Review: ‘Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice’
Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, And Eiza González Lead Hilarious Time Travel Crime Comedy

By
Travis Hopson
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Here’s the thing about BenDavid Grabinski’s terrific new film with the overlong title, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice; it’s a crime movie, but kinda not really? It’s got a time machine, but isn’t really a sci-fi movie, either. This wildly unpredictable concoction is also damned hilarious, one of the best and funniest Hulu exclusives yet. With a surprising amount of pathos, a superb cast, and some kickass fights, the only real regret is that we don’t get to see it on the big screen. But if more people discover it from home on their couch, maybe we’ll get more films like this that are willing to be experimental.

If the title is confusing, the plot simplifies things a little. Vince Vaughn makes a much-needed comeback to comedy as Nick, a gangster who, through contrived, silly circumstances, enters a time machine. The future version of Nick is a mellow guy, deeply regretful over his past violent actions, especially towards his friend Mike, or Quick Draw Mike, played by James Marsden. In the present, Nick is a jealous, vindictive dickhead who set Mike up to be killed for being a snitch. Why? Because Mike is having an affair with Nick’s wife, Alice, played by Eiza Gonzalez. So now, future Nick has come to the present to save Mike, and he needs to convince current Nick to help out, otherwise the plan is doomed.

Get all of that? There’s actually a lot more going on, involving crime boss Sosa, played by the great Keith David, a series of wild afterparties for Sosa’s newly-released ex-con son, Jimmy Boy, played by Jimmy Tatro, and even a crooked cop played by Emily Hampshire. Did I mention there’s even a cannibal assassin on the loose? Shit gets pretty wild and watching all of these combustible elements bang off one another is a trip.

If the loose, potent energy and clashing of genres feels familiar, Grabinski was writer of the excellent animated Scott Pilgrim Takes Off series that so wonderfully captured the mood and spirit of the comics and movie. If you remember how much fun everyone seemed to be having while voicing that show, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice feels the same way. Vaughn is clearly having a blast playing two completely different versions of Nick, and not only gets to riff with Marsden (the two have incredible comedic chemistry), but also with himself. It’s a reminder of just how good Vaughn is when given the right material. He’s never looked more like the comedy giant who led multiple blockbuster films. While at the same time, the film gives him plenty of blistering shootouts and slugfests, a reminder of his grittier stuff such as Brawl in Cell Block 99 and Dragged Across Concrete, both films that you should check out, by the way.

Vaughn isn’t alone. Marsden has never been this funny as Mike, who is in the awkward position of working with the guy who set him up to be killed, and also the guy whose wife he’s having an affair with. He’s just as adept with the fight choreography as Vaughn, too, while showing once again what a terrific leading man he is during his scenes with Gonzalez. Whether she’s sparring with Vaughn or canoodling with Marsden, Gonzalez is the glue that holds this crazy movie together. It’s a difficult balance not just for the actors, but for Grabinski, keeping the tone light while also making sure the life-or-death risks feel legit. Other than a final act twist that feels like an unnecssary cop-out, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice nails just about everything. An action-comedy gem that even sports the iconic music from the Blade club scene, there’s no shortage of great things to say about this movie, including that it sets itself up nicely to become the next must-see franchise.

Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice hits Hulu and Disney+ on March 27th.

Teaser For HBO’s ‘Harry Potter’ Series Reveals Surprise Christmas Release, But Will You Watch?

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March 25, 2026

Can lightning really strike twice for Warner Bros.? HBO has unveiled the first teaser and release date for its upcoming Harry Potter series, confirming the first eight-episode season will arrive this Christmas (beating the original 2027 timeframe) and be titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. The holiday arrival is no coincidence; it’s part of a plan to make this new vision for the Wizarding World an event that will bring families together around the world.

Filling the massive shoes of the original cast are Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, with John Lithgow playing Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid.

Also in the gigantic ensemble are Rory Wilmot, Daniel Rigby, Warwick Davis, Bel Powley, Johnny Flynn, Katherine Parkinson, Anton Lesser, Paul Whitehouse, and many more.

The brief teaser features several iconic moments from the first book in author JK Rowling’s epic series, from Harry being bullied by the Dursleys, to dashing to make the train to Hogwarts, to meeting Hagrid for the first time, and buying his first wand. Of course, we also see The Boy Who Lived meeting his future best friends, Ron and Hermione.

Rowling, who remains a controversial figure for her anti-trans stance, is aboard as an exec-producer, but her involvement has been underplayed intentionally. Francesca Gardiner wrote and exec-produced the series, with multiple episodes directed by Mark Mylod.

The eight Harry Potter films have grossed $7.7B worldwide. But let’s be real in that the franchise struggled to captivate audiences when it veered into Fantastic Beasts territory. So the big question now is whether a new generation of audiences will find the magic in Harry Potter now? And will older fans want to see a new take on something they already consider classic?

We’ll find out when Harry Potter hits HBO and HBO Max this Christmas. I’ll be honest with you; I don’t have the energy for more of the Wizarding World, and this footage doesn’t sway me one bit. That said, I want to give it a fair shot because there are so many ways to interpret the universe that Rowling created. Perhaps something unexpected will click with me.

‘Forgotten Island’ Trailer: Dreamworks Animation’s Latest Is Giving Off Serious ‘Eternal Sunshine’ Vibes

By

Travis Hopson

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March 25, 2026

Dreamworks Animation, home of acclaimed franchises How to Train Your Dragon, The Bad Guys, Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, and The Wild Robot, is embarking on an original work that it hopes will become a longtime member of the family. Forgotten Island, from directing duo Joel Crawford and Januel Mercado (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish), draws heavily from Filipino culture and folklore to tell its story of childhood friends stranded on a fantastical island, with a heavy price to pay to get back home.

The film features the voices of singer-songwriter Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson (aka H.E.R.) and Lisa Frankenstein actress Liza Soberano, as best friends Jo and Raissa. Friends since they were children, this wildly creative pair is set to take different paths in life, until they are transported to the reality-bending island populated by magical creatures, and learn the only way home would mean sacrificing all memories of one another.

Also in the voice cast are Dave Franco, Jenny Slate, Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Ronny Chieng and Lea Salonga.

SYNOPSIS: While celebrating their last night together, Jo and Raissa stumble upon a mysterious portal that transports them to the fantastical island of Nakali, packed with magical and mythological creatures they grew up hearing stories about from their Filipino families. Some of these figures will become friends, some foes. Joined by well-meaning-but- hapless weredog Raww (Franco) and a small-but-mighty pack of pals, Jo and Raissa must face The Dreaded Manananggal (Salonga), the most feared creature on the island. When they discover that the memories of their entire friendship are the price for returning home, Jo and Raissa will race to find a way to leave the island before they forget each other forever.

The first thing you’ll notice is the stunning, kinetic, anime-influenced animation style that’s similar to what we’ve seen lately in the Spider-Verse films, KPop Demon Hunters, and GOAT. The other thing you might catch on to is a vibe similar to the classic movie about memory, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, especially when it comes to how we grapple with memories of the people we care for most.

Universal Pictures will open Forgotten Island in theaters on September 25th.

‘Pressure’ Trailer: Brendan Fraser And Andrew Scott Star In D-Day Drama Arriving In May

By

Travis Hopson

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March 25, 2026

Brendan Fraser as Eisenhower in PRESSURE

With the fate of the world at stake, what was it like in the war room leading up to D-Day? With the clock ticking and even Mother Nature appearing to be against them, the men behind the fateful decision to invade are given the spotlight in Pressure, a new WWII drama starring Brendan Fraser as Dwight D. Eisenhower and Andrew Scott as British meteorologist James Stagg.

Synopsis: In the tense 72 hours before D-Day, and with the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, PRESSURE follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg as they face an impossible choice—launch the largest and most dangerous seaborne invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether.

Also in the cast are Kerry Condon, Chris Messina, and Damian Lewis.

And yes, the story really does revolve around the weather conditions that threaten to disrupt the most critical decision of the war. While that may seem minor, it really isn’t when you factor in the logistics of waging a world war. Every decision could mean life or death to thousands of people across the globe.

Pressure is directed by Hotel Mumbai filmmaker Anthony Maras, who co-wrote the screenplay with award-winning playwright David Haig, based on Haig’s stageplay.

Focus Features will release Pressure in theaters on May 29th.

‘The Executioner’: Shane Black Reteams With Joel Silver To Adapt Testosterone-Fueled Mack Bolan Books

By

Travis Hopson

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March 25, 2026

For fans of Shane Black, it’s awesome that he’s busier now than ever in his career. That said, his recent films, Play Dirty and The Predator, weren’t his best work. However, his latest project might turn things around. THR reports Black will write and possibly direct Sony Pictures’ adaptation of Don Pendleton’s testosterone-fueled The Executioner books, centered on elite sniper and one-man-army Mack Bolan.

Black will reteam with veteran producer Joel Silver on The Executioner, which has been serialized hundreds of times and sold millions of copies since its beginning in 1969. The character Mack Bolan is a principled killing machine who began fighting organized crime, but over the years as times changed, his foes became more diverse. In some ways, he’s a lot like Jack Reacher, or a more violent James Bond.

There’s a lot of history between Black and Silver, as their working relationship stretches back to Lethal Weapon and the original Predator.

It’s crazy that Hollywood has never gotten a Mack Bolan movie off the ground after decades of trying. William Friedkin attempted a film that would’ve starred Sylvester Stallone. Shane Salerno navigated the difficult legal waters to gain some rights to adapt Pendleton’s books, with Bradley Cooper starring as Bolan, but that attempt also failed.

No casting details yet, as development seems very early. It’ll be interesting to see if Black dials up some old friends for this one. Black recently worked with Mark Wahlberg on Play Dirty, although that role was originally for his Kiss Kiss Bang Bang star Robert Downey Jr.

I’m eager to see Black return to the same form that gave us Lethal Weapon, The Last Boy Scout, The Nice Guys, and more. I’m not sure he can do that adapting another person’s work, but we’ll see.

‘Apex’ Trailer: Charlize Theron Is Taron Egerton’s Prey In Netflix’s Survival Thriller

By

Travis Hopson

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March 25, 2026

Taron Egerton and Charlize Theron in APEX

Next month, Netflix puts together two of its biggest stars, Charlize Theron and Taron Egerton, in a deadly game of survival. Apex stars Theron as a thrill-seeking woman facing a deadly predator in the harsh Australian wilderness. Turns out that the predator is Egerton, who wants to make her his latest big game prize.

Apex is directed by Baltasar Kormakur, the prolific filmmaker behind a slew of survival thrillers such as The Deep, Everest, Adrift, and Beast. The screenplay is by Jeremy Robbins, best known for his work on The Purge television series.

Theron is already the star of Netflix’s hit action franchise, The Old Guard. Egerton recently starred in the surprisingly awesome thriller Carry-On for the streamer. It makes sense to put these two together, and to keep them under the umbrella.

Erica Bana also has a role in the film, because if it’s an Aussie flick you know he’s not too far away.

SYNOPSIS: A grieving woman testing her limits in the Australian wilderness is suddenly ensnared in a deadly game with a ruthless predator.

Apex hits Netflix on April 24th.

Oliver Stone’s ‘White Lies’ Is Back On With Josh Hartnett Starring

By

Travis Hopson

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March 25, 2026

Oliver Stone and Josh Hartnett are teaming up on WHITE LIES

Back in 2018, director Oliver Stone set out to make White Lies his next film, with Benicio Del Toro expected to star. However, years have passed, and it seemed the project had quietly fallen off the radar. Well, not so fast, because Deadline reports the film is back on track, only now with Josh Hartnett in the lead role.

A multi-generational New York tale, White Lies follows Jack, a child of divorce now repeating his parents’ mistakes in his own marriage and with his troubled son. Feeling trapped, he embarks on a lust-filled journey to free himself, but only becomes more lost. When he meets a woman whose life is the opposite of his own, he begins a journey of rediscovery.

This would be Stone’s first feature film since Snowden in 2016. The controversial veteran filmmaker known for his fiery political thrillers, has struggled for years to get financing for his projects, with White Lies counted among them.

Coming up for Hartnett is the anticipated Colleen Hoover adaptation, Verity, alongside Anne Hathaway and Dakota Johnson.

Stone is gearing up production on White Lies now in Bulgaria, Rome, and Thailand.

Stephen Colbert Developing New ‘Lord Of The Rings’ Film, ‘Shadows Of The Past’ With His Son

By

Travis Hopson

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March 25, 2026

Stephen Colbert will be all done with CBS when The Late Show wraps up in May. So where’s he going next? Ironically, to Warner Bros., which just got bought by Paramount/Skydance, owners of CBS. However, the project is completely out of left field, as Colbert will be developing a new Lord of the Rings movie alongside his son, screenwriter Peter McGee.

Titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past, the film was announced by Peter Jackson over social media. Colbert joined Jackson on a video call, which is when he revealed that the plot of the new film will be taken from chapters of JRR Tolkien’s Fellowship of the Ring that didn’t make it into Jackson’s 2001 movie.

In honor of Tolkien Reading Day and the destruction of the One Ring, we bring you a special announcement. pic.twitter.com/ufh9RLBIxO

— Warner Bros. (@warnerbros) March 25, 2026

Colbert said, “You know what the books mean to me, and what your films mean to me. But the thing I found myself reading over and over again were the six chapters early on in [‘The Fellowship of the Ring’] that ya’ll never developed into the first movie back in the day. It’s basically the chapter ‘Three is Company’ [Chapter III] through ‘Fog on the Barrow-Downs’ [Chapter VIII]. And I thought, ‘Oh, wait, maybe that could be its own story that could fit into the larger story. Could we make something that was completely faithful to the books while also being completely faithful to the movies that you guys had already made?’”

Working alongside Colbert and McGee on the script is screenwriter Philippa Boyens, a writer on all of Jackson’s Lord of the Rings movies as well as the animated War of the Rohirrim from 2024.

Here’s the official synopsis for Shadows of the Past: “Fourteen years after the passing of Frodo – Sam, Merry, and Pippin set out to retrace the first steps of their adventure. Meanwhile, Sam’s daughter, Elanor, has discovered a long-buried secret and is determined to uncover why the War of the Ring was very nearly lost before it even began.”

Colbert is a true Tolkien fanatic, and has worked with Jackson in the past. He had a small role in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and also directed the Middle-Earth short film Darrylgorn, featuring much of the LOTR cast.

Before Colbert’s movie arrives, Andy Serkis’ The Hunt for Gollum will hit theaters on December 17th 2027.

Review: ‘Pretty Lethal’
Maddie Ziegler, Lana Condor, And Uma Thurman Lead A Ballerina Action Flick That's Pretty Slick

By
Travis Hopson
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With films such as Nobody, Kate, Bullet Train, and The Fall Guy under its belt, 87North has quickly become a staple studio for action fans, as it should with John Wick co-director and stunt coordinator David Leitch running things. The latest effort, Pretty Lethal, is pretty tame compared to some of the more brutal projects, but its breezy, darkly comic premise centered around butt-kicking ballerinas makes for a Hell of a good time. It arrives as female-led action flicks are hotter than ever right now (Ready or Not 2, They Will Kill You arriving as well in the last week), and should be a huge hit on Prime Video, which has cornered the streaming market on this genre.

Now, if you’re asking yourself “Hey, didn’t we just see a Ballerina action movie???”, well, yeah, and that John Wick spinoff led by Ana de Armas was pretty awesome. But so is Pretty Lethal, which expands on the idea that the physical grind to become graceful ballerinas also helps mold deadly killers. We saw that idea explored in Marvel’s Black Widow, as well. It’s a cool concept, one that director Vicky Jewson and 87North maximize with some nifty, balletic fight choreography.

The cast is exceptional, as well, and led by real-life dancer and Dance Moms alum Maddie Ziegler as Bones, the leader of an elite ballet troupe headed to a major event in Budapest. Coincidentally, this is a huge week for the Ziegler clan, as her sister and fellow dancer Mackenzie is starring in the delightful comedy She Dances. When the troupe’s bus breaks down, they flee to a shady dive bar run by the vicious Devora, played by Kill Bill star Uma Thurman. After the girls witness a cold-blooded murder, they can’t be allowed to escape. They are forced to stick together, using their ballerina training, to fight and survive.

Joining Ziegler in the cast is Lana Condor as Princess, whose abrasive personality makes her an odd fit for the team. She has a special dislike for Bones, who she sees as an inferior dancer. There’s also Iris Apatow as Zoe, with deaf A Quiet Place actress Millicent Simmonds as her slightly naive sister, Chloe. The scene-stealer, as she was in the recent Mean Girls musical, is Avantika as Grace, who gets drugged early on and spends most of the film in a hallucinogenic daze.

The camraderie between the girls is Pretty Lethal‘s heart, and keeps the film engaging throughout. The fight sequences can be a tad silly, with the ballerinas spinning and sashaying around the big, bruising dudes who have severely underestimated their speed, agility, teamwork, and ability to throw mean jump kicks. The ballerinas are overmatched in size, numbers, and firepower, which gives each encounter life or death stakes; and since they can’t fight using conventional methods, there’s always something interesting to keep you invested in the battles.

That said, most of the ballerinas are underwritten, with Ziegler and Condor, the biggest names in the cast outside of Thurman, getting the bulk of the attention. As a trained dancer, it’s Ziegler who takes charge during much of the action, proving herself to be more than capable of carrying the load. I would hope this isn’t the last time we get to see her putting those dance skills to use in extreme fashion, perhaps in another 87North flick?

Also, how can you have Uma Thurman, one of the best female action stars of all-time, and not give her more to do as Devora? It’s possible that Thurman doesn’t want echoes of her time as The Bride, but still, it’s disappointing that she doesn’t get at least one awesome showdown with Ziegler or any of her co-stars, for that matter.

Finally, and this is a common complaint from me lately, but Pretty Lethal would kill on the big screen. This is the kind of movie you could gather your friends together, buy an extra large bag of popcorn, and just have a blast. Don’t get me wrong; you’re going to have a ball watching it at home, too, and don’t be surprised if Amazon/MGM are already looking ahead to more ballerina beat ’em ups. And who could blame them when Pretty Lethal is pretty awesome.

Pretty Lethal is streaming now on Prime Video.

Disney Sets Akiva Schaffer To Direct Live-Action Cinderella Spinoff On Her Wicked Stepsisters

By

Travis Hopson

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March 24, 2026

If you ask me, the best way to continue telling Cinderella stories is more films like The Ugly Stepsister. Obviously, Disney has more conventional plans. Deadline reports that a live-action spinoff movie, titled Stepsisters, is in the works and will be directed by The Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer.

Schaffer will be joined on Stepsisters by writers Dan Gregor & Doug Mand, who worked with him previously on Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. The trio will rework the original screenplay by Tangled writer Michael Montemayor. A busy comedy director, Schaffer scored a modest hit with last year’s The Naked Gun reboot, and also directed Hot Rod, The Watch, and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.

Schaffer is pals with fellow Lonely Islanders Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone, who will be producing through their Party Over Here label.

You’ll recall that Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo (Bridesmaids) were writing their own evil stepsisters movie, but that’s apparently off the table. I guess the slipper didn’t fit.

Cinderella’s wicked stepsisters are Anastasia and Drizella, who torment and demean the girl who they treat as if she’s beneath them, but deep down they are actually jealous of her beauty. They destroy her dress, and try to do anything to win the Prince’s affection away from Cinderella.

Sounds like another Disney villain reclamation project, as they’ve done previously with Maleficent and Cruella. Anastasia and Drizella might be the toughest sell of them all, though, because they are just nasty through and through. We’ll have to see what Schaffer and crew can come up with to have us sympathize with them…or not. Perhaps they’ll include elements of the Disney sequels, in which Anastasia falls in love and finds redemption?