Intolerable Cruelty - 3/5

This is a comedy about prenuptial agreements, a sardonic look at marriage as only the Coen brothers can create. Like the other weaker entries in their repertoire it lacks the conviction to make an actual point, undoing any potential statements the film could be making. Instead it employs comedic dissolution that undercuts any impact the plot could have had, turning it from a poignant satire into a mere farce. For all that it’s still very entertaining, well written and acted enough to form a baseline for other movies of the genre.

Closest comparison: It’s like Marriage Story by way of O, Brother Where Art Thou.

Setting: Drama
Plot: Intrigue
Tone: Dramedy

Mystery Men - 3/5

This is one of those strange sleeper films that was too zany for audiences at the time but has gathered a strong cult following over the years. The humor is a screwball satire of dry comedy, an acquired taste to say the least. The superhero genre has exploded in the two decades since this movie came out and since its story is not an irreverent deconstruction of the genre but an underdog riff that embraces it, it’s only become more relevant over time. On the other hand, its low-fidelity special effects and distinctly ‘90s directorial style have kept it firmly planted in the past, making it both ahead of its time and stuck in the past. It’s an oddball that equal parts great and weird.

Closest comparison: It’s like The Boys (2019) by way of Zoolander.

Setting: Cyberpunk
Plot: Super Hero
Tone: Dumb Comedy

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017) - 1/5

This movie has nothing to offer except a few neat visuals. Unfortunately, even those are surrounded by an unwatchable mess of bland characters, dumb dialogue, and plot contrivances. So much of this movie does not follow from the premises, making it hard to follow why people are doing what they’re doing and how they think that might work out in their favor, other than that the plot demands it. And it’s a shame because the character design on Javier Bardem’s Captain Salazar is some of the best in the series. Unfortunately his character becomes muddled and confused as the story progresses, as do all the characters, resulting in a clear cash grab from Disney. Even the jokes don’t land. There’s nothing redeemable about this dud of a movie.