SANTA CLAUS AND THE ICE CREAM BUNNY (1972)

SANTA CLAUS AND THE ICE CREAM BUNNY (1972)

“Santa's sleigh is stuck in the sand on a Florida beach only days before Christmas Eve. A group of children try to help.”

Tell me something. When you watch a movie called Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny, do you expect to see Jack and The Beanstalk? No? Well, then, skip this movie, because that's what it is. Oh, sure. There's a good 20 mins of Santa getting stuck in Florida. But then, it's Jack and The Beanstalk for an hour, and then they wrap up with The Ice Cream Bunny saving Santa on a firetruck. What, is he gonna drive Santa to the airport?

Santa psychically calls for some children to help him. But, they all fail because they can't push the animals up to Santa's sleigh. Fearing the children are disheartened, Santa tells them all the story of Jack And The Beanstalk. Honestly, it's pretty basic stuff, with some musicals thrown in. If you were expecting a weird Christmas movie like I was, you'll be disappointed.

All the children sing terribly off-key even when dubbed over. Worse yet, they still include noises like Santa's workshop, and firetruck sirens over the kids' singing. The only good singer is the giant. He sings “Fee Fie Fo Fum” like an old opera singer. But then, the warbly low-budget 1970s audio ruins his spoken dialogue, which he always shouts at the top of his lungs. I get it, he's a giant, but spare me the microphone feedback.

In conclusion, skip this movie. Even if you just want a weird Christmas musical, this isn't it. It's Jack and The Beanstalk pretending to be a Christmas movie. It's like someone had a neat bunny costume, and wanted to put it in a movie, so they just crammed it into another movie. It's not even particularly weird. Just disappointing. It's free on Tubi, if you dare.

Interstella 5555: The 5tory of The 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (2003):

Interstella 5555: The 5tory of The 5ecret 5tar 5ystem (2003):

“A continuation of the story told in the Daft Punk music videos "One More Time," "Aerodynamic," "Digital Love," and "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger."”

Interstella 5555 tells the story of an alien pop band who is abducted and given new Earth identities. In effect, it is an anime (French/Japanese with Toei and Daft Life Productions) music video for Daft Punk's Discovery album. Each track provides the sounds. But, the anime does give a nice little narrative touch to an already great album.

The band is abducted from the secret star system after their done they're playing “One More Time”. The concert is invaded, they're gassed, given new identities and memories, and start to play for a devious record producer as The CrescenDolls. This is also a track name. Over time, they get tired and lethargic. But then, one of their old alien guards swoops down, takes the band, and tells them about their alien lives. They discover that they are being drained by their record producer Darkwood!

Next, they attempt to break into Darkwood Manor. They learn how he is an ancient evil man who thrives on gold records. After they steal back their memory disks, security attempts to stop them and they knock out the keyboard player, who reverts back to his original blue skin. Shocked, they get him to a hospital. But, the band breaks them out and they escape in a truck, with terminator-like guards following.

Then, they rocket off in a ship, and the Earth says goodbye to the CrescenDolls, who have reverted back to alien names and forms . After that, they broadcast their final song (“Too Long” from the Discovery album.) to Earth from the secret star system. Finally, a boy falling asleep stops listening to the album on a vinyl record player, as if it were all a dream.

Really, I just wanted to review this movie because it is an odd little piece of music history. A Japanese animation for a French pop band's music video. But, it also has aliens, science fiction tropes, music, and anime. All of which are topics that I cover. If you like Daft Punk or just want something neat to check out, give it a watch on YouTube.

Robin Hood (1973):

Robin Hood (1973):

“The story of the legendary British outlaw is portrayed with the characters as humanoid animals.”

Well, I never thought I'd be reviewing this classic. So, here I go! It's the tale of Robin Hood, as seen through the animal kingdom. Robin Hood is a fox, Little John's a bear, and the whole thing is told by a rooster. Prince John is a power-hungry maneless lion, bent on taxing the poor, and living a rich lifestyle.

But, Robin Hood robs from the rich and gives to the poor. We first see this when he and Little John disguise themselves as female fortune tellers, but Prince John lets them in, because: “Female bandits? What next?” Then, when the rabbit Skippy has a birthday party, Robin Hood stops by and gives him his hat and bow. Well, he gets into some trouble as he shoots an arrow in Prince John's court.

Maid Marian checks on Skippy, and from this, the haughty Prince John and Sir Hiss get the idea to lure Robin Hood out with an archery contest (But, not before getting robbed again!), and then by kidnapping Friar Tuck! Robin Hood enters the contest disguised as a giant stork, fake beak and all. Clever!

After winning the tournament and Maid Marian, Robin Hood is found out, Friar Tuck is captured by the wolf Sheriff of Nottingham, and all looks to be lost until Robin Hood and Skippy's friends organize a jailbreak. (In disguise of course, this time as the dumb vulture guard Nutsy.) He fights the Sheriff and then disposes of Prince John for the actual king, Richard The Lion-Hearted. In this version, of course, he's an actual lion. Maid Marion and Robin Hood get married, and it all makes for a good lighthearted kid's movie.

A few notes before I recommend this one. There's some reused animation that's from the Jungle Book (1967). Most notably, during the dance number. The whole thing is (Oodalalee!) after all, a musical. But, other than that, the voice acting is good (Sir Hiss the snake and Prince John sure ham it up together.), the hand-drawn animation is nice, and I found it fun to re-visit, years later. I hadn't seen it since I was a kid, and I thought it holds up. Give it a watch on Disney+!

La La Land (2016):

La La Land (2016):

“While navigating their careers in Los Angeles, a pianist and an actress fall in love while attempting to reconcile their aspirations for the future.”

So, La La Land is a musical about two artists wanting to pursue their dreams. Mia is an actress and script writer working on a play and TV treatment. Sebastian is a jazz musician who dreams of opening his own club, and playing free jazz. Instead, they are met with an uncaring L.A. They're stuck in side gigs they don't want. But, in spite of this, the two connect by holding onto their dreams.

When Seb and Mia first meet, they are rude to each other, and resent each other. Each is embarrassed by their ambition, feeling that maybe their time is up. But, when they share their passions with each other, the world becomes full of color and music, and excitement. For example, there's no dialogue in the planetarium scene. The music is telling you how the characters feel.

Seb and Mia eventually decide to meet somewhere in-between. They pursue their dreams even though it might drive them apart. Seb can't stay where he is and be a jazz musician. Mia has to stay in L.A. with her boring business fiancee Greg if she wants to be an actress. In one scene, we see how life might have played out had the characters had a life together in their heads. When you see Greg at the piano in the jazz club (having switched places in their heads with Seb and Mia.), you realize how silly it all would've been.

But, at least the characters got to live their romance together for a little while. La La Land is a movie about dreams, romance, and music. So, the music shows you that world, and those feelings. It's all set against the backdrop of Mia working at a coffee shop or Seb half-heartedly playing Jingle Bells on a piano at a Christmas party. If you have time to experience it, give it a watch on Hulu.

Encanto (2021):

Encanto (2021):

“A Colombian teenage girl has to face the frustration of being the only member of her family without magical powers.”

Encanto is about a magical family, the Madrigals. Every member of the family has a different power except Mirabel, who's never gotten one. When the magical house starts to crack up, she seeks out Bruno, an estranged member of the family with ominous fortune-telling powers who everyone blames for spoiled weddings and various unfortunate events. He's also the subject of one of the best songs: “We Don't Talk About Bruno.”

As the search for Bruno begins, the family members start to lose control of their powers. Strong Luisa becomes weak, Pepa can't control the weather she creates, Camilo can't shape-shift, and turns back into a baby. I thought that was funny. Mirabel confronts Bruno and finds out that she's supposed to embrace Isabela, who's wedding she supposedly spoiled. So, they're not exactly getting along.

After talking and singing with Isabela, she finds out that the grand matriarch Abuela is forcing her into her marriage. She never wanted to marry. Abuela's pain at losing her love was what was cracking up the house. Not much to complain about here. The animation is great, the songs are catchy, and it's a bright and colorful depiction of Colombia. Plus, a great moral about how people are more than their abilities! I recommend it, if you have Disney+!

Drive (2011):

Drive (2011):

“An action drama about a mysterious Hollywood stuntman and mechanic who moonlights as a getaway driver, and finds himself in trouble when he helps out his neighbor.”

Drive is about a stunt driver who secretly works as a getaway driver. However, he wants out, after a job to rob a pawn shop goes south. It threatens a family he cares about, which is the only peace in his life he has. The driving scenes are really calm and highlight the stabs of grotesque violence. It's almost artful in its deliberate mutilation such as headshots, bashed limbs, or heads.

Ryan Gosling does a good job playing a smooth criminal. He never really loses control, especially in the car. The car scenes are oddly peaceful. The most he'll ever be intense is when he's attacking, but other than that, he's collected. The synthwave soundtrack also adds to this serene feel, where you hear nothing but a soothing bassline until the action creeps in.

In the end, it's up to the driver to return his boss's stolen money, and save the people he cares about if he can. There's Shannon, (his stunt driving boss.) his maybe girlfriend Renie, and her son. Meanwhile, the unnamed driver has to fend off a mob boss's goons before he can return the money. If he can even get to him on time.

Speaking of time, if you have time, give this movie a watch. It's entrancing and almost hypnotic to watch. The soundtrack alone makes it a very cool experience. Were it not an action movie, it'd be relaxing. But, the action scenes are very well done too, they are very heavy, and give a sense of relief when the calm bits drag...then, it's full-throttle!

Vicious Lips (1986):

Vicious Lips (1986):

“Sometime in the distant future, a fledgling band gets an opportunity for a breakthrough, if they can make it in time to a faraway planet to perform in a very popular club.”

So, Judy Jetson gets selected to replace a famous rockstar girl, Ace Lucas. She joins the band The Vicious Lips on their way to a big gig at The Radioactive Dream. Really, the whole movie plays like just an 80s music video, or rock opera. They keep setting it up like it'll be more, but it never really is.

They crash on a desert planet. Then, it turns out that there's an escaped ape-like alien on the spaceship. They keep acting like he should be scary and creepy, but then she smokes some “Martian herb”, and ends up on a planet called Passion Inc. where zombies chase her, and ask her if she wants to be a star.

Then, she wakes up, and it's all been a dream. Literally, one of the most cliched endings. The entire second act doesn't matter. They sing their ending number “Lunar Madness” and then roll credits. I feel like I have to go easy on this movie, since it is just a rock opera. They tease a bigger plot, but it's like Thriller. It's a vehicle for music videos.

Some of the sci-fi costumes, and songs are cool. If that's what you want, give it a watch. If you expect a full movie, you'll be disappointed. It's basically some music videos with dramatic interludes. As for me, I was disappointed. I say skip it. You're better off not knowing the 84 minute movie you watched was just a dream. Spoilers. Oh well.

WORDS BUBBLE UP LIKE SODA POP (2020):

WORDS BUBBLE UP LIKE SODA POP (2020):

"A meeting and romance starts between two people with communication issues - a boy who wears headphones and uses haiku poems, and a shy girl who wears a mask and only does online videos."

This movie is about Cherry, a haiku poet with social anxiety, and his social influencer love interest Smile. Smile has buck teeth (“yamazakura”) and is shy. Cherry is a good poet, but is shy because of his voice. He prefers to write. They're brought together by an old man, who wants to hear a long lost record one last time.

Overall, it's just a cute romance anime about teens with bright animation. The word cute (kawaii) is thrown around a lot. It's pretty good for a Netflix anime, if you want something light-hearted. They overcome their challenges to help an old friend. There's only one part I didn't like, but I won't nitpick. It's on Netflix, if you have time.