Asher Luberto, Author at The Playlist

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‘The Photograph’: LaKeith Stanfield & Issa Rae’s Woozy Romantic Chemistry Can’t Develop A Focused Picture [Review]

February 16, 2020 12:44 pm

Valentine's Day is for lovers, as is the V-Day weekend excursion to the theaters where studios have typically offered their latest in various modes of romance, be it comical, sensual, dramatic, or otherwise. U...

‘Sonic The Hedgehog’ Races To Victory Fueled By Big Jim Carrey Energy & The Power Of Friendship [Review]

Asher Luberto

February 16, 2020 11:38 am

News, Reviews

A kinetic, electrically-paced buddy comedy starring a lighting fast, motormouth-talking anthropomorphic hedgehog (Ben Schwartz), and a zany Jim Carrey that began its life with a debilitating, life-th...

‘Troop Zero’ Review: Charming Characters Make This Simple Family-Friendly Adventure Endearing [Review]

Asher Luberto

January 21, 2020 6:04 pm

News, Reviews

The latest family-friendly adventure from Amazon, "Troop Zero," is as charming as its heroine. Christmas (McKenna Grace) is a real-life Buzz Lightyear, an adorably precocious and endlessly vivacious nine year ...

‘The Sonata’ Review: Almost Good Enough To Summon The Devil

Asher Luberto

January 18, 2020 3:28 pm

Reviews

A man waltzes down the stairs of his estate in the middle of the night. His hands are as cold as the stones that layer the walls, and his candle can't warm him, let alone light up the room. He continues walkin...

‘Dolittle’: It’s Time For A Mercy Killing To Put Down This Ailing Franchise [Review]

Asher Luberto

January 15, 2020 9:21 pm

News, Reviews

History is doomed to repeat itself and “Dolittle,” the latest Hollywood remake, based on 20th Century Fox's "Doctor Dolittle," hasn’t learned from its mistakes. Richard Fleischer's 1967 musical iteration faile...

‘Jumanji: The Next Level’: The Uninspired Sequel Settles For More Of The Same [Review]

Asher Luberto

December 12, 2019 10:13 am

News, Reviews

When "Jumanji" was released in 1995, audiences played along with its outlandish premise—a boy getting sucked into a board game—and for its spellbinding special effects. Those effects don't look so special in 20...

‘Daniel Isn’t Real’: Adam Egypt Mortimer’s Latest Horror Chronicles A Intense Descent Into Madness [Review]

Asher Luberto

December 6, 2019 1:02 pm

News, Reviews

"Daniel Isn't Real" writer-director Adam Egypt Mortimer made his feature debut a few years ago with "Some Kind of Hate." In that horror fantasy, a teenage misfit gets her revenge on some bullies because, as her...

‘The Good Liar’: Helen Mirren & Ian McKellen Can’t Save This Truly Dull Thriller [Review]

Asher Luberto

November 15, 2019 4:04 pm

News, Reviews

As advertised, "The Good Liar" keeps its promise. Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen share the screen for the first time, and it's a wonderful thing to behold. The two have never been more revealing. As McKellen's R...

‘The Kill Team’: Dan Krauss’ War Film Spotlights Moral Questions Instead Of Non-Stop Action [Review]

Asher Luberto

October 23, 2019 12:31 pm

News, Reviews

In his latest film "The Kill Team," director Dan Krauss aims to tell a true story about a man of exemplary courage; a man who disclosed the killing of innocent Arabs in Afghanistan. Whether or not you side with...

‘Cyrano, My Love’: Is A Delightful Look At The Creation Of A Classic [Review]

Asher Luberto

October 20, 2019 11:28 am

News, Reviews

When "Cyrano De Bergerac" first appeared on the stage in Paris, it seemed like a gift from God in an era of canting comedies. Who could have guessed that this failed playwright could write an overnight success ...

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‘Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil’: Angelina Jolie & Michelle Pfeiffer Go To War In The Bland, Dour Sequel[Review]

Asher Luberto

October 18, 2019 11:10 am

News, Reviews

Disney has never been the Happiest Place on Earth. Remember the expressionistic forest in "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" or the entire plot of "Bambi?" Who could forget the racist crows in "Dumbo?" Happiness...

‘The Addams Family’: Everyone’s Favorite Macabre Clan Returns With Bad Puns & Bland Storytelling [Review]

Asher Luberto

October 13, 2019 2:11 pm

News, Reviews

Tolstoy got it right when he said, "Every family is unhappy in their own way." The Addams Family, for one, revel in their unhappiness. Ever since they were presented as comic strips in The New Yorker, audiences...

‘Jungle Cruise’ Trailer Promises Adventure, Romance, And The Rock’s Biceps

Asher Luberto

October 11, 2019 10:49 am

News, Trailers

What won't Disney remake? The studio, notable for its endless imagination, seems to have run out of ideas. Just this year alone, we have seen a "Dumbo" that never soars, an "Aladdin" whose rug resembled Lebowsk...

‘Low Tide’: Kevin McMullin’s Crime Thriller Is Like ‘Goonies’ Without The Fun [Review]

Asher Luberto

September 26, 2019 10:59 am

News, Reviews

"She's a countdown girl," says a troubled teen named Red, "the closer she gets, the farther she gets from a 10." It's a crude judgment, though not an unexpected one from a group of boys watching women walk by o...

‘Downton Abbey’ Is An Unnecessary Film That Doesn’t Live Up To The Landmark Series [Review]

Asher Luberto

September 11, 2019 10:31 am

News, Reviews

At a time when theaters are filled with world-ending stakes, here's a film where the greatest drama is how the steak is prepared. Yes, “Downton Abbey” is back. The PBS show, which gave viewers charming comfort ...

Author Asher Luberto