Larry Bridgewater's Reviews
Lots of Coke, Not Much Woke
While technically based on true events, Cocaine Bear (2023) really is just a high-concept comedy. I liked it quite a bit. One can argue that there is some forced diversity and some of the assigned traits that typically accompany that, but race, gender, and sexual identity aren't played up or directly confronted. Furthermore, most of the characters end up appearing weak, foolish, wrong, or bad at some point, so everyone gets a turn. There are a couple of minor allusions to feminism, but nothing over-the-top. That's especially surprising since the director is outspoken feminist, Elizabeth Banks. The movie is about a bear on cocaine, and it never forgets that. Refreshingly, there is no woke preaching. Only graphic (but cartoonish) violence and outrageous comedy. And lots of cocaine.
Created: 03-17-2023
The Estate Offers Dark Laughs and Very Little Woke
I've always been a fan of black comedies, and in these overly sensitive times, it's particularly refreshing when a new one comes along. The Estate boasts a great ensemble cast who deliver an abundance of dark humor. I laughed a lot--which is far from the norm when I watch contemporary films.
There is almost no woke. The worst of it may be a very emasculated character played by the great Ron Livingston. Even there, the over-the-top absurdity of the situations allows for a surprising amount of funny. For those who are bothered by it, there is one interracial relationship (Toni Collette and Gichi Gamba) depicted--which is a very small, innocuous part of the movie--as well as one simply implied. Also along the lines of typical casting requirements, there is only one doctor portrayed in The Estate, and it is played by a "woman of color."
Overall, the movie works best because almost all of the characters are bad people, and the jokes are on them. My biggest warning is that this movie is not for people looking for something wholesome or family-friendly. Again, it's a black comedy, and there are jokes about terminal illness, greedy and conniving relatives, and sex offenders. There is a ton of harsh language and content, so make sure this jibes with your comedic sensibility.
Created: 02-25-2023
Fatman Is Lean on Wokeness
Not enough people have seen this movie. I love traditional Christmas films, but if you want to add something unorthodox to the usual classics, I highly recommend Fatman (2020). It's a unique black comedy with fantastic turns by the always-great Walton Goggins and an on-his-game Mel Gibson as the titular Santa. It's a bit bloodier than Miracle on 34th Street, but it actually carries a good message and honors the Christmas spirit.
I consider myself very sensitive to wokeness, but nothing about this movie bothered me. Some may be annoyed by the fact that Mrs. Claus is played by a black actress with a British accent, citing forced race-swapping. Perhaps, but I really enjoyed her performance, and found the relationship between these Clauses to be very charming and "realistic." The only other thing worth mentioning is a scene which shows photos of some parents whose kids got gifts from Santa. We see a female firefighter whose daughter received a toy fire truck, and then a male chef whose son received a toy oven. A little eye-rolly maybe, but no major crime. Otherwise, just your run-of-the-mill, violent dark comedy starring "Chris" Kringle.
Created: 12-01-2022
A Christmas Story Wokeless
Like a lot of people, I consider A Christmas Story (1983) a holiday classic. This proper sequel arrives almost four decades later and falls quite a bit short of "classic" status. Not enough laughs, uneven execution of story, and using forced nostalgia to rest on its laurels are my biggest complaints with this one. Additionally, it has a pretty heavy premise, so this film is not quite as lighthearted and innocent as the original. That said, A Christmas Story Christmas (2022) has some funny moments, a handful of charming performances, and ultimately a lot of heart. Most importantly, there's not a trace of wokeness. The film gets better as it progresses, and I would watch it again. I recommend it to anyone looking for a woke-free, family-friendly Christmas movie. Just don't pressure this one to live up to its predecessor. Add at least one point to my rating if nostalgia and callbacks alone carry you farther than they carry me.
Created: 11-29-2022
No Woke, But No Thanks
I really wanted to like this movie, but I did not like this movie. On the other hand, it's not woke, so feel free to make up your own mind.
Created: 11-18-2022
Wokeness = 0
I never was a big fan of the original Top Gun (1986). It's a harmless popcorn movie, just not one that I loved. I've seen Top Gun: Maverick (2022) twice, and I think it's a much better film. It really hits you over the head with fan service celebrating the cheesiness of its predecessor (which most folks love) and features a good amount of predictable dialogue, but I think it tells a much better story than the original and features a standout performance from Tom Cruise. And airplanes. Just an engaging, entertaining sequel...and, the best part...NOT A DROP OF WOKENESS.
Created: 11-17-2022
Wokeless Fun
I know a lot of people enjoy Nicolas Cage ironically these days. This movie is sort of a wink at that idea, carried out by Cage's own eye. Nick Cage is in top form for this unironically comedic triumph that playfully celebrates the actor's career. Being at least somewhat familiar with his work (and image) will help viewers get the most out of the abundant comedy in this film. Fear not, visitors of this website, for there will be NO WOKENESS on Nicolas Cage's watch.
Created: 11-17-2022
No Woke
Generally, I don't watch a lot of war movies. It's just not my favorite genre. I am, however, a big fan of Christopher Nolan's work. Dunkirk was his only film I hadn't seen--until now. In my opinion, it's a beautiful-looking, well-made movie about an interesting story. Most importantly for this website (and often the case with Nolan's films), it features no elements of wokeness.
Created: 11-17-2022
Weird Not Woke
It's quite clever that instead of an actual Weird Al biopic, we get a biopic parody. I detected zero wokeness. Just silly, toungue-in-cheek fun. Refreshing.
Created: 11-17-2022
Awful
I have a regular Movie Night with some friends, so sometimes I have to watch things I know will bother me. Such is the case with Booksmart (2019). I knew this movie would be a wokefest, and it was painful to watch. Normally, I like to give specific examples to support my rating, but I would have to copy and paste the entire screenplay. Even if I covered my ears like a small child, woke visuals were everywhere. Incidentally, I found the movie painfully unfunny. Essentially, it was Jonah Hill's sister starring in a woke, female version of Superbad (a hilarious movie). It's even directed by the humorless, ultra-woke Olivia Wilde. Yikes. My female friend who picked the film found it very funny, so it's important to point out that comedy is subjective. I'm glad that my friend had a good time, but I'm sad that my brain is stained with the memory of the movie. Oh well, my brain's not exactly precious cargo.
Created: 11-09-2022
