Q-Tips Reviews

2/19/22 – Salt In My Soul offers a rare look inside the mind of a young woman trying to live fully while dying. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of 3, Mallory turned to a secret diary to record her inner thoughts. Using that treasure trove of writing, and hours of audio and video discovered after her untimely death, the film is a classic coming of age story about choosing to live mindfully and joyously in the face of immense struggle.

Q-tips say: We enjoyed it. A bit sad at moments. Salt in My Soul is emotionally affecting, but its ordinary approach hamstrings the story of a woman who seemed truly extraordinary.

Mrs. Q says: It is a real tribute to living your life fully.

2/19/22 – Martha is an introverted woman who moves to a retirement community that has shuffleboard, golf, bowling and other activities. Hoping to be left alone, she meets Sheryl, a fun-loving neighbor who insists that they become best pals. After coming out of her shell, Martha and her new friend decide to form a cheerleading squad with their fellow residents. As the two women hold auditions, they soon learn that it’s never too late to follow your dreams, even when the odds are stacked against you.

Q-tips say: We liked it. See it especially if you are getting up in years. We don’t live is a retirement community but there are many retirees in our community. So many things that happen it this movie ring true to the Q’s.

Making a movie about seniors who are self-confident and connected with each other and the younger generation in a meaningful way is a noble goal.

Why worry about dying when you can spend your time dancing? Although “Poms” is an imperfect package, one can’t help but take the message to heart.

2/18/22 – The death and funeral of their father brings three sisters to the home of their mother, Violet (Meryl Streep), an acid-tongued, pill-popping cancer patient. Daughters Barbara (Julia Roberts), Karen (Juliette Lewis) and Ivy (Julianne Nicholson) — along with their significant others and various other kin — take the full brunt of their dysfunctional matriarch’s venom, for Violet tells every one of them exactly what she thinks of them.

Q-tips say: The Mr. liked it more than the Mrs. Q.

It’s all fine until the deep dark secrets (so to speak) begin to come out.  Nothing makes you feel better about your dysfunctional family at the holidays than watching a messed-up clan unravel on screen, only armed with better zingers and prettier faces.

Mrs. Q says: This is a movie about crummy mummies in which everyone looks their age & about morally flawed, sometimes cruel, and often unlikable women & sleety guy.

2/17/22- Maggie (Melissa McCarthy), a struggling single woman, moves to Brooklyn with her 12-year-old son, Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher). Having to work very long hours, she has no choice but to leave Oliver in the care of Vincent (Bill Murray), a bawdy misanthrope next door. Vincent takes Oliver along on his trips to the race track, strip club and dive bar, and an unlikely friendship is born. The man is a mentor to the boy in his hedonistic way, and Oliver sees the good in Vincent that no one else can.

Q-tips say: Yes, see it. A lovely little movie with a lot of laughs and a good heart. This film is like version of Denis the Menace with Bill Murray’s character being the source of all the mischief and believe me, there’s a lot of it. From pregnant strippers to horse races and every human vice in between, this movie shows it all and in very funny ways.

Mrs. Q says: You couldn’t find a better actor than Bill Murray to play the bitter, grumpy weirdo who ends up being a kid’s regular babysitter and ultimately his saint. This is a kind of film that makes you smile even when you know exactly what’s going to happen. See it!

2/12/22 –

Kat Valdez (Jennifer Lopez) is half of the sexiest celebrity power couple on Earth with hot new music supernova Bastian (Maluma). As Kat and Bastian’s inescapable hit single, “Marry Me,” climbs the charts, they are about to be wed before an audience of their fans in a ceremony that will streamed across multiple platforms. Divorced high-school math teacher Charlie Gilbert (Owen Wilson) has been dragged to the concert by his daughter Lou (Chloe Coleman) and his best friend (Sarah Silverman). When Kat learns, seconds before the ceremony, that Bastian has cheated on her with her assistant, her life turns left as she has a meltdown on stage, questioning love, truth and loyalty. As her gossamer world falls away, she locks eyes with a stranger–a face in the crowd. If what you know lets you down, then perhaps what you don’t know is the answer, and so, in a moment of inspired insanity, Kat chooses to marry Charlie. What begins as an impulsive reaction evolves into an unexpected romance. But as forces conspire to separate them, the universal question arises: Can two people from such different worlds bridge the gulf between them and build a place where they both belong?

Q-tips say: Yes, see it. We enjoyed.

Mrs. Q says: At first, Mrs. Q said, Jennifer Who? Oh, that one. But she was happy we watched it. Just say, I DO & enjoy this movie. Lopez and Wilson, may not be the most natural choices for a movie power couple, but they have a gentle chemistry that serves the movie well. So grab a libation/munchies & enjoy.

2/10/22 – Ordinary, disparate strangers living in New York City go about their business. Clara runs away from her violent husband with her two boys and meets four people who are also going through difficult times. Alice, a nurse on the verge of cracking, Mark, accused of a crime he did not commit, John Peter, his lawyer, and Jeff, an unambitious man, find they are all connected as their paths intertwine.

Q-tips say: We liked it. People who like neat, tidy narratives might not like this film but its big-hearted sympathy for people on the margins of society and hope-filled belief in the power of kindness will win others over.

Mrs. Q says: The movie, The kindness of Strangers, serves as a strong argument for the importance of really seeing those around us and opening our hearts to them.

2/4/22 – yes, there are sub titles, should you need them.

Geocache champion Pilialoha “Pili” Kawena, age 12, is abruptly lifted from her busy New York life and dropped into rural O’ahu to help care for her grandfather. Initially skeptical about her new surroundings, Pili finds a cryptic pirate’s journal in her Papa’s studio hinting at a 200-year-old shipwrecked treasure hidden away in the island’s caves and mountains. With her older brother and new friends in tow she uses her clue solving skills to lead them on an adventure of a lifetime through the natural wonders of Hawaiʻi. As she learns to respect and love her native culture she also discovers not all secrets should be shared and that the real treasure in life is ‘ohana — her family.

Q-tips say: Finding ‘Ohana is a family-friendly adventure with some beautiful scenery that might be enjoyed by many.