Movie Reviews
Movie reviews by local residents of The Villages, Florida. Movies watched and reviewed by Villagers. Movie reviews and movie listings updated weekly. Have an opinion or review you’d like to share? Submit your reviews to us for consideration!
‘Knives Out’ is a fun spoof of Agatha Christie novels
Villages-News.com's Jack Petro says that "Knives out" is a fun spoof on an Agatha Christie-type tale. He gives the movie his coveted "Must See" rating.
Expect Tom Hanks to get Oscar nod for ‘Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’
Movie critic Jack Petro predicts Tom Hanks will get an Oscar nomination for his performance in "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood." Read Jack's review.
Helen Mirren makes ‘The Good Liar’ a thriller
Villages-News.com film critic Jack Petro recently took in "The Good Liar" and gives the Helen Mirren movie his coveted "must-see" rating.
Retirees’ community mirrors The Villages
The community in the movie "Poms" bears a resemblance to The Villages. Villages-News.com film critic Jack Petro recently took in the Diane Keaton comedy at the Rialto Theater.
‘Escape Room’ provides little room for escape
Villages-News.com film critic Jack Petro recently saw the thriller “Escape Room” and has our review. The movie is currently showing at the Rialto Theater.
‘Robin Hood’ lacks flash and dash in days of old
No one can deny the appealing theme. Robin Hood is known as the “Prince of the Thieves” in this fifteenth century English melodrama. He...
‘A Private War’ tells story of war correspondent who risks it all for the truth
Marie Colvin is an American war correspondent working for the British publication, The Sunday Times. She is relentless in her pursuit of exposing the...
‘Beautiful Boy’ offers anti-drug message but little entertainment
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive drug. Known on the street as meth or crystal meth, it is so addictive that a single injection can...
Submarines play tag under polar cap in thrilling ‘Hunter Killer’
The latest U.S. attack submarine, the Arkansas, is on the prowl under the ice cap of the north Atlantic. It is seeking to rescue...
‘Slipaway’ is a smooth ride
A recent widow in her early 80’s, Fall (Elaine Partnow) sells her home and buys a two-mast sailing yacht named the Slipaway. She has...
‘Puzzle’ searches for life’s meaning gathered from small pieces
Agnes (Kelly Macdonald) has fulfilled her duties as wife and mother as described by the Catholic church. She has a loving, devoted husband and...
‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ sets new high for thriller franchise
It starts with agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) receiving his instructions via the usual tape recorder. Right on cue, his assignment is proposed, followed...
Bad language dulls laughs in ‘The Spy Who Dumped Me’
Morgan (Kate McKinnon) and Audrey (Mila Kunis) are pals who run around the world seeking adventure.
Audrey's boyfriend, unbeknownst to her, is a spy played...
‘Three Identical Strangers’ Is intriguing documentary
An out of wedlock young Jewish woman gives birth to identical boy triplets. She wants no part of the kids and turns them over...
A timeless Cher owns the stage in the new ‘Mamma Mia’ movie
Watching Cher sing “Fernando” in the new “Mamma Mia” movie is like conjuring up a past spirit resurrected in the present. The movie is...
‘Damsel’ a dark spoof from start to finish
The title tells it all in “Damsel.” It is a Western takeoff on melodramas where the damsel (a young beautiful woman) is tied to...
Ocala neighbor John Travolta only shining light in ‘Gotti’
John Travolta was known as an insomniac to his Ocala neighbors years ago. He would wander around Marion County at night, stopping at local...
‘Sicario: Day of the Soldado’ pits Brolin against Mexican drug dealers who resort to human trafficking
When the market price of cocaine drops to historic lows, the Mexican drug cartels look for other means of profiteering. Their new product is...
Melissa McCarthy’s ‘Life of the Party’ has her taking second stab at college
A woman drops out of college when she gets pregnant. It is just a temporary bump on her road of life. She can return...
‘The Catcher Was a Spy’ clicks as true story of World War II espionage
Moe Berg was a remarkable person. He was a catcher and coach for 15 seasons in Major League Baseball. He spoke seven different languages...
Even Travolta’s star power can’t save ‘Gotti’ from bombing at the box office
John Travolta got mobbed up for a biopic of John Gotti, but the film earned a kiss of death from movie critics and took...
‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ offers dramatic tale with raw emotion
Mildred Hayes is frustrated. Months after her daughter was killed while being raped, no arrests have been made.
Mildred (Frances McDormand) takes her last $5,000...
‘The Greatest Showman’ best musical in a decade
Yes, it’s a movie musical. I cannot remember the last one I saw (“Wizard of Oz”?), but this is the best one in probably...
‘The Novitiate’ navigates tough world of Brides of Christ under demanding Reverend Mother
When young Kathleen Harris is awarded a scholarship to a prestigious Catholic High School, she feels that this is her “calling” to devote her...