This is a solid racing movie, complete with all the requisite sports montages, lose-win sequences, and family drama that go along with that. Those who like stock car racing will be much more invested, of course, but general audiences will likely have a fun time, too.
Closest comparison: It’s like Ford v Ferrari by way of Top Gun.
Setting: Racing
Plot: Sports
Tone: Sports
This movie is a gambler drama, more focused on the family-style dynamics and hotel room banter than the actual gambling. It uses the sleazy underbelly of the casino nightlife as the backdrop for its plot, but for the most part eschews it onscreen. John C. Reilly and Philip Baker Hall absolutely carry the film, with Gwyneth Paltrow and Sam Jackson giving solid performances as well. Dialogue and character study are the main draws here, and the story wraps up in a nice, solid ending.
Closest comparison: It’s like The Gambler by way of Punch Drunk Love.
Setting: Casino Drama
Plot: Crime Drama
Tone: Family Drama
This movie is a heartwarming tragedy about the life and times of the legendary comedy duo Laurel and Hardy. For those interested in their history and behind-the-scenes interactions, this is a good run-down of the later part of their lives. Instead of focusing on how they meet it goes through their disagreements and struggles to get an audience even after coming to fame. Steve Coogan is very good as Stan Laurel, but John C. Reilly in full costume is the spitting image of Oliver Hardy and their chemistry is palpable on screen.
Closest comparison: It’s a standard biopic, a la Chaplin (1992) or The King’s Speech.
Setting: Drama
Plot: Biopic
Tone: Tragedy
It’s very modern feminist, to the extent that if whether you enjoy the movie will be largely determined by whether you agree with modern feminism. Beyond that, though, there are several structural issues with the movie. For example, the film invents a character flaw for Ralph just so he can have a flaw to work through in the climax of the film. It’s not too far fetched, but it’s not well-established. In the attempt to promote women, all of the women in the film either don’t have flaws or don’t have their flaws addressed at all, which makes the characters universally bland and uninteresting. Still, there are a few shining lines of comedy and insight that are quickly passed over but are great while they’re being spoken.
Closest comparison: It’s like a cross between Wreck-It Ralph and the Emoji Movie.
It was a pretty fun action movie, but quite a few of the motivations didn't make a lot of sense and if you know a decent amount about guns then there are several plot type things that may bug you. Several of the scenarios seem motivated only by trying to set up gratuitous cinematography, but the result is gorgeous. If you want a beautiful movie with giant monsters fighting each other and tiny people getting sqashed, you could do a whole lot worse than this.
