One day Rebel Wilson will find a vehicle to showcase her innate gift for pratfalls and comedic timing. One day we will meet a popcorn that marries sweet and savory in a satisfying manner. Today was not the day for either.
Dave: Watching Anne Hathaway, all grown up, playing at being Julie Andrews’s character in Princess Diaries, is almost enough reason to watch this movie. Her accent and her faux haughty attitude feels like such a Julie Andrews send-up, but with some amount of respect, love, and admiration. Also, Rebel Wilson is Rebel Wilson throughout - which, depending on your priors, may not be a good thing. Watching this after the first wave of sexist (not to mention racist) attacks on Kamala Harris really makes me wonder: if this was a buddy comedy about con artists starring two pompous and handsome yet charismatic men, would critics have called it “terrifying” (actual words used by the critic in the Guardian)? Also, according to Wikipedia, the working title for The Hustle was originally Nasty Women, so that inspires even more love and affection from my corner. Still, the laughs were sporadic, and the central con artist story could have been more compelling, but I wouldn’t call it “terrifying.” (⭐️⭐️⭐️)
This popcorn was confusing - like mustard candy served over popcorn, though it actually tasted better than that lede made it sound. I’m sure it was supposed to have resembled honey mustard, which, for me, has always been a bit of a bastard condiment. It’s mustard, but wants Americans to like it so it also contains enough sugar (or maybe high fructose corn syrup) to effectively send a toddler into an afternoon-long sugar coma. Still, I appreciated the salty crunch of the sourdough pretzel bites (I may have sampled a few more while writing this review), and the bite the unsatisfying amount of mustard gave the popcorn. With a little less sugar and perhaps a little cayenne or something else spicy, this might have been a top-10 level popcorn. (⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️)
Joe: This film was absolutely panned by critics, but sometimes I have to remind myself: critics also wet themselves over Birdman, which, for me, was one of the worst films in modern cinema. Was this high art? Not by a long shot. Does it deserve the 14% it has on Rotten Tomatoes? Not even remotely. This was pure brainless entertainment with Rebel Wilson making an ass out of herself and succumbing to a number of unfortunate "jokes" about weight while Anne Hathaway blithely sashays through set pieces like the insouciant starlet she is. I really loved the two of them as the leads in this film, though, and they both seemed to be enjoying themselves - and each other - immensely. There are some blisteringly funny moments that are balanced with groan-worthy gags, but I can't say I regret watching it... unlike Birdman, which I absolutely regret watching. (⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2)
This popcorn was billed as Honey Mustard, but it tasted like brown sugar with an occasional burst of mustard. This is after I sprinkled extra mustard powder and salt on top of the popcorn after it had been baked. It was super sweet. But also kinda tasty. We ate the entire bowl, but there was a part of me that wished the mustard had been upped a punch or two. Or three. Okay, seven. Tasty, but not the knockout it could have been. (⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2)
Popcorn recipe from: Party Popcorn by Ashton Epps Swank. (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014).
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