The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s best origin story since Iron Man, Shang-Chi, packs a wallop of a punch—a fantastic fusion of East and West that emphatically rings in the debut of Phase 4’s newest star.
10.5 out of 12 Tamales
“Free Guy”: One-Sentence Review
The conundrum, this year’s most inventive film is also its most derivative—yet—despite Free Guy openly borrowing elements from Grand Theft Auto, Fortnite, Truman Show, and Wreck it Ralph, among others, it bustles with considerable originality and humor.
11 out of 12 Tamales
“The Suicide Squad”: One-Sentence Review
Director and writer James Gunn’s soft reboot of 2016’s Suicide Squad shoots from the hip—with a bazooka— as it avoids its predecessor’s pitfalls and amps up what worked to eleven.
10 out of 12 Tamales
“Jungle Cruise”: One-Sentence Review
Although the underwhelming special effects muddle Jungle Cruise’s action sequences, Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt maintain a strong enough presence throughout this Disney escapade to make it a cruise worth boarding.
8 out of 12 Tamales
“Stillwater”: One-Sentence Review
Matt Damon and French costars Camille Cottin and Lilou Siauvaud keep Stillwater treading in director Tom McCarthy’s country-bred Jason Bourne.
8 out of 12 Tamales
“Old”: One-Sentence Review
Old offers up enough of M. Night Shyamalan’s usual intrigue to keep its audience from feeling like they’ve wasted too much of their life waiting for the twist ending.
6.5 out of 12 Tamales
“Space Jam: A New Legacy”: One-Sentence Review
Space Jam: A New Legacy, even with the all-star tandem of LeBron James and Looney Tunes, shoots a brick, misses the layup, air balls the free throw, and flubs the dunk all before Legacy’s halftime—and no coach’s motivational speech can save it.
2.5 out of 12 Tamales
“Loki: Season One”: One-Sentence Review
Carrying the weight of the whole multiverse on its back, Disney Plus’s Loki delivers the goods from Marvel’s favorite trickster(s) in spades, and jacks.
10.5 out of 12 Tamales
“Black Widow”: One-Sentence Review
Pull over F9, the only summer “family” movie that matters is Black Widow, a worth-the-wait Marvel prequel with a perfect balance of charm, wit, and action.
10 out of 12 Tamales
“The Tomorrow War”: One-Sentence Review
Despite the perplexing time-travel logic distracting from what works, namely Chris Pratt, J.K. Simmons, and the genuinely frightening aliens, The Tomorrow War is must-watch entertainment—mostly.
7.5 out of 12 Tamales
