Happy New Year, 2022 is here and it’s time for my monthly watches and reviews. So here’s what I’ve watched last month in December. The shows that I will be reviewing are: Chucky Series, The Great (Seasons 1-2), and Hawkeye. And these are the movies I will be reviewing: Love Hard, Christmas Belle, Holiday In The Wild, Spider-Man: No Way Home, The Princess Switch 3: Romancing The Star, Single All The Way, A Castle For Christmas, Bruised, The Unforgivable, The Power Of The Dog, Tick, Tick…Boom !, and Don’t Look Up. Keep on reading to check out December’s monthly reviews.
TV Shows
Chucky – Season 1 (2021) – Rating: 4.5/5
Okay so I really enjoyed the Chucky Series. One thing I liked seeing is flashbacks of Charles Lee Ray/Chucky’s life…. things we did not see in the previous Chucky films. The acting was decent when it came to the younger actors although the actor playing Jake facial expressions were killing me lol. Also it was exciting to have some of the returning actors/characters from the franchise to star in this series. We all know Chucky is bad, but he’s one of those classic horror icons you can’t help but to love lol. Chucky is still that doll that makes you laugh and his love for killing is the same… He also gives us some wild kills this season. The Chucky series is funny, engaging, entertaining, fresh, and fun. If you are a fan of the franchise then I think you’ll enjoy this series. I cannot wait for season 2.
Streaming On: Syfy & USA Network
The Great – Seasons 1-2 (2020) – Rating: 5/5
A genre-bending, anti-historical ride through 18th century Russia following the rise of Catherine the Nothing to Catherine the Great and her explosive relationship with husband Peter, the emperor of Russia. The Great is what you would call a “period drama” but it’s also a comedy drama, and it’s just so good. The show isn’t historically accurate and it doesn’t claim to be. The acting is great, and it is Elle Fanning who gives an incredible performance and Nicholas Hoult’s performance is terrific as well. Speaking of Nicholas his character cracks me up. The show also has some interesting characters, some you’ll like and root for and some you’ll dislike. The Great is entertaining, hilarious, and raunchy… I love it. If you enjoy watching period dramas/comedies I’d definitely recommend giving this show a watch.
Streaming On: Hulu
Hawkeye – Season 1 (2021) – Rating: 5/5
Clint Barton partners up with Kate Bishop to confront enemies from his past as Ronin in order to get back to his family in time for Christmas. This series has a great cast that of course features Jeremy Renner and Hailee Steinfeld as the show’s leads. I love the chemistry between these two and they really do make a fantastic team. I feel like Clint/ Hawkeye is an underrated character in the MCU and it was really nice to see him with his own series. Steinfeld as Kate Bishop is a standout and I love her as a character…she’s witty, a badass, and charismatic. Also the show’s setting in New York during Christmas is just perfect. The action scenes and fight scenes are well shot and well choreographed. We got some new and familiar characters in this show which was exciting for fans to see. I really enjoyed this show and cannot wait for another season. Hawkeye is fun, entertaining, charming, has heart, and is one of my favorite MCU series.
Streaming On: Disney Plus
Movies
Love Hard (2021) – Rating: 4/5
After meeting her perfect match on a dating app, an L.A. writer learns she’s been catfished when she flies 3,000 miles to surprise him for Christmas. My first Christmas film of the 2021 holiday season and it delivered. Nina Dobrev, Jimmy O. Yang and Darren Barnet were perfect in their roles. The chemistry between Nina and Jimmy’s characters was really great and so were their performances. One thing I loved about this film is how much I laughed, which I wasn’t expecting to laugh as much as I did. After watching the movie I see why the film is titled what it is, which is pretty clever to me lol. There’s catfishing, laughs, love, romance, family, the debate on which two popular Christmas films is better than the other and you get this movie. Love Hard is fresh, super cute, charming, funny, heart warming and is a Christmas/holiday romcom I’d definitely recommend watching, I loved it !
Streaming On: Netflix
Christmas Belle (2013) – Rating: 3.5/5
A woman (Belle) spends Christmas organizing the sale of a mansion and its contents. The owner (Hunter) initially treats her with disdain but they gradually become attracted to each other. However, the budding relationship is complicated when Belle’s friend from home (Tony) comes to visit. So this movie has a Beauty & The Beast inspired plot line. It was great seeing the things that we know Beauty & The Beast for such as Belle’s love of books, the roses, and Tony being “Gaston”. The film stars Haylie Duff as Belle, and Nicholas Gonzalez as Hunter aka Beast, but Hunter’s dog name is actually Beast lol. The acting was decent and I thought the two had good chemistry. I’m not gonna lie this movie had me cheesing and laughing from its cheesiness lol, but I enjoyed it. Christmas Belle is charming, cheesy, cute and is a Christmas movie that I think is worth checking out.
Streaming On: Hulu
Holiday In The Wild (2019) – Rating: 3.5/5
After her husband ends their marriage, Kate embarks on a solo second honeymoon in Africa. There, she and Derek, a pilot, rescue a baby elephant. While nursing the elephant back to health, Kate discovers how much she loves her new surroundings. Okay so the husband was a jerk for ending their marriage how he did, but I loved that it helped Kate find her passion and love. I thought Kristen Davis was great in this role and Rob Lowe as the leading man was equally great as well and he was a charming character who made me laugh a few times. The movie felt inspiring at times especially when it came to Kate doing what she wanted and not being held back anymore. She’s found love and her purpose and I was here for it. Holiday In The Wild is a feel good movie that’s heartwarming, cute, charming and is a holiday film I think worth checking out.
Streaming On: Netflix
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) – Rating: 5/5
Marvel’s biggest movies of the year is out and let me tell you this movie was everything and more. The movie picks up where Spider-Man: Far From Home left off, where Mysterio revealed Spider-Man’s identity and it gets crazy from there. I’m gonna try my best to keep this spoiler free but if you’ve seen the trailers then you know that some of the villains from previous live action Spider-Man films return and that made marvel fans so excited. The movie didn’t drag and it was a well paced film, I really wanted it to be longer and I wanted more of this movie lol. The action scenes and the visual effects in this movie were amazing, especially the scenes involving Dr. Strange and Spider-Man.. that scene was mind blowing. Every so often I can’t stop myself from thinking about this film. Spider-Man: No Way Home was everything I hoped for and more. I mean this movie gave me all the feels, made me so happy and on cloud nine, I loved it ! The cast nailed their performances and are so good in their roles. Our theater was a full house and the crowd we saw NWH with was the type of theater crowd you’d want in a movie viewing. We were all hyped, cheering, screaming, clapping and you just felt the vibe in the theater and it’s definitely one of my favorite movie theater experiences I’ve had. This movie had some heartwarming and emotional moments and wow it was such an amazing movie for fans. Spider-Man: No Way Home exceeded my expectations and is definitely one of my favorite films of the year. It’s nostalgic, heartwarming, emotional, mind blowing, action-packed, visually stunning, and is one of the MUST SEE films of the year !
Watch In Theaters
The Princess Switch 3: Romancing The Star (2021) – Rating: 3.5/5
When a priceless Christmas relic is stolen, royal look-alikes Margaret and Stacy turn to audacious doppelgänger Fiona — and her dashing ex — for help. Vanessa Hudgens and the cast is back for round 3 of The Princess Switch and I’m not mad at it lol. I just love seeing Vanessa Hudgens playing these three different characters and she has great chemistry with the actors. We learn a little more of Fiona’s backstory, which is nice to see. Also this film is a heist movie set during Christmas and who doesn’t love heist films. Vanessa Hudgens in Christmas movies brings me joy so of course I was gonna watch this movie. This film has some romantic moments as well as some heartfelt ones and my eyes even got watery during a few scenes. The Princess Switch 3 is cute, fun, entertaining, enjoyable and is a Christmas movie worth checking out, especially if you’re a fan of The Princess Switch franchise.
Streaming On: Netflix
Single All The Way (2021) – Rating: 4/5
Desperate to avoid his family’s judgment about being single, Peter convinces his best friend Nick to join him for the holidays and pretend that they’re now in a relationship. But when Peter’s mother sets him up on a blind date with her handsome trainer James, the plan goes awry. The cast has great chemistry especially the actors who played Peter and Nick. It was also nice seeing some familiar faces. I loved how supportive and loving Peter’s family was, and they were very welcoming of Nick. I found it funny that everyone else thought that Peter and Nick would be great together, even the viewers watching this movie except for Peter and Nick themselves lol, but deep down you can sense they have feelings for each other. I enjoyed watching this one. Single All The Way is a fun, sweet, cute holiday rom com that is worth the watch.
Streaming On: Netflix
A Castle For Christmas (2021) – Rating: 3.5/5
To escape a scandal, a bestselling author journeys to Scotland, where she falls in love with a castle — and faces off with the grumpy duke who owns it. Any time I see Cary Elwes in a film I can’t help but to think of him as Dr. Gordon from Saw but of course you don’t get Dr. Gordon, in this film you get Cary with a Scottish accent lol. Brooke Shields’s character is very likable and she quickly becomes part of the community in Scotland and her being there has some positive effects. The duke was kind of driving me crazy at times with his on and off feelings about Sophie, but you can tell he had a soft spot for her. If you’ve watched The Princess Switch films you’ll also recognize two people from those movies because they make a quick cameo in this film. Overall I enjoyed this movie. A Castle For Christmas is an entertaining holiday romance film that you should check out if you want a feel good movie to watch.
Streaming On: Netflix
Bruised (2021) – Rating: 3/5
A disgraced MMA fighter finds redemption in the cage and the courage to face her demons when the son she had given up as an infant unexpectedly reenters her life. Halle Berry stars in this film, which is also her directorial debut. The cast performances are good. Halle Berry gives a convincing performance and Sheila Atim is great as a supporting actress. This movie does have some of the usual tropes and clichés that you can expect to see in sports drama films and it’s not a bad thing but overall I felt like the movie was an average-okay film. As a whole, the movie didn’t excite or move me as one would hope. I will say that if this movie piques your interest then give it a watch.
Streaming On: Netflix
The Unforgivable (2021) – Rating: 3.5/5
Sandra Bullock does a great job in this film in which I would describe her performance as gritty. There’s also Viola Davis in a supporting role, who isn’t onscreen too much but she makes an impression whenever she is on the screen. Vincent D’Onofrio and Jon Bernthal also does a fine job with their roles although just like Davis I would’ve liked to see more of their characters. I liked the pacing of the film and appreciated the flashbacks shown, which didn’t drag the film. I also wasn’t expecting the plot twist in the movie, which I liked. Overall I thought this film was good. The Unforgivable is engaging, well acted, and I think worth checking out.
Streaming On: Netflix
The Power Of The Dog (2021) – Rating: 4/5
First things first is the cast, who were all wonderful. Benedict Cumberbatch which I didn’t expect nothing less from him does a brilliant job in this role. Cumberbatch’s character is both cunning and charismatic and as the audience we get to know his character a little more beneath the surface. Now this is a slow burn western drama, so don’t go in thinking a fast paced western, cause you won’t be getting that. But think of it as a compelling narrative on Cumberbatch’s character including those around him. I loved the cinematography and thought the film was beautifully shot and really captured the western feel heavily. The Power Of The Dog is enthralling with some tense moments, well crafted and well acted, and it’s likely that it may not be for everyone.
Streaming On: Netflix
Tick, Tick…Boom ! (2021) – Rating: 4.5/5
I’m not a huge musical theater fan, but I can definitely say that I really enjoyed watching this movie. There were great performances all around from the cast, and the chemistry was there but of course we gotta talk about Andrew Garfield. He is terrific in this movie, giving an energetic and heartfelt performance as Jonathan Larson and he just really captivates the audience when he’s onscreen. Something else I enjoyed about the movie was its presentation/direction such as Larson played by Garfield narrating the story while he’s in the theater/club with the band and scenes from the movie playing. I also appreciated the different range of musical numbers whether they were fun or just deep numbers they kept your attention. Tick, Tick…Boom is entertaining, engaging, inspiring with an outstanding performance by Andrew Garfield whether you like musicals or not this film is worth checking out.
Streaming On: Netflix
Don’t Look Up (2021) – Rating: 4/5
This film was a treat and I really enjoyed it. One of my favorite things about this film is the star studded cast featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Rob Morgan, Timothée Chalamet and a slew of others that were so great in their roles. The characters in this movie were funny, through either what they said or their actions. I laughed more than I thought I would, especially with these characters because they were hilarious. Each of the characters brought something to this movie whether or not they had big or supporting roles. I think this movie hits it right on the head with the social commentary and I thought it was well done. I know this movie might not be for everyone but I thought it was really great. Don’t Look Up is witty, entertaining, thought provoking, satirical and definitely worth checking out !
Streaming On: Netflix
5/5: Love It, Must Watch
4.5/5: Amazing
4/5: Great
3.5/5: Very Good
3/5: Good
2.5/5: Pretty Good
2/5: Meh (Not Impressive)
1.5/5: Bad
1/5: Horrible
This wraps up my December movie and show reviews. Have you watched any of these films or shows ? Let me know in the comments below. As always thanks for reading and I’ll see you for my January round of monthly watches.
Flamingo Lifestyle 
Just saw Spiderman yesterday in the cinema and I really enjoyed it! It was so nostalgic, emotional and had me cheesing when certain characters appeared on the screen. 😭
I’m excited about future movies, cause they’re so many possibilities given that end credit scene.
‘Don’t Look Up” was soo good, and as you said was really great with the social commentary especially looking at what’s going on now like climate change. All the actors and actresses really gave their all in their roles. 🙌🏾
Also Love Hard was cliche, predictable and so much fun! The casting was perfect, definitely one of Netflix’s better Christmas movies.
Christmas Belle sounds sooo sterotypical but I like the “Beauty and The Beast” aspect so I may have to check it out.
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Yessss No Way Home was such an amazing theater experience, I really enjoyed the movie, so glad that you did too ! I am so excited for the future movies especially Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, Doctor Strange and Wanda are some of my favorites !
Don’t Look Up was entertaining and had me laughing lol. And I agree the actors and actresses gave their all in their roles !
Love Hard was fun indeed lol
Yep Christmas Belle is stereotypical lol, I did enjoy the Beauty and The Beast aspect too.
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