Free Guy - 2/5

This movie is hilarious, but the plot and world building are horrible. It takes a whole scene to set up a certain mechanic early on in the film, and the one time that mechanic comes back into play it completely breaks its own rules. If the story beats were even sort of passable this movie would be great because of how funny it is, but the movie goes out of its way to explain normal things that need no explanation in such a way as to make no sense at all.

Closest comparison: It’s like Ready Player One by way of Divergent.

Setting: Sci-Fi
Plot: Dystopia
Tone: Comedy

Only Murders in the Building (Season 1, Hulu) - 3/5

This show is a fun, modern take on the cozy mystery genre. It takes its time and dwells more on the interpersonal drama than on the actual mystery, which will be engaging for some viewers and off-putting for others. The characters are quirky, as if they were designed to be so. But it’s a fun murder mystery with lots of fun twists and turns in the plot, and enough character motivation to keep the story trundling along. While it isn’t the ultimate mystery, the payoff is better than it needed to be.

Closest comparison: It’s like an early Poirot with the modernism of Knives Out.

Setting: Murder Mystery
Plot: Detective
Tone: Bumbling Comedy

Megamind - 3/5

This movie has the difficult task of trying to reverse the hero-villain roles and, although it makes a few large tonal inconsistencies with who the audience is supposed to be rooting fort, for the most part the film makers pull it off very well. The irresistibly funny banter helps to gloss over some of the more confusing story elements that play out on screen. Will Farrell and Tina Fey are great together, not to mention the several times the plot takes a surprising, unexpected, but very much appreciated twists and turns. And the very clever attention to detail that gets layered into the fabric of the story, from eye color to dress color to subtly rehydrating trash doing triple duty in a narrative capacity, really stands out among an otherwise run-of-the-mill animated comedy.

Closest comparison: It’s the studio that made Monsters vs. Aliens taking a shot at the more subtle and complex Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs market.

Setting: Super Hero
Plot: Romantic Drama
Tone: Comedy Action