Movies
A great return to form for Tommy Wirkola. The biggest trap for dark comedies is that they daren't push the limits. They quit when it's really just starting to get fun. There's none of that here, no doubt thanks to Wirkola's background in horror cinema. The first half is knowingly predictable (twists included), the middle part is where it starts to get fun, the finale is completely bonkers. Wirkola serves a great mix of genres, blending comedy, thriller and horror elements to create a superbly entertaining film.
Wirkola isn't the man to do serious sci-fi. This could've been a very amusing genre film, but Wirkola takes the film a bit too serious, which only draws attention to its flaws. The concept is interesting enough and Rapace is good times seven, but the film fails to make a lasting impression and feels way too flimsy.
A project that sounded hella fun on paper. Tommy Wirkola, director of some goofy horror flicks, taking on the Christmas vibe. The result is a little more childish than I'd expected though. The film is eager to reference Home Alone, and while it's a slight step up from that one, it feels more like a companion piece to that film. Christmas is the one time the members of a wealthy family come together at their estate to spend some time together. This Christmas is going to be a little different, as a group of criminals are planning to steal their fortune. Things get even trickier when a disillusioned Santa Claus (the real one) gets mixed up in the heist. The film takes a while to get going, leans a bit too much into the typical Christmas nonsense, and when the action hits, it doesn't hit quite hard enough. It's still an enjoyable romp, Wirkola makes sure you won't mistake this for a regular Christmas film, but I'd expected something a bit bigger and bolder.Read all
