Genie (D+ or 1.5/4 stars)
'Genie' (directed by Sam Boyd & written by Richard Curtis, of Notting Hill and other classics) is a predictable & irksome money grab that is hoping to make an impression with viewers for the 2023 holiday season. The only impression it left on me was significant & unsurprising disappointment. After 1,000 yrs. of being summoned to grant ridiculous wishes for greedy men, Flora (Melissa McCarthy) is accidentally rubbed out of her antique bottle by one, ahem, Bernard Bottle (British actor, Paapa Essiedu), whose life is absolutely unraveling. A workaholic, Bernard has been sooo busy with his career that he has lost sight of his marriage to wife, Julie (Denee Benton, of The Gilded Age) & even his young daughter, Eve (Jordyn Mcintosh).
When Bernard misses Eve's 8th birthday party at an ice rink exactly 12 days before Christmas {due to his job}, Julie rightfully decides that it is time for a trial separation. Adding to his misery & frustrations, Bernard's tyrannical boss, Oliver Flaxman (Alan Cumming, who played Bernard in the original version of this film from 1991) up & fires him. Alone in his NYC apartment, a despondent Bernard - who is an ardent antique nut - dusts off a jewelry box that he once bought & unintentionally releases the one entity who could possibly help him get his family back & his life reassembled. Or can she? This will be a tricky one for Flora; even if she can grant unlimited wishes with the simplest utterance of "Your wish is my command". But during the process, Flora & Bernard will soon discover that love, understanding, & an unforeseen friendship can create organic holiday magic. Blah, blah, blah.
What a dumb plot. And I really couldn't care less about Bernard's problems. I have a heart, but as written & executed, Bernard & his woes are not conveyed in a way that made me want to pull hard for his redemption. Wishes for ice cream!? How about wishes to better your daughter's life? When you family comprehends that wishes are for real ...they want the night to be over!? What!?!? How about wishes for world peace? Or wishes to cure cancer? How about wishes for ANYTHING that makes sense? The whole wish concept here is misguided and, stupidly carried through in the end.
Sure, the film is relatively innocuous and, Genie's messages of holiday redemption & valuing your loved ones can obviously be gleaned, here. But that's all I can praise. I don't even blame Melissa McCarthy - who I like very much. She's not the reason this movie stinks. But there is SOMETHING to the notion that she tends to be much better than the 'comedies' she's in -- maybe she needs a new agent. The humor in the film is flaccid, with charismatic McCarthy trying hard to make the magical fish-out-of-water jokes & scenarios land. Alan Cumming also amused me. But overall, despite the faux cheer to 'lift your spirits', the contrived, far-fetched story, poor visuals, too-few laughs, & the male lead who is highly irritating actually drowned my spirits.
When Bernard misses Eve's 8th birthday party at an ice rink exactly 12 days before Christmas {due to his job}, Julie rightfully decides that it is time for a trial separation. Adding to his misery & frustrations, Bernard's tyrannical boss, Oliver Flaxman (Alan Cumming, who played Bernard in the original version of this film from 1991) up & fires him. Alone in his NYC apartment, a despondent Bernard - who is an ardent antique nut - dusts off a jewelry box that he once bought & unintentionally releases the one entity who could possibly help him get his family back & his life reassembled. Or can she? This will be a tricky one for Flora; even if she can grant unlimited wishes with the simplest utterance of "Your wish is my command". But during the process, Flora & Bernard will soon discover that love, understanding, & an unforeseen friendship can create organic holiday magic. Blah, blah, blah.
What a dumb plot. And I really couldn't care less about Bernard's problems. I have a heart, but as written & executed, Bernard & his woes are not conveyed in a way that made me want to pull hard for his redemption. Wishes for ice cream!? How about wishes to better your daughter's life? When you family comprehends that wishes are for real ...they want the night to be over!? What!?!? How about wishes for world peace? Or wishes to cure cancer? How about wishes for ANYTHING that makes sense? The whole wish concept here is misguided and, stupidly carried through in the end.
Sure, the film is relatively innocuous and, Genie's messages of holiday redemption & valuing your loved ones can obviously be gleaned, here. But that's all I can praise. I don't even blame Melissa McCarthy - who I like very much. She's not the reason this movie stinks. But there is SOMETHING to the notion that she tends to be much better than the 'comedies' she's in -- maybe she needs a new agent. The humor in the film is flaccid, with charismatic McCarthy trying hard to make the magical fish-out-of-water jokes & scenarios land. Alan Cumming also amused me. But overall, despite the faux cheer to 'lift your spirits', the contrived, far-fetched story, poor visuals, too-few laughs, & the male lead who is highly irritating actually drowned my spirits.