Sheroes (2023) Review

From Jordan Gertner, the producer who brought you The Virgin Suicides and Spring Breakers, comes an action adventure crime movie starring Isabelle Fuhrman, Sasha Luss, Wallis Day and Skai Jackson. Instead of a prestige picture or a highly commercial action blockbuster Jordan decided to give us the spiritual successor of one of those nineties Andy Sidaris cinemax skin flicks but for the modern days of streaming services, and without the sex. 

Four lifelong friends (Diamond, Ezra, Ryder and Daisy) go to Thailand and arrive at a vacation estate belonging to Diamond's father. They have an unpleasant encounter with local criminals and back at their home they find a bag with cocaine, instead of getting rid of it they decide to snort it. The next morning they realize one of their friends was kidnapped by the drug dealers the coke belonged to, this leads them to a search for their friend throughout Thailand. 

The film gives out desperate attempts at trying to "be cool" and crass, filled with gratuitous profanity and fake "girl talk" with irrelevant slang and forced party scenes that feel awkward because of the stiff acting and rather underdeveloped characters. It's all kind of arbitrary and unfocused, there's no true center to the narrative, not much of an emotional core to the story, it's simply a bunch of cardboard cutouts, very stereotypical characters, going through the motions of a pseudo-comedic action storyline without caring all that much. 

The comedy is sort of lazy and stale because the film never gives proper time for the characters and the ambience to set in, it goes by so quickly that the actions are put forward instead of the characters, which negates a lot of the comedic potential the script could have had if it wasn't so premature at dishing out jokes. 

Having said all that, I sort of enjoyed this one. Yeah, it's dumb as heck but it's also so incredibly childish and juvenile that it genuinely feels like either an immature and unimaginative 14 year old girl wrote this movie and decided to put everything she thought was cool in it or a 50 year old white guy wrote it, no inbetween. It's the kind of silly movie that doesn't feel afraid to be so and sticks to its cheeky and unapologetic tone, sort of like a very low budget version of the Charlie's Angels movie mixed with Taken references and a Hangover-like premise. It's charming if you are open to that sensibility in a more vulgar and direct fashion than before.

I think the cinematography is very worthwhile for a production of this kind, there´s solid compositions here and lot's of very good-looking primary colors that shine in the refined scenery. The protagonists all have distinguishable looks that inform their characterization and give you a good grasp on who they are just based on their appearance. It's not badly shot but it also doesn't look very much like a polished A-grade flick, so don't expect blockbuster tier technical proficiency, proof of this is the somewhat rough echoing sound design and some awkward or flat directing choices from time to time, not to mention the cheap graphics and CGI special effects. 

Another interesting aspect is how much it alternates between being an exploitation film and not delivering the exploitation elements one might expect. Just when you think it's going to get misogynistic it turns it around into a subversive counterattack. Like when the blue haired girl faces a seemingly unstoppable fighter who initially puts up resistance but eventually she defeats him, or when the movie promises a crude lapdance only to abruptly break it with a "cutting-the-dick off" type of threat on a bad guy. It's so strange how it deals its cards, it knows what it's doing and how to turn it around just enough to be seen as both sleazy and slightly more grounded and pseudo-feminist in the shallowest sense. It’s hard to tell what the intentions are.

As I mentioned before, it's simply likable as an amateur attempt at making a Spring Breakers type of movie by the way of Andy Sidaris. Not bad on that front. It's sort of dull at moments but one can find it mostly entertaining because of its constantly impudent attitude and self-aware angle. Horribly shoddy in some aspects, which may alienate some viewers, but if you like trashy films then this is for you. 

It’s a good kind of dumb sleepover movie like DOA (2006) or Charlies Angel’s  (2000).

Nimona (2023) Delightful punk romp of a movie

At this point, Nimona's messy production is the stuff of legends. Pushed back, canceled, caught in the middle of a studio sale and closure, only to be brought back once more. Finally we got to see it this year and... IT'S GREAT!

In a world that's a mix between medieval fantasy and modern day technology, Nimona's plot deals with a newly appointed knight, named Ballister, who is framed and accused of a crime he did not commit. He is persecuted but manages to find an unexpected and unwanted sidekick, the energetic and chaotic Nimona, who looks like a teen girl and has the power to transform into all kinds of living beings, from animals to other humans. The two will fight to make things right and save the kingdom from an unseen menace.

Nimona's first transformation scene.

Perhaps some people might think it's a rather typical rehash of fairy tale comedy but it doesn't really come across that way, in fact, this odd little movie is everything but what I expected it to be. For starters, the first trailer seemed to focus more on Nimona, introducing us to her powers and personality. I expected her to be the main protagonist of the film dealing with her issues of trying to fit in or causing a mess around town. Instead, the movie is primarily about Ballister trying to regain his honor and the trust of the Elite Knights and his superiors. Not a bad plot but kind of takes away the spotlight from Nimona.

Nimona in the first trailer.

They have good interactions.

The crazy Riot grrrl is everything but neglected here though, she is a focal point of the movie and in some ways she´s the central element of everything surrounding their world. She also has a lot of chemistry with Ballister, she cracks jokes frequently, is always ready for action and has zero tact when dealing with others, something that creates a lot of potential for comedy as well. 

She might seem sinister but shes also cute and charming.

Kind of feels like a story that could have benefited from being a TV show, the first few episodes would have served as a way to introduce Nimona and strengthen the relationship between her and Ballister, the mid point would have served as a good few episodes dealing with them finding out who framed the main knight and the final few episodes would have been perfect for the last few downer chapters followed by the tear jerking resolution. Without filler, they could have done a great miniseries as the movie feels like it goes a little too fast at times. 

Having said that, the pace is nothing to worry about, it's entertaining and fun from start to finish. The characters are all likable, there's very good representation and the subtext regarding Nimona is very significant. 

This is a pretty iconic image now.

The film doesn't hold back in any way, not only with its LGBT themes but also with its comedy, as it features some overtly adult jokes and even slightly more violence and blood than the usual cartoon for kids and teens.

"Cold in here?"

Have you not seen it? Go ahead! It's a great time! We need more transgressive female characters in media like the one we see here. A lovely film with a punk rock and anarchist energy.