well this is a definite step up from ghostbusters but alas it does not escape
the Association and that's because just like that 2016 film for all that ocean's
8 gets right it's still not an original and who wants a fake just ask these
ladies and speaking of these ladies while they might look cool standing
there as I've mentioned before with this very movie and my trailer reactions I
don't think that strong roles for women mean as much if they are created in a
bubble and what I mean by that is that it's only a true victory if strong male
characters are in the mix as well we want an even playing field here right
and you know what it's not a competition we just want good characters across the
board and speaking of male characters by the
way it is not a good look for this movie that a guy James Corden is such a
welcome breath of fresh air when he shows up in the last act that's because
he feels he's in a comedy but for some reason this movie is actually not that
funny I don't know why I don't know how that happened but James Corden and
Aquafina are doing all the heavy lifting here but
I'm getting ahead of myself but I know all that said oceans eight has enough
strengths going for it that I would I would say that it's a fun and
forgettable time at the movies the best part of the movie is by far and away the
opening with Sandra Bullock's Debbie ocean
Danny's she's Danny's sister and Danny's dead but they put enough of a question
mark on it right they keep being like she's like I hope you're dead Danny and
like I didn't see the body you know basically they're like really winking
but George Clooney could totally come back the doors open to him for ocean's 9
if he's so inclined based on this movie I don't really see
it happening but who knows right so Debbie gets out of jail it sounds that's
their Beach gets out of jail sounds like the title for a different type of movie
right but anyway the scams that she pulls at the beginning are such a
delight to watch they are both clever and posh it's definitely by the way the
fantasy version of a life of crime and she borrows heavily from Kevin
McCallister's M oh but it was still just oh it was just pure fun I wish the whole
movie operated on the same level as like the opening couple of scenes and also
the music that plays over this these sequences plus the famous New York City
locations they do a lot to bolster the mood and buy some goodwill or actually
steal some goodwill considering the rest of the movie which is desperately needed
to get the audience through the long slog of assembling the crew not as much
fun here for some reason it really does seem like a chore the only good thing
actually about the rest of the movie is the heist well there's actually two
heists and you might be like god damn it grace why did you tell me there are two
heists well I actually did you a favor because if you know this going in you
will not have the horrible knee-jerk reaction that my entire audience did
when we were like oh the movies over oh it was fun it was a light little rock we
got through it and then they're like surprise there's another half hour to go
and we were like what so that was a bet that way I don't think that that that
like I think they wanted it to be like a clever twist and be like oh the movies
not over and I think they expected the audience to be like yay but instead the
audience was like boy you better prove that this was worth keeping me for an
extra thirty minutes and I think just only some degree they did and it's only
I think James Corden did the heavy lifting he showed up with a jolt of
comedic energy and then speaking of comedy again this this movie is
surprisingly not that funny which is weird because Sandra Bullock is such a
gifted comedian it's one of the way she first made her mark in Hollywood but
then I guess Gary Ross you know is spearheading this whole thing as the
director and I always think did he direct it and co-write it but it was his
idea to tell a tall female version of oceans of the oceans movies and he's
never proven to be that funny I mean Lionsgate certainly wasn't laughing when
he did the shaky-cam dilemma with the first Hunger Games movie and then they
like they tossed him oh he stayed on heap door he made a lot of money off
those movies I don't think they were able to toss him totally because that
was also his idea hmm Gary Ross good idea man not so good at
executing put them in the same category as David Goyer
but back to the comedy situation Mindy Kaling she doesn't really get any jokes
either and then as I said the only one to really shine besides cordon was
awkwafina not just because she had some zingers but you know I think awkwafina
really took matters into her own hands you know Mindy Kaling
oh you don't give me any jokes and just kind of kind of flounder here but
Aquafina was like I'm gonna do the best I can with what little you've given me
so she not only did a good job delivering her jokes but I think she had
like a comedic vibe a really strong comedic vibe throughout the entire film
just sometimes just standing there just how she would move or say just a
throwaway line you were like yeah that's pretty funny so I thought this movie the
very least will do a lot for Aquafina and considering the bad response to her
in the crazy rich Asians trailer I guess the end of the day I'll just you know by
the end of 2018 it'll just balance itself out so back to the heist
don't let anyone spoil for you how they pull either one off because that's
really the only thing that's gonna keep you interested in the majority of this
film including some cute cameos from Ocean's eleven nothing big though you're
like ah like part of you it's like oh and the part of yous like you could like
that really speaks to how people felt about this movie but the plan itself is
pretty clever it's it not only keeps you interested because it's the only thing
there besides like the locations - I could get being inside the Met Gala was
fun I liked that I thought that was that was a neat little treat to go um you
know behind and Anna Wintour security right but you know the plan the plan is
legit legitimately has its points however I will would like to add that
while the original caper in Ocean's eleven was certainly far fetched as well
for some reason Soderbergh was able to make it totally believable I was like oh
yeah that totally makes sense to me I think that I think they could pull it
off right but here I was like oh such a movie oh you know what it's not for some
reason Soderbergh was able to pull it off I just think you smart talented the
Gary Ross that's now that's for that all-star cast you might be thinking to
yourself how can this be grace look at this cavalcade of stars
well my first thing I put my notes was the cast the cast is too damn big
there's not enough room for all these ladies to shine yet it's smaller than
the Ocean's eleven caste and there's only 17 extra minutes
in that movie so again I just think it's just not well-constructed right and then
also I think the characters are a little too muted both by design and then none
of the actresses decided to make a break for it besides awkwafina also this was
weird I believe the movie strongly hints that
Cate Blanchett's character is a lesbian and there seems to be a flirtatious vibe
between her and Bullock I actually heard a rumor that one edit or version of this
film they had had a romantic past but that for some reason the studio decided
to cut it from the movie but they didn't cut all of it because the the romantic
energy you know is still there a lot of energy in this movie it is fun but the
point the fact that the movie ignores it just makes it all the more a point of
focus do you like what's going on there and why are you elaborating on it but
also why is Cate Blanchet so also small so they must have cut a lot of stuff
which you know come to think of it so aside from Aquafina and Corden and
Blanche Cate Blanchett's wardrobe right it's rare for female characters in
movies to have a wardrobe that I would categorize is so aggressive it was
really a character in and of itself there are really only two other
standouts in the movie so there's Sandra Bullock simply because she's the lead
and has the most screen time but also you're not gonna believe this and
freakin Hathaway because you know what she decided to do she decided to
deliciously embrace the caricature that she has become and like turn it up to an
11 and she's also trying really hard to rebrand herself here and also let new
Matthew McConaughey trailer that hit today as like a sex symbol as a sex
kitten and I don't know how that it's gonna work out as a long-term play but
in this specific movie it does work I thought she actually did a very good job
she least liked Aquafina she went for it she brought a lot of energy to what she
was doing and because her character was just so outlandish and Anne Hathaway was
like I'm going for it it was hard for any other character to compete with her
for attention on screen now finally one thing that I really liked about the
movie particularly at the ending and I found very satisfying was depicting
women wanting money simply for themselves and to achieve their own
personal dreams there was very little manse in this movie it was hardly there
at all and you know I love a good romance as much as the next person but
it was nice to have a change of pace and do not have these characters motivated
by you know significant others or family they just had their own selfish you know
dreams just like you know milk themes often do and I thought that was great
it's actually the most original thing about oceans 8 which makes for a very
satisfying ending and as I've told you before if you're gonna stick anything
stick the landing well this movie actually now come to think of it Gary
Ross you two important things he stuck the opening and he stuck the landing so
that's what I think contributes largely to making me have an overall still
positive viewpoint of this movie despite all the problems I just outlined right
but as for making this movie you know legitimately
you know more than just a fond memory it just you know that specialness just
comes too late in the film it should have been sown throughout the movie if
it was gonna actually make this stand out so should you see ocean's 8 I'm on
the fences to when they're not you should see oceans ain't quite frankly
but so the way I would describe it is that it's not a must-see if you never
saw oceans eight you would not be poorer for it but if you're looking for
something fun and pleasant to pass the time and we've all been there where
you're like I've seen everything what the hell am I gonna watch be it at home
be it on an airplane being in a hotel well if you clicked on this I think
you'd be pleased with the choice especially if it was again just to pass
the time alright so that's my review of oceans
eight I'm very curious to hear your thoughts down below
thank you for talking about it with me and you can check out some more videos
of course right now