javerylarson Reviews

Wonka (2023)

Feel good movie of the year

[10/10 · 16 December 2023]

I left the theater feeling extremely happy and optimistic. This film was so good and I loved that it was lighthearted. Timothée Chalamet is so fun to watch as Willy Wonka and he made the character so endearing. He really captured Wonka's charisma and charm through his acting and singing. Hugh Grant was hilarious as Lofty the Oompa Loompa, although I wish he were onscreen more. The entire cast of characters were charming to watch and I felt myself wanting to get up and dance with the songs because they were so catchy and they made me smile. I also loved how there were some elements from the 1970s original. Hearing Chalamet as Wonka do the strike that reverse it made me laugh. Go see this movie if you want to have a smile on your face!

Goosebumps (2023– )

Not really goosebumps

[4/10 · 5 November 2023]

I thought it was going to be modernized and it was far from it. I was expecting elements of the story throughout and there was minuscule amounts which got the Gen Z treatment. While there were some things about the modernization that I liked, but there were others that felt unnecessary to the plot. This show really should have been it's stand alone thing rather than be labeled as Goosebumps. The characters were bland and hardly had any personality and the parents were extremely unlike me and irritating. I kept watching to see if it would get better, but I was more disappointed with each episode. Aimed high but didn't hit the mark.

Five Nights at Freddy's (2023)

Amazing masterpiece!

[10/10 · 28 October 2023]

Awesome movie faithful to the game! It made you feel like you were inside the game because of the intense uneasy feeling it provided. The animatronics were breathtaking to look at. I loved that the Jim Henson Workshop did a masterful work to make the animatronics puppets instead of CGI. I loved how they used the lore of the dead children possessing the robots, which added an otherworldly feel to the film. Josh Hutcherson was amazing as Mike Schmidt, he was a very complex and emotional character. My favorite performance was Matthew Lilliard as William Afton! He was perfect for the role because he was both charismatic and terrifying to watch! I got the chills when he was onscreen! My only complaint is the dream plot felt a little unnecessary and I wish we would have gotten more scenes at the pizzeria with the animatronics. I also wish Abby's ability was explored more because it was a little confusing at times, but other than that, it was a phenomenal movie!

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

Funnest movie of the year!

[10/10 · 12 April 2023]

I absolutely loved this movie! Any fan of the Nintendo games would love it as well. It has lots of easter eggs for Nintendo fans which was cool to see. The cast was stellar as their characters. Chris Pratt was compelling as Mario and showed off a compassionate side of the character. Jack Black was hilarious as Bowser, and I couldn't stop laughing when he was onscreen. Anya-Taylor Joy was charming as Princess Peach. She was beautiful and tough! It was a good approach to the beloved characters from the games. Don't listen to the critics and go be entertained! Sometimes movies are meant to be entertaining rather than be taken seriously.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

The fantasy movie we all needed!

[10/10 · 6 April 2023]

We haven't gotten very exciting fantasy movies in the past couple years, but this movie blew them all away. It was visually pleasing and the plot was creative and clever! Chris Pine leads the movie with comedy and charisma. Anyone who loves D&D and Lord of the Rings will love this movie. I love the way they strategized battles just like the game! There were some very exciting moments in the movie and I loved every minute of it. You don't have to be familiar with the game to enjoy this movie, because it has something for everyone. It was an awesome experience seeing this movie! I hope to see more adventures from our group of heroes!

Fear & Shame (2017 Video)

Love it!

[10/10 · 6 November 2021]

I never knew Robert Pattinson could be so funny! I was pleasantly surprised by how much I ended up loving this, and as a fellow introvert I found myself relating to certain moments. He needs to do more comedy!

Dear Evan Hansen (2021)

Don't listen to the hate!!!

[10/10 · 29 September 2021]

My review of Dear Evan Hansen:

Outstanding movie! I have seen the stage musical before so I was excited to see this. Ben Platt shines as the role he originated on Broadway. I laughed, I cried, and smiled. Platt's performance reminds us why he won Best Actor at the Tony Awards in 2017. This was a movie we all need and reminds us no one deserves to be forgotten or disappear. Everyone deserves a friend. I give this movie a standing ovation!

Free Guy (2021)

Pleasantly surprised !

[10/10 · 15 August 2021]

Was pleasantly surprised! I had low expectations but I ended up really loving this movie! Ryan Reynolds plays the character of Guy amazingly and he was the most entertaining to watch in my opinion. The entire cast was amazing and the concept of this movie was super fun, exciting, and original.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011)

Love it!

[10/10 · 2 May 2021]

This is my favorite out of the three! It had a lot of heart and the importance of looking out for your siblings. Let's just say I really loved Rodrick! He was so funny!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017)

Waste of time and sanity

[1/10 · 2 May 2021]

I watched this to see if it was as really bad as people say it was, and boy were they right! The acting is garbage, the story line is not interesting, and it doesn't have the heart like the other three movies had. I don't understand why the original cast couldn't have been brought back! I fast forwarded one of the scenes because I was getting so annoyed! The humor was disgusting and wasn't genuine like the previous entries. Don't waste your time!