nmerczel Reviews

The Tomorrow Man (2019)

Should be called: The Boring Man (and his Equally Boring Girlfriend).

[1/10 · 22 August 2019]

This movie is horrible! So depressing and lackluster. There is no chemistry between the two leads. Absolutely NONE. The movie never goes anywhere. You keep waiting for it to go somewhere...and then you feel so disappointed. I don't care that this about two seniors. That doesn't bother me. If the writing is good...that's all that matters. I laughed all the way through Grumpy Old Men parts one and two! But that's because the characters in those movies actually seemed like REAL PEOPLE. Not pathetic cliché's of what someone thinks old people act like.

Why does the character of Ronnie have ZERO PERSONALITY? What is wrong with her voice? Why is it so weak and croaky sounding? I'm sorry, but she seems like a total wash-out. She has no interests or hobbies or opinions or charm or ANYTHING! (And her fashion sense is atrocious)...like an old lady from sixty years ago, maybe.

There is no plot. No chemistry. No good character development. Very little humor, once you get past the beginning. No suspense. And why is John Lithgow's cliché of a family tossed in like that? It's such bad writing, that it's cringe-worthy.

I'm sorry. I really wanted to like this movie. I think there should be movies about people of all ages in our society, I really do! But why do the movies about older people have to fall so flat....like day-old soda? What makes John Lithgow's character think there is going to be an apocalypse, anyway? That is never even explored! And wouldn't Ronnie want to know WHY he thinks the world is about to come to an end? Why doesn't she ask the normal questions a person would ask?

Searching (III) (2018)

Four Words: Lack Of Character Development!

[1/10 · 12 December 2018]

And here are two more words: Gimmicky and Cliché. The ENTIRE movie takes place on a computer screen. Now of course I figured a great deal of the movie would involve a computer, due to the title. And I have nothing against computers...I spend half my life on one! Which is why I sometimes like to watch a movie to get AWAY from the darn computer screen.

I kept thinking...soon this will all transfer OFF the screen and INTO real life...soon...soon...but no, that never happened. And that, evidently, is the "gimmick" of the movie.

A gimmick is okay if there is also strong story telling and good character development. But without these vital features, a gimmick is just a gimmick. And that, my friends, is boring! Okay, not that the movie was boring...it's interesting enough (hence the one lone star rating I gave it). However, I don't believe anyone would want to watch this movie more than once. Why would you? There's no reason on earth. The people are all very 2-dimensional cardboard cut-outs....you don't care what happens to any of them since you don't get to know any of them as people! They are all just "pawns" in the writer's head, and that's it. Nothing more.

I would have liked to get to know the daughter more...her idiosyncrasies...her personality...her likes and dislikes...then I would have cared a lot more about what happened to her. She is so devoid of character, it's disturbing. We see her staring blankly at a screen most of the time....why couldn't she have been given some character? Hey writers...that's what makes it all engaging! Some humor here and there might have been nice, as well...at least in the beginning....more "humanity"....

The plot seems very contrived. Someone posing as someone else online? Oh geez...like THAT'S never happened before (sarcasm)! A young father who has never even heard of the site Tumblr? Hard to believe. Many features of this plot seem totally unfathomable.

This movie is okay (maybe) to watch once....(get it cheap, from Redbox, perhaps) just so you can experience the "gimmick" of an entire movie taking place on a computer (if you want to, that is)! The acting is fine...I have no problem with that...the actors can not do anything about a badly written script.

Kidding (2018–2020)

It's fantastic...JUST KIDDING! Actually, it's horrible.

[1/10 · 21 September 2018]

Wow. I thought this show would be funny, maybe somewhat quirky, and loaded with Jim Carrey's usual infectious energy,..like he exudes on movies like Yes Man and Bruce Almighty. Boy was I WRONG! First of all, this show is depressing with a capital D. Sooooo dreary and blah and lacking of energy.

Speaking of energy...where was Jim Carrey's usual burst of the stuff? It's like all the energy has been drained out of him. So sad and disappointing....I mean, for us viewers.

The ex...Judy Greer? Just as blah and gray as an endlessly rainy day. I don't care for main characters who have zero pizzazz. Sorry. But the absolute WORST character is Carrey's daughter...what a horrible child. Not the actress, of course...I mean the character. I don't blame the actress...she is not responsible for bad writing. But when this cute looking little girl calls her father a P*SSY and dad barely complains....I was so turned off. Then this devil child proceeds to inform another little girl that their neighborhood is possessed by evil dead zoo animals....is this supposed to be funny? Why aren't I laughing? It's just mean spirited and ugly.

The premise of the show is good...that's why I watched in the first place. I just think there are three major problems going on here, which are as follows: Writing, directing, and acting. I could not even make it one third of a way through the first episode! I turned it off and went back to binging on This Is Us, a far more satisfying show!

The Carrie Diaries (2013–2014)

Title should be: The Carrie Crap

[1/10 · 12 November 2017]

This show is so awful. It is so cliché and boring and glaringly FAKE! It's like the show and every person in it is made out of plastic. Nobody seems REAL...and nothing seems believable! A 16 year old girl getting an internship in Manhattan? Yea, right! Showing an errant strange woman suddenly making "fast friends" with Carrie in a department store, then having the two go on a SHOP-LIFTING SPREE TOGETHER, rife with giggles? Gee...great message for the young teens this show seems to be geared for! Sausage in the key hole? GAG! Who wrote this garbage...how does it even make it on TV? And yes, the round faced Carrie. Yes, round heads are in style...just like every Disney princess...great that the media decides what shape HEAD is in style for girls, isn't it? Pretty sick if you ask me. They deliberately did NOT want someone who would resemble a young SJP...how messed up is that? So disappointed, I went back to watching The Gilmore Girls, which I've already seen a million times....

The Genius of Marian (2013)

Very Powerful

[10/10 · 7 June 2017]

This is a powerful and beautifully crafted movie about a woman named Pam who is diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's in her early sixties...very real and emotional, while possessing a hauntingly artistic quality as the movie is interspersed with magnificent ethereal watercolors painted by Pam's mother, also a victim of Alzheimer's. I would suggest anyone with a family member who has been diagnosed with this diseases watch this film, but be warned: There is no candy-coating here. This is a real as it gets. You will see all the frustration, the heart-break, the fear, the anger - and yes, sometimes even the humor that accompanies this most heart-wrenching condition where you slowly witness a loved one fading away, bit by painful bit. My only complaint is that the movie did not seem finished...it just "cuts off" abruptly, which I believe was due to funding problems.

The Out-of-Towners (1999)

Could Not Stop Laughing!

[10/10 · 13 January 2017]

Just saw this movie on TV (which is why my review is a bit overdo, I suppose)! It is so funny!!!!! Yes, it's cheesy and over-the-top at times, but overall, this is a very amusing - not to mention, a very cute and touching film!

I would recommend this movie to anyone - however, I would bet that slightly older people MAY find it funnier. Although, my teenage daughter thought it was hysterical, as well.

This movie is never boring, which in my book, is the biggest compliment one can give a movie. You are taken on a ride of mishaps through New York city, where non-stop hilarity ensues.

John Cleese, as the manager of the motel, is a riot! He does one thing in this movie that really cracked my daughter up.

This movie is intelligently written - very clever and witty with it's jokes - a "smart person's comedy" (something that is in short supply these days). No, there is not a lot of sex and violence - although, there are some very funny incidents which are sexual in nature, so I would not recommend this movie for a younger child.

Without giving anything away, the ending is so beautifully touching that it may even bring tears to your eyes. This is just a basic "feel good movie," there's no other way to put it! And yes, after watching this remake version, I tracked down the original version. I definitely think this remake is far funnier. (I actually found the original to be a bit tedious!

You may be able to find this movie in a 5 dollar bin by now. I say: buy it!!! This is the sort of comedy you will enjoy watching over and over again, and it will never get old.

The Architect (I) (2016)

This movie is funny, quirky and intelligent - and definitely, different!

[8/10 · 19 November 2016]

First, the bad (to get that out of the way). The characters in this movie are very cliché. Most people in real life are a combination of characteristics (say, creative and practical), not so these people. They are extreme.

Also - the ending of this movie is quite unsatisfying. I kept expecting....more. There was this build up, build up, build up....and then...fizzle, as though the writer just wanted to be "done with it all."

Now, the good! I laughed! This movie is weird and quirky (with the look, feel and sound of an independent film)..and FUNNY! However, it's not funny in the usual slap-sticky, juvenile or vulgar way that so many comedies TRY to be funny these days. It's actually funny in an INTELLIGENT way - imagine that!

In fact, the movie has a more "adult" feel then most current movies which seem geared for the under 25 age group. (I always wondered what happened to Parker Posey)!

In the movie, the couple hires an architect to design their new waterfront home. Bear in mind, the couple's marriage seems fine (mostly, except you do see some "handwriting on the wall indicating lingering problems) Until....well, THE ARCHITECT enters into their lives.

The architect is an odd off-beat character who has plenty of his OWN artistic ideas (thereby raising the cost of the project every time he opens his mouth). The wife, in the movie, is enthralled. Her more practical husband? Not so much, thus setting the stage for those marital problems we saw coming.

Most of the humor in this movie lies squarely with the character of the architecture and his overly artistic and impractical view of architecture and the world at large. Anybody who has such extreme views plays well in a comedic sense, and this guy is no exception.

For the most part, the writing and acting in this movie are quite good (especially for a movie I had never heard of before). As I said, though, unfortunately, the ending is a bit lackluster (oh well).

My advice? This movie is fun (and interesting) to watch ONCE, just because it is so unique and...weirdly funny! Although I must admit, I would not buy this movie - unless, maybe, I could find it really cheap.

Divorce (2016–2019)

It's no Sex and the City, But Definitely Worth A Look!

[10 October 2016]

This show is NOT boring! The half hour just zipped by. I thought the show was interesting....VERY interesting, although a tiny bit...depressing and a bit unnecessarily vulgar and mean-spirited in spots. Finally....a show for the over 40 crowd....how unusual! If you are expecting a "Sex and the City" type atmosphere you will be disappointed. This show is not straight comedy...and it is definitely NOT upbeat! Parker's character is more jaded than Carrie was. She's also a bit less charming and full of life. However, she is more complex and perhaps "real" which makes the show very watchable.

Her husband, played by that guy from "Sideways," is also very believable in his role. Excellent acting! The other supporting characters are interesting as well (great character development already, and I have only seen the first episode)! This show has a somewhat disturbing "realism" not unlike GIRLS - another HBO series for the younger set. I would DEFINITELY keep watching "Divorce" except for the fact I saw it while receiving a free HBO preview. I'm really sorry I won't get to find out what happens next!

The Way Way Back (2013)

Boring, flat, and objectifies young girl's bodies in a gross way.

[1/10 · 11 September 2016]

Yuck! This movie was so bad, I turned it off half way through. What a snore! The characters were all completely cliché - not at all unique, interesting, funny, witty, deep, ANYTHING! What was with the mother in this movie? It's like she didn't even notice how unhappy her son was (or didn't care)...and Steve Carrel's character? Completely unlikable - how unusual for Steve Carrel who, although usually nerdy and clueless, is at least likable! The guy at the water park who befriends the young boy? Okay...weird.....the girlfriend? I don't even remember her, that's what a nothing impression she made on me.

Where was the humor...the HUMANITY to this movie? I could make SIMS characters seem more full of life than these flat 2-dimensional characters! And what was with the pedophile pervert at the Water Wiz park, and why has NO ONE else mentioned this????? There is a young teenage girl wearing a way too small bikini standing in front of this ADULT man at the water park, and then, suddenly, as if we are following the gaze of this gross perv, the camera does a disturbingly SLOW climb up this young girl's (practically) naked body! (I know..I'm probably going to get young guys to watch the movie now because of what I'm saying,but I'm really addressing other adults and parents and yea, GIRLS out there in the world who don't agree with blatant objectification)! What kind of disgusting pervert even made this movie???? Anyway, so after THAT, I felt repulsed and turned the movie off. I HIGHLY DO NOT RECOMMEND WATCHING THIS CARDBOARD TRASH that masquerades as some sort of "refreshing adolescent coming-of-age summer flick." DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME!!! (And Steve Carrel...how could you)?

Last Man Standing (2011–2021)

This is a Tedious Sitcom with ZERO Heart and Soul!

[3/10 · 4 September 2016]

I just tried this show on Netflix and have mixed feelings about it. There are some funny lines; true. There is some cleverness in the writing. HOWEVER....(there has to be a reason for the three stars only, right?)....there are problems, and here they are:

1. There are too many one liners. This gets tiresome, quickly!

2. The FAKE LAUGH TRACK is so annoying! One reason I love The Middle....NO LAUGH TRACK! Please, do not TELL me when to laugh.

3. The OVER ACTING! Seriously, sometimes I feel like I'm watching a tween show with all the hyper activeness and extra movement and loudness.

4. The show seems so FAKE. I mean, THAT HOUSE! It's so obviously a set! Please! Give me the REALISTIC house on The Middle, any day.

5. The totally cliché ONE DIMENSIONAL CHACTERS! Tedious.

6. The SUPER ANNOYING middle girl who NEVER has a nice thing to say to anyone.

7. THE TOTAL LACK OF HEART AND SOUL IN THIS FAMILY! No one really seems connected to any one in a realistic loving way - all the people are just there to zing jokes at each other, and that's it!

8. Too many MALE/FEMALE jokes; as in "men are from mars and women are from Venus" type idea...WAY over done!

9 Political references NOT NECESSARY on a sitcom. My husband watches FOX all the time, so I get more than enough (conservative) political fodder.

So there you have it. Like I said, some of the jokes are funny. But overall, the minuses outweigh the pluses so I think I'll just stick with The Middle! Now THERE is a funny sitcom! Mostly, I just couldn't wait to GET AWAY from this show. It was giving me stress.

There is a very definitive "been there heard this before" feel to this show" that makes it....well....sort of dull and flat. Dull and flat are definitely NOT good words to describe a sitcom!

Feed the Beast (2016)

Keep Hoping it will Improve

[3/10 · 29 June 2016]

I really wanted to like this show! I thought it might be a little like Breaking Bad, one of my all time AMC favorites (along with Better Call Saul) with some Parenthood tossed in. Things seemed promising at first...sort of. Loved the cool blues music. I figured David Schwimmer would be a really "relatable" kind of character. However, bit by bit, I was more and more turned off by the show.

Number one, it's completely cliché. Number two, there is no real character development. the characters are all very two dimensional. Number 3, the show seems like it's trying too hard to be "bad ass." You know, murder, drugs, theft, alcoholism,etc.... like we need these bad element nowadays to make a show interesting, trying to capitalize on "The Breaking Bad effect." Only, here's the thing: Breaking Bad had GOOD WRITING and EXCELLENT ACTING!!! Not to mention REALISTIC characters. Without these elements, you just don't care enough about what happens to the people in the show.

In Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, you always want to know WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? In Feed the Beast, you just don't really care. You don't like ANY of the characters, and there is very little humor to break things up. And that whole mafia thing just seems so unnecessary....so fake! And what is with the female characters? First of all, why does Pilar act like a wide eyed little five year old? what adult woman living in the Bronx would act like this? So unrealistic! And why is she wearing a different coat every time we see her? Is she secretly rich? And why would David Schwimmer hire her - and not fire her - when she keeps f...ing up in her job? And most important of all, why are they PAIRING her ROMANTICALLY with Schwimmer when she is like thirty years younger? I wanted to gag when they kissed, it seemed so.....wrong....

And why would Schwimmer allow his young son to spend time with that old man who is such a bad influence? And why does the social worker look like a fourteen year old? This show just irritates the hell out of me. I have no clue why I keep watching! I guess I just keep hoping it will get better.....but I really feel disappointed thus far (in case you couldn't tell)!