Movie Review: ‘Parallel’ has more than a few surprises

By Matt Pascarella

Not Rated
Runtime: 1 hour, 28 minutes

Vanessa and her husband Alex are coping with the loss of their son, Obe. Vanessa goes for a walk in the woods, where she encounters someone who takes a couple shots at her. She isn’t hit and does not see the individual. When she gets back to the cabin that she and Alex share with his brother, Martel, she notices something strange after Martel burns his hand and she sees it in two different conditions.

She returns to the woods where she meets a version of Alex who explains that the woods carry fragmented versions of a world in which Vanessa, Alex and Martel belong, called a multiverse. Vanessa is trying to find the space that might bring her son back. What follows is a very interesting, albeit confusing at times, hunt for different versions of the characters who Vanessa tries to decipher if they’re from the space she is looking to get to.

When I first read the description for “Parallel” I was expecting a science fiction-based horror movie, and what I got was not that, but I was still on board throughout this time-warped adventure.

“Parallel” stars Danielle Deadwyler, Aldis Hodge and Edwin Hodge.

Vanessa (Deadwyler) looks out the window moments before a bird then flies directly into it. She and her husband Alex (Aldis Hodge), along with Alex’s brother Martel (Edwin Hodge) live in a cabin in the woods.

Alex and Vanessa lost their son one year ago. Alex fears he is losing his wife. After an argument, Vanessa goes for a walk in the forest where someone sees through their scope someone take a few shots at her but miss.

Back at the cabin, Martel burns his hand on the grill; Vanessa goes to check on him. He says it’s not as bad as they originally thought, and his hand is unbandaged. However, moments later Martel returns from outside and has a bandage on his hand.

Vanessa returns to the forest and finds a bloody handprint on a fence marked with “do not enter” signs. She enters anyway. Vanessa finds it hard to stay on the trail without getting turned around. She puts trail markers on the trees. Could there be someone else watching her?

After reentering the forest, she meets a different version of Alex from a different space in time. The spaces are fragmented versions of the world. The other version of Alex explains this multiverse with a detailed drawing.

They each learn about the other’s past and try to figure out how to get back to their original space.

It’s here that things get strange. Vanessa returns to the cabin where she tries to explain the multiverse to Alex and Martel. I had a hard time figuring out which versions of Alex and Martel were interacting with which Vanessa. They tie her to a chair, because another version of Vanessa has appeared.

Alex wants to shoot a version of Vanessa, but Martel stops him.

Vanessa returns to the forest, looking for Alex. After they argue about what the right thing to do is, he tells her to find a space and take it.

Vanessa meets herself and there is a struggle.

As mentioned, I expected this to have more of a horror-theme to it, but what’s scarier than meeting a version of yourself in the woods and not knowing if the people you interact with may see you as a threat? The plot moves quickly, and my only real complaint is it was hard to follow at times, trying to figure out which version is the “correct” version(s) that Vanessa is looking for. This is not an action-packed movie, but my attention was grabbed and held trying to figure out how this multi-versed forest works, to which I still have no definitive explanation.

In past movies I’ve seen, sometimes a small cast can make the movie drag, because you are constantly seeing the same faces with no new interactions, but this was different.

Four out of five stars.

Now streaming on Paramount-Plus, Showtime and available to rent. <

Disney+’s ‘Luca’ family fun for water and land

By Matt Pascarella

Disney/Pixar has done it again. “Luca” is an underwater adventure that takes you to the surface with two friends who discover that taking a chance is worth it in the long run. When sea monsters Luca and Alberto risk being discovered when they take a trip to Human Town, also known as Portorosso, they meet Giulia and the three show each other friendship comes in all shapes, sizes and species.

When Luca and Alberto are away from water, they become human – they only turn into sea monsters if they get wet. The three team up to win the Portorosso Race, a traditional Italian triathlon consisting of swimming, bike riding and eating pasta. Winning won’t be easy as Ercole Visconti has won six years in a row.

Available on Disney+ and stars Jacob Tremblay, Jack Dylan Grazer, Emma Berman, Maya Rudolph, Jim Gaffigan, Saverio Raimondo, Sandy Martin and Sasha Baron Cohen.

In the town of Portorosso on the Italian Riveria, many of its residents have heard lore of seas monsters inhabiting the water. Two fishermen sit in a boat, and one asks the other if they really need to fish near the island.

“What if the stories are true?” he says.

The other fisherman tells him those are just stories to keep them from getting a really good fishing spot. They throw their net and all of a sudden, they catch something. They see a fin and then a tail. There is a sea monster caught in the net. He breaks free, but many items from the boat fall to the bottom of the sea.

Luca (Tremblay) finds an alarm clock and a playing card. He fears land monsters (humans) when he sees the underside of a boat. Luca quickly daydreams of going above the water. Luca’s mother (Rudolph) has instilled quite a fear in him to stay away from land monsters.

“We do not talk, think, discuss or go anywhere near the surface,” she tells him.

Luca wonders what lies above the water’s edge.

His wonder overpowers his fear when he meets Alberto (Grazer) who shows Luca there is a lot of life above the surface. Alberto introduces him to the Vespa and Luca is instantly hooked to life on land.

When they travel to Portorosso and meet Giulia (Berman), the three decide to enter a triathlon and aim to beat town bully and reigning champ, Ercole (Raimondo).

Along the way, it gets harder and harder for Luca and Alberto to hide the fact that they are sea monsters.

Meanwhile, Luca’s parents have entered Portorosso to bring him back to live with his uncle (Cohen).

This movie is filled with optimism. Luca is very timid and afraid to try new things, and his friend Alberto tells him you can silence that voice in your head – a Bruno – that tells you you can’t do stuff by simply saying “silenzio Bruno!”

“Luca” stresses the themes of friendship, family, trust and conquering fear. Sometimes you just need a little push. A fin and a thumb up!

Available to watch on Disney+. <

Movie Review: ‘Jungle Cruise’ film a wild ride

By Matt Pascarella

Running time: 2 hours, 38 minutes

Rated PG-13

This movie has everything: action, adventure, a bit of romance, more action, legends, curses, and it’s a lot of fun. Dr. Lily Houghton (Emily Blunt), her brother, MacGregor (Jack Whitehall) and skipper Frank Wolff (Dwayne Johnson) go on an expedition in search of the Tears of the Moon, a tree with healing powers more important than originally presented. I really enjoyed this fun and funny movie the whole family can get on board for.

While you can rent this movie, seeing it in the theater gives it an effect your television just can’t provide. This action-packed comedy is best seen on the big, big screen.

Based on the ride at Walt Disney World, “Jungle Cruise” is currently in theaters and available on Disney+ and stars Dwayne Johnson, Emily Blunt, Jack Whitehall, Edgar Ramirez, Jesse Plemons and Paul Giamatti.

The Spanish conquistador, Aguirre (Ramierez) has been searching for the Tears of the Moon in order to cure his daughter, who was very sick in the 1500s. History says he failed; legend tells more. He was found by guardians and nursed back to life. Aguirre demanded the guardians give him the lifesaving arrowhead that would lead to the Tears of the Moon. However, legend says he was cursed and trapped.

It’s now 1916. Adventure-seeking Dr. Lily Houghton is in search of the Tears of the Moon which has petals that will benefit the scientific community. Her brother who’s less enthusiastic about adventure, MacGregor, is along for the ride. They prepare to go on an expedition in the Amazon where they will meet a dad-joke telling, somewhat shifty character and skipper, Frank, who will help them to look for the legendary Tears of the Moon.

MacGregor and Dr. Lily travel to Brazil where Dr. Lily shows Frank a map leading to the Tears of the Moon.

After a bit of arguing and a few close calls, one of which was dodging a torpedo, the three begin the journey.

Meanwhile, wealthy German aristocrat Prince Joachim (Plemons) is also looking for the arrowhead which would lead him to the Tears of the Moon. He wants it in order to help the Germans win World War I.  In his search he summons conquistador Aguirre.

After Lily finds a bunch of maps in Frank’s chambers and realizes Frank might also be searching for the Tears of the Moon, despite his insistence he has given up trying, the three are attacked by headhunters. Their search might be over.

During a fight with Aguirre, Frank gets stabbed – and this is just beginning of the story.

This is definitely a movie the whole family can watch. It has amazing special effects.

The chemistry between Johnson and Blunt is immediate. She tells him at one point “you are a lot of things that I don’t really care for” but goes on the expedition anyway.

The many hijinks and comedy this movie provided had me smiling ear to ear. The bad ‘dad jokes’ were one of my favorite parts. If you’re looking for more fun after you watch the movie, check out some of the post-movie interviews Johnson and Blunt did on YouTube; they’re very funny.

I enjoyed this adventure. This is a movie to be watched over and over again.

A fun ride altogether.

Two arrowheads way up! <

Netflix’s ‘Over the Moon’ a heartwarming animated adventure

By Daniel Gray

"Over the Moon," an animated movie that was released on Netflix in October, follows the story of a young Chinese girl named Fei Fei (Cathy Ang) along with the ancient Chinese legend of a moon goddess named Chang'e (Phillipa Soo).

The movie is bright but has meaningful tones of loss from both Fei Fei's perspective and the moon goddess' that's heartwarming by the end.

First and foremost, the legend of the moon goddess is a very important part of the story, so here is the boiled-down version. There was a woman named Chang'e who loved a man named Houyi, however, one day Chang'e took a pill that granted her immortality, and she became a goddess while he stayed and died on Earth.

With that out of the way, let's continue with Fei Fei's story.

At a young age, Fei Fei lost her mother and the family suffered from the loss, though just a few years later, Fei Fei's father brought in another woman. Distraught, Fei Fei is sure that if her father believed in the moon goddess like he had when her mother was alive, he would not want to marry again.

Eventually, Fei Fei hatches the plan of forcing her father to believe that the moon goddess is real by flying to the moon herself in a rocket ship. She goes through many trial and errors before finally, she’s able to take off and almost crashes immediately.

Before she can get close to hitting the ground, the moon goddess herself rescues her and brings her up to the moon.

Once she reaches Chang'e, the goddess is annoyed when she finds out Fei Fei did not bring 'the gift' that will grant the goddess' wish of bringing Houyi back. Until she finds the gift, she cannot take a picture of Chang'e to prove that she is real.

After a small adventure, Fei Fei finds the gift and brings it to the goddess, but it is too late to rescue Houyi and he cannot be turned immortal. Chang'e falls into a depressive state that Fei Fei helps her get out of through her own grief and mourning over her mother.

The moon goddess helps bring her back home, but not before teaching Fei Fei that she can learn to move on from her sadness and look forward to a new family with the happiness it brings. 

This movie was heartwarming in every sense of the word. There were several points that had me on the verge of tears, especially when Fei Fei and the moon goddess were bonding with grief towards the end. The only issue taken with the movie is how it lacks the moon goddess' story and how it could have been expanded a bit better for western audiences.

The animation was beautifully done, and I found myself entranced by the visuals. It's a worthy watch and definitely something I would revisit over and over again. <