A missing piece of the Star Wars’ puzzle fills in the gaps. I’m giving it an A.
​
Fans of the Star Wars’ series have a lot to cheer about in this latest tale in the tale of rebellion and power. Taking place between movies 3 and 4 (or before we meet Luke and Leia), we learn about a brave young girl and her part in the plans to destroy the Death Star.

​Jyn Erso grows up without her parents after the Galactic Empire kills her mother and returns her father to their control. Now she must team up with the Alliance to steal the plans for the Death Star, a weapon with a secret vulnerability built into by her father. Jyn doesn’t want to be a part of the resistance but it quickly becomes a matter of importance when her father is targeted by both the Alliance and the Empire. With the help of a blind Jedi temple priest and his warrior friend, as well as the rebel spy, Jyn sets out to steal the plans from the Empire and prove her father’s dying words. 

​This movie sets into play many of the figures from A New Hope (the original Star Wars movie we saw in 1977) and even gives us a few scenes of them but they aren’t the focus of this movie but merely a nod to the larger timeline. However, it is the understanding of sacrifice and doing what is right, so you can live with yourself which pushes forward the story.

​The droid K-S20 cracks the best lines in the movie with a sarcastic wit and dry humor as he at times sounds like a petulant child being sent to the ship or fussing over why Jyn gets a blaster but not him. And while, Jyn and Cassian are the main players in this round, we see a larger picture of the world and how each one of the rag-tag group has a vested interests in seeing the Empire destroyed. 

​While fans of the franchise will enjoy this movie, it won’t appeal to everyone. War isn’t pretty. It’s dark and gritty. The cinematography shows that with scenes which will have you squinting to try to capture a glimpse of Vader without all his black armor and at the end, Hope is the only thing left alive. 

The movie—Office Christmas Party will have you disappointed in your own company’s holiday party. I’m giving it a B.
​
An uptight sister (Jennifer Aniston) who is jealous of the attention her father gave her brother (TJ Miller), sets out to close his branch of their tech company. In order to save the company, her brother and his group of office misfits must throw an epic office Christmas party to win a big contract.

​Jennifer Aniston is cute as the angry older sister. She’s downright mean even pretend calling Santa to get back at a little girl who ate her cinnamon roll. She plays the witch very well… including some amazing fight scenes. Jason Bateman (who has appeared in 5 movies with Aniston) is the straight guy to all the shenanigans going on around him. Also featuring Olivia Munn as the tech genius and Kate McKinnon as the hard-nosed HR person. Some of the funniest pieces come from Kate McKinnon’s character.

​From nude copying of body parts to renting an escort as your pretend girlfriend, this party is a litigation nightmare, but it’s one everyone will remember. Everything they say you should NEVER do at work, they do it in this movie.

This holiday movie will have you laughing out loud at times although some of the jokes fall flat. TJ Miller’s character-Clay Vanstone annoys even though he is trying to do the right thing for a good reason. Not a movie for the family with nudity and potty humor, it will appeal to younger audiences.

​Looking for a fun holiday movie, this will entertain. But, only time will tell if it stands the test of time along with other holiday movies such as The Santa Clause and Christmas Vacation.