for my review / thoughts on the Mean Girls Musical. Pop a comment on your thoughts with Mean Girls and lets discuss our favorite musical score, scenes and moments.

Category: Below – Above Average

Kung Fu Panda 4 “Review”

Night Swim “Review”

Mean Girls 2024 (Musical)”Review”