Change Your Image
gregmalone1
Reviews
Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021)
A gem of a show and story
I'd watched The Clone Wars a few years back and enjoyed it... much more than any of the Star Wars movies of late. But what a surprise awaited me as I discovered The Bad Batch. The characters, the story, the animation... all add up to an exceptional entertainment experience. And then there's the fact that one person, Dee Bradley Baker does all of the voices of the Bad Batch'ers, other clones and characters... how does he do that, and so well?
In any case, I marvel at how well this series holds up episode after episode. I'm now watching season 3 as the episodes are released. Dave Filoni, the creator/producer has done it again and even better.
I can't say enough about this series.
The Signal (2014)
A poorly casted, written and directed film
The story 'might have' and promise, but since the writing was so mundane and uncreative it didn't stand a chance. My constant beef with the film was the poor poor acting by the young lead. He was abysmal. See, young actors RARELY are able to emote authentic emotions and looks, because they have little in the way of real life experience. I'm not talking skills, I'm talking core experiences that help wire their brain. I never once believed the lead actor. And his female companion had only one look and few lines. Bizarre is how it struck me. Anyway, I did watch it all, skipping through the clear nonsense, which was frequent. And what's with Lawrence Fishburne. Hah, he could've done that role in his sleep... probably did. Never seen out of helmet and suit. I watched so you don't have to.
The Curse (2023)
Tense, funny, authentic, wild ending
I loved The Curse. But it was at times tough to watch due to the 'magic' of storytelling, acting, directing and soundtrack. Truly amazing.
Rarely has a series been so impactful to me, and for reasons that aren't entirely clear in the moment.
The Curse has a steady progression of tense situations due mostly to the character Asher (Nathan Fielder) and his tendency to not get the moment correctly.
Also the soundtrack is truly ethereal at times, with very high quality audio.
Emma Stone is a revelation. Until now I hadn't really connected to her as an actor. But after The Curse, she's high on my list of talent to watch.
I don't know if the writers, Fielder and Safdie, ever lived in Espanola, but the film sure seems to suggest it. It is very authentic. I live in Santa Fe not far from Espanola, and I can tell you that the myriad cultural and mundane details contained in the film are 100% spot on. Such an excellent job of transporting the viewer to Espanola, New Mexico.
Note: No spoilers
Ok, that final episode. I see many comments where people don't seem to get it. It's simple, to me. The curse finally did it's thing. And in a spectacular, never before seen manner. Nuf said.
Reacher (2022)
UPDATE after Season 2 >> Weak lead actor brings down potential of series
UPDATE
Season 2 of Reacher fixed all or most of my issues with Season 1, namely a lead actor with no affect or dynamism.
One immediately sees the difference in how the Reacher character is portrayed in Season 2. He's grimier, more serious and more intense. He actually seems to be acting, unlike most of Season 1.
Bravo. Thoroughly enjoyed Season 2.
ORIGINAL REVIEW
I truly wish I could just 'go with it' as so many suggest when it comes to the very weak acting (Richter only) and somewhat weakish writing. I have managed to get through about 7 episodes of the first season, but every time the camera turns to Richter it usually results in a flat response from me --- because he does flat acting.
Finally, after watching the 7th episode, I realized I was wasting my time hoping for Reacher to turn into an exciting series. I truly liked Tom Cruise in the Reacher film role. He brought dynamism and cleverness to the role. Richter, on the other hand, brings nothing to the table, acting wise. It's hard to understand who was advising him on this.
I'm out.
The Last Voyage of the Demeter (2023)
LVotD: excellent film, unique setting
I found The Last Voyage of the Demeter to be an excellently produced and performed film about the discovery of a vampire in the cargo hold of a late 1800's sailing ship. What really excited me was learning that the story is based on one of the original chapters of Bram Stoker's Dracula novel.. the captain's log of the Demeter.
Conversely I was troubled to learn that this movie only earned about $20M, which includes international revenues. That's after spending over $40M to produce it. I have a theory about why it 'flopped' at the box office... the title. Even I had no idea what the movie was about when I first saw it's title. It's arguable that including the name of Dracula in the title would've made a world of difference.
For me, I thoroughly enjoyed the film.
Asteroid City (2023)
So beautifully filmed, so boring and meaningless
Big thumbs down for the story and narrative. Thumbs up for the visual style, but even it becomes boring when there's practically zero story to prop it up.
I have to agree that this movie, despite its visual style and hype, is nearly a complete waste of one's time.
My suspicion is that all of the somewhat positive reviews it is getting is because some of those reviewers want to believe that they have art cinema tastes. What a delusion with Asteroid City. Artsy, yes, quite so. An entertaining and interesting film, not even close.
Why are all these great actors stone faced and uninteresting?
For me this film landed with a thud.
San ti (2023)
Profoundly high quality adaptation of the book
I just finished watching the 30 episodes of Three Body by Tencent. Loved it immensely. The main actors are fabulous. The production values are excellent. And, the story hews to the book very well.
Many will observe that the pace of the story seems slow at times, though I found it to be more of a zen experience in those episodes. In the end the series delivers the goods.
There are some a few odd quirks in the version released for English subtitle readers. The most odd is the occasional sudden insertion of completely out-of-context music, overwriting dialog and all other story sound. I've read that some copyright issues were being covered up, but boy did they do a sloppy job. A shame given how much work went into the production.
I particularly gained insight into the people of modern day China. It was revelatory to see how similar their daily lives are like mine/ours in the West. Even their views on politics and life were quite liberal and enlightened.
Highly recommend!
Star Trek: Discovery (2017)
Horrible, misguided, ignorant of the franchise
As much as I try, I can barely get through an episode of Discovery in Season 4. It's so blatantly 'woke' and 'sappy', dragging each whining scene out for way too long. It's simply horrible. What the h*** are the showrunners thinking?! Pure cr*p. I'm a life-long Trekkie (watched original series back in mid-60s and everything since). I know the Star Trek franchise inside-out. There's never been anything in the franchise like Discovery. A pure misfire and misguided effort. And if you thought it couldn't get worse (e.g. Canon ignorance and more), then Season 4 has an all-new depth it sinks to. Simply horrible.
Nope (2022)
Sad demise of Jordan Peele as auteur
I'm imagining, hoping really, that they knew Nope sucked, but because the trailer was misleadingly enticing they figured they'd recoup investment. At the cost of tarnishing Peele's reputation.
The core problem with Nope is the writing. Doesn't hold water. Inexplicably thin and often self-defeating dialog and, the main story progression which is dismal at best. Every first year film student knows that the film must set the hook and never ever let go. Failed on so many levels.
And then the appalling characterizations. OMG. From the nearly mute and possibly brain damaged central character who had maybe a handful of short lines that were embarrassingly out of touch, to the over-the-top sister who bore zero resemblance to someone that grew up on a ranch and was a stereotypical jive talking, loud music playing, dancing energetically in her bedroom cartoon from another movie... OMG such bad creative choices.
Did anyone at anytime at the producer level realize what a pile of crap they had? Probably so, sad to say.
Jordan, please learn from this catastrophic endeavor, or walk off into filmmaker oblivion.
Moonfall (2022)
Starts promising, then descends into the abyss. Details below.
Only takes 20 mins to begin to realize what kind of a movie this is. By 30 mins you can close and go elsewhere. Gawd awful writing, you know, when 'writers' of this kind of 'science fiction' create clueless, shallow, intelligence-insulting drivel; where the hapless movie stars recite trite lines that a smart 12 yr old could write better; where the leading man, supposedly an astronaut-level kinda guy, is played as a bumbling low IQ fool (as this actor always does); where the director wouldn't qualify for directing a school play; where the producers think the special fx (which a B-level) will make the film; where the investors just want ROI; where viewers get duped into trying this waste of space. That kind of movie.
Eternals (2021)
Bland, uninspired, mail-in performances
Every now and then a movie comes along which when you watch it you simply cannot connect with the suspension of disbelief.. This film felt completely contrived and formulaic. The casting was one of those situations where you're expected to be wowed by by big name stars instead of the story they are intended to represent. Nothing about the characters felt genuine for me, just walk thru, say your lines artifice. A pathetic insult to reasonably intelligent viewers. Sick of the MCU money grab. 👎
The Tomorrow War (2021)
Much hyped, starts good, degrades to pathetic writing and acting
As I started Tomorrow War, I was hopeful and it seemed to have promise over the first half hour. But then the pattern becomes clear -- a fourth grader must've written the script and dialog. It seemed to have been copied off the back of a cereal box it was so weak. There is zero -- ZERO -- character development for anyone. The dialog is at a a 3rd grade reading level. The editing of the scenes seems like a different editor edited each scene. Continuity and logic are out the window. Who said Chris Pratt could act? He has one look and demeanor the entire film -- "Duh.... I don't know. Ummmm... ok." Profound for sure. I began stopping and intending to quit several times during the second half, and did finally quit with 10 minutes left. Honestly, it's really bad, really really bad.
Shingeki no Kyojin (2013)
Original, exciting, engaging, beautifully rendered -- but often dumbfoundingly erratic
I've watched AOT here in early 2021 and am blown way by its original storyline, engaging themes, interesting characters and gorgeous artwork. There are plenty of effusive reviews here to cover those praiseworthy details, so I'll focus here on why I deducted a couple stars. This reflects only my experience. Your mileage may vary.
What I want to highlight is the unfortunate, often confusing and distracting haphazardness by which the story is told and how the graphic style changes from season to season (esp. 3-4).
This is not a rant, but more of a critique of the process by which the story is produced for viewers -- ALL which I forgive because of the otherwise excellent overarching story.
Storytelling (no spoilers):
The first two seasons were internally consistent and a delight. But beginning with season 3 and further amplified in season 4 , the creators started making hugely incongruent leaps in the story with little or no build up, contextual transition or foreshadowing, the result being a jarring and frustrating narrative. Whether it's the out-of-the-blue introduction of major new characters that take over the story for endless episodes (at the minimization of the core characters so well constructed in seasons 1&2), or the suddenly new bigger world perspectives (season 3-4 esp.) --- it adds up to a very roughly told story that at times seems made up on the fly season-to-season. Add to that the simultaneous change in graphic visualization style (more below), it can be a real disruptive effect. Now, to its credit, after you wade through the seasonal narrative and visual challenges, the overall story is a quite clever one, but could've/should've been presented in a less erratic style.
One cannot discuss AOT's storytelling without getting into the sometimes painful internal narratives, soliloquies, and conversations that drag on and on, mostly for exposition alone, and often at the most unnatural moments and out of context. Yes, while fighting a Titan or being shoved into a Titan's mouth one can have a deep and lengthy philosophical conversation with oneself or another as though there is no urgency in that moment. Yes, while riding full-out galloping horses a team can have a calm, softly spoken planning meeting, despite the jostle, noise and dust... at least they were able to, it seems. Truly bizarre, but not the worse design sin, because sometimes it works, but is vastly overused as an expositional method in AOT.
Fundamental visual style changes:
We all accept that an animated series that takes nearly a decade to produce only 4 seasons is going to undergo evolution in style. Perfectly fine and expected. But the graphical style changes that happen in season 3 (a sad downgrade in style) and season 4 (an upgrade in style, but radically different) are so dramatic that it seems that entirely different budget, management and creative teams produced the series season by season, and shared little sentiment for the unbeatable methods used in seasons 1&2.
English dubbing:
I don't know if there are multiple 'dub' versions of the series, but what I experienced was really poor voice acting in seasons 1&2 (too hyperbolic and over-the-top, though some might be chalked up to generic anime styling). Season 3 improved, and season 4 nailed it with true quality voice performances. I watched most of season 3 in Japanese with subtitles to avoid the often grating English dubbed voice acting. And because there were so many endless expository ramblings by all new characters in the opening episodes of season 4, especially, one couldn't use subtitles and keep up with what they're saying and get even a glimpse of the visuals.
To conclude, despite the 'grievances' I've mentioned, AOT held me in its grip (like one of its Titans might do), and I overall enjoyed it tremendously. I'd love to see a *quality* live action series of feature length movies based on the story, or maybe just one good one. Also, I suspect that my criticisms might have to do with how I binged all 4 seasons without a break instead if having to see it emerge slowly over many years, thus the "seams" are more apparent. I expect I'll rewatch the entire series and probably enjoy it even more.
Note: At the time of this review Season 4 has only 11 episodes.
Jungle Mystery: Lost Kingdoms of the Amazon (2020)
Promising but unfulfilled
It appears this show has terminated with 3 episodes. The first 2 episodes were not bad and had a kernal of interesting information. But episode 3 suddenly became a different topic altogether involving drug cartels and so forth. I thought the show had an interesting premise but in the end it lacked technical and scientific detail that I had hoped would be present. I like many were drawn to the show because of the great publicity it got regarding the wall paintings.
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
Disappointing
What happened to this franchise so early in its development? It baffles me. Though I am totally enamored with Gal Gadot, even in a bad movie like this, I can hardly believe that this script and production was foisted upon her and all the fans who know how great the original film was.
The writing suffers from bleak incompetence to such a degree that you find yourself looking for excuses as to why this movie turned out so bad. Oh you want to fly a modern fighter jet fresh out of the 1917 war? No problem let's go get one parked over here in this exhibit. I'm sure it's fueled, serviced and you will have no problem figuring out how to fly it. Right. That's just one example of the inane stupidity that one must endure over and over again in this film.
And not just Gal Gadot got screwed by The Script. Poor Pedro Pascal suffered the same fate by being given a corny script and character that does not pass for a reasonable villain in one of these kind of storylines.
And maybe I was blinking at the wrong moment but when did Kristen wiig's character suddenly become a cat? Right out of the blue. No build-up no explanation no precedent. Boom. You're a cat.
Well I'm not going to keep listing the many disappointments that kept my head shaking in disbelief throughout this film. Suffice to say they better rescue this franchise on the next one or else I fear it will go the way of so many DC Comic to film stories.
Sucker Punch (2011)
Better than the critics say -- a moving, and sad story
Before watching Sucker Punch, a film made 10 yrs ago, I was aware of the harsh criticism it suffered after release. I almost didn't watch it. But I did, at last. For me I found the central character, Baby Doll, totally sympathetic and a sad case of abuse that led her to escape into her imagination til the end. The critics focus much on the video game aspects, but I found those sequences interesting and entertaining knowing that they were the creations of the helpless mind of someone with no way out. I offer rare praise for this film and its creators.
The Midnight Sky (2020)
Opening half is great, falls apart after that. Awful logic and science to boot.
I thought I was watching a great movie in The Midnight Sky until the mid-to-final act kicked in. Then it started to fall apart story-wise. To be clear, Clooney's performance was superb. The cinematography and editing were top notch too.
But then about half-way through the story suddenly departs from Clooney's situation and moves out into space aboard the returning spaceship and doesn't even look back at Clooney for a very very long time. Was a bit jarring, almost as if a different movie had started up while you sneezed.
But here's where it went especially haywire for me. Spoiler ahead.
First, this movie knows *nothing* about basic science. The best sci-fi has actual "sci" in it. But not here. It opens with the year "2049" title card -- not only part of the name of another movie (Blade Runner), but ridiculous given it's only a little more than 25 years from now and lo-and-behold we've got space ships with people and colonies ready to settle a "newly discovered" moon of Jupiter that happens to be Earth-like. And mind blowing spaceships that any advanced civilization would crave. In 2049. Yeah right. Why do filmmakers do that? Treat 20 yrs into the future like we're all going to be in flying cars and on distant planets? Clearly they skipped science class in high school. And why doesn't *somebody* from the gaffer up to the numerous Executive Producers say something about that? Make them all look like fools.
But then in the end, after we've seen poignantly how every crew member on the spaceship is essential to maintaining it, two of them announce they're going to get off during the slingshot around the destroyed Earth to find their dead families. Yeah, really? And take one of two space shuttles for the purpose? And leave the remaining two crew members (a third had already died) to run the ship and settle the Jupiter moon by themselves after a long return trip back? Right. And the two that stayed on the ship never once tried to argue for all to stay onboard because basically everyone's going to die if any of them leave the ship. Right. Pure nonsense. Why didn't *somebody* from the gaffer to one of the Executive Producers raise the red flag on such foolish writing?
And then, stunningly, you're thrown back into flashbacks of a younger Clooney that you don't (at least I didn't) realize was a younger Clooney because they used a different actor (Spock!) that doesn't look anything like Clooney... oh my gawd, so poorly handled and only revealed in the closing credits that Spock (Ethan Peck) was playing a young Clooney character... until then I didn't even know it.
And, really sadly, in the final scenes when it's obtusely and oddly revealed that the little girl Clooney's been with is really the lady on the spaceship, it's so poorly set up and explained that it becomes, in my opinion, a wasted effort altogether. What is that you say, again?! She's WHO? Uhhh... does not compute. Even if you were imagining her, it has no useful logic or "ah hah" moment or epiphany to it. They really blew it.
So, my take is that there are two, maybe three actual movies here, rolled into one that starts well and ends in a mess. Bummer. Because I really liked where it was heading initially. And I truly enjoyed Clooney's performance despite the absurdity during the last half.
Luxor (2020)
Far better film than most reviews indicate
Straight up, this film is one of the most beautifully shot and acted films you'll find. But it's not for those who have no tolerance for the "kind" of film it is. It's a stream of consciousness experience following Andrea Riseborough's character through a few days in Egypt visiting friends and working on some deep seated angst she's carrying about something in the past. It is not an adventure film or action film or even a romance film, quite frankly. The dialog is good, but sparse. As others have pointed out, Riseborough's face and body language do 90% of the acting -- and does it very well indeed. She is a remarkable actor.
My guess is that most of the negative reviews are from men, and specifically men under 50 yrs old. It's a film with a woman's sensibility imbuing it from start to finish.
I was constantly amazed and impressed with the "sense of place" the story creates from the beginning. Whether it's out on the streets or in the hotel, it feels so authentic and unhurried... like life should be.
A big thumbs up from me, though I recognize that many will (and do) find it less than satisfying due to other expectations from their entertainment.
Tenet (2020)
Tenet disappoints
Somehow the pre-release hype on Tenet was that it was going to blow away its audience with it's amazing story and effects. Sad to say -- and I have a very open mind when it comes to new sci-fi -- it fails immensely in those expectations.
First, the story creeps along at pace slower than a turtle, never really giving its viewer a reason to get hooked into it.
Second, and the biggest disappointment, the "special ability", the superpower are so poorly explained that you never -- and I mean NEVER -- truly understand how it works, what triggers it in one instance and not another, and so on. It's like "Wow, check out this visual effect, and don't ask why!" Thus when the effect happens it's impossible to know why it happened, what you can predict from it happening, and you just get pissed or worse, bored, with it all.
I stopped watching with only 20 minutes left in the film. That should say it all. I tried to hold on, but finally was so insulted by the poor storytelling that I gave up not even caring what ultimately happened in the end.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)
Enjoyable and a pleasure to watch
After all the negative hype I'd heard originally about Sonic the Hedgehog, I had low expectations. But to my surprise I found it to be well made, balanced, funny and entertaining. I am glad they did the redesign of Sonic, and frankly it's hard to imagine what the heck they were thinking when they 'humanized' him in the original aborted design. Either way. I can recommend this movie to anyone that enjoys film of the same genre that includes Who Killed Roger Rabbit, and more.
Archer (2009)
Archer Season 11 - ongoing review
Update as of episode 4:
Same as reported below... this season not funny, not like earlier seasons. The whole crew is there, but gone are the outrageous humor and quintessential one liners from Sterling Archer and the other characters. Sad times for Archer fans.
=====
With only 2 episodes into season 11, I have concerns. I'll admit that only 2 episodes are likely not enough to judge the whole season by, but there are valid comments to make nevertheless.
I've been a fan of the Archer series for many years, and have watched all episodes multiple times, seriously a lot of times. Why? Because they make me laugh, still, after so many rewatches.
But, season 11 isn't off to a good start, in my opinion. After 2 episodes it hasn't been funny, at all. In fact, it's been kind of somber and semi-serious. Gone are Archer's amazing and fresh one-liners, though yes, he tries to throw a few out and they fall flat, largely because the other characters diss on such comments now. Which is weird.
My hope is that this is all some kind of long-range story planning that has the humor restored to the series. But it better come quickly. Else, it'd been better to keep Archer in a coma living fantasy lives.
Mulan (2020)
'Perfection' is relative -- I enjoyed the film despite 'issues'
I never saw the animated film, so I don't hold the new live action film responsible to live up to any previous standard. That makes me, in my view, a more neutral arbiter of Mulan 2020 as a film consumer.
I've read the criticisms of this film, ranging from Chinese national political involvement (listed in the film credits), alleged manipulation of the story's themes to favor the official China government propaganda about the nation, location shoots near the Uighur detention camps, the film's lead actor Liu Yifei speaking in support of China's clampdown on the Hong Kong democracy movement, and criticisms of the creative choices made in the film. While each of these items carries some weight in some perspectives, I didn't let them influence me while I watched the end-product, the film.
As a standalone film, given the caveats stated above, Mulan 2020 is solid entertainment, beautifully crafted, with a positive message for the world and young people. The storyline is noble, the central character is a stoic role model, and the possible creative choice disputes can easily be overlooked by a neutral observer.
Did I find the Witch problematic, design-wise, as some point out? No, not really, but I can see how she could've been expanded upon further. Except, a filmmaker has to make choices, else the movie runs on for hours.
Did I find the Phoenix confusing? Perhaps. I was confused about it at first, thinking it was the Witch, but then, after a while it became more clear -- or, as clear as it was going to get. This element could've been better explained or elaborated or put in some kind of context.
Was I pleased with all the casting choices and the dialogs? Mostly, but again why do we need to second guess the process of putting this film together?
As to the politics that have been injected into the discussions about Mulan 2020, I'd simply point out that all film locations have some troubled history or ongoing issues, worldwide.
Any films shot in the American South and parts of the East Coast are done so on land that once harbored institutionalized slavery sanctioned by the U.S. Constitution. Where's the outrage for that?
Should Driving Miss Daisey have been banned or boycotted? Extending beyond entertainment, should the Judeo-Christian Bible be banned due to it's advocation of violence against our 'enemies'?
I know these are not a perfect examples, but one must try to have the larger view of the world at times, and for me general entertainment should be largely exempt from some of the justified angst in society, unless (the caveat) the entertainment is blatantly a propaganda tool spreading dangerous falsehoods as truths that seek to stir up greater division and harm. Mulan 2020 does not do any of that as an entertainment product, despite any behind-the-scenes facts or nuances.
My first thought as the movie ended was that I would want to watch it again some day in order to absorb more of the creative detail I might've missed. I liked it that much.
Kindly spare me any angry rants and entrenched arguments. These are all just my own opinions which I believe are fair minded.
7500 (2019)
Just what I needed, a good, realistic, relatable story
I can only assume that the negative reviews being given by some for '7500' were from people that maybe prefer their danger-in-the-sky movies to have more action and special fx. This movie isn't "Harrison Ford in Air Force One", rather it takes the opposite view, the perspective of the surviving co-pilot stuck in the cockpit dealing with the situation as it might realistically happen. For me, that's gold. Bravo!
Most air-hijacking films go for "summer spectacular" status with thrills and spills and vast heroism (re: the previously mentioned 'Air Force One', as example). 7500 takes the rarely taken path -- what would it be like to be the surviving co-pilot in that situation where you simply must not 'open the cockpit door' but be aware of the carnage happening in the passenger area?
Maybe the negative reviewers prefer their heroes more like Harrison Ford, and find Gordon-Levitt too subtle. Not me, I thought the performance was solid *because* of the 'average man' nature of the character.
Again, bravo.
Zomboat! (2019)
Unique, charming and off the wall treatment of the zombie apocalypse
Found this little gem while browsing on Hulu -- Zomboat! I (oddly perhaps) enjoy a unique treatment of the zombie genre, and Zomboat is definitely unique. It's quite well produced, acted and conceived -- even down to the quirky longboat our heroes commandeer down the narrow canal leading to London while escaping zombies. The many references to pop culture and wry humor, combined with charming dialog took me by surprise. With only 6 episodes in total, the story ends rather abruptly across the final episode. I could've enjoyed more. This isn't Gone With the Wind, but it absolutely is Zomboat!
Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020)
As a standalone story, it's ok, and Margot Robbie is the magic sauce
I'm not familiar with the harley Quinn 'canon', so am approaching Birds of Prey with an open mind. The story was a bit weak in places, but Margot Robbie's performance is the saving thread of the film. Not that her character's depiction was pitch perfect at all times, but it hit most of the notes and continuously saved the story. The other characters were pretty lame and more like props than characters, except for Rosey Perez who character was strong in the first half of the show and then faded back in the final act for some reason.
One could go scene by scene and nitpick what's there, or simply go with the flow and the ride.
I overall enjoyed the film and recommend it for light entertainment by an exceptional actor in a less than exceptional story.