bit all over the place in terms of how they're organized
Definite nitpick but that's accountant squared on the title card but fuck it, we ball
I didn't know who Jon Bernthal was when I watched the 1st movie in theaters so that was a nice surprise. even though like duh, he's going to be in this movie
Were some spots, like the speed dating scene where I thought there was going to be second hand cringe but appreciated that it ended up comedic
Like dude, you can't gamify (not the best word use there) dating. just ends bad
Also the fact that Braxton definitely has some form of autism as well or some other form of neurodivergency that isn't all too compatible with Chris'. Like him not being able to shut the fuck up ever (affectionate) or how his voice doesn't change much in terms of tone. That and Chris probably did want to reach out but too much time ended up passing
Both Braxton & Christian practicing social scripts + facial expressions—like the amount of effort/energy that goes into socializing
Justine calling Braxton "dreamboat"
My mom caught onto the Jane Doe = female hitman = Edith Sanchez a moment before the movie revealed it
Hell yeah, Braxton being Chris' hype man while he's line dancing w/ Angie + how happy Brax looks at the end when Chris is like "you wanna go hiking with me?" and it being a distraction from Alberto hogging the cat. Which cat distribution system back at it again
I was slightly hoping Anna Kendrick would turn up again but she has enough on her plate w/ Blake Lively & Another Simple Favor. Plus her story line was wrapped up neatly in the first one. Looked up the reason; yeah, that makes sense. Like there was enough in the 1st film to have Anna's character be set up as a love interest but even then, I liked that they didn't
Was also hoping more would've been said/explored with the scene of Justine + the Harbor Neuroscience kids & Marybeth—the whole invasive quality of the way they collect intel which they kinda do. The scene where she does it by the books and the guy gets murdered as he's signing the paperwork to get immunity
Looked it up but apparently acquired savant syndrome is a thing. I didn't doubt that it was seeing as the original film was beloved by a good chunk of the Autism community. There was probably someone there to fact check it. From the one IB psych class I took in high school, figured it has something to do with neuroplasticity (by no means an expert)
New Years sounds like the way christmas time feels, the soft vocals and piano drifting through the wind, the lyrics sweep you up and surround you like a soft blanket and coax you back to sleep, you’re going to feel okay again, the magic from yesterday’s party is scattered across the floor like shimmering pieces of memories that will soon vanish in your mind
[I didn't know when to switch over to the character names so I just didn't]
I liked it but some bits were spoiled + I went in w/ extremely low expectations just cause I don’t really like romance movies to begin with
That said, went w/ my mom who has never seen Dakota Johnson’s acting but knew of her parents. And that was what made her want to see it. Also put her off of any future movies that have Dakota Johnson in them
She was just flat emotionally. Like there was no variation in her tone. And when paired w/ Evans & Pascal, just really showed. Which I was there for those 2. It's odd b/c she did seem to mesh well w/ both of them in interviews. Same vibes as those Anyone But You photos of Glen Powell & Sydney Sweeney that came out while they were filming where everyone thought they had crazy chemistry
Feel she'd be better w/ characters who are purposefully supposed to be awkward or socially inept. Thinking the sort of characters Zoey Deutch has played. Not exactly, but that wavelength at least
Also they really made her character a femcel. Even dropped a involuntarily celibate line at the beginning. The conversation between her character & Pascal’s during their dates was just hilarious. Math is mathing
I had heard people saying it should’ve been a why choose but I thought from the moment they introduced Pascal’s character that he was endgame. Definitely went into it thinking it was gonna be another one where they set it up to be a love triangle but they already have an obvious choice in mind so it’s not actually a love triangle. Usually never is
Along w/ it having the structure of a hallmark movie which ngl, it did. But there are some genuinely good hallmark movies. All of them give me secondhand cringe w/ their setups but once they hit their stride, that’s when they get me. And the thing is, this movie had a interesting premise
They barely established Pascal’s character’s name. Thought they said it was Terry but nope, dude’s name was Harry
Sorry that both this post and The Accountant 2 post, it's quite obvious who I was simping over the whole movie (was also simping over Evans but his character was quite weak imo)
I am glad the SA bit was spoiled for me. I did think w/ how folks spoke about it, that it was going to be on screen and was going to happen to Johnson's character. But it was off-screen, but then became a side-plot. Basically while it doesn't trigger me, I just don't like seeing it in films. That and it did feel like it was only included to add some conflict and get Johnson's character to then fall into Evan's character's arms
Clarifying thing, but I am very in favor of trigger warnings, no matter the medium. B/c if you don't need them, you can skip over them. And for those who do, it can give them the choice of whether to consume said media & prepare for it, however they need. That and I do agree w/ the sentiment that if such a spoiler ruins the film then it's probably not written that well
That said, the outfit they had Johnson in when going to talk to the client who was SA'd (Sophie) was stupid. Gave Joe Goldberg vibes from You. Like you look suspicious. Also do y'all not vet your clients? Will admit that I didn't like the switch-up w/ the clients after Sophie was SA'd. One being a conservative, closeted lesbian. And another going 'I only want to date white people.' Like you haven't had to deal w/ such clients until that point?
With the scene where Evans and Johnson crash a random wedding via his catering company, just imagine being in the back row and hearing what Johnson says in that scene. Cause she's talking at a pretty loud volume and it's during moments where people wouldn't be talking
sequins, highlighter and glitter on cheeks, dark purple, shimmering dresses under lamp posts outside noisy dance halls, drum beats floating through the air, stars falling like confetti, trails of sparkly objects found in the streets covered in morning dew after a night of chaotic celebrating, walking around a corner shop in a party dress, ripped tights, light peering through glass perfume bottles, a sea of hair too majestic to tame, lipstick left on coffee cups, feeling a sense of rebellion during adolescence
my future apartment:
long old wooden table with fancy carved legs, mismatched colorful chairs, glass milk jar filled with wildflowers, cupboard full of mugs collected over the years from Christmas and birthdays, living room filled with pillows and blankets and a chest full of movies (the princess and the frog, Moana, tangled…), fairy lights cover the walls, my friends’ artwork hangs on the walls in gold vintage frames, I have a drawer in my room full of hair ribbons from fancy shops and presents, glitter is sprinkled on the floor from yesterday’s art project, candles are hidden in small corners and fill the house with the smell of a forest or a fire or the ocean, I have a small rack in my bedroom with several white silk night gowns hanging from it (similar to the ones Taylor keeps in her Nashville home), I dance from room to room in lace lingerie, my friends are there, I penny board to the cafe down the street and read for several hours (and some days I’ll glance up and see a small child in a princess outfit and I’ll start crying because that’s who I am. I cry at small children dressed as princesses)
alrighty folks, new era prediction comin your way:
the stage is decorated with vintage Broadway shell lights, a backdrop of starry mountains, the tour costumes are reminiscent of the red era, but they are in a range colors and patterns, the backup singers having matching satin bombers with their names embroidered on to them, Taylor wears ankle-length colored corduroys and sparkly Oxfords, the guitars look like they came from the fifties with their retro color scheme, Caitlin and Grant and Al are back, soft happy acoustic sounds drift through the stadium, the lyrics pour out into the crowd and pull at their heartstrings, she illuminates the room with a smile as drums and ukulele notes float down from the rafters, glittery confetti sprinkles on to the top of people’s heads, it is a kingdom of dancing
