BoJack Horseman Season 5 TV Review: As Devastating and Bleakly Funny As Ever

comedy Archives - Page 21 of 21 - The Spool (Page 21)

BoJack Horseman Season 5 TV Review: As Devastating and Bleakly Funny As Ever

Netflix’s bittersweet tale of talking animals and the vagaries of celebrity returns for a thoughtful fifth season filled with even more emotional depth and acerbic wit. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Television’s best series about depression returns for a fifth season, and with some stark reminders about how doing the right thing and ... BoJack Horseman Season 5 TV Review: As Devastating and Bleakly Funny As Ever

Film Review: Sierra Burgess Is a Loser Mistakes Frumpy for Failure

Netflix updates Cyrano de Bergerac for the social media era in this clunky teen rom-com, which distastefully hinges on a young girl’s perceived unattractiveness. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Now that they have a smash hit in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Netflix needs to up its game in providing youth-oriented ... Film Review: Sierra Burgess Is a Loser Mistakes Frumpy for Failure

Film Review: Netflix Explores the Metaphysics of Love with The Laws of Thermodynamics

Mateo Gil’s Spanish rom-com mockumentary tumbles toward entropy with beautiful visuals, but a scattered story and weak protagonist. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood As any science fiction nerd can tell you, people can be rudimentarily broken down into either Kirks or Spocks. One uses cold logic to solve situations, while the other acts ... Film Review: Netflix Explores the Metaphysics of Love with The Laws of Thermodynamics

Unraveling pop-culture one thread at a time

The Spool is an irreverent, informative source for film and television coverage, focused on diverse, thoughtful opinions that seek out a greater understanding of the media we love.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is Netflix’s Love Letter to Love Letters

Netflix’s latest dalliance in the teen rom-com genre is a real charmer, a sunny, bittersweet confection with plenty of welcome twists to high school romance. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood I still remember the first boy on whom I had a real, fill my diary crush. Mike O’Brien, seventh grade. Tall, lanky, with ... To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before is Netflix’s Love Letter to Love Letters

Skate Kitchen Is a Sun-Baked Celebration of Realistic Adolescence

Crystal Moselle’s narrative debut brings her documentary sensibilities to a fun, heartfelt story featuring the real members of Long Island’s most badass boarders. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Skate Kitchen offers something that’s been sorely missing from the world of coming-of-age films: a story that tells self-discovery not as a hero’s tale with ... Skate Kitchen Is a Sun-Baked Celebration of Realistic Adolescence

The Meg is the Goofiest, Cheesiest, Most Sharktastic Fin-tertainment of the Summer

The shark schlock comes at you hard, fast, and fun, as Jason Statham battles giant sharks with an international cast in the Deep Blue Sea remake you never knew you needed. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Why release The Meg two entire weeks after Shark Week is over? It’s a perfect fit – ... The Meg is the Goofiest, Cheesiest, Most Sharktastic Fin-tertainment of the Summer

Awards

Oscars Changes Add a “Popular Film” Category, Cuts Down to Three Hours

The Academy’s board of governors approves new changes for next year’s Oscars, including a three-hour telecast and the addition of new categories. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Next year’s Oscars are going to go through a few shakeups. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences have sent ... Oscars Changes Add a “Popular Film” Category, Cuts Down to Three Hours

Ken Marino’s Canine Comedy Dog Days is Ruff Around the Edges

While trying to chase both sentimentality and laughs, Ken Marino’s ensemble canine comedy ends up barking up the wrong tree. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood If you knew Ken Marino from his roles in cult comedy TV shows and movies (The State, Wet Hot American Summer, Party Down), you might go into his ... Ken Marino’s Canine Comedy Dog Days is Ruff Around the Edges

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation Review: Fun in the Spooky Sun

The third entry in Sony Pictures’ kids’ films about animated monsters is fun, flighty and surprisingly layered, with solid jokes and a heartwarming message. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood I was more than a little ambivalent about the third installment of the Hotel Transylvania series. While I enjoy the franchise, and thought the ... Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation Review: Fun in the Spooky Sun

Sorry to Bother You Review: Boots Riley Takes On Consumerism, Race in Scorchingly Funny Debut

Boots Riley’s wild feature film debut throws racial politics, consumerism, and magical realism in a blender, making for a comedy that’s as unpredictable as it is hilarious. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Capitalism is a hell of a drug – it lulls you in with the promise of wealth and success, and all ... Sorry to Bother You Review: Boots Riley Takes On Consumerism, Race in Scorchingly Funny Debut

Interviews

INTERVIEW: Bruce LaBruce on The Misandrists, Pornography and Feminist Brain-Swapping

We interview queersploitation provacateur Bruce LaBruce about queer cinema, working on a low budget, and his latest feminist satire The Misandrists. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Arthouse queer enfant terrible Bruce LaBruce has crafted an interesting career as an underground director of gory, sexy, splatter-ific screeds on radical topics like terrorism, feminism, and gay ... INTERVIEW: Bruce LaBruce on The Misandrists, Pornography and Feminist Brain-Swapping

The Misandrists Review: Bawdy, Transgressive Satire from Bruce LaBruce

Bruce LaBruce’s reputation as a bad-taste provocateur gleefully continues with this campy exercise in sex, sleaze, and political satire. This piece was originally published on Alcohollywood A transgressive artist’s main job should be to make people uncomfortable, and director Bruce LaBruce does his job very well. For over thirty years, LaBruce has been mixing art ... The Misandrists Review: Bawdy, Transgressive Satire from Bruce LaBruce

Ant-Man and the Wasp Review: Marvel’s Latest Shrinks the Stakes

Marvel’s first placeholder till the next Infinity War is a more assured caper comedy than the first Ant-Man, but it’s almost too lightweight to make a real impression. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood When the credits rolled for Avengers: Infinity War, we all walked out of the theater thinking the same thing: We ... Ant-Man and the Wasp Review: Marvel’s Latest Shrinks the Stakes

Ocean’s 8 Review: Female-Forward Heist Antics Don’t Cover A Lack of Depth

Gary Ross’ gender-swapped revamp of the slick heist franchise doesn’t offer its female leads enough worthwhile things to do, despite the cast’s pedigree. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Certain movies bring out a strong reaction in me not just because I happen to disagree with their values, but because they claim to represent ... Ocean’s 8 Review: Female-Forward Heist Antics Don’t Cover A Lack of Depth

Deadpool 2 Review: Ryan Reynolds Returns for More Quips, Gore and Gags

The Merc With a Mouth is back in a sequel with more slicing, dicing and R-rated quips – but it’s only a slight improvement over the sophomoric original. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood While Marvel Studios seems to have solved the equation for how to make great (or, at their worst, pretty passable) ... Deadpool 2 Review: Ryan Reynolds Returns for More Quips, Gore and Gags

Festivals

Chicago Critics Film Festival 2018: Capsule Reviews (Part 3)

Now that the 6th annual Chicago Critics Film Festival has closed, it’s time to look back on some other highlights we loved this year. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood The 6th annual Chicago Critics Film Festival has come to a close, and what a year it was! Curated by the Chicago Film Critics ... Chicago Critics Film Festival 2018: Capsule Reviews (Part 3)

Fags in the Fast Lane Review: A Madcap Race to Campy Bad Taste

This over-the-top throwback to exploitation and queer films from the 60s and 70s revels in its tastelessness, delivering an edgy yet affectionate ode to its fruity forebears. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood The last few decades have seen a significant change in the way GLBTQ people are perceived by the general public. In ... Fags in the Fast Lane Review: A Madcap Race to Campy Bad Taste

Festivals

A Preview of the 2018 Chicago Critics Film Festival

The Chicago Film Critics Association’s 6th annual film festival (May 4-10) features some of the year’s best films that might otherwise fly under your radar. This piece originally posted at Alcohollywood For the past six years, the Chicago Critics Film Festival has been a brilliant showcase for some of the year’s most intriguing, bewildering and ... A Preview of the 2018 Chicago Critics Film Festival

Candy Jar Review: Human Connection Is The Forbidden Fruit

Netflix’s latest coming-of-age indie comedy mixes a charming cast with an impassioned debate over adolescent ambitions and how to learn from failure. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood We all know where the Netflix movie Candy Jar is going right from the start, as the teenage Lona (Sami Gayle) gazes at her fellow high ... Candy Jar Review: Human Connection Is The Forbidden Fruit

I Feel Pretty Review: Well-Intentioned, But Feels Pretty Underwhelming

Amy Schumer’s comedy about the power of confidence mixes its messages about body image, but provides some laughs nonetheless. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood How would your life change if you felt undeniably beautiful? What if you woke up one day and all the flaws that you see in yourself have disappeared? Would ... I Feel Pretty Review: Well-Intentioned, But Feels Pretty Underwhelming

Follow The Spool

We're on Twitter/X here.