It’s always a challenge to go back and introduce the world to a favorite character, but Solo does a nice job blending history of Han with the icon.
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Solo is the latest in the Star Wars’ franchise and features the origin story of braggart flyboy, Han Solo. After a life as a robber on a mining colony, Han escapes only to enter the Empire’s fleet, dreaming of becoming a pilot. Unfortunately, his inability to follow rules puts him on the front line where he meets Beckett, a smuggler out for a big score.

​Unfortunately the score goes sour and Han finds himself face to face with the woman, Qi’ra, (Emilia Clarke) who had captured his heart in the colony. He’d planned on always coming back for her, but now she’s the right hand man for the head of a big crime syndicate run by Dryden Vos (Paul Bettany). Because they failed to grab the highly profitable fuel, Beckett, Han and the rest of his team have a new plan to score unrefined fuel. But they need a ship and a boatload of luck.

​Solo gives the viewer a look at how Chewy and Han meet, as well as how Han gets his hands on the Millennium Falcon. Many of the classic Han lines are delivered with a straight face by Alden Ehrenreich who brings his own style to the Harrison Ford role. In fact, Ford reportedly enjoyed the new movie. But it’s a challenge to wrap your mind around someone other than Ford in the iconic role.

​A droid once again steals the show. L3-37 is Lando Calrissian’s (Donald Glover) co-pilot but seeks equal rights for droids and isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. She is brash and unafraid. There are also cameos galore. So keep your eyes peeled. From the original C3-PO actor, Anthony Daniels, who has been in every Star Wars movie to John Favreau from Marvel fame. My favorite was Warwick Davis (Willow fame). After all, both were Ron Howard and George Lucas movies. And which movie would be complete without a cameo by one of Ron’s family?? Clint Howard, Director Ron’s brother appears as Ralakili, the man organizing the droid matches.

​In addition, there are plenty of Easter Eggs for fans of the series. And I won’t even mention the big spoiler! But for people who aren’t as familiar, most of those, the movie still hits all the familiar notes of a down on the luck good guy who finds a friend and bluffs his way into the big leagues. While not the best in the franchise, the movie keeps you entertained and is clean enough for the whole family.

Often sequels are a letdown after a surprising first movie, however, Deadpool 2 keeps you laughing as it pokes fun at itself most of all.
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Now going internationally to take on bad guys, Wade Wilson/Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) makes one mistake which changes the course of his future. Now in an effort to make things right again, he sets out to save a mutant boy with fire-power before a time-traveler from the future/Cable (Josh Brolin) can kill the kid.

​Wade sets out to create his own team to rescue the kid before Cable can kill him. His team becomes X-Force and features some interesting characters including a normal guy named Peter, who Wade can’t seem to get his name right. With cameos and extra credit scenes galore, Deadpool 2 is a fan favorite.

​The movie does bog down at times but the constant over the top violence and insider jokes keep the viewers laughing. With a great musical soundtrack with songs by Dolly, Cher and Céline, you’ll be tapping your feet and singing along. However, I missed Stan Lee. The icon doesn’t have a cameo in the movie but is featured in the graffiti. But to keep you on your toes, there are many other amazing cameos by Matt Damon and Brad Pitt. 

​Featuring many of the characters you loved from the first movie, Negasonic Teenage Warhead, Colossus, Weasel, Vanessa and Dopinder, Deadpool breaks the fourth wall, pokes fun at its own movies, Marvel cannon, Wolverine and a billion other things. Nothing is sacred. Cable is an interesting addition to the Deadpool franchise and gives an interesting twist on what makes a bad guy. It also pulls out the emotional story with what makes a family and death, but again with a funny twist.

​Co-written and produced by Ryan Reynolds, Deadpool is a movie you will want to see over and over to catch all the references and Easter eggs. However, the gore and violence is too much for young kids. While it’s done in an emotionally distant way, it’s not a good plan for kids to see all the body parts flying through the air. Fans of the series will enjoy seeing Deadpool “fix” things at the end, so be sure to stay for all the after credits scenes.

A girlfriend movie! Take your best buds or your mom and enjoy a night filled with laughter.
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A similar premise to the 1986- Rodney Dangerfield Back to School movie, in The Life of the Party, middle-aged Deanna finds herself blindsided by a divorce and decides to go back to college to get the degree she’s always regretted not completing. Only, her daughter is also facing her senior year at the same school. Can the two find their own way on campus without stepping on toes?

​Hilarity ensues as Deanna’s daughter and sorority sisters set out to update the old-fashioned mom, giving her the confidence boost she needs and the sexy younger new man in her life doesn’t hurt either! This movie is one for the women as they laugh their way through the predictable story of the ugly duckling who finally finds her own way. Melissa McCarthy along with her husband Ben Falcone wrote this movie and Ben directed it (as well as showed up in a scene).

​For every woman who has faced divorce, The Life of the Party proves that you are more than what you were. Change is good and with it comes freedom. The secondary characters like Deanna’s dorm mate steal the movie while the feel good message isn’t beaten over your head. The 1980’s dance-off was funny as Deanna sticks it to the mean girl. In addition, the twist of who her new boy toy is, will have you laughing out loud.

​While the premise is similar to the 1986 movie, the laughs are all new with an updated storyline which breathes new life into a familiar story. Melissa McCarthy has the slapstick moves down although her characters all seem very similar in the “changing to fit in” trope. While the character of Deanna is a caricature of a sparkly sweatshirt mom, she is one viewers can identify with. Deanna’s daughter was also more accepting than I would be of my mom being on campus and hanging out with me, drinking at parties and doing the walk of shame. But we do have to give the writer’s license to make the story work. 

​Not a movie with a thought provoking storyline, but filled with laughs. A perfect movie for when you are feeling blue. 

Clash of two social classes as a wealthy playboy gets his comeuppance.
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A modern retelling of the 1987 movie of the same title, Kate (Anna Faris) is a working mom who is about to lose her house, has lost her job and owes the company about $3000 to replace her missing equipment. A rich playboy, Leonardo (Eugenio Derbez) is the cause of all her problems. When he is found washed ashore with amnesia, Kate and her friend come up with a plan to pay him back.

​Kate enlists the help of her three girls in convincing Leo, he is her husband and their father and puts him to work so she can study for her nursing degree examination. Lies build upon lies as Kate convinces Leo he’s sterile, an alcoholic and a laborer. For someone whose only work was raising a glass of champagne, Leo quickly picks up new talents such as cooking and finds his heart in his new family. When the lies come crashing down, Leo and Kate must decide if the lie they lived was reality. 

​The original movie featured Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. Goldie was the rich socialite and Kurt was the working class single father. While many plot points were the same between the two movies, this remake twists the tale by switching the main character’s places. In addition, the movie was produced by the joint production company of Lionsgate and Telemundo. With Spanish used throughout, the characters showcase Hispanic heritage in a positive light. Don’t worry if you don’t understand Spanish, subtitles are provided.

​While a cute movie, Overboard isn’t one you need to see in a theater. Renting it or watching on pay-per-view is just fine. A feel good movie with a happy ending, Overboard is one you can take the whole family to. It’s a wonderful date night movie and has just the right amount of humor woven into the serious topics of teenage angst, family drama and death. 

​Infinity War- Spoiler Free Review
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Infinity War is an epic movie which brings together ten years of Marvel movie characters and ties together some of your favorite superheroes in this groundbreaking event.

​Taking place immediately following Thor: Ragnarok, Thanos is after the infinity gems and nothing will stand in his way. As our heroes set out to keep the Infinity Stones out of Thanos’ hands, they risk their lives, putting aside former conflicts in order to prevail.

​Be warned, Infinity War has a cliffhanger. The ending is abrupt and leaves you with more questions and frustration. The follow up movie won’t come out for another year, which is a long time to wait to find out what happens to your favorite heroes.

​While I loved seeing my beloved characters on the screen, the movie left me upset because we don’t have a real ending and have to wait until 2019 to find out what happens. In the meantime, I’m scouring the gossip sites to see what secrets are being revealed. I also felt as if the Russo brothers wrote the ending in order to shock the audience rather than to move the story forward, but I guess we will have to wait to find out what happens next.