Q-Tips Reviews

Benoit Blanc returns to peel back the layers in a new Rian Johnson whodunit. This fresh adventure finds the intrepid detective at a lavish private estate on a Greek island, but how and why he comes to be there is only the first of many puzzles. Blanc soon meets a distinctly disparate group of friends gathering at the invitation of billionaire Miles Bron for their yearly reunion. Among those on the guest list are Miles’ former business partner Andi Brand, current Connecticut governor Claire Debella, cutting-edge scientist Lionel Toussaint, fashion designer and former model Birdie Jay and her conscientious assistant Peg, and influencer Duke Cody and his sidekick girlfriend Whiskey. As in all the best murder mysteries, each character harbors their own secrets, lies and motivations. When someone turns up dead, everyone is a suspect.

Q-tips say: Mr. Q enjoyed it more than I. A twisty remix of the classic British-style murder mystery, with a fabulous location and a group of suspects who all have motive and opportunity.

Mrs. Q says: Glass Onion is a perfect reminder that great art need not be serious. Sometimes, it’s just about having fun. If you look closely, even the Mona Lisa is smiling just a little.  “Glass Onion” gently mocks its characters, which what makes it enjoyable. Not for children.

In 19th-century England, a minister’s quest to modernize his village puts him at odds with people who believe that whoever lights the candle that an angel touched will receive a miracle on Christmas Eve.

Q-tips say: Yes, enjoyed it. Watch it. Magic and faith blend in story of good works and miracles. The Christmas Candle is both a nice holiday tale and a touching mediation on the value of using one’s faith to create everyday miracles.

A great Christmas movie for the family.

Amazon – Ten-year-old Gloria and her recently widowed grandfather Bud befriend a mysterious reindeer when the family gathers for Christmas. Bud comes to believe that Prancer may actually be magical, but Gloria fears his theory will send him straight to a retirement home. They try to keep the secret while figuring out why the reindeer has appeared, and longstanding rifts within the family are healed along the way.

Q-tips say: Was ok. Prancer is a heartwarming children’s Christmas movie about a girl finding a reindeer and wanting to keep it as a pet, but she has to come to the decision to keep it or give the deer back to Santa creating a movie of happiness, sadness, and some drama.

12/26/22 – Senior Detective Terry Seattle (Will Arnett) is back and this time, the case is critical. Along with his two celebrity guest stars, Jason Bateman and Maya Rudolph, he is on a mission to figure out…who killed Santa? But here’s the catch: Jason Bateman and Maya Rudolph aren’t being given the script. They have no idea what’s about to happen to them. Together, with Terry Seattle (and many surprises), they will have to improvise their way through the case… but it will be up to both of them to name the killer.

Q-tips say: This special doesn’t do much to bring the holiday spirit, but it offers a few laughs.

Mrs. Q says: Don’t waste your time watching this when there are so many more movies you might enjoy watching.

Matilda, an extraordinary girl armed with a sharp mind and a vivid imagination, dares to take a stand against her oppressive parents and head teacher to change her story with miraculous results.

What Parents need to know before letting their kids watch this. – It includes a lot of cartoonish violence, nearly all of it perpetrated by a bullying school principal. Children who displease the evil principal are put in “the chokey,” a dark closet lined with nails and broken glass. The critics/ viewing audience gave it high marks but we must remember they are adults viewing the movie not little children.

Q tips say: Was ok. Following the success of the fabulous stage version of Matilda, I am sure many families are eagerly reading the book, which is to be expected but it may be worth remembering that when Matilda came out in 1988 it was the “must read” for children in years five and six, so nine or ten rather than five.

Mrs. Q says: While there is much in Matilda that a five-year-old might enjoy – primarily Matilda herself and, of course, her lovely relationship with the wonderful Miss Honey – there is also a lot in the book that is Dahl at his most brutal and his most snobbish. The way in which Miss Trunchbull is portrayed could just be plain scary for a five-year-old and might raise anxieties about school which would be entirely misplaced. She is one of the great caricatures of children’s literature but readers need to be old enough to recognize that she bears little resemblance to anybody “real”; a child needs a certain amount of sophistication to be able to make the distinction. Plus we must mention how her parents treat her-not in a good way.

Netflix – After five happy months dating Tom, Lisa’s horrified to learn he’s obsessed with her least favorite holiday. Is it time to give Christmas another chance?

Q-tips say: Yes, see it. Festive holiday romance has mild language, drinking. Probably for children older than 10.

Parents need to know that I Believe in Santa questions why kids are expected to lose their faith in Santa when they grow up. One character compares believing in Santa to religious faith, which he notes many people carry from childhood into adulthood. A grown man admits he still believes in Santa, and his passion for Christmas nearly ruins his relationship with the woman of his dreams. They date, flirt, and kiss. Adults drink wine seemingly every night. Kissing and flirtation, some jokes about mistletoe.

12/22 – Amazon prime – Hoping to spur her longtime beau to action, a small-town veterinarian wishes upon a snow globe that this will be her most romantic Christmas ever.

Q-tips say: Yes, see it. Another feel good movie about Christmas. When a storm shuts down the airport, a veterinarian crosses paths with a doctor and his daughter. What transpires will give them all a Christmas more magical than they could’ve imagined.

12/22 – HBO – The series (13 videos) is a sharp social satire following the exploits of various guests and employees of the fictional White Lotus resort chain, whose stay becomes affected by their various dysfunctions. A week in the life of vacationers is unraveled as they relax and rejuvenate in paradise. With each passing day, a darker complexity emerges in these picture-perfect travelers, the hotel’s cheerful employees, and the idyllic locale itself.

Q-tips say: Was ok – funny at times but you don’t have to watch it all at one time. A series at a time or more if time permits.

The first season is set in Hawaii and the second season is set in Sicily.

Nothing seems to go right for young Kate, a frustrated Londoner who works as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop. But things soon take a turn for the better when she meets Tom — a handsome charmer who seems too good to be true. As the city transforms into the most wonderful time of the year, Tom and Kate’s growing attraction turns into the best gift of all — a Yuletide romance.

Q-tips say: Yes, see it! You might be surprised about the ending but perhaps you thought that that might happen.

A likable cute movie and you might be let down by the ending. Clarke and Fielding are a great pair and the acting is strong enough. 

Last Christmas gives you its heart, and you probably won’t want to give it away the next day.