So far, 2018 has been a dismal year for comedies. “Super Troopers 2” and “Action Point” were so numbingly horrible that they made the fairly generic “Life of the Party,” with Melissa McCarthy, seem like a comedic gem. Hopefully, “Tag” is a sign of things to come, because it balances big laughs, a ton of […]
Jared Rasic
Film critic and author of food, arts and culture stories for the Source Weekly since 2010.
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Terror in the Blood
“Hereditary” will mess you up
Horror movies are a lot like Frankenstein’s monster. They’re ugly and scary, but mostly misunderstood; shambling through the village inspiring terror when all they want is to be held. It’s a genre that’s never earned the respect it deserves because it’s seen as disposable, a forgettable diversion to have in the background while we Netflix […]
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Here’s What’s Hot
Missing Angel, guilty pleasures and cosmic death cults in this month’s dispatch
Isn’t this exciting?? Another month brings another episode of May the Source Be With You and our look at the most interesting things coming out of pop culture related to streaming, podcasts and DVD and Blu releases. There’s always too much to talk about, but if you’ve discovered something you’d like to share, feel free […]
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Whack Ass
If you were looking for the lowest bar for comedy, it’s right here
There’s a moment toward the end of “Action Point” that encapsulates why the film is such a huge missed opportunity. It only lasts for a few seconds and there’s zero context for the image, but there’s a beautiful slow-motion shot of a terrified little kid riding an ostrich and hanging on for dear life. That’s […]
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He Knows Kung Fu
“Upgrade” punches for the stars
“Upgrade” has a great, if not entirely original, concept. It’s the future and there are automatically driven cars, computer monitors on every living room table and drones tracking criminal activity, flying through the night sky. The terribly named Grey Trace is a mechanic who hates the future he’s living in. He works on classic cars, […]
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Handling Business
The latest in the Star Wars franchise: fun and forgettable
The fairly unheralded arrival of “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” is the first time I can remember when the release of a new Star Wars movie doesn’t feel like an event. The fact that we get a new one every year might have something to do with it, or it might have something to do […]
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Blockbuster Mania
What to put on your radar for the summer movie season
There’s really no such thing as the summer blockbuster anymore. If the movie appeals to mass audiences, people will see it regardless of the month it’s released. “Black Panther” is the ninth-highest grossing movie in history and it came out in February—normally the month studios dump their crappiest movies. It’s all blockbusters, all the time […]
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Saving Private Ryan
“Deadpool 2” murders the original
“Deadpool 2” is the “Saving Private Ryan” of superhero movies—but not because it’s a genre classic (although it is) and not because it deconstructs superhero movies (although it does). It’s because there are more severed heads and limbs than at the beaches of Normandy. The filmmakers couldn’t care less what offends people and assume that […]
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May the Source be With You
Russian spies, true crime killers and the dearly departed In Pod We Trust: Bingeworthy
Last year, I watched so many movies, I barely had time to enjoy the so-called Golden Age of Television that exists right before our eyes. This year, I’m trying to slow down on all the excellent cinema and give some more focus to podcasts and some good TV. Of course, right when I decide to […]
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The Good Kind of McCarthyism
“Life of the Party” balances heart with laughs
“Life of the Party” is not a cool movie. There’s so much schmaltzy heart that almost every conversation is either a pep-talk or a declaration of love, yet somehow, it works. The film coasts on Melissa McCarthy’s charm and a stacked cast of comedians including Gillian Jacobs, Maya Rudolph, Stephen Root, Julie Bowen, Matt Walsh […]
