Saw-it-on-Tubi Reviews

Dora and the Lost City of Gold (2019)

Who is the target audience?

[5/10 · 26 April 2024]

Look, I'm in my thirties, so I know this movie was not made for my sensibilities, but as I watched it, I'm not sure if it's for kids either. I'm not saying it's inappropriate, but I am saying it has a strange tone. If the movie is for kids, making Dora a high schooler is an odd choice, and I can't imagine the kids would enjoy lines about neurotoxins.

At times, this movie felt like a spoof of itself. I feel like this is less a movie for kids and more a movie for teens and young adults who remember the original cartoon.

It's not the worst movie in the world. There are some competent call backs that were amusing, so there is solid effort in the production. But there are also elements that came out of nowhere. It's okay enough to watch if you're bored.

The Lady and the Dale (2021)

Not as advertised

[6/10 · 9 March 2021]

Watching the promotional materials, it seems like this would be your standard true-crime documentary, though as the series progressed, it seems like that wasn't what the team behind this project wanted. The later episodes seemed to focus more about issues transgender individuals face in the criminal justice system, which I think would've made more sense at the beginning, and I get the sense that what they wanted to make the whole documentary about. It's an interesting subject, but it's not what I thought I was going to watch.

I don't think I've seen a true-crime documentary so uninterested in the actual crime.

A Frosty Affair (2015 TV Movie)

I hate almost every character in this movie

[2/10 · 19 January 2021]

There are a lot of fun, cheesy rom-coms out there, so don't waste your time with this one.

The movie seems to specialize in unlikable characters. The leads were neither charming nor endearing. On top of that, new characters would show up and also be terrible to watch, like the fur trapper or the assistant principal.

I couldn't wait for the leads to get together, but only because I wanted the woman's fiancé back home to be able to get away from her and her crazy family. I don't think that was the filmmaker's vision.

Worth It (2016– )

Fun series to binge

[10/10 · 25 July 2020]

I have no bad things to say. I thought this would be one of those shows I would get bored of after two seasons. But Andrew and Steven are so great on screen together I keep going back. They are endearing and respectful to all the restaurant staff, and it's so fun!

Plus the episodes are short so it makes for a nice light binge.

Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969)

Great movie night pick

[10/10 · 18 May 2020]

This movie is pure comedy, and a great option if you don't know what movie to watch with friends. It's rather short runtime is packed with jokes and everyone on screen does great work. The fact that it's rated G means you're not going to run into anything too intense or have to worry about anyone's kids who may be watching, though there are a couple more adult things you could pick up on.

You could call it a spoof on westerns, but it has its own story to it that's worth a watch.

X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019)

Goodbye, we hardly knew ye

[4/10 · 22 April 2020]

This movie is advertised as the end of X-Men as we know it, but nothing about it feels conclusive. In a way, the franchise works against itself, as we know from the end the Days of Future Past who survives. At least, we should know; this movie seems to forget about that.

The film chooses to focus on Jean Grey, as played by Sophie Turner. Unfortunately, by the time this movie comes, we actually don't know very much about her or see her work with her peers in this timeline. Emotional beats with Jean don't hit like they should because not enough time has been dedicated to her or how she relates to these people, at least not enough time for me to care. Although this movie has been planned for some time, we know more about Storm than the titular character. This movie claims to want to be about a new generation, but they can't let go of the First Class. The whole time, I felt like I was paying attention to the wrong characters.

Maybe we have seen this too many times before, but by the end I was bored.

McMillions (2020)

Great topic, strong start, and too darn long

[6/10 · 22 April 2020]

If you are watching a documentary about a scam, you want to know how it works. So it can be a bit frustrating when you realize three hours in that you still don't know.

For me, the show was best when talking about the FBI investigation. The show grinds to a halt around episode 3, where the show decides to give more background information for the people involved in the scam. While this makes sense in small doses, the show could've done with some editing. I understand wanting to keep people watching, but you need to keep people interested, too.

The Pharmacist (2020)

The Power of One

[9/10 · 16 April 2020]

For good or bad, one person can have a profound influence. This is the story of the incredible determination of Dan Schneider as he finds the dominos of the opioid crisis. You get to watch this man through difficulties and frustrations, and it is amazing what he is able to discover.

For me, the first episode was the least engaging, which is strange to say given the subject matter. The series really progresses well and doesn't feel like it's padding for time. With a story like this, you don't need to.

Tiger King (2020–2021)

It's not about the tigers

[9/10 · 16 April 2020]

The tigers in this documentary are more like props or set dressing for the true focus of this documentary: the people who run these private zoos. It is a demonstration in how different people can approach something in different ways, and yet every one of them is wrong. Indeed, Joe Exotic, Carole Baskin, and Doc Antle all have so much going on, the tigers are almost an afterthought.

There is a sense that even the documentary crew had no idea what they were creating. You will quickly realize that none of park owners are worth rooting for, and yet you keep watching to see what bizarre details of themselves they were willing to say on camera. Even describing the show sounds like pouring true crime buzzwords out of a blender.

The second episode is where the show really takes a turn into insanity. If you are not hooked by the end of episode three, there is no convincing you to keep going.

Holes (2003)

Great movie for any audience

[9/10 · 4 March 2020]

This is a great movie. I remember liking this as a kid, and I am impressed by how much I still like it as an adult. The movie has a few different plot lines going on, but it handles them really well. The segments don't drag on, but the switches between plots don't feel jarring. Even as a kid, I had no difficulty understanding what was going on. It's pretty impressive, especially for a family movie. The screenplay was written by the author of the book this is based on, so you know this project respects the source material.

There is a lot of talent in this movie, so much that I forgot Patricia Arquette was even in this until my most recent viewing. Even the younger actors do a good job; none of the characters feel annoying, which can be a fault with some stories centered around teens.

The movie doesn't feel too cutesy, but also won't give you nightmares. You can watch it with anyone, and you should.

Treasure of Matecumbe (1976)

Skippable

[4/10 · 3 March 2020]

This is one of those movies where I was shocked to find I had another 25 minutes to watch. According to the trivia on this site, this movie was meant to be several segments. You can tell; the scenes in this movie feel more like installments of a serial than one cohesive plot of a single movie. Unfortunately, the movie seems to drag on as a result. Frankly, it's not even the best Disney movie about a treasure hunt.

There are other elements I could comment on, but honestly I found myself so bored by the end, saying anything more feels superfluous.

Bang Bang Baby (2014)

Wow, what a downer!

[4/10 · 23 January 2020]

When I heard this was an absurdist musical with mutants, I assumed it was going to be a comedy. It's not. This movie had some interesting ideas and played with what is real and fantasy, but the whole thing is just so miserable to watch. I don't know who I would possibly recommend this to.

Noelle (2019)

Underutilized talent

[5/10 · 23 December 2019]

This movie is okay. Christmas movies are never that suspenseful, but this one goes beyond predictable to glaringly obvious. Again, this is fine if the performances are fun. There is a lot of talent in this movie, but no one seems to be hitting their strengths. Billy Eichner in particular seemed so toned down, it made you wonder why they cast him in the first place. Unfortunately, there is never a scene or a moment that makes this movie truly great. Watch once if you are curious, but that will be enough.

The Knight Before Christmas (2019)

Look, you either buy it or you don't

[5/10 · 21 December 2019]

This movie doesn't take itself too seriously, which is for the best. The movie is about a time-traveling knight. Don't expect a history lesson. There's a few things you are just going to have to get past, like a teacher who owns a guest house or Netflix's insistence on referring to their other Christmas movies.

For a seasonal binge of these holiday movies, this one is fine. Just don't ask too many questions like, "Who's the crone? Why does the knight have to come to modern day?" or really anything else about the setup. Or the mid-credit scene.

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby (2019)

It's not actually a romance if you think about it

[4/10 · 10 December 2019]

Rom-com sequels are hard. Once a couple is already together, where do you go? In fact, calling this movie a romance seems inappropriate, as there are no new romantic pairings and there isn't much that is particularly romantic. Mystery? Yes. Comedy? Sure. But not a romance.

So instead of a romance, this movie follows the increasingly ridiculous Christmas-themed adventures of the royal family. If you want to see these characters in another chapter of their lives, this movie will deliver. If you want to see people fall in love, look elsewhere.

Holiday in the Wild (2019)

A Christmas movie for when you want to feel like an environmentalist

[8/10 · 14 November 2019]

Ah, Christmas romance movies. I love them so much, but sometimes you can feel a bit shallow watching them. So what if your Christmas movie also could center around the plight of wild elephants, thus making your guilty pleasure environmentally relevant? Look no further than this movie.

Basically, it gives you what you want and also has adorable baby elephants.

Shadows in the Sun (2005)

You already know the whole plot

[4/10 · 6 November 2019]

Ah, there is nothing like a story about a struggling writer, except every other story written about a struggling writer. But this one is in Italy!

I do not have a lot to say of this TV movie, and honestly that is part of the problem. Nothing about this feels original. I've watched plenty formulaic movies, but something about writer-writing-about-writer-trying-to-write just seems so bland. I guess I'm not a writer.

A couple of side characters liven some of the scenes up, but it's not enough to justify watching the thing.

Bible Town (2017)

What was that?

[1/10 · 28 October 2019]

Nothing about this is good. Half the time the visuals don't match what the narrator is saying. It looks like their slides were put in the wrong order and no one cared enough to fix it.

I gave up watching within the first 15 minutes.

No Postage Necessary (2017)

Not deliverable as addressed

[2/10 · 19 September 2019]

This movie doesn't succeed at anything it tries to be, and it tries to be a lot. A romance movie about a war widow and a vaguely autistic child should have been good for a sappy cry, but it has too many other things going on for me to even care about what should be the main focus. On the other hand, if they toned down the romantic side and dedicated more to the hacking subplot, it could have been a quirky crime caper.

Two half scripts shoved together does not equal a screenplay.

Time After Time (2017)

Strong start, but clearly killing time

[5/10 · 26 June 2019]

I have never seen the movie this is based on, nor have I read any H. G. Wells book, but I love a good time travel romp, so I checked this out. The show started strong, there was some fun man-out-of-time scenes, but around episode six, the show started to slow down.

For a series that was only 12 episodes long, it seemed to be killing time. I found myself waiting for plot lines to hurry up and finish. The show had a great antagonist with Jack the Ripper, an advantage to using an actual serial killer, but the attempts to develop his character just fell flat. Despite never seeing the movie the show it was based on, I have a strong guess as to what parts were added in.

I remember being so disappointed when this show was cancelled, but after seeing the whole season, I understand.

A Bird of the Air (2011)

I like this movie more than I like birds

[7/10 · 29 May 2019]

A man finds a bird and tracks down its previous owners with the help of a traveling librarian. This is an interesting story that kinda makes me want to check out the book it's based on. And I don't even like birds.

I feel like this movie takes a search for identity in a unique direction and pulls off the romantic subplot more successfully than other films I have seen in this tone.

My biggest complaint is the characterization of the female lead. She has a manic pixie dream girl vibe going, and at times she seems obnoxious for no reason. I never really felt like I understood her the way I understood Lyman. There's also some narration that doesn't feel needed; it's not very consistent and it doesn't go all the way through the film.

That being said, I think this films succeeds more than it fails. Seeing Lyman develop and interact with more and more people felt gratifying to watch.

Bathtubs Over Broadway (2018)

Watch this now

[9/10 · 22 May 2019]

What a wonderful weird world I have just learned about! Any brief description will not do the subject justice. The resources and talent that went into these productions is insane. You leave the documentary feeling like you just scratched the surface. Seriously, watch it.

Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (1995)

Forgive my doubt

[9/10 · 16 May 2019]

I heard good things about this movie, and given its runtime, I split this one into two viewings. For this first half, I thought it was pretty good, but didn't see what the fuss was about. Today when I watched the second half, I understood. I kept thinking the movie had shown all of what was going to happen, and more would come. This film doesn't have a long wrap up; there is tension to the last moments. Even if you are sure how this will end, the path to get there will hold your interest.

Brightest Star (2013)

A few years too late

[4/10 · 7 May 2019]

While watching this movie, I wonder if it would have been reviewed better had it come out before (500) Days of Summer. There are several elements both movies have: the nonlinear structure, a forlorn protagonist with job dissatisfaction, the opening narration warning of a doomed relationship. In this movie, I found it harder to track the timeline, as there were few, if any, visual clues that helped distinguish between past and present.

This movie seems to be less of a romance and more of a film of personal growth, but overall, the movie, like its protagonist, just moves without a lot of excitement or passion.

Road Less Traveled (2017 TV Movie)

It gets better

[5/10 · 30 April 2019]

I really was not a fan of the beginning of this movie. In fact, I was ready to write a whole thing about a side character having a much better love story than the protagonist. And although that might still be the case, the story went in a different direction than I guessed, so I have to give the movie some props for that. Something happens and the characters are all more likable in the last 20 minutes.

Though I still think too much time was dedicated to Babs's wine company.