Here's The Deal with Kevin Carr

Unrated Opens: August 29, 2025 Kevin says THE TOXIC AVENGER kinda rocks! In an era of remakes, reboots, and ret-cons, I suppose it’s time for a new take on classic American exploitation. THE TOXIC AVENGER follows a down-on-his-luck widower who suffers an industrial accident that turns him into a powerful mutant. He targets the head of a pharmaceutical company to clean up the town of corruption and crime. In the 80s, THE TOXIC AVENGER helped build the Troma schlock house. The original film was a teen sexcapade with Toxie fighting bullies in a gym. Now, he tackles bigger issues like corporate greed and the health care crisis. Does this make the new film better? Not necessarily. There was a comfort to the original’s focus on over-the-top splatter filmmaking with a corny plot and loads of jiggle factor. In this version, Peter Dinklage takes his role way more serious than he probably should, while Kevin Bacon and Elijah Wood chew the scenery as bad guys. It’s all in good fun. THE TOXIC AVENGER is a wild ride, thought I do miss the days of Troma’s gritty, low-budget exploitation films with zero regrets. THE TOXIC AVENGER gets three mops out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated R Opens: August 22, 2025 Kevin says HONEY DON’T kinda sucks! THE SUBSTANCE’s Margaret Qualley headlines a neo-noir mystery from one of the Coen Brothers in HONEY DON’T. The story follows a private investigator looking into the death of a young woman. The trail leads her into dark territory, featuring international drug dealers, a corrupt pastor, and the seedy underbelly of society. This is Ethan Coen’s second outing without his brother Joel along for the ride, and it feels like a substandard solo album from an artist who left the band. There’s a level of quirkiness you expect, but it lands with a heavy thud more often than not. The story explores some intriguing elements, but its connective tissue is flimsy, delivering a rambling mystery that keeps having to remind you what the mystery actually is. Plus it tries too hard to be edgy, but only in a way that would have been sensational way back in the 90s. I appreciate the bold attempt for a noir thriller under the blazing sun of the southern California desert, but in a lot of ways it feels more like an imitation than standalone film. HONEY DON’T gets two clues out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated R Opens: August 15, 2025 Kevin says NOBODY 2 ROCKS! BETTER CALL SAUL’s Bob Odenkirk is the latest middle-aged actor cashing in on the everyman beating up gangsters with the sequel NOBODY 2. Odenkirk plays a former assassin trying to live a boring suburban life. While paying a debt to the mob, he takes his family on vacation but stumbles into a local crime ring. This comedy-action subgenre can be a lot of fun, and this sequel ramps up the whimsy, not falling into the darkness that some movies do. The film is completely absurd with over-the-top characters and unrealistic situations, refusing to acknowledge the basic rules of science or marksmanship. However, being this absurd, makes it a cartoon – to the point that the climax takes place in a booby-trapped waterpark, HOME ALONE style. And boy, does it work. The cast is spot-on, but not just with Odenkirk in his conflicted role and Connie Nielsen as his reluctantly understanding wife. Colin Hanks is great against type as a corrupt sheriff, but the MVP is Sharon Stone as the unhinged crime boss. It’s deliciously violent and vicariously cathartic, tapping into everyone’s need to protect their family. NOBODY 2 gets four waterslides out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated PG Opens: August 8, 2025 Kevin says FREAKIER FRIDAY kinda sucks! The latest film to come out of Hollywood’s never-ending reboot engine is Disney’s FREAKIER FRIDAY. This 20-years-too-late sequel reunites us with Tess and Anna, who magically swapped bodies in 2003. Now, a similar event has happened, bringing along Anna’s daughter and her soon-to-be step-sister. Most aspects of this film feel terribly forced – from the adults’ inexplicably successful careers to the slapstick pratfalls and reasons leading up to them. And the film clings to clichés while bending over backwards to show the challenging dynamics of the family. Unfortunately, that first act does nothing but present a cast of truly unlikeable characters. There is a modicum of sweetness that helps lift the ending in that Disney Channel sort of way. And Jamie Lee Curtis certainly gives it her all to be outrageous. Unfortunately, those things didn’t balance out the rest of its problems. Maybe the target audience of tween girls will like it, but I’m not a tween girl… last time I checked. It’s freakier, it’s fridayier, but this FREAKIER FRIDAY left me with a case of the Mondays. FREAKIER FRIDAY gets two weekdays out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated PG Opens: August 1, 2025 Kevin says THE BAD GUYS 2 kinda rocks! Three years ago, THE BAD GUYS delivered a unique, fresh animated adventure. Now, they’re back for another score in THE BAD GUYS 2. This time, they are blackmailed into a job by a notorious criminal and have to find a way to pull things off but keep their new Good Guys reputation. Overall, this is fun and entertaining. The excellent voice cast returns, and it’s not just low-brow body jokes. But those are in there to get the laughs from the kiddies. The only crime committed in THE BAD GUYS 2 is going bigger for the sequel. I know film has a tarantula that’s a computer expert, and a piranha walking around on land. But at some point, the absurdity goes too far. Where the Fast & Furious franchise took 20 years and 9 films, this movie does in 90 minutes. I’m no rocket scientist, but even I had trouble swallowing the third act. Still, it’s a slick film that should appeal to the whole family, even if it is a bit overblown. THE BAD GUYS 2 gets three wolf whistles out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated PG-13 Opens: July 25, 2025 Kevin says THE FANTASTIC 4: FIRST STEPS ROCKS! Facing the threat of superhero fatigue, THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS flies onto summer movie screen. The story drops us in years after Marvel’s First Family acquires their cosmic powers. But don’t worry… flashbacks explain their origins if you need that. One day, they are visited by the harbinger of a god-like creature that has targeted Earth for destruction. They must find a way to save the planet without sacrificing one of their own. This new FANTASTIC FOUR gives a fresh take on the modern superhero film by shaking up the style. We areon an alternate Earth with a retro 60s feel, evoking the charm of the classic Stan Lee and Jack Kirby comics. One of the strengths of the film is juggling characters who have their own flaws. As much as you want to “Flame on!” and shout “It’s clobberin’ time!,” the characters have to solve problems they can’t punch away. It’s still a superhero movie, and it connects to the next phase of Marvel crossover films. However, it taps into some real human elements. THE FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS gets four silver surfboards out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated PG Opens: July 18, 2025 Kevin says SMURFS kinda sucks! It’s been eight years, so why not reboot the theatrical SMURFS franchise? With a new voice cast – including a new pop music star as Smurfette – the little blue creatures are living in peace in Smurf Village. When one of them discovers he has magical powers, the evil wizard Razamel kidnaps Papa Smurf, and the rest have to save him. The Smurfs have never been a gold standard in animation, but they offer a certain level of entertainment value for younger viewers. So, the erratic script, sometimes low-brow jokes, and too many desperate-to-be-cool references to popular apps aren’t insurmountable problems. At least the disjointed plot keeps moving rather than stagnating in the “let’s go to the real world” trope. I’ll admit there are some clever moments that allow this film to rise above the problems that saddled the previous adaptations. And in spite of a script overloaded with MacGuffins, the film has a bright and vibrant tone that can be fun. It’s enjoyable enough and mercifully short, even with the Rihanna songs crammed in to inspire downloads. SMURFS gets two and a half smurfing smurfs out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated PG-13 Opens: July 11, 2025 Kevin says SUPERMAN ROCKS! Slip on your blue tights! It’s time for a reboot of the Last Son of Krypton. SUPERMAN follows billionaire Lex Luthor trying to take down the Man of Stel, while the Daily Planet tries to uncover an international conspiracy. Having extensively read the Superman comics, I was thrilled to see a version so close to the books. Writer/director James Gunn drops us into the action with a brighter, more optimistic delivery. Gone is the darker nature of the Snyderverse; now we have Supes as the traditional Boy Scout. This is easily the best-cast Superman film I’ve ever seen, with David Corenswet holding things together. But others stand out, like Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner, Edi Gathegi as Mr. Terrific, Nicholas Hoult as a chilling Lex Luthor, and a slew of animators as Krypto the Super Dog. And the film is more than just battles. It examines the nature of our own goodness, which comes from how you were raised and not necessarily where you’re from. It also looks at the purpose of journalism, which is to ask the tough questions and not pander to advertising or powerful figures. This is easily one of the best Superman films ever made. SUPERMAN gets four and a half capes out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated PG-13 Opens: July 2, 2025 Kevin says JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH kinda rocks! A big summer movie brings big summer monsters back to the big summer screen. We see a lot of familiar things in the latest installment of the Jurassic Park franchise. In JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH, people are stranded AGAIN… on an island populated by vicious dinosaurs AGAIN… and things go horribly awry AGAIN… and somehow children end up in danger AGAIN. More than 30 years after Spielberg’s brilliant film, this sequel/spinoff has much better visual effects, but still lacks the interesting characters and snappy dialogue. But lets’ face it… you’re here for the spectacle, and JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH delivers on that. And it goes back to the heart of the franchise, leaving bizarre backstories of cloned children and international weapons auctions to make way for what amounts to a mega-budgeted Doug MacClure film. The story offers some interesting ideas on dinosaur survival, and it’s broken into segments almost like a video game, which works in a strange way. If only every character’s tragic backstory wasn’t so forced. JURASSIC WORLD: REBIRTH gets three fossils out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated PG-13 Opens: June 27, 2025 Kevin says F1 kinda sucks! Brad Pitt may be the name on the marquee, but the real star of F1 is the racing. Pitt stars as a washed up driver brought in to help a Formula 1 team win. He butts heads with the team using his unorthodox style as he also struggles to become a leader. Directed by TOP GUN: MAVERICK’s Joe Kosinski, F1 offers the same in-your-seat action for a visceral theatrical experience. I don’t have a problem with the look, the style, or the slick delivery of this film. But for someone who doesn’t care about racing, this movie is a bore. It’s so loaded down with recycled plot points and macho virtue signaling that it becomes exhausting by the 90-minute mark. Then you realize there’s another entire hour left. Sure, the movie looks cool as all get-out, but it’s nothing more than an amalgamation of music videos and advertisements for the sponsors. Fans of racing will love this, but it feels like it’s written and directed by Testosterone itself, with some script punch-ups from Sports Films Cliches and daddy issues. F1 gets two Fs out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated PG Opens: June 20, 2025 Kevin says ELIO ROCKS! Pixar has a new film, which is literally out of this world. ELIO tells the story of a recent orphan living with his aunt. Desperately wanting a new life, Elio sends a signal into space with a tricked-out ham radio… and miraculously gets a reply. When he is abducted by aliens, Elio convinces them he is the leader of Earth. On its surface, there’s a lot to swallow here, but it is entirely digestible by telling the story from a child’s point of view. And with a massive dose of Pixar charm, the movie manages to be relatable to anyone who has ever felt like a bit of a misfit. The film has many clever layers that offer wonderful messaging without being preachy or reductive. For the kids, it’s a vibrant and fun space adventure. And for the parents, it’s an emotional ride that will catch you off guard and possibly bring a tear to your eye. Beautifully animated and grounded with humanity, ELIO is simply a darling of a movie. ELIO gets four and a half ham radios out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated PG Opens: June 13, 2025 Kevin says HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON ROCKS! Disney isn’t the only studio producing live-action remakes of their animated films. DreamWorks has thrown its hat into the ring with HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON. Closely following the animated film from fifteen years ago, the story follows a young Viking named Hiccup who befriends a dragon, in spite of living in a village that constantly hunts the beasts. Hiccup must use his new relationship to show his village how to work together for everyone’s benefit. Although it’s a bit of a slow-starter, when the movie takes off, it’s hard to look away. Using breathtaking visuals and thrilling flying sequences, this is a film that calls to be seen on the biggest screen possible. While at its heart it’s a kids’ movie, it’s doesn’t talk down to its audience. There’s a real human side to the story, and that makes it entirely watchable by parents and older generations. Some elements seem unnecessary to remake, like Toothless the Dragon looking almost identical to his animated version. However, there’s other elements of the live-action presentation that gives the film the extra zhuzh it needs to be awe-inspiring. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON gets four Viking axes out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated R Opens: June 6, 2025 Kevin says BALLERINA kinda rocks! To milk more money out of the JOHN WICK franchise, Lionsgate offers moviegoers the spin-off BALLERINA. The story follows an orphan raised by a secret society as a ballerina and assassin. When she comes of age, she goes rogue to take out the cult that killed her father. On the good side, BALLERINA leans into what makes the JOHN WICK films so enjoyable: non-stop action, ridiculous stunts, loud fight sequences, and a sizzling cinematography popping with color and contrast. Star Ana de Armas holds her own from a physicality standpoint, and her acting has improved over the years. She makes the character relatable but she doesn’t let her adorable side take over. On the downside, this film is a bit much. It’s a thin story with a basic revenge set-up, though not as quirky as Keanu Reeves going after the guys who killed his dog. While the action is top-notch, the movie feels like it just moves from fight scene to fight scene without caring about the plot. Still entertaining with a rip-roaring third act choice of weaponry, BALLERINA works. BALLERINA gets three flamethrowers out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated PG-13 Opens: May 30, 2025 Kevin says KARATE KID LEGENDS kinda rocks! The original Karate Kid returns to the big screen to train a new protégé. KARATE KID LEGENDS follows the previous films’ template: a teenager moves to a new city with his mother and attracts the attention of some neighborhood bullies. Eventually has to fight in a martial arts contest to prove himself. The greatest strength of this film is when it pushes the same buttons from the original. It does lay the bullying on a bit thick, but that works for the pulpy build of the secondary characters. Overall, this makes for a, breezy underdog story. The film tries some new angles, like the kid teaching kung fu to an aging boxer, played by Joshua Jackson doing his best George Clooney impression. These elements make the film crowded – and you might find yourself checking your watch until Ralph Macchio shows up. However, they help this not be just a cheap retread. Not as iconic as the original, it’s still an entertaining way to capitalize on the success of COBRA KAI. KARATE KID LEGENDS gets three and a half wax ons out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated PG-13 Opens: May 23, 2025 Kevin says MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING kinda rocks! After two years, the second half of the latest MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE adventure has landed. MISSION: IMPOSSILBE – THE FINAL RECKONING picks up where DEAD RECKONING ended two summers ago. Ethan Hunt has to take down The Entity, a powerful AI bent on taking over – and eventually destroying – the world. Think of it as James Bond facing off against an overblown Grok. The MISSION: IMPOSSILBE franchise always delivers on impressive stunt work and action sequences. However, these last two films were by cobbled hubris, amounting to a six-hour two-part movie that really could have been a single, shorter feature. THE FINAL RECKONING takes time to build to its climax, paced more like a suspense film than a summer action. In a way, it feels like a streaming series where the punch comes only in the final episode. The final action sequence is breathtaking and beautifully shot. Unfortunately, you have to wade through a lot of slow dialogue, reiterated plot points, complicated MacGuffins, and music crescendos to get there. Still, it’s worth a watch, especially for the cinematic experience. MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING gets three shirtless Tom Cruises out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated R Opens: May 9, 2025 Kevin says FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES kinda rocks! It’s taken more than a decade, but Death is back for a sixth helping in FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES. The story follows a college student who has visions of a catastrophic accident sixty years ago. She learns her grandmother cheated Death in that accident, and now the Grim Reaper is trying to get rid of everyone who survived… and their families. If you’ve seen any of the Final Destination movies, you know what you’re getting into. The characters are served up on a silver platter to face their gory and gruesome demise in complex Rube-Goldberg situations. And if you’re a little sick and twisted like me, you’ll find the humor in it. The writing is passable, loaded with clichés and silliness. But, silliness is kind of the key to a film like this. Creative, bloody, and fun, it’s not for the faint of heart. And it also has a sweet moment where audiences get to say a final good-bye to horror icon Tony Todd. FINAL DESTINATION: BLOODLINES gets three lawn mowers out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated R Opens: May 9, 2025 Kevin says FIGHT OR FLIGHT kinda rocks! After a comeback with the movie TRAP, Josh Hartnett flies into an action film. FIGHT OR FLIGHT tells the story of a burned government agent lured back to the job to find an elusive hacker on an international flight. The only problem is that dozens of hit men are also on the flight trying to kill both of them. FIGHT OR FLIGHT takes up the challenge of having a massive, multi-layered brawl happen in the toughest of conditions. Most of the film takes place on the plane, resulting in some creative and high-octane sequences, often with hilarious results. Whether its firearms, martial arts experts, or chainsaws, the things that made it on this plane are unbelievable, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t fun to watch. The overall story is full of clichés and is as predictable as a Harlem Globetrotters game, but it makes things work with a committed cast and its tongue firmly in cheek. This is what BULLET TRAIN could have been if it had pared down its bloated running time. FIGHT OR FLIGHT gets three and a half bags of peanuts out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated PG-13 Opens: May 2, 2025 Kevin says THUNDERBOLTS* ROCKS! Marvel Studios hopes to goose its franchise back to the top with a new film about unlikely heroes. THUNDERBOLTS* follows a rag-tag group of marginal super-villains who unite against a common enemy. Along the way, they stumble into becoming the not-so-bad guys. It’s tempting to say THUNDERBOLTS* is Marvel’s answer to DC’s SUICIDE SQUAD, ’cause that does work on some level. However, the characters in the Marvel universe have always been rife with redemption, and it touches on how we are all flawed individuals. While it’s a team film, the story belongs to Black Widow’s sister Yelena. Florence Pugh does the heavy lifting through a traumatic childhood and contemporary reconciliation. This is different than other Marvel movies because it plays in a darker sandbox. Swap out the Iron Man snark for a bit of snarl and you’ve got the feel of your middle school buddies relentlessly teasing you. In the end, THUNDERBOLTS* offers a nice diversion from the usual bright and flashy Marvel fare. Now if they would just light the actors properly so we could see what was going on, that’d be great. THUNDERBOLTS* gets three and a half boxes of Wheaties out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated R Opens: April 25, 2025 Kevin says THE ACCOUNTANT 2 kinda rocks! I hope your taxes are done properly because Ben Affleck is back as the accountant you don’t want to be in charge of your audit. THE ACCOUNTANT 2 continues the story of an autistic man who used to make a living running numbers for organized crime. After escaping from prison, he works with a secret organization to help track down human traffickers and their victims. This sequel continues to showcase Affleck’s talent as a relatable anti-hero, and with a more developed story of him and his hit-man brother, this film leans into the whimsy and humor amid all the violence. Jon Bernthal plays Affleck’s brother, and the two have fantastic chemistry. This alone is enough to deliver an entertaining action film. The script does struggle to handle a lot of things – from developing the fraternal relationship to telling a rather gruesome story about the bad guys. The movie still falls into the autism-as-a-superpower Hollywood trope rather than just portraying people with autism as… well, people, but this is forgivable in the grand scheme of action films. THE ACCOUNTANT 2 gets three and a half deductions out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)

Rated R Opens: April 18, 2025 Kevin says SINNERS kinda rocks! The director of BLACK PANTHER gets out a wooden stake and takes a stab at vampires this weekend. Ryan Coogler directs SINNERS, a drama about a pair of criminal twins who return home to the deep South of the 1930s to start up a juke joint. They have to reconcile their past relationships and build a new business with dirty money… oh, and there’s also a bunch of vampires out to get them. At its heart, SINNERS is a serious drama about the lives and struggles of Black Americans in the early 20th century. The vampire angle is more secondary… or rather, symbolic in many ways. This leads to a deeper, richer story with complex characters in shades of gray, taking a hard look at human struggles… at least until the film goes all FROM DUSK TILL DOWN on the audience. The biggest sin that SINNERS commits is its running time. Coogler loves to breathe in his films, but that makes them drag in many points, which happens throughout this movie. Still, Coogler delivers a solid film that is impeccably made. SINNERS gets three blues guitars out of five. I’m Kevin Carr, and that’s the way I see it. Download this Review Subscribe in iTunes Email the Show Follow the show on Twitter (@FGATM) Follow Kevin on Twitter (@kevincarr)