Drop Zone (1994)

A pair of US Marshals (who happen to be brothers for no reason at all) are transporting an important witness/criminal hacker by plane to a more secure location. While in flight, a hole is blown in the side of the plane and the witness is presumed to be among the casualties, as is one of the Marshals. But the surviving Marshal Pete believes that the witness is still alive and has been snatched by the parachuting attackers.

It never gets any more sane which, honestly, is probably the right call here. If you're trying to make a serious movie about a ring of parachuting criminals, you just might be delusional.

C-

Babe (1995)

Piglet Babe catches a lucky break when Arthur Hoggett wins him at the county fair. Though he's longing for the mother from whom he was separated, he is accepted into the litter of puppies by their mom Fly (much to the chagrin of the puppies' sire, Rex). He's such an affable little presence that he makes friends with all of the farm animals, even the sheep.

It's one of the most charming movies ever made. It's got some truly tense moments, a few sad ones, and some that are full to bursting with joy. I've seen it several times now and it has never failed to make me cry. James Cromwell plays it completely straight, which only adds to its effectiveness. 

What a treasure.

A+

The Efficiency Expert (1992)

Efficiency consultant Errol is in the middle of a rough patch. He and his partner are facing backlash from the union at a large factory due their recently-submitted report advising significant layoffs. His marriage is also unsteady due to his well-honed pragmatism and long hours. His new client Mr. Ball has called him in to assess his moccasin factory, which feels like a workplace in a cartoon. The messy and unfocused employees (most of whom come to work in the company's moccasins) barely spare a thought for speed or optimal practices.

As Errol gathers the data he needs, the employees welcome him. No one other than a young salesman grasps what his presence there portends -- least of all Mr. Ball. The assumption seems to be that he's there to make their work easier, which means that no one's ashamed of being caught taking a long lunch or dancing a jig while working machines. Is it any wonder that these lovely people manage to break open Errol's heart?

It's a gentle, life-affirming story reminding us that people should be at least as important as the bottom line. Plus it's amazing seeing Russell Crowe, Ben Mendelsohn and Toni Collette with such baby faces!

B+

R.I.P.D. (2013)

After growing a conscience about the gold they took, cop Nick gets shot by his partner and gets a new job in the afterlife: tracking "deados" masquerading as live people. His new partner died in the Old West, so there's an opportunity for funny friction. And, hehehe, Nick now looks like an elderly Chinese man while his partner appears as a sexy blonde going to the club. 

Though the CGI sucks, it's the lack of soul that really ruins this. Although I generally advocate for shorter rather than longer run times, I think this could've benefited from a couple more pre-death scenes of Nick and his wife -- maybe add a dog who can sense who the elderly Asian actually is? This just needed something to make me care at all.

C-

Champions (2023)

Hothead assistant coach gets fired from his minor league basketball job, gets a DUI, and is assigned to 90 days of community service as the coach for a team with intellectual disabilities. The cast is comprised of actors who actually have the disabilities their characters do, which is commendable. But, with Harrelson in the lead, I expected there to be more of an edgy storyline as he learns how to coach in a different way. Instead, he's almost effortlessly patient with this demographic even though he dropped the the r-word at sentencing. 

Feel-good? Yep. Believable in any way? Nope.

C+