Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton
Week of August 19, 2019
Brightburn
Rated R for horror violence/bloody images, and language
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 57%
Available on Disc and Streaming
This take on the super hero genre essentially asks the question: what if Superman were a monster? The story is set on a rural farm where a farmer and his wife (David Denman and Elizabeth Banks) long for a child and their wish is granted when a spacecraft carrying a baby crashes on their property. But as a pre-teen, the child starts to show evil tendencies and when he becomes aware of his powers, he uses them for horrible acts of violence and revenge against people he perceives have wronged or bullied him. Honestly, the premise itself is very interesting and there could have been a potential hit here, and possibly a franchise. But rather than steer the story in a serviceable direction, they formed here more of a B-movie horror flick, relying on violence and senseless gore rather than tension and suspense. I got bored with it very quickly and couldn’t wait for the 90 minute timer to run out. C-
A Dog’s Journey
Rated PG for thematic content, some peril and rude humor
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 49%
Available on Disc and Streaming
This sequel to the successful-enough “A Dog’s Purpose” finds an older version of Dennis Quaid who tasks his dog to protect his toddler granddaughter when the dog is on his deathbed. So the dog, voiced by Josh Gad each time, through various lives and breeds, follows the young girl around, giving her comfort and providing safety throughout her life. As a film critic, I found the movie to be over-the-top and an extreme mixture of cheese and manipulation. As a dog-lover, I found the film to be a well-made fantasy of what we would all love our dogs to really be like. It truly represents what makes our canine friends so special. And this time around, due to a much stronger narrative and better use of its reincarnation vehicle, the film at least feels fresher and more interesting than the first movie. B-