I like the aggressive machismo fueling the film, a trait Dujardin isn’t afraid of embracing. He’s a tornado tearing through the proceedings with fearless ferocity, becoming some sort of carnivorous, chain-smoking combination of Humphrey Bogart, Gene Hackman and Jean-Paul Belmondo all rolled into one.

Fans of that sort of thing, and of the characters themselves, will certainly rejoice. As for everyone else, while not going to hate their time sitting in the theater, they’re certainly going to wonder what all the fuss is about because, as far as I can tell, this is much ado about nothing, nothing at all.

The central scenario might be overly familiar, and I honestly can’t say Whannell’s film doesn’t do a darn thing that isn’t unexpected, but forgive me if, somewhat surprisingly, I kind of liked this prequel.

As perceptive as all of this might be it’s just as equally slight, Bujalski playing it somewhat safe as things reach their conclusion. But the movie is constantly entertaining nonetheless, Corrigan, Smulders and Pearce all working in sensational tandem allowing the filmmaker’s themes and ideas to come to life with delightful enthusiasm.

[This] is McCarthy’s showcase and she more than delivers. While no one would ever give her an Academy Award for this performance that doesn’t make her any less perfect. She gives Spy its reason to exist, McCarthy hitting the comedic bull’s-eye so frequently she doesn’t so much deserve an Oscar as she does an Olympic Gold Medal.

Jupiter Ascending is still a mess, and I can’t say I was as enthralled watching it at home as I was sitting inside the movie theater back in February. Same time, the film’s strengths in my opinion do outweigh the weaknesses, and I’m very curious what I’ll think of it when I revisit it again sometime in the next few years.

McFarland, USA is still one of the better films I’ve seen in all of 2015. Disney’s Blu-ray release is a strong one, lack of extensive extras notwithstanding, and family audiences wondering if they should add this to their respective libraries should do so as quickly as they can.

I gave Focus a second chance mainly on the strength of the first half and because the two leads have such sensational chemistry. Sad to say, I was just as disappointed this time as I was when I originally watched it in the theater. The second half just isn’t very good, building to an unbelievable and unappealing climax that wastes the talents of all involved. Pity.

Monsters: Dark Continent isn’t going to be what most expect (or probably want) it to be, but for my part I’m fine with the down-and-dirty thriller director Tom Green has thrown together. The sequel’s Blu-ray presentation is excellent (lack of special features notwithstanding), and I doubt fans will be disappointed.