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REVIEW: “I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU” (2025) Vertical Entertainment

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Going into “I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU”, my initial thoughts were ‘comedy’. So I wasn’t prepared for a bit of emotion in the opening third of film.

The film opens with Writer/Directors Brian Crano and David Joseph Craig’s twisted comedy about two gay dad trying to make a video to be qualified as adopters for a child. The is the process, and it’s rather grueling to be honest. What do you say to have the mother, in this case – Amanda Seyfried (Candace), pick you to be her baby’s parents. It’s an emotional watch. It’s made more emotional by the fact that we find out, they have done this process before and been scammed.

But here is also where the movie just took a ball and pitched it into left field. We are in this completely poignent moment in time with these two men and what is clearly a big emotional moment in their lives – and then, we suddenly find outselves wandering through Italy with our wealthy gay couple Dom (Nick Kroll) and Cole (Andrew Rannells), as somewhere in all this, they have decided the world is against them. Remember, as of right now, and as Americans, they live in a time and in a country where they can legally marry, adopt, and do virtually everything straight people do; but this isn’t the case everywhere and Italy is a country that does not allow this. They’re also old enough to remember when all these freedoms weren’t available to them as well, so they anticipate rejection and homophobia at every turn. They’re prepared for the worst, and somehow they attract it.

But it’s also during this trip to Italy, which by the way was foreplanned as they are celebrating their anniversary, that they receives the news that the baby they’ve tried so hard to be elgible for, is going to be their’s and is about to be born. An old family friend of Dom’s Father organizes an exclusive dinner for them at a secluded restaurant. And so on.

And then it goes even wilder and weirder as the holidays unfold, what began as a simple anniverary vacation story takes weird, grim turns. Dom and Cole are immediately captivated by rustic restaurateur Francesca (Eleonora Romandini), though their imaginations begin to get the better of them, they misconstrue their knife-holding hostess (she’s a cook after all), and her macho son Massimo (Morgan Spector), as potential threats. Suddenly, the bodies are piling up, and the couple doesn’t know if they’ve dodged a hate crime or if they’ve perpetrated one against their hosts, who could hardly be kinder. And yet, they stab the air with knives and say things like, “You’re going to be a dey-ud.” If you’ve been watched your whole life (as Dom and Cole feel), it’s easy to misinterpret those signals. And because they’re unfamiliar with the local culture and language, (everything Italian is in sub-titles btw), things often escalate at breakneck speed.

I know this might seem strange, but there comes a point in this film where, objectively speaking, we begin to realize that Dom and Cole aren’t really great people (revealing the why/how here would ruin the film). In any case, “I Don’t Understand You” isn’t concerned with how these two might fare in a court of law in any world that I know of. Kroll and Rannells play the couple with a kind of “us against the world” conviction that draws the audience to their side, even when it’s not always clear whether their panic attacks and small displays of public affection are meant to seem cute or embarrassing, as it’s a hard read between the two here on them. It’s clear they like attention though.

Like their characters in “I Don’t Understand You”, the writer and director are also married in real life, which means that some of the tone of this film are presumably autobiographical, and probably exaggerated in an over-the-top manner. That’s what makes this kinda confusing to me, as this seems like it’s two totally different films shoved into one film. The first film is about the two men trying to adopt a child, the second film is about the same two men having all sorts of crazy happen on an anniversary trip to Italy together. Separately, these would’ve been two probably really good films, together, it just didn’t make sense. It ended sweetly though, with a throw-back to “film one” and happily ever after.

Grade: D+

“I DON’T UNDERSTAND YOU” IS OUT FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2025

Review Screener: Courtesy of Ginsberg/Libby PR

Australian Films, Independent Feature, Movie Reviews, Movies, Psychological Thriller, Thriller

Review: “The Surfer” (2025) Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions

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There is no doubt in my mind that Nicolas Cage is an incredible actor. His body of work speaks for itself. There are many of his films that are on my favourites list and my ‘highly recommend’ lists. That being said, just when you think you have him pegged in a category, he goes and throws you a hard curve ball. That curve ball here is “THE SURFER”, an Australian Independent Film directed by Lorcan Finnegan and written by Thomas Martin.

Nic plays The Surfer, who is sort of a investor/realtor as well, an American, born and raised in Australia, who is attempting to take his son, The Kid (Finn Little), surfing out on an Australian beach at the same Australian beaches he used to in his childhood. However, he is prevented from doing so by a local gang of local, sunburnt surfers who humiliate him in front of his son. The ‘surprise’ for his son was to show him the beach with the hopes of buying up his father’s old property nearby for them to live in from of course, The Estate Agent (Rahel Romahn). As they enter the beach area from the parking lot, they run into none other than the Locals. Yes, this is a “Locals Only” beach ran by Scally (Julian McMahon), and his gang of merry surfers consisting of Blondie (Rory O’Keeffe), Pitbull (Alexander Bertrand), Runt 1 (James Bingham), Runt 2 (Austen Wilmot), and Runt 3 (Talon Hopper). These are just a few of what we referred to when I was a kid in Huntington Beach, CA as “Surf Nazi’s.” You only need to watch “American History X” to fully understand the true scale of these people as yes, they did exist, and yes, they do still exist.

From here on, “The Surfer” takes us on a wild ride through various time slips, with Cage’s character making increasingly desperate calls to his broker friend, and encounters with local bullying kids I mentioned, Add in an ominous, Reaper-esque like character named The Bum (Nicholas Cassim), an elder who brings up grim facts of his past, we watch as not only he, but Cage’s character The Surfer as well, slowly lose their moorings to real life. The Surfer becomes a stranded, demented wanderer of the area, insisting on some version of life that doesn’t jive with reality.

I can’t remember the last time I saw someone suffer – on screen – this much. The amount of punishment, deprivation and gaslighting that Nic Cage’s character suffered throughout the film is only matched by the sheer perseverance and desire he had to ride those waves with his son. Proving that parental ties can sometimes top anything and everything and nothing else matters but that one goal.

Despite the constant abuse being shown on screen, the film sustains a weird comedic and almost dreamy quality throughout. The soundtrack with its use of chimes and the camera with its play on focus helped elevate those scenes with a dehydrated Cage to a place straddling between a delirious dream and a nightmare. Sometimes the film crosses into a point of hilarious ridiculousness; there is one scene where a dead rat comes out of someone’s pocket and is used as a weapon.

I was also a bit surprised by just how gorgeous of a film The Surfer actually is. The cinematography and editing are quite over the top, but never overdone. It’s clear he filmmaker’s are having fun shooting the film as they clearly respect the power of the ocean and the beauty of the waves and surfing experience itself.. It’s also impressive how much dynamic they manage to get out of a movie that literally takes place entirely between one beach and the parking lot next to it.

Summing it up, there were points at the beginning where I thought, “this can’t be real”, but then I only had to remember writing “Locals Only” in surf wax at age 15 on the 9th street beach apartment walls to remember, “Oh “yeah it is real”. I mean we never went to this extent, but some did.

All in all, “The Surfer” keeps your brain going and I came to respect the film. As well, a great supporting cast including Julian McMahon whom has a fully riveting presence as the film’s co-star, as well.

While the final act of the film is certainly the most loose and lawless part of the experience, and is sure to be the killer of joy for some, again, it had me respecting the film in a particular way in the end.

Grade: C+

“THE SURFER” IS OUT NOW WORLDWIDE

Review Screener: Courtesy of Ginsberg/Libby PR

Movie Reviews

Review: “Another Simple Favor” (2025) Amazon MGM Studios

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I love camp-y and bonkers type films. And let me tell you, “ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR” gave this to me, and so much more. But before I delve really into it, a little of the basics on the film whose set was surrounded by very public controversy.

“ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR” is the second part of a story of a famous author/influencer who gets into trouble yet again. We start a few years after the events of the first part where we find Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick), is now an author and also dabbles in solving criminal cases. She has even written a book about her experience of getting involved in the disappearance and fake death of her ex-BFF Emily Nelson (Blake Lively). Sadly, her book is not doing well, as intended and at a book-reading session, a surprise guest arrives. None other than the famous Emily. Turns out, she was in prison and then suddenly released, and yes, we do find out why.

While there to essentially clock Stephanie about everything she’s done, she also informs Stephanie that she’s getting married to Dante Versano (Michele Morrone), a stunning Italian man from a questionable family. She also asks for another favour – she asks Emily to be her maid of honour at her wedding in Capri. With some back n forth going on, eventually, Stephanie reluctantly agrees to join her. At the wedding venue, Stephanie learns that Sean (Henry Golding), Emily’s ex-husband, is also invited along with a few surprise ‘guests’ Emily’s mother, Margaret McLinden (Elizabeth Perkins), and her aunt Linda McLinden (Allison Janney). Dante’s mother Portia (Elena Sofia Ricci), is also there and very vocally apparent in her dislike of Emily. The situation is volatile and on top of it, a murder takes place on the island. What happens next, well that’s your wild ride to watch and makes up the rest of the film.

Jessica Sharzer and Laeta Kalogridis‘s story is full of twists and turns. Paul Feig‘s direction is effective. He tries his best to make sure that the plot points of the first part are understood in the sequel. Hence, the electrifying chemistry between the two female leads and the sassy exchange of words between them are present in abundance. The tension that arises at the wedding also keeps the interest going. There is more than one major plot twist in the second half which will not just be unexpected, one of them will boggle the mind. The ;camp’ of the film is over the top this time around. The first one, had some, but this time, CAMP is taken to a whole nother level, not just in plot, but in wardrobe as well, which is done superbly by Renee Ehrlich Kalfus, whose costumes are striking and will be talked about for sure come awards time. They are on a whole other level. Blake Lively, who continally stuns at the Met Gala, well here, it is like she is doing Met Gala after Met Gala after Met Gala here. It’s wonderful. Simply wonderful.

Anna Kendrick, as per usual, delivers another entertaining performance. Her and Lively play off each other so well in this series. This time however, her character has evolved as what has happened in her life has changed it dramatically. Yet, she still has that bit of naivity and this balance has been nicely done by Anna in her act. Lively, as expected, is fiery yet again. She keeps her act mysterious and she does full justice to her part. Henry Golding dominates his role as Sean Townsend, despite limited screen time, gives it all he’s got. And he’s got a lot to ‘show’ you! Elizabeth Perkins, is my scene stealer of the film. Again, a smaller role, but oh-so-juicy here. Allison Janney and Elena Sofia Ricci lend support in their more motherly, matronly roles, but with spice of course. Michele Morrone! I mean whoa! Looks alone don’t get you through a role, and he proves he has both looks and chops. Alex Newell (Vicky), is back as Stephanie’s assistant. While she’s funny again, she doesn’t have as much layers to her here. But still, leaves a mark. Ian Ho (Nicky), does his fair shake as Emily & Sean’s son, but he does get ignored a bit during a scene pretty much all about him. Andrew Rannells (Darren), Bashir Salahuddin (Detective Summerville), Lorenzo de Moor (Matteo), Max Malatesta (Detective Antonio Lucchese) and Taylor Ortega (Agent Irene Walker), all add background flair to make things work in the background. A specail shoutout to Ortega as she was so damn funny at points. Great dark comedic relief.

On the whole, ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR benefits from an intriguing script and a series of unexpected twists. Is it perfect? No. It’s not. But if you want to have some wild fun, with insane fashion, this is your movie. It has it’s cliches’ of course, but it’s appeal is undeniable.

Grade: C+

“ANOTHER SIMPLE FAVOR” IS NOW STREAMING IN THE US ON AMAZON PRIME

Review Screening: Monday, April 28, 2025 ~ Courtesy of Ginsberg/Libby PR