[6.25/10] Detention (2012)

Detention (2012)

Brief review: "Detention" is a slasher / time travel / sci-fi / teen comedy mash-up that has too much going on, but still manages to keep you thoroughly entertained throughout, even if the movie itself often can't cope with its own ambitious creativity. From the sarcastically hilarious opening scene and super-cool opening credit, you could tell that Joseph Kahn's "Detention" intends to be one "smart ass" of a horror movie. And it kind of is. Aside from its talky script it successfully makes fun of most stereotypical teen characters and some overused horror cliches in an ironically cruel, yet funny way, and that alone makes it quite enjoyable to watch. "Detention" has tons of cool gore and blood splattering, but it lacks scares big time, as it relies purely on its visual impact, instead of trying to build any sort of tension. Technically, "Detention" is a hit and miss. Even though there are some truly interesting direction choices and some flashy editing, Joseph Kahn's direction ends up being all over the place. The lack of focus may confuse some viewers, but at the end of the day it becomes pretty clear that this directional chaos is completely intentional, and Joseph Kahn deserves credit for his risky, yet innovative approach. "Detention" also boasts a colorful cast of young actors, but sadly none them can act decently, maybe with the exception of TV series star Shanley Caswell and the wildly underused Josh Hutcherson.

Overall summary: More funny than scary, Joseph Kahn's "Detention" is a creative, yet rather messy and unfocused horror comedy, devoid of any proper scares, that shouldn't really work at all because of its head spinning over-the-topness, but in the end, it somewhat does.

This review is also featured on TVFilmNews.com

[6.25/10] Iron Sky (2012)

Iron Sky (2012)

Brief review: This Finnish-German-Australian co-production, titled "Iron Sky", tells the story of Nazi Germans who, after being defeated during WWII back in 1945, escaped to the Moon where they built a space fleet to return in 2018 and conquer the Earth. Featuring bleached-out black man, female US president, tons of sarcastic political jokes, endless irony, amusing overacting and, of course, Nazis on the moon, "Iron Sky" is just as original as it's ludicrous. But it's intentionally ludicrous, in order to be funny, and it is. Well, it is not necessarily laugh-out-loud hilarious, but most of the gags work, and the movie's silliness isn't annoying at all. First-time director Timo Vuorensola deserves some credit for his original approach and spot-on execution. "Iron Sky" cost $7.5 million to make, but it looks at least twice as expensive. The special effects are polished, neat and rich in detail. The Nazi's swastika-shaped secret moon base is stunning to look at, the old-school spaceships are finely-designed, and the color filters used by the cinematographer add stylishness and retro feel to the visuals. Not to mention the impressive battle scenes in the space, which are pure spectacle. Acting-wise, the film is pretty decent as well. Götz Otto is fantastic as the stone-cold evil-minded general, Adler, Julia Dietze is smoking hot as the curious schoolteacher, Renate, and Christopher Kirby delivers as the 'white' black man, Washington.

Overall summary: All the silliness aside, "Iron Sky" is actually a funny, enjoyable, well-made and pretty unique 'Nazi' sci-fi comedy, that proudly boasts some surprisingly cool-looking CGIs and other technical qualities, in spite of its fairly limited budget and inexperienced director.

[6.25/10] The Dictator (2012)

The Dictator (2012)

Brief review: After the critically acclaimed "Borat" and the somewhat amusing "Bruno", this is the third collaboration between director Larry Charles and comedy star Sascha Baron Cohen, who, of course, also wrote the script for The Dictator". If you liked the previous two Charles / Cohen movies, you'll love with this one as well. It's done in the same idiotic fashion, and it's super-duper-funny for all the wrong reasons. It features tons of racist jokes, gender jokes, terrorist jokes and gross-out gags, and they're all rude and vulgar to the point of outrageous. Larry Charles' direction is kind of all over the place, lacking any cohesion whatsoever, but maybe it's meant to be like that. Who knows? The goldenish tint of the cinematography screams 'oriental', the enjoyable Punjabi music score adds an ironic authenticity to the movie, plus, the production design of the palace in Wadiyan is lavish and gorgeous. Sacha Baron Cohen is an incredible comedian, because he manages to maintain funny pretty much constantly. His character, Admiral General Hafez Aladeen, is silly, crude, lewd, childish and despotic, but still, you can't help but enjoying his crazy persona doing embarrassing stiff. Anna Faris does her thing as usual, delivering an amusing performance as the naive activist, Zoey, and the supporting does a solid job as well, with Jason Mantzoukas and Ben Kingsley being the most memorable.

Overall summary: Much like both, "Borat" and "Bruno", "The Dictator" is embarrassing to watch and at times even crudely brutal, but it's also outrageously hilarious and laugh-out-loud funny, and works despite its offbeat pacing and Larry Charles' wildly incoherent direction.

[6.25/10] 21 Jump Street (2012)

21 Jump Street (2012)

Brief review: Loosely based on the '87 TV series of the same name, "21 Jump Street" is directing duo Phil Lord and Chris Miller's first live-action full-length feature after their animated flick, "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs". Those comedy buffs willing to see something different than cheesy rom-coms and Adam Sandler 'funny wannabes' will be pleased, because much like last year's naughty "Bad Teacher", this film is injected with huge does of crude humor and relies shamelessly on its raunchiness and dirty jokes. Is that a bad thing? No, not at all, because it works, and also adds a delicious vulgarity to the movie. The script is fresh, smart, and fueled with flip humor and hilarious satire on high school life, however, it doesn't have many laugh-out-loud funny moments, due to its lack of genuine wit. Being about worthless cops sent back to high school on a mission, "21 Jump Street" also has some action scenes in it, but none of them is particularly memorable, except for the ridiculous, yet funny chase scene in the beginning. Due to some lame editing, there's hardly any smooth cohesion between the different scenes, and as a result the direction feels sloppy and incompetent. Hill and Tatum are a pure joy to watch as a comedic duo, Ice Cube is hilarious as the 'stereotypical' black captain, plus, the unexpected cameos by Johnny Depp and Peter Deluise are utterly fantastic.

Overall summary: Clumsily-shot and hardly hysterically funny, yet enjoyable, raunchy and often amusing, "21 Jump Street" feels like a breath of fresh air into the tired comedy genre, and provides enough laughs and action to keep you entertained for 110 minutes.

[6.25/10] Anonymous (2011)

Anonymous (2011)

QuickRating: It's messily narrated, convoluted and it lacks cohesion, which makes it a bit difficult to watch especially during the first hour or so, but the film's pseudo historical plot is still intriguing and somewhat clever, and it manages to hold your attention on the muddled mystery, plus, "Anonymous" boasts some truly stunning period settings and an exquisitely lavish costumes that make it one of the most visually striking movies of 2011.

[6.25/10] A Monster in Paris (2011)

A Monster in Paris (2011)

QuickRating: Clever, unique and quirky, if far from exceptional, "A Monster in Paris" is a charming and often amusing French animated flick, that balances well musical, comedy, drama and 'horror', and gets better and better with each next scene. The animation itself is spot-on, the Parisian CGI scenery is absolutely splendid, and the songs are a pleasure to listen and so catchy, they'll stick in your head long after the credits roll.

[6.25/10] Tower Heist (2011)

Tower Heist (2011)

QuickRating: Yes, it's absurd, but who cares really? "Tower Heist" is clever, funny and exciting and will hold your interest from the first to the last minute, thanks to Ratner's briskly engaging direction and the surprisingly amusing script that full of jokes and hilarious situations. It's also a "welcome return" for Eddie Murphy, but it's Gabourey Sidibe that really steals the show. Pure escapism, and arguably one of the better comedies of the past year.

[6.25/10] Nailbiter (2012)

Nailbiter (2012)

Brief review: After "The Empty Acre", shorts director Patrick Rea bring us his second full-length feature, "Nailbiter" - an intriguing, gripping and well-paced indie horror flick about a mother and her three daughters, who get trapped in a storm cellar, where they soon discover they're not alone. It may not be the scariest movie ever made, but "Nailbiter" is still constantly creepy, utterly claustrophobic, and it builds up tension and suspense slowly and steadily. The final act goes slightly over-the-top, compared to the rest of the story, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it ruins the movie or that is not satisfying enough. On a technical note, "Nailbiter" is pretty solid, despite its presumably limited budget. Shot entirely with RED camera, the movie looks quite polished, visually, plus, Rea manages to create a uniquely sinister atmosphere throughout the film, thanks to his skillful direction, the stylish cinematography and some truly eerie settings. The tornado sequence is as beautifully-executed as it's terrifying, and deserves a special mention, and the creature itself is amazingly well-designed and downright gruesome. The soundtrack by itself is good, but doesn't really fit well with the mood of the movie and it's way too distracting at times. Joicie Appell, Erin McGrane and Meg Saricks all do a decent job in their roles, but it's Emily Boresow that delivers the most believable and memorable performance of all.

Overall summary: It's not without its flaws, but "Nailbiter" is a creepy, claustrophobic, finely-crafted, and hugely entertaining indie creature feature, and a very promising second effort from director Patrick Rea, who demonstrates talent, skills and great passion for horror.

[6.25/10] This Means War (2012)

This Means War (2012)

Brief review: Director McG haven't made a movie since the blockbuster "Terminator Salvation" back in 2009, and now he's back on track with "This Means War" - a well-made spy comedy that definitely achieves its purpose, which is to entertain. All the silliness and improbability aside, "This Means War" is an engaging and thoroughly enjoyable date movie with some spy elements thrown in, that surprises with wittiness, laugh-out-loud funny gags, lots of awkward, yet hilarious situations, and dirty tricks, that will make you laugh your a** off. It balances action, comedy and romance rather well, thanks to its witty script and McG's brisk, lively direction. There's also a lot of eye-candy in this film, for both man and women. It's full of pretty faces that exude charm, charisma, freshness and attractiveness, that makes it a very pleasant cinematic experience, on a purely visual level. The lovely Reese Witherspoon is alluring as always, boasting perfectly shaped legs as well as an undeniable charm and comedic talent. Her hilarious performance as Lauren is downright fascinating and that makes her the star of the movie. Tom Hardy has an incredibly strong screen presence and does a great job as one of the spies, but surprisingly, it's Chris Pine who delivers the more memorable character of the two. Til Schweiger's vicious performance suits him well, and Chelsea Handler is absolutely hysterical as the talky Trish.

Overall summary: Sure, it's silly, juvenile and often absurd, but "This Means War" is nonetheless an enjoyable, funny and surprisingly witty action comedy that benefits from its good-looking, talented cast, and embraces its delightful ridiculousness to deliver the laughs.

[6.25/10] Transit (2012)

Transit (2012)

Brief review: The After Dark Studios finally bring us something worth-watching. Pretty forgettable and at times absurd, but still worth-watching. "Transit" is taut and tense even from the very beginning, but as soon as the action kicks in, it becomes an edge-of-your-seat strained, leaving the viewer no time for a break. The script has some major flaws, and the characters, both the good and the bad, act illogically most of the time, but hey, we can't all be super-smart, can we? Jim Caviezel is the only well-known actor here, and he does a solid jobs as the protectful father with troubled past. Elisabeth Röhm is quite convincing as the mother, James Frain is downright intimidating as the leader of the gang, and the rest of the cast deliver passable performances. The strength of this fine thriller lies in its spot-on execution. Antonio Negret's direction is surprisingly skillful and diverse, the editing is edgy, and the whole pacing of the film is so briskly energetic it keeps you glued to the screen throughout, from start to finish. In terms of visuals, "Transit" is pretty adequate to say the least. The filters used by the cinematographer save the film from looking cheap, giving a slight slickness to the visuals, plus, some of the locations are absolutely beautiful, especially the marsh in the second half. The movie also has some really great sound effects and a pretty intense music score, that makes it much more exciting.

Overall summary: Aside from the characters' utter stupidity and an unnecessarily over-the-top final act, "Transit" is a tense, fast-paced and well-shot road movie, that entertains with a simple, yet twisty cat'n'mouse plot, exciting car chases, and many, many thrills along the way.

[6.25/10] Carnage (2011)

Carnage (2011)

QuickRating: Although the entire movie takes place in a small, fancy New York apartment (hence it might bore those who can't stand limited settings), and it feels more like a stage play rather than an actual film, "Carnage" is nevertheless an enjoyable and amusing dialogue-driven black comedy, that succeeds because of its wittily-written script, Polanski's intelligent direction, and the hilariously brilliant performances from the A-list cast involved.

[6.25/10] The Human Centipede II (Full Sequence) (2011)

The Human Centipede II
(Full Sequence) (2011)

QuickRating: If Tom Six's insane flick "The Human Centipede" shocked you to death, just wait to see the sequel. Sick, twisted, gross, disturbing, outrageous, shocking, repulsive, ugly, nasty, disgusting... "The Human Centipede II" is all that and more, plus, it features the craziest psycho freak ever, played brilliantly by Laurence R. Harvey. Is it bad? Nope. Is it good? No way. Is it genius for what it is? Absolutely!

[6.25/10] Grave Encounters (2011)

Grave Encounters (2011)

Brief review: Written and directed by The Vicious Brothers, "Grave Encounters" is yet another horror film shot in the popular 'found footage' style. It has the typical 'mockumentary' premise, about a group of thrill-seeking enthusiasts (in this case a ghost-hunting reality TV crew) who investigate unexplained events involving the paranormal in a creepy setting. "The Tunnel", "Haunted Changi" and "Deserted House" anyone? Anyway, despite its formulaic concept, "Grave Encounters" still manages to be enough scary and effective to give viewers nightmares for days, due to the competent POV camera work, taut pacing and tons of jump-of-your-seat scares, but mostly thanks to the darkly claustrophobic and sinister location it's been shot. The abandoned psychiatric hospital is nothing short of terrifying, especially during the night. It's a twisting maze of creepy corridors and staircases, and knowing that the characters are locked in there, makes you feel extremely uncomfortable. The final act lets the film down, as it all goes a bit out of control to the point of being ludicrous. The cast does a fairly decent job, with a few exceptions - Sean Rogerson is mediocre at best, and Ashleigh Gryzko is just terrible as Sasha. She should never ever act again.

Overall summary: Although it gets a bit ridiculous towards the end, "Grave Encounters" is still a well made, chilling, and claustrophobic mock-doc, that fans of the genre will enjoy, if they don't take it too seriously, because the it's just too implausible to be realistically scary.

[6.25/10] Captain America: The First Avenger [3D] (2011)

Captain America:
The First Avenger [3D] (2011)

Full review: We all know that Marvel-based superhero movies are money making machines, so when "Captain America: The First Avenger" was announced 'in production' no one was surprised by the news. Although it's a huge imrpovement over the 1990 disaster, the 2011 version of "Captain America" certainly doesn't rank amongst the best Marvel movies, nor is one of the worst. In other words, it's average at best, and a bit overrated by both the ctitics and audiences. "The First Avenger" is often inoherent and suffers from a weak script and lack of "WOW!" moments, however, it still remains satisfying, fun, and moderately entertaining. Joe Johnston's direction feels a bit all-over-the-place at times, but despite that, he manages to provide us with lots of deverse camera angles and dynamic camera movements, as well as some subtle that balance the pace and the energy of the movie. In terms of style and visuals, "Captain America: The First Avenger" suceeds vastly. The muted, 'smokey' cinematography suits the old-fashioned vibe of the movie amazingly well, and the authentic and incredibly atmospheric settings add to the already stunning look of the movie, however, the visuals hardly compensate for the lack of strong script and jaw-droppoing action. The action scenes themeselves are well-staged and fairly exciting, yet somewhat unimpressive. They start from the middle, jumping from one scene to another so fast, it's like watching them in fast forward. The 3D effects are passable, sometimes unnoticable, and... rather unnecessary. The performances range from mediocre to great. In the first half of the movie, Chris Evans does a good job as the skinny, overly enthusiastic soldier rejected from the military, but later on when he transforms into Captain America, his strong screen presence suddenly disappears, and he becomes very unconvincing, even goofy playing the title character. Usually, I don't mind heavy British accent, but Hayley Atwell's is maybe a bit too pretentious, and her performance - rather forgettable. Hugo Weaving, on te other hand, turns in a great villain, delivering the show-stealing performance as the nutty, intimidatin Nazi officer, Johann Schmidt / Red Skull. The rest of he cast deliver decent performances overall, but without any real standouts.

Overall summary: For better or worse, "Captain America: The First Avenger" feels like a light entrée before the more serious main meal ("The Avengers" 2012) - thanks to its outstanding retro production design and atmospheric visuals, it's a real feast for the eyes, yet sadly, it fails to deliver a compelling story, memorable protagonist and stupendous action scenes.

[6.25/10] Soul Surfer (2011)

Soul Surfer (2011)

QuickRating: Considering the fact the movie is based on a true story makes it touching, inspiring and truly uplifting, plus, it features an incredibly charming and likable cast, and its gorgeous Hawaiian scenery is nothing short of breathtaking, however, its formulaic and thoroughly predictable plot, and cliched script bring the film down to the level of 'average'. In other words, "Soul Surfer" is pleasant to watch, yet utterly forgettable.

[6.25/10] The Rite (2011)

The Rite (2011)

Brief review: Swedish visionary, Mikael Håfström, known for his stunningly-effective creepfest, "1408", delivers yet another well-crafted supernatural horror flick, that deals with exorcism - one of the most frequent and popular subject matters in the horror genre. Although the film suffers heavily from muddled pacing, and it certainly doesn't rank as one of the most effective exorcism-related movies ever made, "The Rite" is still watchable, thanks to its well-written script, Håfström's solid direction and some truly ominous settings that create a mysterious and often frightening atmosphere. In fact, if you try not to take the film too seriously, you might have a great time with it - it may be a slow-burner and lacking in genuine scares, but "The Rite" is fairly gripping, and it delivers the chills and some truly disturbing images in its final act. Anthony Hopkins is unsurprisingly brilliant as the confident, and devoted Father Lucas, but it's Marta Gastini as the pregnant girl Rosaria, who makes the biggest impression, despite her limited screen time - she's portrays demonic possession to perfection! Colin O'Donoghue, on the other hand, not only looks like a plastic doll, but his performance as the seminary student is unbelievably stiff, dull and emotionless.

Overall summary: Mikael Håfström's "The Rite" won't make you believe the devil really exists, but it will certainly entertain you for a few hours with its chilling atmosphere, dark and creepy visuals, well-written dialogues and Anthony Hopkins' convincingly devilish performance.

[6.25/10] Battle: Los Angeles (2011)

Battle: Los Angeles (2011)

Brief review: Jonathan Liebesman's latest 'alien invasion' flick, "Battle: Los Angeles" falls slightly flat plot-wise, but it compensates with plentiful action, likable characters, and some moments that pack an emotional wallop. Liebesman uses a lot of fast zooms, quick cuts and shaky camera technique, in order to provide a more realistic feel to the movie, and although it's all a bit overused in places, his directional style mostly works. The VFX team behind "Skyline" has done an incredible job yet again, as the special effects in movie are simply astounding - the alien droids are deeply-detailed and skilfully designed, as are their imposing spaceships, and the post-apocalyptic setting of L.A. is as overwhelming as it's frightening. The action scenes are an elaborate blend of huge explosions, massive gun fights and sudden attacks, definitely worth-seeing on the big screen. Aaron Eckhart does does an adequate job as the fearless,loyal and dedicated US marine, though his characters is may be a bit too heroic. Despite his good looks, Ramon Rodriguez plays a rather unlikable character, that you may find hard to feel much sympathy for. However, all the supporting performances are believable and engaging enough to make you care about the characters.

Overall summary: Loud, fast-paced and heavy on explosive action, yet a bit muddled and slightly over-directed, "Battle: L.A." may not be as spectacular and entertaining as it thinks it is, but it still boasts plenty of impressive visual effects, and some truly great action set pieces.

Numerous QuickRatings PART 4: 2010 Movies [2]

Blue Valentine (2010)

QuickRating: Although Derek Cianfrance's debut feature "Blue Valentine" is a bit too depressing, moody and melancholic at times, it's still an emotionally involving, subtly-crafted, outstandingly-performed, and also a very daring film, that unveils the the inconvenient truth about never-lasting love, exploring an unfortunate love-turned-hate relationship.

My Rating: 7.50/10


Tucker & Dale vs. Evil (2010)

QuickRating: As silly as it sounds, yet thoroughly hilarious, "Tucker & Dale vs. Evil" could be considered as both a ridiculous mess, and an incredibly original horror comedy, injected with a huge dose of wit and humor, that shows how misunderstandings can lead to fatal consequences, in the funniest, goriest and bloodiest possible way.

My Rating: 6.25/10


Djinns (2010)

QuickRating: "Djinns"'s cast does an excellent job in their roles, its settings are incredibly atmospheric, it features some truly spooky images, and the grotesque violence doubles the horror, but sadly, the film never reaches its potential, and it's neither scary nor suspenseful enough to be considered a great horror movie, despite its flawless execution.

My Rating: 5.75/10


L'arnacoeur a.k.a.

Heartbreaker (2010)

QuickRating: The American rom-com filmmakers should learn some tricks from their French fellas, as "Heartbreaker" is so enjoyable, charming and fantastically-executed, it manages to deliver on many levels, despite its slightly cliched script, and it features a wonderfully-charismatic turn from Johnny Depp's beloved, the gorgeous Vanessa Paradis.

My Rating: 6.50/10

[6.25/10] Fritt Vilt III a.k.a. Cold Prey 3 (2010)

Fritt Vilt III

a.k.a.

Cold Prey 3 (2010)

Brief review: With such cinematic winners as "Dead Snow" and the more recent "The Troll Hunter", Norwegian filmmakers have proven themselves to be quite capable of doing good horror films, and this prequel-type-of-sequel to the popular slasher franchise, "Cold Prey", is yet another example. Yes, "Fritt Vilt 3" is basically 'more of the same' and utterly predictable, but its absolutely spot-on execution compensates for the lack of originality and fresh ideas. The cast of largely unknown young actors also deliver. Though inexperienced, they all do a great job in portraying believable characters, who react naturally under a variety of circumstances and situations. Ida Marie Bakkerud in particular, delivers a fierce performance as the lead character, Hedda. Although "Cold Prey 3" is hardly groundbreaking story-wise, it boasts technical excellence! The Norwegian mountain scenery is nothing short of stunning, and beautifully captured by Mikkel Sandemose's camera. He provide us with many spectacular panoramic landscape shots, some wonderful sunrise and sunset shots, and plenty of intensely-filmed and sinister night scenes. And all this is accompanied by Ari Willey's atmospheric cinematography, and Rønseth's sharp editing.

Overall summary: As stylishly-shot and well-acted as its predecessors, if slightly less chilling and effective, "Cold Prey 3" is a worthy prequel, that still manages to stand out on its own, despite its unoriginality.

[6.25/10] Loose Cannons a.k.a. Mine Vaganti (2010)

Loose Cannons

a.k.a.

Mine Vaganti (2010)

"Loose Cannons" or "Mine Vaganti", as it is called in Italy, unfolds around Tommaso has a comfortable life in Rome as an aspiring writer and a steady relationship with his boyfriend Marco - a life he has kept secret from his family. So when he's called back to his hometown of Lecce in Italy's deep south to help run the family pasta business, he decides to finally reveal his homosexuality to his conservative family and hopefully get out of his business obligations in the process. But when his plans are thwarted by his brother, Tommaso gets stuck on the path that he was desperately trying to avoid. Although this film may seem a bit dated for some, due to its tired subject matter, "Mine Vaganti" is a smart, uplifting and thoroughly hilarious social gay-themed comedy, that never takes itself too seriously, but at the same time never fails to engage the viewer with its fascinating visuals, likable characters and humorous script. The Turkish-born Italian director Ferman Ozpetek may not be as creative and original filmmaker as his German fella, Fatih Akin, but he certainly knows how to tells a good story, and to create a believable, yet engaging characters with an enviable affection. You won't get bored for a second, as "Mine Vaganti" is full of funny situations, witty dialogues, and unexpected twists. Moreover, the film features some truly great performances. The handsome Riccardo Scamarcio is truly sympathetic as the main protagonist, Tommaso, and he portrays a gay man quite confidently and credibly, without being over-the-top. Ilaria Occhini delivers the best performance as Tommaso's grandmother, a strong and powerful, yet sensible, sober-minded and good-looking old lady, that steals the show every time she appears on screen. The stunningly beautiful Nicole Grimaudo is almost as good as the paranoid and sensitive Alba, and the sassy gay friends of Tommaso, deliver most of the laughs, though they become a bit annoying at some point. Alessandro Preziosi also gives an above average performance as Antonio, who is, ironically, gay like his brother. Visually, "Mine Vaganti" also impresses, as the scenery of the Southern Italian countryside is typically gorgeous, as is the family's lavish mansion, and the color-saturated cinematography is beautifully preserved. Though "Mine Vaganti" is pretty old-fashioned and quite ordinary, director Ferman Ozpetek succeeds in blending all the right ingredients to create a bitter-sweet dramedy, that is as entertaining, touching, and enjoyable, as it's visually-captivating.

• My Rating: 6.25/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 75% (5.9/10)
• IMDb: 7.0/10