Genie movie review

posted in: Comedy, Fantasy | 0

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:

 

 

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Author, university professor

Author of 23 books, university professor, mom of 4 awesome sons, movie critic, ice cream lover. Check out her world travels and tips at www.EmptyNestTravelHacker.com

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