The Bad Guys 2

The Bad Guys 2 (2025)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


It's understandable why there was so much hype leading up to this release. The artwork is incredible and the humor continues very well inline with the original movie, making for a very well done sequel. Secrets, reputations, treasures, and more are on the line as the Bad Guys try to prove they are still good while falling into some unlikely scenarios where their old skills come in more than a little useful. Some new friendships may be strained and put to the test, but this crazy group somehow manages to stay together. The ending is a bit of a surprise, though it plays in well with the rest of the series and leaves enough open that this could end where it is or lead into a new branch of adventure depending on the focus chosen. Even with all the secrets coming out, there may be even more hope than there was in the beginning.

Elio

Elio (2025)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Elio is an orphan living with his aunt, however all he dreams about is space. Through a series of crazy events, his dream comes true and he find a whole new universe. There are more than a few lessons learned along the way, including finding his first real friend. Turns out, maybe he has some good things back home as well, and so does his friend as they both start out running away for very different reasons. Overall, it's enjoyable, but also not anything amazing or remarkable, especially when held up against other Pixar/Disney big hits. 

The Wild Robot

The Wild Robot (2024)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Based off the book series, this is the most recent DreamWorks masterpiece. Roz is a robot that is very out of place as she finds herself on her own in the wilderness with no knowledge of how she got there or why she is there, and none of the locals seem to like her. Through a series of misfortunes, she slowly gets to know a few brave souls who eventually see something in her aside from the "monster" and give her a chance, especially once she has Brightbill is in her care. With the unlikely help of Fink, a lonely if tricky fox, the trio learns what it means to be part of a family and eventually even something greater as the entire island has more than a few reasons to come together. The ending is especially touching and hopeful, with more than a few lessons mixed into the story if you want them.

Moana 2

Moana 2 (2024)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Overall, the family seemed to agree that while this wasn't as good as the original movie, it was still highly enjoyable and a well done sequel, which is saying something as a lot of sequels tend to fall short of the originals, especially when the first one was so well received. We avoided any spoilers, so we weren't really sure what the plan was for the story going into the movie. Moana's new little sis was an interesting addition. While we do see the tribe out on the water now, they are not all out at sea as indicated by the end of the original movie. Instead, they go as far as they need to for fish, but Moana appears the be the only real "wayfinder" in the tribe. A title that may get her in trouble with some other powers out at sea. Luckily for her, she has some unexpected help along the way, included a rather motley crew from her homeland, and of course, Maui. As Moana points out in the movie too, "still not a princess," which ties back to their first meeting and could also be linked to remaining her own franchise and not being pulled into the Disney Princess lineup. The ending is somewhat expected but with a rather unexpected twist to it all in all. Seems Maui may not be the only demigod in the lineup for this franchise.

Despicable Me 4

Despicable Me 4 (2024)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


It's okay for a sequel and has funny parts as usual, but it's not a favorite. The intro is a bit of a kick featuring Blackpink given there's some k-pop fandom in our house between one my friends, my daughter, and myself. The minion hero squad is a mash up that will look familiar from many other well known heroes including Cyclops, Mr. Fantastic, The Thing, and possible Superman? The story itself is rather mixed up and slow moving with a plethora of characters. The ending is meant to be uplifting, but falls a little flat, though some watchers may be amused to recognize several of the villains in the audience at the talent show. Still rather baffling how they supposedly have this high tech network and all know about each other's accomplishments or failures, yet the other villains still consider Gru a villain in their ranks and don't seem to remember or recognize that he works for the AVL (Anti-Villain League). 

Inside Out 2

Inside Out 2 (2024)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This picks up a few years after Inside Out, when Riley has just turned 13 and is transition from the end of her last year of middle school (or junior high) into her first year of high school. As with the first movie, there are several changes in her life around her that combine with her age and changes in that time frame that greatly impact her life. Anxiety especially is a bit overzealous, possibly even more than Joy began as, though there are still similarities between the two that Joy realizes as she struggles to find a way to save Riley and make her happy again. That's a lot of emotions to figure out and a lot of pressure at some points. Lots of laughs and even some tears going around with this sequel, and set up that they could do a third if they wanted to. Overall, well done and thoroughly enjoyable.

Over the Hedge

Over the Hedge (2006)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This was okay, but not a favorite or something that is going to hit the top of the list to rewatch. The critters are an odd mismatched bunch that are both smart and also very gullible at the same time. Add in a couple of humans set out to eliminate them and a rather angry bear and you get a recipe for chaos. Of course there are a few good lessons tossed in as well, but you may need to point them out if you want kids to get it and not focus on the cute and chaos in the rest of the story.

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003)

My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars


Maybe it's a remnant of the Sinbad ride from Tokyo DisneySea, but I couldn't get Sinbad out of my head and realized I hadn't added this to the media list yet, though I know I have certainly watched this one before. This one is DreamWorks' take on the legendary pirate as he faces the goddess Eris to clear his own name and determine just what sort of man he is - the thief and liar everyone says, or the friend who won't abandon his old pal as Prince Proteus believes. Of course it's not a Sinbad movie without a little love interest thrown into the mix, so we have Marina who longs for the sea but is promised to Proteus and works as a diplomat for his father.

The Bad Guys

The Bad Guys (2022)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars


Not my favorite, but still a well done and cute show about redemption and the "bad guys" becoming the "good guys". The artwork style is mostly similar here, but with a bit of a comic edge with the lining and some of the freeze frame styles. It's easy to see why this might be a good fall back film for something lighter but still with a good underlying message that is overall enjoyable for the whole family. If you pay attention, there are a lot of references to common children fairytales as well, including the 3 pigs (and pretty much anything where the wolf is the "bad guy" traditional speaking, which is where a lot of the stereotype references come from).

First Flight

First Flight (2006)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This is a super short story about a tiny fledgling who unexpectedly changes everything for a rather fastidious businessman. There is very little sound as far as dialogue with most of the film being music and expressions with the occasional gasp, laugh, or whistle to punctuate everything. It's rather sweet in a very odd and roundabout way how the businessman takes in this tiny little fledgling that seems to be counting on him and they find a new type of joy in learning how to fly.

Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken

Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken (2023)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Ruby is not your average teenage despite always wishing she was and her parent's insistence on staying hidden and safe. All of that changes following an accident when Ruby makes the choice to dive into the ocean to try and save her friend. After hearing her grandmama's story when she and her mother fought against the mermaid queen to save the ocean, you would think Ruby would be a bit more wary learning Chelsea's secret, however, the mermaid plays everything just right to be the innocent friend and confidant Ruby needs and feels like she can't find in her own family. Fortunately, it's not too late, and Ruby's friends prove she really didn't have anything to fear. The whole town really rallies around the krakens as their new mascots after the family saves the day rather publicly, confirming they aren't the monsters and threat the humans thought they were.

When Marnie Was There

When Marnie Was There (2014)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Anna is sent to the countryside for the summer for her health resulting in some unusual friends and experiences. Trying to find her own answers and happiness, Anna finds the best of friends and the key to her own forgotten past. What was making her cry and withdraw before may now become something to make her smile and celebrate instead, looking forward to new adventures with her friends in the future and remembering the friend and relative who cared for her more than anything.

Earwig and the Witch

Earwig and the Witch (2020)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is a very different and more modern art style than we usually see in Ghibli films. Earwig is an orphan who finds herself in the care of a rather self centered witch and an eccentric mandrake while not knowing her own history. Turns out she may have some real ties to these two strangers that she's trying to make her new life with. Can't say I love the CGI style of the art used here even if it is more common in other animation studios these days. A lot of the detail that Ghibli is known for seems lost in this one and instead we have a large focus on a lot of negativity with a giant side of questions until the mandrake seems to take the Earwig and she becomes a bit of a spoiled princess learning magic and making a new life with this odd family.

The Red Turtle

The Red Turtle (2016)

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


This is mostly a silent film with very little sound, either from nature or from the actual characters themselves to tell the story. A mariner is trapped on an rather serene island and while he has the knowledge to build increasingly stronger rafts to attempt his escape, the very nature and animals surrounding the island keep him in place, especially once he finds the turtle isn't just a turtle. Their family is rather peaceful most of the time, though the son leaves soon after a large storm nearly tears them all apart and does not appear to ever return. While the silence is a stark difference in the story telling and leaves some guess work in the sequence as to what is actually happening or being portrayed, it also oddly works in most ways here, though it's still unclear why the turtle and if there is a trigger to the transformation.

Barbie: A Touch of Magic

Barbie: A Touch of Magic (2023)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Unclear exactly when this takes place other than some time after Big City, Big Dreams and It Takes Two given Brooklyn is in Malibu with Malibu Barbie and her family and friends. It would seem that this may take place before Mermaid Power if only because the ability to turn into mermaids would be very useful when stuck out at sea even if just to get help, but would make more sense to keep it hidden if Malibu is the only one who can transform at the time and she doesn't have her necklace clearly visible at any point to be able to use it. Given everyone moving to Malibu and references to Brooklyn attending school after the summer with Malibu Barbie and her friends it would seem perhaps Brooklyn has made her choice regarding the acting school though no discussion or final decision has been shared about that choice yet. 

The end of season one would also indicate more adventures planned and coming up still, though it seems season 2 is only available in Australia so far and won't hit US release until later in spring 2024. 

Hopefully the characters will at least keep in touch as Rocki has indicated wanting to stay in the human world to learn more about her new friends while Dru Charles has long wished to return to Mesmer. Arlene was certainly a surprise as we've seen her a few times both in Skipper & the Babysitting Adventure, and in Chelsea & the Lost Birthday. Somewhat curious that she doesn't seem to consider her own time in the human world and what she may have learned there as useful, though she certainly seems far more acclimated and friendly when working there than Rocki started out with in the beginning of this series.

Barbie: It Takes Two

Barbie: It Takes Two (2022)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This appears to take place somewhere between Big City, Big Dreams and Mermaid Power, which would make sense given this aired somewhere between the two films. The girls are on an adventure both for school and to kick off their singing careers following their Times Square performance. Along the way, Brooklyn gets an offer that could make her acting career at the same time. It sounds like no decision is made there and will be needed by the end of their trip to Malibu, but we have yet to see what that decision is either with a new season of this show or in the movies that have all taken place in the summer up to this point. Given Malibu Barbie is no longer in Malibu, there's a whole host of new friends and interactions in the city. Her old friends and of course her family still pop up frequently, especially Ken. Given their struggle to get studio time and record their demos, a little surprising there isn't more music overall in the series, but what is there is enjoyable. 

Barbie 42: Skipper & the Babysitting Adventure

Barbie 42: Skipper & the Babysitting Adventure (2023)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


As the title may suggest, Skipper is the main star of this movie. After her babysitting adventures go belly up, she finds herself up against some challenging obstacles in a summer job at the water park. Skipper's ingenuity and thoughtfulness shine as she keeps turning bad situations into winners. This especially comes in handy when a daycare adventure goes wrong, landing Skipper and her friends out in the desert with a bunch of kids. Fortunately, the teens are able to pull it together and get the kids back to the park, not that the parents are truly aware of the adventures the kids were out on. Somehow, Skipper also now speaks dolphin? Which also requires about the strangest face possible when she speaks it. The end credits are also a major tip to the next movie with Stacie's line about having her own movie since this one is over. Seems highly likely given her name in the title for the next film.

Barbie 40: Mermaid Power

Barbie 40: Mermaid Power (2022)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


While all of the movies beginning with Dolphin Magic are part of the same arc with Barbie and her family, including the Brooklyn Barbie from Big City, Big Dreams now that she's entered the picture, this film directly ties back to events from both of those movies with Ilsa (the mermaid) and Marlo (the scientist) back in the picture. The Barbies' are out with Malibu Barbie's sisters in a boat to clean the ocean when Isla calls for help. The other mermaids aren't all smiles and friendship unfortunately, resulting in some tense interactions. For once Malibu Barbie doesn't have all the answers though and is struggling to find her powers where Brooklyn Barbie and her sisters seem to discover theirs fairly easily when they need arises to use them. Rather than being the star of the show, Malibu Barbie instead seems to recognize who the "power keeper" is that can save the day and helps pull everyone together. It seems even those who are opposition in this movie really just needed second chances and a few lessons to set things straight. Even Marlo, who was very definitely trouble before, seems eager to help now that she's had her own mermaid experience.

Barbie 39: Big City, Big Dreams

Barbie 39: Big City, Big Dreams (2021)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


For taking place during a music competition, there isn't as much music as one might expect in this movie. There are two Barbie Roberts at the competition, which makes for some confusion and laughs and even some hurt feelings when someone decides not to play by the rules, but these two Barbies and their friends are determined to make the most of the experience and help lift each other up rather than tearing others down. As usual, a good lesson with a cute movie and some catchy tunes.

Barbie 38: Chelsea & the Lost Birthday

Barbie 38: Chelsea & the Lost Birthday (2021)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Thanks to time zones and crossing a border overnight, the Roberts family loses a day during their cruise. Unfortunately, that one single day happens to be Chelsea's birthday. Add to that a rather nasty events coordinator on the ship that can't be bothered to actually deal with people and you have a recipe for disaster. Fortunately, if there is one thing this family has never lacked, it's imagination. The rest of the ship's crew are pretty decent too, which evens out the playing field, especially once Chelsea catching the events coordinator in the act, revealing his own scheming and troubles to the rest of the crew.