lune78 Reviews

100% Hotter (2016–2018)

Terrible show with a terrible message

[1/10 · 4 August 2019]

This show basically tells you that being different is not good and people will only like you if you look normal and basic. In addition to a terrible message, the hosts are very unlikeable and come off as extremely vain and superficial. Avoid this pile of crap at all costs.

Heartthrob (2017)

Good premise, poor execution

[4/10 · 25 January 2018]

While the acting is top-notch and the first half-hour is very promising, the film never quite finds its identity and constantly switches between romance, slasher flick and psychological drama. Not to mention that the ending is extremely anticlimactic, predictable and unsatisfying.It's also hard to root for Sam, who in the end realizes she really did love Henry, although he was a serial killer and a psychopath.

Very disappointing, to say the least.

Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of (2015)

Not just another boy band

[9/10 · 1 February 2015]

As a longtime fan, this documentary was a must-see for me. And needless to say, I was not disappointed. Show 'Em What You're Made Of offers a very honest look at the roller-coaster life of a boy band whose longevity and success defied all expectations. No truth is sugar-coated in this film as the boys-turned-men give us a glimpse into their childhoods, their rise to superstardom and, ultimately, their fall and return into the spotlight. From AJ's drug and alcohol abuse to Brian's struggle with his singing voice and the band's conflicts with their first manager Lou Pearlman, the BSB hold nothing back as they recount their 20 year-long journey as one of the most successful recording groups of all time.

Tears are shed, hurtful words are exchanged during arguments, but ultimately, the bond between all the guys is stronger than ever. They're a group, but above all, they're brothers. And that's what makes the Backstreet Boys so special.

House of Carters (2006)

This is a real American family

[8/10 · 25 September 2006]

When we first met the Carters back in 1996 (the year Nick and his fellow band mates from the Backstreet Boys took the world by storm), they were this picture-perfect, all-American family where everyone was all smiles. 10 years later, the kids have grown up and they have lost much of their innocence. Essentially because of their parents' divorce. We are presented with brothers and sisters that have been torn apart by a seemingly manipulative stage mother; House of Carters is about bringing the kids back together again and mending broken hearts.

After all the idiotic reality TV shows we have had to endure over the past few years, I really wasn't sure about House of Carters. But after watching the first episode, I can confidently say that it has a lot more heart and soul than any other reality show I've seen. Because this time, it's not about winning a prize, it's not about strategies or beautiful but brainless people hooking up. It's about a real family. And a really messed up one at that. But messed up families are a majority these days. And this is why HOC is more real than any other reality show.

If you are going to dismiss this show simply because Nick and Aaron Carter are in it, then let me just tell you that you'd be wrong. Sure they've made a lot of mistakes in the past, but HOC really shows them in a different light; you could never have imagined that they were so mature. Especially Nick, who really seems to take to heart his responsibilities as the oldest of the bunch.

Entertaining, sometimes heartbreaking but always real, House of Carters is a show not to be missed.

The Benchwarmers (2006)

Jon Heder, I will pray for you...

[2/10 · 8 April 2006]

I'm not a very difficult person, and I'm not very hard to please when it comes to movies. I don't mind watching a harmless, gross-out comedy once in a while, and I laugh at most of the jokes, even those that aren't supposed to be that funny (heck, I found Date Movie hilarious...that should give you an idea on how easy it is to make me laugh). However, this was just plain awful. I mean, when Rob Schneider is the best element of a movie (which isn't saying much), you know you're in for something really, really stupid. The jokes are so unfunny, it's painful.There's only so much you can do with farts and bodily fluids... Even the kids at my screening didn't laugh. I usually adore David Spade because of his bratty attitude and caustic humor, but his character in Benchwarmers is completely uninteresting. As for Jon Heder... What happened to the young, promising actor who made audiences laugh with his character of Napoleon Dynamite? It seemed like you had such a beautiful career ahead of you! But now, it's only a matter of time until you hit rock bottom and join the "Unfunny actors who have lost all credibility because they keep making bad movie choices" club which your co-star Schneider has been part of for quite some time now. But I have faith in you Jon! I know that you can still redeem yourself! As for the plot, it is a rehash of something we've seen thousands of times, and you'll be lucky if you don't fall asleep. Saying that it's harmless is an understatement : it's too boring and bland to have any kind of impact.

Cool as Ice (1991)

Yes, it's bad, but still...

[4/10 · 13 December 2005]

OK, I admit it, I once was a huge Vanilla Ice fan. But then again, so were millions of other people. And incidentally, I just loved this movie. OK, so I was 11 years-old when I first watched it, so of course, my tastes in movies hadn't started developing back then. But even with a mediocre performance on the part of the Iceman and poor screen writing, I still find this movie enjoyable. Why? I don't know. Perhaps because it brings back fond memories. And I wouldn't quite put it on the same level of awfulness as Manos because no matter how bad this movie is, there is still something watchable in it. The problem is I still haven't figured out what it is.

Watching Ellie (2002–2003)

Too bad...

[11 August 2004]

It's too bad this show got cancelled so quickly, because personnally, I liked it a lot. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a remarkable actress and the supporting cast is just as awesome, especially Steve Carell who played Ellie's arrogant, annoying but hilarious ex-boyfriend Edgar (lucky for us, we got to see him play an equally arrogant guy in Bruce Almighty) . I'm afraid the pilot, which was just OK, dissuaded many from keeping watching "Ellie": during the first episodes, the show was trying to find itself, trying to be original but it still had that Seinfeld feel at the same time (the fact that Ellie would sing at the end of the first few episodes was quite reminiscent of Jerry's opening and closing monologues), and I have to admit that at first, it was hard to tell Ellie and Elaine apart. But eventually, the show slightly changed its concept and got better and funnier, and I'm told it was a whole lot more watchable than the Micheal Richards show and Bob Peterson, Jason Alexander's sitcom. Seinfeld Curse? Not in Julia's case, who has the talent to be an even better headliner than Jerry ever was. Too bad, just too bad...