Lights, Camera, Action: A Spotlight on Movies of the Summer (Part 4: August)

The Naked Gun (Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime) 

The law stretches further than ever–both figuratively and literally–in the latest installment of this classic comedy franchise! Detective Frank Drebin Jr. of Police Squad finds himself put on the case of a man who was found dead in a river. With the squad on the brink of closing down, Drebin must save the station by following in his father’s footsteps, finding himself in several hysterical hiccups along the way.

It’s not often a spoof comedy film like this gets released in theaters anymore, and I’m very pleased to say that this is a hysterical movie. The original Naked Gun might be my all-time favorite comedy film, so while this legacy sequel might not fully live up to the original, it still stands its own ground and provides a treat for audiences. The movie takes a simple crime plot and completely flips everything on its head to provide a consistent comedic feel, resulting in numerous unexpected gags to keep viewers enthralled by what could happen next. As a result, it takes what would be a relatively basic plot and finds unique ways to keep viewers engaged, perfectly staying true to the spirit of the original Naked Gun movies. 

Speaking of the jokes, the feature throws them out at every chance it gets, whether it be through ridiculously over-the-top scenarios, subtle dialogue, visual gags, or celebrity cameos in a non-stop barrage of madness and unpredictable punchlines. There’s a joke at practically every turn in this movie; while some are not entirely memorable, the vast majority of them are hilarious in their setup, timing, and ultimate delivery. This is the hardest I’ve laughed at a movie since The Day the Earth Blew Up–which came out back in March–serving as one of the better examples of how to tackle a modern comedy movie. 

Bringing this humor to life is director Akiva Schaffer, who pays tribute to the original Naked Gun while finding hilarious ways to modernize the brand and appeal to a wide audience. Helping him with this task is the cast, headlined by Liam Neeson as Drebin and Pamela Anderson as his love interest, Beth. The two get plenty of chances to shine their comedic chops, including in one standout dream sequence midway through the film, while charmingly interacting with each other as they strengthen their bond. 

Neeson particularly stands out as he utilizes a deadpan style of humor, acting straightforward despite surrounding antics of madness and insanity. It ultimately makes for one of his strongest modern performances, perfectly displaying irony amid the film’s unpredictable humor. This approach leads to one of the funniest comedy films of the last few years, perfectly staying true to what made the original special while finding unique ways to keep the audience laughing until they’re out of breath.

Weapons (Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime)

If you hear the howl of the wind and pattering of footsteps in the dead of night, something wicked could be brewing, like in Zach Cregger’s latest horror outing. One night at 2:17 a.m., the students of Justine Gandy’s classroom mysteriously vanish, save for one boy named Alex, running off into the night and never to come back. With tensions rising and parents beginning to blame Gandy for their disappearances, she and others in the community go out to uncover the dark truth of what happened to the children. 

In a year full of outstanding horror films, Weapons joins that club with its own unique vision. Its ominous premise perfectly sets up a mystery as to who, or what, is responsible for such a mass disappearance. What follows is one of the most creative screenplays I’ve seen in any movie this year. Told from multiple points of view–including Gandy, grieving father Archer Graff, and police officer Paul Morgan–the movie utilizes multiple perspectives to provide the widest picture possible of a certain period of time. Each character has their own designated chapter which ends at a climactic point of the story, a format which took a while to adjust to, but ultimately made the overarching story extremely intriguing as I pieced together how all the details aligned.

Bringing these characters to life is a terrific ensemble, who greatly showcase feelings of skepticism, depression, fear, and overall uncertainty in their struggle to uncover the truth. Julia Garner and Josh Brolin stuck with me as Gandy and Graff respectively, particularly with a side-story of the two’s bond as they clashed over the disappearance of the latter’s son. Other members of the ensemble such as Amy Madigan, Cary Christopher, Alden Ehrenreich, and Austin Abrams deliver committed performances to keep viewers enthralled, with Madigan especially standing out in the second half of the film. 

As for the movie’s tension, it expertly builds suspense through its varying perspectives, growing more and more intense as the story begins to come together. It has some of the most effective jumpscares of any horror film this year, occurring at the multiple unexpected points and not relying on them to be the sole scare factor. Once the third act comes into play, the tension crescendoes even further as the truth comes out and a wildly frightening climax ensues. Many of the images and scares from this movie have stuck with me even weeks after I initially saw it, cementing its place as one of the most impactful scary movies of the entire year. Mixed with the terrific story and characters, it also makes for a movie perfect to watch ahead of the upcoming Halloween season.

Nobody 2 (Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime)

If there’s one rule when it comes to summer break, it’s that nobody ruins another person’s vacation. Such is the case with Hutch Mansell in the sequel the 2021 action comedy, Nobody. After heading to amusement park Plummerville for a family outing, Mansell finds himself at odds with many of the staff and cops in the area, later discovering its origins as a bootlegging route. As Plummerville’s family friendly facade begins to fade, he must protect his wife and children from the crew’s true corrupt nature so he can finally earn a much-desired break.

This sequel served as a greatly entertaining feature which ranks on the same level as the original. The two films share many of the same benefits, primarily in how they tackle their overall tone. In this second installment–amid all the bonkers action and creative setpieces–there is a great heart, especially in the bond between Mansell and his family. This connection serves as the emotional core of the movie, especially as the stakes rise and villains become more ruthless, making Mansell’s character more relatable as he fights to keep his wife and children safe. Bob Odenkirk does a terrific job at mixing Mansell’s vulnerability with his fighting determination, while also providing a few laughs in his dialogue and delivery.

The other members of the cast shine as well, with Connie Nielsen providing an emotional but understanding portrayal of Mansell’s wife Becca, while Sharon Stone and Colin Hanks provide a hyperbolic energy to the movie’s villains, Lendina and Abel, respectively. They, along with other henchmen, face off with the family man in the film’s many action scenes, which are all engaging in their own unique way. The highlight scenes come from those which occur in the Plummerville amusement park, as the characters utilize arcade games, duck boats, and other attractions in their fights, leading to many creative setpieces with often humorous end results.

The story itself admittedly a bit crowded, as there are multiple characters throughout the film who can be easy to forget about amid a somewhat predictable main plot. But I can forgive this fault as the energy these characters sport make the film all the more worthwhile. Plus, despite its predictability, the movie remains engaging through its strong character personalities, high stakes, and constant action sequences, culminating into one of the most overlooked features of the summer. Despite its issues, this is one vacation which is certainly worth another visit.

Caught Stealing (Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime)

A baseball player, a group of criminals, and a cat walk onto a movie set. Why? Well, to craft a new type of crime film, of course! Set in 1990s New York, Caught Stealing focuses on former high school baseball star Hank Thompson, who finds himself inadvertently involved in a criminal situation after his rambunctious neighbor Russ leaves for London. He gets caught up in a tricky trail for survival as he is hunted down by numerous antagonists, all while keeping an extra eye on Russ’s cat, Bud.

As the plot synopsis may suggest, there’s a lot of things going on in this movie, but they all come together into a refreshing new approach for this film’s director. Darren Aronofsky is primarily known for helming dark and outright depressing films–including Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan, and The Whale–while this outing is much more lighthearted in comparison. The film utilizes many elements of a crime thriller while implementing humor to keep it entertaining throughout. As a result, it leads to one of the most unique tones of any feature from this summer, as it never strays too far into comedy while also not being afraid to bring the thrills. 

Accompanying this unique tone is one of the most creative screenplays of the entire season. Throughout the whole film, the plot remains unpredictable as certain character motives and story beats are left secretive until the time comes to reveal what’s truly going on. Almost every time I thought I had the story all figured out, another plot twist would be unveiled, constantly leaving me at the edge of my seat as I wondered what would happen next. Along with a sea of memorable characters with their own unique traits and a great arc for Thompson as he progresses through the conflict, this makes for one of the most brilliant screenplays of the entire summer as it expertly subverts audience expectations at several given points.

Portraying the numerous criminals and New York residents is a massive ensemble including names like Regina King, Zoë Kravitz, Vincent D’Onofrio, and Bad Bunny, all of whom provide fitting personalities to their characters and share a strong screen presence. But undoubtedly, the highlight performance comes from Austin Butler as Thompson, who has the widest range of emotions of any character in the film. Whether he be celebrating the San Francisco Giants winning a baseball game or expressing fear of the situation he’s been stuck in, Butler showcases a variety of feelings at multiple points to help audiences gravitate towards him. As a result, he and Aronofsky elevate this movie into one of the best of August, taking the basics of a crime thriller and elevating it into a home run. 

The Toxic Avenger (Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon Prime) 

Who knew that a horrifying mutation could lead to one of cinema’s most unlikely heroes? This unrated remake of the 1984 cult hit sees janitor Winston Gooze living a secluded life with stepson Wade following the death of his wife. One night, he inadvertently gets caught in a freak accident which leads his body to undergo a horrific mutation into the monster known as the Toxic Avenger. With crime on the loose, Gooze uses his new identity to brutally fight the forces of evil, all while trying to reconnect his bond with Wade. 

Of all the movies I’ve covered throughout this miniseries, this one can best be described as an acquired taste, as it most certainly will not appeal to a wider audience compared to the other films I’ve reviewed. This is largely because of its gore and graphic content, which stand out greatly due to the film being released unrated. But despite its graphic nature, and my disdain for the 1984 original, I found myself surprisingly enjoying this movie as more than just an over the top blood festival. That said, in the moments when the graphic nature comes through, the movie makes heavy usage of practical effects, leading to many impressive feats and creative designs, albeit a bit disturbing in some cases.

What I enjoyed the most about the film was the father and son dynamic between Gooze and Wade, portrayed enjoyably by Peter Dinklage and Jacob Tremblay, respectively. The two have a great arc throughout the feature as they experience rifts and struggle to find ways of overcoming them, adding an unexpected layer of realism to the film, even when Dinklage disappears under the Toxic Avenger makeup. The main story itself is also enjoyable, wherein despite its standard nature, it finds just the right level of hyperbole to give the film strong energy without being too cartoony. 

My biggest issue with the movie came from the tone, which feels inconsistent during the runtime. Though I did prefer this approach to the original’s emphasis on cruelty and despicable characters, I still picked up on some odd tonal inconsistencies. Combining elements of horror, drama, and comedy, sometimes the latter element could throw off the dramatic beats the movie sets up. While I did laugh at some of the humor, a decent amount of it disrupted some of the more serious moments, resulting in a bit of an uneven feel throughout the movie. 

Despite this, the film remained entertaining through its fun protagonists, campy nature, and creative practical effects. Though its content will not suit everyone, I found myself having a fun time, resulting in a solid conclusion to the summer movie season.

The Final Curtain

Overall, there were a multitude of great movies which came out between May and August, providing a wide variety of films and cementing the strength of the summer movie season. Whether they be multi-million dollar blockbusters like Superman or F1, or smaller original ideas like The Life of Chuck or Together, there is something for everyone in this barrage of creativity, delivered expertly by a talented crew of filmmakers. 

Though some films had hiccups aplenty, others stood out from the crowd by bringing fantastic stories and compelling characters to life in varying ways. Genre and tonal varieties reigned supreme this summer, including superhero staples like Fantastic Four and Thunderbolts*, horrifying frights like Weapons and 28 Years Later, and franchise favorites like Mission: Impossible and The Naked Gun. As such, I am eager to revisit multiple of these films to pick up additional hidden details or just to reminisce about this fantastic season.

As the sun sets on summer and pumpkin season begins, I will remember the majority of these movies and what they brought to the table, as they left a lasting impact that stuck with me after the credits rolled, and will continue to stay as the next reel is loaded.