GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE
With a fistful of style, this female-driven, action-packed feature, starring a group of badass women, will leave you thirsty for more. Sam (Karen Gillan) is a ferocious and faithful hit-woman who works for a cold-blooded crime group made up of men who call themselves The Firm. They’ve been a part of her life for a long time as her mother, Scarlet (Lena Headey), was on their payroll as well. They’re the reason she had to abandon Sam at a young age, leaving Nathan (Paul Giamatti), The Firm’s Head of HR, to look after her.
However, when Sam’s most recent gig goes wrong and she grows a soft spot for a little girl (My Spy’s Chloe Coleman), she is a dead woman walking. The only hope for Sam to relentlessly stick it to the man and survive the night is for her to reconnect with her mother and fight side-by-side with The Librarians (Angela Bassett, Michelle Yeoh, and Carla Gugino) – a deadly batch of ladies that are the closest thing Sam and Scarlet have to a family.
Pulsing with female empowerment, co-writer/director Navot Papushado doesn’t submit to slowing down from the opening scene of Sam taking care of business. The violent streak on display is rip-roaring, there’s not a single action sequence that’s not thrilling from top to bottom. The entire ensemble is bringing the heat, having a blast right along with us; but this is Gillian’s milkshake and she drinks it up with a punch! The flavors of gleefulness and kick-assery make for a supremely satisfying treat.
VIVO
Crafted with humming and colorful animation, catchy Lin-Manuel Miranda tunes, and Cuba pride – this animated musical has much to savor. Though, there’s a fair portion of emotion and laughs left out in its story of a kinkajou named Vivo (voiced by Miranda) who must deliver a love song written by his beloved owner Andrés (Juan de Marcos González) to his old musical partner, Marta Sandoval (Gloria Estefan), at her farewell concert in Miami. Gabi (voiced by newcomer Ynairaly Simo) is unabashedly herself and a burst of energy, coming up with a Plan A, B, and C for her and Vivo’s adventure from Havana to Miami. But directors Kirk DeMicco and Brandon Jeffords go the wrong way when taking them into the Everglades while being chased by girl scouts. The cuteness starts to wear off at this point. The movie is content with having forgettable filler instead of strengthening its sweet messages shared about love, music, and second chances.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
Outer Banks, Season Two
If you thought season one of Outer Banks went off the rails, then buckle up buddy, because season two is even more unfathomable. We pick up right where season one left off and we’re off to the races with a new threat, new villains, and a new unbelievable situation for our main characters to find themselves in. Hey, I get it – Outer Banks wasn’t for everyone. But, if you enjoyed season one, rest assured that season two glows with the same sort of style. The show definitely stays true to its The-CW-in-the-mid-2000s vibe – there’s plenty of plot to chew on, and if you can suspend the fact that these are a bunch of teenagers running around like it’s a Jason Bourne movie, there’s some pretty surprising and tense action sequences in the show. Charles Esten has to be having a ton of fun with this. I always thought part of the show’s charm was its setting, and it keeps that in its periphery, especially when we travel to scenic Charleston. Of course, it wouldn’t be Outer Banks if there weren’t storylines centered around juicy and dramatic love stories straight out of a teenage gossip magazine. And, you want to talk about a cliffhanger? The end of this series will knock the breath right out of your lungs. *gasp* I hate myself for loving this show so much – sorry not sorry.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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