MOVIE TITLE: Genie
This fun holiday movie is now available to stream on Peacock.
RATING: PG
LENGTH: 1 hour 33 minutes
MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: B+
IN A NUTSHELL:
What would YOU do with unlimited wishes? In this fun-filled genie movie, a workaholic father meets a magical genie who tries to help him win back his family before Christmas.
The film was directed by Sam Boyd. Writing credits go to Richard Curtis.
THINGS I LIKED:
- I’ve been a big Melissa McCarthy fan since the beginning. I know she’s had some past movies that were stinkers but this one is not one of them. She has plenty of oddball, goofy moments, but I really love that her genie character didn’t become an over-the-top cartoon, but instead, a real woman.
- Paapa Essiedu does a great job as an earnest straight-man to the genie’s comedic chaos. I had never seen him in anything before, although he has actually been in a lot of successful productions in recent years such as The Lazarus Project and Black Mirror.
- Other cast members include Denee Benton, Marc Maron, Luis Guzman, Alan Cumming, and young Jordyn McIntosh. Everyone did a great job.
- I love it when movies show clips from other movies. In this one, it shows a clip of Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible.
- WWTCD = What would Tom Cruise do? Love it. The genie becomes obsessed with Tom Cruise. Yeah, girl. We all are.
- Great soundtrack.
- Lots of humor, both spoken and visual.
- Tons of Christmas decorations that will get you in the mood for the holiday season.
- Super sweet ending.
- The story is extremely formulaic, but I don’t care. It still felt good and is a reminder about what’s truly important in life.
THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:
- A Tom Cruise cameo would have made the movie perfect.
- The flying carpet special effects were underwhelming and not as magical as they could have been.
- There are too many annoying inconsistencies in the fish-out-of-water story. I know…genie movies are fantasy, so things don’t have to make sense. Still.
TIPS FOR PARENTS:
- Some profanity. Some of it comes out of the mouth of a little girl. Of course, that’s supposed to be funny, but I always hate that.
- People get arrested.
- Some verbal fights.
THEMES:
- Workaholics
- Priorities
- Family
- Redemption
- Second chances
FUNNY LINES:
- “Everyone always takes the camel wish back.” – Flora, the genie (Melissa McCarthy)
- “Give it to me Mr. Tom Cruise Control.” – Flora, the genie (Melissa McCarthy)
OTHER MOVIES LIKE THIS YOU MIGHT ENJOY:
- 13 Going on 30: https://amzn.to/49PKP4E
- 17 Again: https://amzn.to/3SU5n5W
- Three Thousand Years of Longing: https://moviereviewmom.com/three-thousand-years-of-longing-movie-review/
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