Merrily We Roll Along (2025)

A three-way friendship told in reverse: we see the sad end, then the growing apart, eventually working ourselves back to the joyful dependence on each other only to end on the first time the three were ever together. And I simply did not think it worked. I couldn't be devastated by the breakup of a friendship between bitter, angry people I've never met. 

Maybe it could've been saved by some catchy songs, but -- alas -- this has none, which really surprised me since it's Sondheim. I mean, sure, I'll probably always remember the oft-repeated time jump title tune (Nineteen Seventy-Twooooooooo!), but I don't really want to.

C

Hannah and Her Sisters (1986)

Though it's full of over-the-top personalities -- a hypochondriac television writer, an ex-addict flitting from job to job, a happy husband who nonetheless cheats with his wife's sister, boozy, elderly ex-showbiz parents who can't stop recounting their glory days -- it's also grounded in realism. None of these people seem like fictions, just unsatisfied and unsure.

Even though I was frustrated at the messiness of these lives and annoyed with their dissatisfaction, it's still a hopeful film. Yes, it's worth it to pursue happiness because, every once in a while, we catch it.

A-

Thrashin' (1986)

Corey is a meathead who has two things going for him: his physique and his skateboard skillz. His friends -- aka the "Ramp Locals" -- run afoul of the L.A. group "The Daggers" when they come to town to participate in a pool competition and the gnarliest downhill board race THE L.A. MASSACRE. The Daggers take an instant dislike to Corey because he's a threat competition-wise and he's got eyes for Chrissy, who turns out to be the sister of Tommy Hook, leader of The Daggers.

The skating sequences makes this almost watchable. Almost.

D-

Vertical Limit (2000)

I saw this movie within a couple of years of its release and, somehow, I rated it a "B" back then. I'd love to be able to put myself back into the simple mindset of the girl who could like this piece of shit -- she must have had a handle on finding the positive.

Anyway, this is terribly stupid. I think a good 25% of the dialogue is coughing.

D

Against All Odds (1984)

Jeff Bridges plays a footballer who's upset at being released from his contract, but his skeevy buddy has a job for him: track down the girlfriend who left him. Bridges is pretty and when he finds the girlfriend, she's pretty too so they get pretty naked together.

There's some big conspiracy with the team owners and the team lawyers and bookies and shaving points and everyone's involved (including the girlfriend) and people die... just why did it need to be so complicated? We could've stuck with underworld asshole tasks his friend with finding his girlfriend and they fall in love. Instead, it gets all convoluted and lost me completely.

D+