Us
1/4
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex, Elizabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker
Rated R for Violence/Terror, and Language
In 2017, Jordan Peele released the comic horror film "Get Out." It turned out to be a sleeper hit, garnering $255.5 million against a budget of $4.5 million and four Oscar nominations. Personally, I didn't think it was that great, but I enjoyed it for what it was. But the film, a hybrid of horror, comedy and social commentary struck a nerve. It's hard to imagine a similar response to his next film, "Us," which is just lame.
Adelaide Wilson (Nyong'o) is taking a vacation to the beach with her husband Gabe (Duke) and two children, Zora (Joseph) and Jason (Alex). Adelaide is nervous, particularly about going to the beach, since as a child she suffered a traumatic experience that left her with PTSD. But just as her nerves get the best of her, her family is stalked outside by four people. Even scarier each of the invaders is an evil doppelganger of a family member. Soon they are all in a fight to the death with their evil twin.
That's it as far as plot goes. This is an interesting, if unoriginal, idea. Based on the evidence, Peele is trying to make some sort of statement with this story, but what it is never comes across. Probably because there is no real story. Once the doppelgangers show up, it becomes one long, bloody action scene. But while there's always something going on from a visual standpoint, it's not executed well enough to raise the adrenaline. There's very little terror or suspense in this movie. At least he has the good sense not to shake the camera or cut ten times a second.
Like Quentin Tarantino, Jordan Peele likes to offset tension with unexpected bursts of comedy. In this area, "Us" is marginally more successful. Some of the comic bits are amusing, including a funny dig at virtual assistants like Alexa (it's called Ophelia in this movie) and a brief bit where the Wilsons boast about their kill count. Not all of his attempts at comedy work, and those that do provoke a small chuckle at best.
At least it has Lupita Nyong'o, whose performance as a traumatized woman is the film's chief selling point. The actress is better than the thin material with which she has been given, but she soldiers on and does her best all the same. Winston Duke is less successful as the cut up with the dad bod, but the kids are natural performers. "Us" has plenty of problems, but acting isn't one of them. Had it not been the case, the film would have been even more painful.
With "Us," Peele has attempted to make lightning strike twice. It doesn't happen. The scares aren't there, the laughs are feeble, and whatever sociocultural point he is trying to make is clear only to him. Don't waste your time and money with this stinker.
Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph, Evan Alex, Elizabeth Moss, Tim Heidecker
Rated R for Violence/Terror, and Language
In 2017, Jordan Peele released the comic horror film "Get Out." It turned out to be a sleeper hit, garnering $255.5 million against a budget of $4.5 million and four Oscar nominations. Personally, I didn't think it was that great, but I enjoyed it for what it was. But the film, a hybrid of horror, comedy and social commentary struck a nerve. It's hard to imagine a similar response to his next film, "Us," which is just lame.
Adelaide Wilson (Nyong'o) is taking a vacation to the beach with her husband Gabe (Duke) and two children, Zora (Joseph) and Jason (Alex). Adelaide is nervous, particularly about going to the beach, since as a child she suffered a traumatic experience that left her with PTSD. But just as her nerves get the best of her, her family is stalked outside by four people. Even scarier each of the invaders is an evil doppelganger of a family member. Soon they are all in a fight to the death with their evil twin.
That's it as far as plot goes. This is an interesting, if unoriginal, idea. Based on the evidence, Peele is trying to make some sort of statement with this story, but what it is never comes across. Probably because there is no real story. Once the doppelgangers show up, it becomes one long, bloody action scene. But while there's always something going on from a visual standpoint, it's not executed well enough to raise the adrenaline. There's very little terror or suspense in this movie. At least he has the good sense not to shake the camera or cut ten times a second.
Like Quentin Tarantino, Jordan Peele likes to offset tension with unexpected bursts of comedy. In this area, "Us" is marginally more successful. Some of the comic bits are amusing, including a funny dig at virtual assistants like Alexa (it's called Ophelia in this movie) and a brief bit where the Wilsons boast about their kill count. Not all of his attempts at comedy work, and those that do provoke a small chuckle at best.
At least it has Lupita Nyong'o, whose performance as a traumatized woman is the film's chief selling point. The actress is better than the thin material with which she has been given, but she soldiers on and does her best all the same. Winston Duke is less successful as the cut up with the dad bod, but the kids are natural performers. "Us" has plenty of problems, but acting isn't one of them. Had it not been the case, the film would have been even more painful.
With "Us," Peele has attempted to make lightning strike twice. It doesn't happen. The scares aren't there, the laughs are feeble, and whatever sociocultural point he is trying to make is clear only to him. Don't waste your time and money with this stinker.
horrible review
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