Sonic the Hedgehog 2 / ** (PG)

Sonic (voice): Ben Schwartz

Dr. Robotnik: Jim Carrey

Tails (voice): Colleen O’Shaughnessey

Knuckles (voice): Idris Elba

Tom Wachowski: James Marsden

Maddie Wachowski: Tika Sumpter

Rachel: Natasha Rothwell

Randall: Shemar Moore

Wade: Adam Pally

Agent Stone: Lee Majdoub

Commander Walters: Tom Butler

Paramount Pictures presents a film directed by Jeff Fowler. Written by Pat Casey, Josh Miller and John Whittington. Running time: 122 min. Rated PG (for action, some violence, rude humor, and mild language).

My 8-year-old son really enjoyed this movie.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (PG-13) ***

Walt Disney Pictures/Lucasfilm

Rey: Daisy Ridley

Kylo Ren: Adam Driver

Finn: John Boyega

Poe: Oscar Isaac

General Organa: Carrie Fisher

Chewbacca: Joonas Suotamo

General Hux: Domhnall Gleeson

Allegiant General Pryde: Richard E. Grant

Zorii Bliss: Keri Russell

Jannah: Naomi Ackie

General Calrissian: Billy Dee Williams

Emperor Palpatine: Ian McDiarmid

Luke Skywalker: Mark Hamill

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures presents a film directed by J.J. Abrams. Screenplay by Chris Terrio & Abrams. Story by Derek Connolly & Colin Trevorrow and Terrio & Abrams. Based on characters created by George Lucas. Running time: 142 min. Rated PG-13 (for sci-fi violence and action).

What has happened with the Star Wars franchise is unprecedented in movie history. There are franchises that have lasted longer and that have contained more episodes, although not many. But this is the first franchise to last over 4 decades following one storyline over 8 films and come to a form of a conclusion. Harry Potter ran 11 years to finish up its initial storyline. James Bond doesn’t follow an ongoing storyline. It never even had a direct sequel until it had existed for over 40 years. Now every franchise has an ever expanding universe of mythology, but in many senses Star Wars is the one that started that; and for the first time an audience is seeing a decades long storyline end.

As such, audiences have come to a place of confusion with their emotions. The generation that saw the original in theaters–of which I am a member–are seeing the ultimate culmination of their childhood dreams with a mix of emotions running from not wanting something they never imagined would last this long to end and having a hard time swallowing that it didn’t all play out as our 10-year-old selves imagined it would. Newer generations experienced the prequels or this finale trilogy in much the same way we did the original and have to deal with the original generation complaining about their appreciation for a franchise both were introduced to during very different times. 

Ocean’s 8 / *** (PG-13)

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Warner Bros. Pictures

Debbie Ocean: Sandra Bullock

Lou: Cate Blanchett

Daphne Kluger: Anne Hathaway

Rose Weil: Helena Bonham Carter

Tammy: Sarah Paulson

Amita: Mindy Kaling

Nine Ball: Rihanna

Constance: Awkwafina

Claude Becker: Richard Armitage

John Frazier: James Cordon

Warner Bros. Pictures presents a film directed by Gary Ross. Written by Gary Ross and Olivia Milch. Based on characters created by George Clayton Johnson and Jack Golden Russell. Running time: 110 min. Rated PG-13 (for language, drug use and some suggestive content).

I think there’s an expectation with a heist movie these days that it will be action-filled, have a bunch of twists and turns, and involve a plot that is so complicated it could require a couple of viewings to understand. The new female-centric heist flick Ocean’s 8 follows a more classic notion of the heist flick—something more akin to Rififi, considered by many to be the greatest heist flick of all time. The formula involves a group of characters with specific skill sets, who each provide a vital aspect of the heist that they lay out in precise detail and then visually execute for the audience to appreciate how it all plays out. The outside elements are well-considered by the heist crew and the pleasure comes from watching these characters work together towards a goal while the rest of the cast remains oblivious as to how they are being played. Not every detail in the plan is revealed ahead of time, but the capable and charismatic author of the heist has any speed bumps well in hand. It’s not so much about whether they’ll pull it off, but an appreciation of well-written characters and the actors who are hired to depict them.

Super Troopers 2 / **½ (R)

Fox Searchlight

Mac: Steve Lemme

Rabbit: Erik Stolhanske

Thorny: Jay Chandrasekhar

Foster: Paul Soter

Farva: Kevin Heffernan

Captain O’Hagan: Brian Cox

Genevieve Aubois: Emmanuelle Chriqui

Guy LeFranc: Rob Lowe

Mountie Podien: Hayes MacArthur

Mountie Bellefuille: Tyler Labine

Mountie Archambault: Will Sasso

Governor Jessman: Lynda Carter

Fox Searchlight Pictures presents a film directed by Jay Chandrasekhar. Written by Broken Lizard. Running time: 100 min. Rated R (for crude sexual content and language throughout, drug material and some graphic nudity).

For those of you waiting for the return of the dysfunctional group of Vermont State Troopers that brought the comedic crew of Broken Lizard into the modern lexicon, the wait is finally over. And what a wait it was. In fact until April 20^th was close enough for everyone to start making social media memes alluding to getting high but never outright saying it, I’d forgotten all together that the planned follow up to the 2001 cult comedy hit Super Troopers was even coming. In fact, it’s been almost ten years since the comedy troupes’ last feature all together.

I was a fan of their work, and it feels like I should add “back in the day” to that statement. I thought Super Troopers was some kind of stupid comedy genius, and I was a huge fan of their 2006 movie Beerfest as well. Club Dread (2004) and The Slammin’ Salmon (2009) didn’t have quite the cleverness of the other two though. I’ve missed their conversational comedic style and hope it won’t be as long before they come out with more original work. Unfortunately, there does seem to be a slight staleness to the Super Troopers universe.