Dumplin’ (2018)
IMDb Synopsis
Willowdean (‘Dumplin’), the plus-size teenage daughter of a former beauty queen, signs up for her mom’s Miss Teen Bluebonnet pageant as a protest that escalates when other contestants follow her footsteps, revolutionizing the pageant and their small Texas town.
My Review
Aww, I was bawlin’ like a baby while watching this film. I enjoyed it so much more than I expected. I had read the synopsis of the novel (due to Goodreads recommending it to me) before it had been turned into a film and was uninterested in reading it but, when I saw the trailer on Netflix while I was looking for something to watch during dinner… I saw the beautiful Jennifer Aniston and knew I had to give it a shot. I thought I’d be turning it off when I finished eating but, I couldn’t. I was reeled in and completely hooked. My love for Willowdean was already so strong!
Her bestie was so sweet and I adored their friendship. It was so fun to include the characters from the bar, they were my favorite part, and the romance was just so darn sweet. I do have some questions about the ending though. I was extremely happy, tears were streaming down my face, and I was clapping like a seal… BUT, it just wasn’t really fair? I don’t want to spoil anything but if you’ve seen it… can we talk about it together?
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Watched It On: Netflix
Bird Box (2018)
IMDb Synopsis
Five years after an ominous unseen presence drives most of society to suicide, a mother and her two children make a desperate bid to reach safety.
My Review
I wasn’t going to watch this because I was annoyed about all the memes, if I’m being honest… but then I saw MGK tweeted about being IN it… which I had no idea of and then, Demi (@thelupiemomma) e-mailed me and told me I needed to see it because she just knew I’d love it. A couple days later, I paid closer attention to a meme and saw Sandra Bullock was the lead and I was like… “what the heck, love her, MUST absolutely def watch it now.” After Dumplin’, I was in the movie marathon mood so it was time to see what all the hype was about.
Some people have complained about Bird Box being too long, which it was, but to me… it didn’t seem to drag on at all. I loved every second!! In the beginning, I was annoyed about the timeline changes but, it was all done so well and the story met in the middle at the exact perfect moment. What a clever story line. My stomach was continuously turning and my thoughts were constantly running. I’m not always into “the-end-of-the-world” stuff but, this… this was wild. I still haven’t stopped thinking about it.
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Watched It On: Netflix
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
IMDb Synopsis
A teenage girl’s secret love letters are exposed and wreak havoc on her love life.
My Review
I wanted to read this novel before I watched the film but EVERYONE and their mommas ruined it for me by saying “aww I wish I had my own *insert spoiler alert lover’s name here!!!*” so I was like “F the novel and F the film, too!” but, I couldn’t resist while in movie marathon mode. How could I not support an Asian lead when it’s so rare?!
Can we start with how the characters in this film are all so attractive?! Wow! Lara Jean’s little sister was adorable as heck and I loved her spunky personality. The close knit sisterhood was admirable, I mean, their whole family life was basically a dream (you know, minus the one part). Lara Jean, though, was a little too dumb… she missed so many normal social cues. Not just because she’s never had a boyfriend before, either. I do love the way everything plays out in the end, I did clap my hands together once or twice, and I really did like the story line but… there was never any emotional connection for me– not to any of the characters.
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Watched It On: Netflix
Cam (2018)
IMDb Synopsis
Alice, an ambitious camgirl, wakes up one day to discover she’s been replaced on her show with an exact replica of herself.
My Review
“What the hell did I just watch?!”— that’s all I could think and say after this film ended. Even days after, I’m still saying to boyfriend “I can’t believe the bitch in that Cam movie.” The entire thing was completely NUTS. There aren’t too many different settings, most of it takes place in one spot, and there is a small amount of characters… but whoa. NONE of that even mattered and that is saying a whole lot.
I couldn’t believe what was happening on screen. I was loudly gasping every few minutes and I still cannot get the most terrible scene out of my head! Though there weren’t many characters, the ones included were all very important for one reason or another. Everything was happening for a reason and nothing was just to pass time. I love a fast-paced, action and drama-filled thriller such as this one. It was mind-blowing and not as predictable as you’d think.
My Rating: 5 out of 5
Watched It On: Netflix
The Late Bloomer (2016)
IMDb Synopsis
The story of an adult male who, after the successful removal of a benign tumor resting against his pituitary gland, experiences all the changes and effects of puberty over a three-week period.
My Review
I don’t know if we were meant to hate the main guy but, I did. I just can’t believe this was all based on a true story like, what a freakin’ life, right?
I thought it was annoying how he wanted to keep what he was going through a secret. Everything that happened in this film could have been avoided if he was just honest from the beginning– to everyone. I also never saw or felt the love between him and his love interest, the chemistry just didn’t seem to be there at all… Rich and his wife saved the film for me though. They were the only people that made me laugh and boy, did they! I would say skip this one and watch The 40-Year-Old Virgin instead; it may not be non-fiction but it’s actually funny… The real life guy this was based on got in trouble for sexual harassment anyways sooo yeah… I promise I didn’t know that before I supported him (I looked it up afterwards). 😛
My Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Watched It On: Netflix
Excellent reviews, Hunida! I need to see all of these. I’m waiting to watch Birdbox until I read it. Glad you enjoyed the movie! ♥️
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Thank you for reading, Mischenko! 🙂 I was wanting to read the book first, too, but all the memes spoiled it for me the same way with To All The Boys I Loved Before. Hope you like the book & enjoy the movie afterwards!
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Great reviews! I loved Dumplin’, I also watched it because of Jennifer Aniston 😉 but it was really good. I haven’t seen Bird Box because everyone is talking about it and I’m just like…nah. But maybe I’ll check it out. I want to see Cam, that sounds intriguing!
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Thank you, Cadie! Dumplin’ was so freakin’ cute. I loved it!! & Jennifer Aniston was actually so great in it LOL. Loved her character. I felt the same way about Bird Box but it was def an interesting film & I am glad that I watched it! Cam was absolutely nuts. Hope you like it when/if you watch it!
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I loved Dumplin’! I thought it was so sweet and cute. And you really can’t go wrong with Jennifer Aniston! ❤ Also, I haven't watched Bird Box, is it really scary? I don't do well with super scary movies lol, so that's why I've been avoiding it. But I love Sandra Bullock so I'm wondering if I should watch it anyway.
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I did not think it was too scary. I also hate scary movies, but this one was mostly just a lot of wondering what will happen next. It keeps you on the edge of your seat for sure!
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Thanks for the input!! Because of your comment, I felt brave enough to watch it and boy was it suspenseful! So good and not overwhelmingly scary! Thank you!
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Ugh tears were in my eyes the whole time I watched Dumplin’. SO much feels, man lol. Jennifer Aniston was so cute in it, too. She did great (as always)!!! Bird Box isn’t really scary… just a bit creepy & it will probably stay in your brain for awhile. Def makes you think like crazy! Sandra Bullock is so beautiful & she is amazing in it. I think you would actually really like it!!
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I know right!! I was tearing up too. Such a sweet movie!
We just watched Bird Box last night and we liked it! It was creepy but not too bad. It was so suspenseful!!
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I’m so glad you liked it!!! 😀 It wasn’t too scary, right? Unless you imagine it all actually happening.
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No it wasn’t too bad! I covered my eyes a couple of times (like the part with the loading dock in the grocery store) to be safe haha, but overall it was more intrigue and suspense than scary. Yeah definitely gotta keep from imagining it being real or I’m gonna freak out every time I hear strong wind outside lol. I would have liked a bit more conclusion regarding what the “monsters” actually were though and where they originated. Any theories?
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Oh my gosh, I was so sad about that part! The guy who saved ’em all didn’t even want to be there. 😦 I still might freak out a little bit every time I hear strong winds LOL but I just… don’t see that ever happening to end the world. I really just went with what the crazies were saying that it was a “world cleanse.” But I never thought about where it originated, I guess in Asia according to the news in the movie lol. What are your theories?!
I forgot to ask you about Dumplin’ though!! I don’t think Willowdean should have been disqualified because she said she was gonna improve her magic act and that’s just what she did! I think Milly singing was way different than her arm hula hoop act though? So why did she get to stay?
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Me too! They made him go and then he died for it. 😦 Yeah I don’t see that happening either. I sooner see people going crazy and attacking each other than some “world cleanse” in the wind lol. I know that one guy in the movie was talking about demonic stuff, and the drawings seemed to back that up, but it seems weird to me. So I really don’t know. Joshua was speculating maybe like “aliens” but in another dimension or something.
Oh…I thought that during their audition, Willowdean’s mom said any changes to their acts would have to be approved. And that’s why she was disqualified, because she changed her magic act and even though she said she would improve, she never actually got the final act approved? At least that’s how it seemed to me. I’m guessing Milly got her final act approved.
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Ugh poor guy. 😦 I agree! I totally see people going crazy over what happened in Black Bird. Yeah, I think they were trying to say that the underworld was sick of humans so they were cleansing the world of them. I don’t know though lol aliens could have been it, too!! I’m sure there’s a forum somewhere filled with theories…
Hmm… okay! That would make sense!!
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I have watched the first three of these movies! Dumplin’ was my favorite! I also bawled through most of it! The characters were beautifully cast in my opinion and to be honest, I cannot remember the ending much because of how much I was crying! I’ll have to go back and rewatch it now that I am prepared for the emotion of it!
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Dumplin’ was my fave out of the first three, too! 😀 The characters really were beautifully cast, I seriously loved ’em all. ❤ & I was bawlin' at the end, too!! I just don't see why Willowdean was disqualified when Millie totally changed her talent act even more than she did?!
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I loved To All the Boys I Loved Before – both the book and the movie! It’s definitely more of a standard YA love story, but I have such an attachment to it. 💜
Birdbox has been on my list to watch though – so I’m glad to see that you thought this was good!
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I think I could have been more attached to it if I had read the book, too! Bird Box was crazy, hope you enjoy it as much as I did!!
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I wanted to watch dumplin’ and I do keep meaning to sit down and watch bird box, it sounds like a bit of a mind f***
And how bad is this, but when I saw that poster for To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before I assumed it must be a foreign film with subtitles! I do think it is becoming more common for different nationalities to be the leads in movies now. But that assumption alone shows just how rare it is!
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Aw Dumplin’ is so sweet, hope you enjoy it if you do end up watching it. 🙂 & yes! Bird Box is def a mind fuck! Those are the perfect words to describe it.
That really does prove the point that Asian leads are way too rare! Wow! It’s an American film though, a very cute one lol. 🙂
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I love ‘to all the boys I’ve loved before”!It’s so chill.I’ve heard about birdbox so much and I really want to watch it, but I’m afraid it’ll end up being triggering 😦
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It was such a super cute film. 🙂 Bird Box is definitely dark but I don’t know much about “triggers” if I’m honest so I don’t know if I can recommend it or not!
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I loved Dumplin (and also cried all the way through) and loved Bird Box, although the book was better for that one. I want to see To All The Boys.
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Dumplin’ was just so touching. ❤ I'm glad I'm not the only one who cried like a baby during it. I was too afraid to read the book LOL but, after watching the movie, I think I could've handled it. To All The Boys is super teenage-y but still so sweet. 🙂 Hope you like it if you do watch!
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I want to watch cam!!! But it looks so scary, I’ll get even more paranoid to be a youtuber or streamer lol
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LOL I get what you mean. It is super creepy but I don’t think it’s what you’d expect!
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I need to watch Dumplin’! Two of my friends watched it and liked it, and even my mom watched it too. It seems like something I would enjoy!
Saw Bird Box last month and definitely enjoyed it; was on the edge of my seat and all that. But…so many unanswered questions at the end that ended up driving me nuts!!
Watched To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before last year, and thought it was cute but definitely not anything memorable. Like, I’d probably never watch it again you know?
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Dumplin’ is super sweet. I do think you would enjoy it!! But, remember to bring your tissue box. 😉
There really are so many unanswered questions about Bird Box… like what the heck happens next?!?
Yeah I agree about To All The Boys. It was cute but I wasn’t that attached. I’ll watch the next one if they make one though!
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Love these posts! I actually haven’t watched any of these yet, but I have dumpling on my list, bird box, and to all the boys I’ve loved before. In fact, I think I started watching dumpling but had to turn it off because the boys weren’t letting me watch it lol
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Yay!! So glad you liked these posts, Rossy!! 😀 ❤
Hehe, I def don't think Dumplin' is for boys. I get why they made you turn it off!! Whenever you do get to watching them, I'd love to hear your thoughts. 😀
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I thought I would love Cam, but I ended up not liking it that much. Although, I did love the set design. You already know my thoughts though since you read my review a while back. 😛
Dumplin’ and Bird Box are two of my favorite movies! I never got around to reviewing them on my blog, but I just love them both. I’ve seen them each at least ten times so far. lol
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Oh my gosh, I’m an idiot. I totally forgot you reviewed it but I went back to read yours just now. I actually thought the same thing at first (that she had like an evil twin or something) but, I thought it was way more interesting that the website was doing what it was doing!
Dumplin’ was so darn sweet! I loved it. ❤ & Bird Box was completely nuts!! I usually can only watch a movie once or twice though. 😛
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I’m one of those people that loves watching the same movies over and over. 😛 Although some are only watchable once or twice, and others I will watch all the time.
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The only movies I can re-watch are the Harry Potter ones & School of Rock LOL.
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I LOVE your reviews especially because you are so honest! Thank you for sharing, Hunida!!
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Thank you for reading, dear!!! ❤
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