Two Mini Movie Reviews: The Good Lie and Big Hero 6

Movie: The Good Lie
Genre: Drama
Starring: Reese Witherspoon
Rating: PG13
My Rating: Two thumbs up

We rented this one night at the strong urging of my kids who had already seen it. It's a very moving story about a bunch of refugee kids from Sudan who, after their parents were killed, trekked across Africa to reach a refugee camp in Kenya. The hardships were terrible and many of them didn't make it. Those that did,  stayed for many years and actually grew up in that camp. Then one day, their names came up to make the trip to America and start a new life. This story follows several of these kids as they adjust to their new life.

This is one of those bittersweet movies. Very funny in parts as the kids (well, now young adults actually) learn to adjust in a place where they have food, don't have to worry about wild animals, can sleep on a bed, and etc. But the story of how they ended up here, being separated from their brother, and their sister and leaving people behind, is so so hard. The end will have you very much weepy, but in a good way.

I loved that the boys who acted in this movie are real true life refugees.

Bottom Line: It's an awesome inspirational movie. See it!






Movie: Big Hero 6
Genre: Animation
Starring: Ryan Potter, Scott Adsit
Rating: PG
My Rating: One thumb up

Lots of talk about this movie, lots of buzz, lots of expectation! Finally, I watched it with my daughter and found it to be as cute as expected, but not as funny and much more sad. (She started warning me that it was sad as we began, and so I was, wait, what? I thought it was funny!)

It's about a genius boy and his brother, who invent things for fun. His brother makes a healer/doctor robot called Baymax. The boy, Hiro, bonds with this robot especially after the sad circumstances. But there's a bad guy that needs to be stopped who steals Hiro's own invention, nano robots. So, he gathers his friends, creates super powers for them, and they are off to stop the bad guy!

Yes, Baymax is very cute! But the story itself is a sad one. The villains reminded me what I used to watch on Saturday morning cartoons and made me roll my eyes a bit. The friends are awesome and quirky. But in the end, I was just eh, it was okay about this one. I have other animated movies that still maintain my top spot. (Up and Toy Story for starters)

Bottom Line; See it if you're fan of animation, and super hero movies!