Let’s have some fun (this film is sick) – 2022 in 4 movies

By Ada.

Note: Clearing my drafts. This was written at some point in October last year.

Unintentionally, I think my word of the year has been fun. I want to have fun. I want things and experiences to be fun. And while fun doesn’t necessarily mean universally perceived as good, it does mean having a good time. I’ve taken this to heart especially with movies this year. I want movies that feel like a pleasure to witness and engage with and so – in no particular order – I’ve made a list of movies I’ve had fun with so far this year.

Bodies Bodies Bodies

‘Mental health is a really serious issue. I mean I’ve never actually said this to anyone but… I have body dysmorphia.

Oh, my God, shut the f*** up, Alice.’

When a group of rich 20-somethings plan a hurricane party at a remote family mansion, a party game goes awry in this fresh and funny look at backstabbing, fake friends, and one party gone very, very wrong.

Off the back of the premise and the film’s duration (95 minutes), I was always going to win. The controversy (if that) following the New York Times debacle intrigued me even more and I repeat for the umpteenth time how much of a liar that woman was. The cleavage in question was akin to a barely there ass crack. This movie was fun as hell!

It feels so rare to have gen-z esque movies that are well done, that can capture the voice of this generation’s humour and isms while also providing ample criticisms by blending so well with its audience. I adore the fact that this film was aimed at 20-something gen-zs. The older end of the spectrum blurring that thin line between the gen-z and millennial divide in an isolated but social setting within the context of money. Lots and lots of money.

I also really love this for Amandla. I’ve seen some of their previous works which have been questionable in the past *cough cough Nazi romance*. And off the back of that, I have not given them loads of my attention despite the range of projects they’ve been involved with thereafter. But this was so refreshing. As a star and executive producer, they seemed a lot more in their element. This level of involvement then lends itself to the casting of this. The onscreen chemistry felt so organic, the quips and the context in which the characters exist made it even better. It harked back to character’s previous roles or potential to fit into such a fun project; an opportunity to give the cast the best performance they could give. Even Pete Davidson’s character seemed pretty on point for who he is vs who he was meant to be. One more time, that woman’s review was lazy and she’s a liar. The girls that get it, get it and I would 100% recommend.

Also, battery life on their phones was so crazy.

Do Revenge

‘Do revenge? Is that even like correct grammar?’

A dethroned queen bee at a posh private high school strikes a secret deal with an unassuming new student to exact revenge on each other’s enemies.

Do Revenge is a movie I firmly believe will make its way into pop culture canon down the line. It’s so meta. The movie is strong enough in the fact it can’t be taken too seriously, I mean, look at the title. More interestingly though, is the way it draws inspirations from its predecessors while simultaneously referencing them in its own way. The movie is not a remake or a mimicry of past movies, it manages to be its own movie within the context of the art that inspired it. Art done right if you ask me.

Yes, the movie can be corny at times in the way the dialogue is presented, I mean ‘I’m shocked, this is shocking news!’. However, this doesn’t really take away from the movie, in fact, I think it even adds to it. The movie somehow manages to do a lot without doing the absolute most in the cinge and embarrassing way that’s sort of synonymous with Netflix’s movie slate. Not to use the number one word in my lexicon (again) but it’s because of this, the movie is fun. We’re very familiar with high-school settings and the numerous tropes presented in this movie, but it does seem that it will fully earn its ‘iconic’ descriptor. So, I’m pretty okay with it being used now. I’m a big fan of how colourful the movie was, it left me feeling fond of its inspirations without necessarily feeling the need to let nostalgia win over for a rewatch. I was satisfied with this.

There are lots of terrible people in this movie but they’re all sort of central to the point. It resolves itself in a way that’s as self-aware as it can be for the movie it is. Camilla Mendes and Maya Hawke have really good on-screen chemistry. I know some people were waiting for a ‘now kiss!’ moment but it was pretty warm to have them be together and just mirror themselves as they were. Honourable shoutout to Sophie Turner because fun little moments warm my heart, even if they’re being framed for cocaine usage and eventually develop the habit. She was good!

Fire Island

‘We’re going to Fire Island. It’s like gay Disney World.’

A group of queer best friends gather in Fire Island Pines for their annual week of love and laughter, but a sudden change of events might make this their last summer in gay paradise.

I finally read Pride and Prejudice after watching this because there was too much scandal to not have earned it from its source material. This is movie is very gay. Not coded but gay. It’s perfect really. Fire Island is modern queer romcom based on Pride and Prejudice and one thing about me, I love a good romcom. I think romcoms are great and incredibly heartwarming even when stupid things are happening on screen. Good romcoms are charming, they make you blush and giggle and make your heart drop a little when titular characters experience heart break or pain in some way. But more importantly, they fill you with this warm blush by film’s end when you end up celebrating the softness and embrace of requited love. This movie has all of the above but more importantly it has friendship, and I’m a sucker for good on-screen dynamics. The movie does well to see the vulnerability and wave of emotions that come with dating and falling in love as well as the support of friends that care for you and about you. It shows the expanse of love in its romantic, platonic and familial, the importance of a chosen family. And so even in the mistakes that may seem devastating, there is love, there is affection, there is integrity and more importantly, there are friends to lovers as well. I’m not sure how many times I’ve watched this at the moment but I haven’t regretted it once this year.

Everything Everywhere All At Once

‘We’re All Small And Stupid.’

Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, collectively known as Daniels, the film is a hilarious and big-hearted sci-fi action adventure about an exhausted Chinese American woman (Michelle Yeoh) who can’t seem to finish her taxes.

First of all, the synopsis is ass. I was a bit unsure about including this. One because I don’t have the words to fully unpack what an experience this was and two because of themes it tackles. I’ve chosen to include it nonetheless because of the way it does what it does and Jamie Lee Curtis’ Instagram post on why this movie was necessary (beyond that I don’t really care about that woman in this film). However it’s a fun movie! It’s so absurd and so rich and phenomenal! I went into this movie blank; I didn’t know what to expect but I did love how silly and seemingly random it was. There’s a reason you need to trust your art and fight for what you believe is the best vehicle for your subject matter because not only did this look insanely good, it managed to have me crying while still awe-struck. It’s a testament to range that a movie with a sausage hands universe and dildo fights is able to cross multiple genres and address themes of nihilism and intergenerational trauma. To so swiftly say love conquers all without being a simplistic or redundant cop-out in the way it portrays mother-daughter relationships and the harm that fear and silencing cause. There’s a way about movies that just bring you back to life. From idea to vehicle of execution. From the costuming and styling to the editing and storytelling, this movie was a lot in a really good way.

Emergency

‘There is an unconscious white girl in our living room.’

Ready for a night of legendary partying, three college students must weigh the pros and cons of calling the police when faced with an unexpected situation.

I am somewhat biased because I kind of adore R.J. Cyler and I was a bit tense on who was doing the writing but hear me out. The subject matter is very tense and its climax did have me thinking the movie was going to end terribly and in some ways it did but the movie is humorous in its intentions. The movie is valid in its attempts to explore and dissect race relations in America through a wealth of characters of different races with valid concerns and fears which ultimately come to a head and present a well-known universal truth. Race is integral to the story and it’s self-aware in that way without being poorly executed. R. J. Cyler was a perfect cast for this in the way he’s able to blend humour and trauma as a coping mechanism in light of a terrifying situation. This contrasts greatly with Donald Elise Watkin, the good immigrant child who knows what he needs to do to get to where he needs to be, rationalising and explaining away difficult and uncomfortable situations to avoid conflict. Finally, is Sebastian Chacon, the third housemate in this who sits between the two as the thin line between being self-aware, one of the good ones and being funny to mask the reality of what it means to be knowledgeable of the world you live in. Sabrina Carpenter plays well as a white woman who attempts to ally herself by making herself the centre of attention. Looking back, the film is scary in what it captures but the performances and humour really make the movie what it is. I’ve listed it on here anyway because I found it funny as hell. R.J. Cyler, I love you babes, call me.