steve-kettel Reviews

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)

Interesting concept and a fun, funny film!

[8/10 · 16 September 2023]

There's some miserable people out there who couldn't find the joy in this film. If you've ever enjoyed an over the top Cage performance, you'll find flashes of that here, but interspersed with some actual good Cage acting, which only makes you enjoy the whoops and flamboyance even more when they come.

Cage playing Cage by definition adds meaning to the performance, and draws you into the story. You can buy the initial situation, as it rings true. If you can go along with this central deceit (or not deceit?), this buys a lot of credit and is a shortcut into caring about the characters.

And the story and action is fun! The whole film is very likeable, and generates a decent number of proper laughs. Pascal is excellent, as are the rest of the cast.

Go into this without cynicism (as a lot of the ridiculous negative reviews are flooded with), and you'll find this thoroughly watchable.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law: Whose Show Is This? (2022) Season 1, Episode 9

Typical hatred from the you know who's

[9/10 · 17 October 2022]

I really don't understand the hate. This is totally different from other Marvel series and episodes, and it is all the better for it. The bad reviews are from people who either (generously) have no imagination, or more likely have the usual problems with a female lead. Just get over yourselves.

It's funny, clever, well shot, and has enough in there to keep all but the most toxic Marvel fans happy.

The saddest thing is that this probably won't get another season after being unjustifiably review bombed, and we'll end up with another boring season of something that is more conventional cannon, when there is and should continue to be room for variety such as this in the MCU.

Guessable? (2020– )

Good fun

[8/10 · 28 April 2021]

A bit like House of Games, with more parlour games! Really good fun, and some great guests over the course of the series (a few dud ones along the way admittedly, but mostly very funny!). Pascoe is great and really grows into her role as host as the series progresses. Definitely worth watching.

The IT Crowd: Reynholm vs Reynholm (2010) Season 4, Episode 6

A superb episode, why the low rating???!!!

[10/10 · 27 July 2020]

This episode contains one of the funniest scenes in the entire series - does it not??!

Locke & Key (2020–2022)

Superb performances, brilliant idea

[8/10 · 12 February 2020]

As the title says, the leads in this are superb, and the idea and resulting plot are fantastic. There's some truly disturbing stuff in later episodes. I know that taste is a very subjective thing, but what on earth those people spilling invective about this show have going on I don't know. I can imagine people finding this inferior to the source material (which I haven't read), I can imagine people taking against the fantasy elements as not their thing, and I can imagine people wanting it to be scarier. I can't accept people dismissing this as having nothing of merit. Crazy....

Messiah (2020)

What if??

[10/10 · 25 January 2020]

This is a great show. Superbly written, acted and shot. It's not simple, it doesn't hold your hand, it takes its time. The negative reviews from what I can tell are people who take against it for religious or political reasons. Neither of these stand up to any scrutiny: this is not a political show. Nor is it either blasphemous or evangelical. It just asks the question: what would happen if somebody arrived who appears to be the messiah? Which is a fascinating topic when looked at from the position of what it would do to society, politics and people; religious or not.

The show takes its time but is fascinating throughout. Highly recommended.

Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

The best Christmas film

[9/10 · 27 November 2019]

What a wonderful remake, and thoroughly worthwhile. The story is of course unoriginal, not only as it is a remake, but in that it has all the usual tropes you would expect. But that really isn't a problem - this is a Christmas film after all. It is incredibly warm, the pacing is great, the cast are superb and there's enough laughs for all ages and temperaments.

What really makes this the best Christmas film is Richard Attenborough's incredible Santa. Absolutely perfect, whilst showing a fragility and depth you won't see in any other depiction. Ever.

You would really have to be a "watch the original" snob, or an anti-Christmas grinch not to find something to love here. Can't wait to watch it on Christmas Eve!

Carnival Row (2019–2023)

Hugely impressive production values

[9/10 · 18 September 2019]

The show looks incredible, which contributes to an immersive and fully realised experience. What a shame half these reviews are from right leaning personalities who feel threatened by the perceived politics in the show and therefore cant bring themselves to enjoy it. Apparently any show set in a world where there is a class system, downtrodden masses and injustices can't be watched because it is too "political"?!

Detectorists (2014–2022)

Beautiful, hilarious, wonderful

[10/10 · 10 June 2018]

Detectorists really is one of the greats, it deserves to be up there in the canon of British comedy. It's uniquely understated, quintessentially British without being at all jingoistic, and most importantly: it is laugh out loud hilarious. I can't recommend highly enough, I love it.

Money Heist (2017–2021)

Are we watching the same show?!

[4/10 · 9 March 2018]

I can only assume that these positive reviews have been paid for, or are from people who have seen a very limited amount of shows! This is average, at best. To give my reasons:

The overacting is incredible; from people visibly shaking to show that they are under stress, to manic grins and laughter at totally unamusing jokes.

For a bunch of "professionals", the characters constantly make ridiculous, stupid decisions. I mean laugh out loud stupidity.

The plot is paper thin after an intriguing start, and still managed to slow down to walking pace in the middle.

There is misogyny and homophobia throughout.

The plot holes are to numerous to mention.

Having said that, I did watch it all, sometimes in disbelief, and mainly because my OCD won't let me stop half way. What a shame that a decent idea and set up could be wasted like this. How on earth people can make this a highly rated show I will never know. It is an insult to all the quality shows out there that could be enjoyed!