Powerful Costume Designs Can Make A Great Movie Better!
What makes certain costume designs memorable? That question doesn’t have a definitive answer; a lot that can be taken into consideration. Awards and accolades play a big role but there’s more to dig into. The impact it makes on first appearance, the legacy it creates, or if it’s a Halloween costume are all things that matter.
Below is a ranking of the costume designs in the film history that impacted the industry. Let me know if your favorite movie fashions make the list!
– The 90’s is perfectly summed up in ‘Clueless’. In a distinct decade for fashion, almost every 90’s fad or clique is represented or started in this. The iconic yellow plaid outfit main character Cher (Alicia Silverstone) wears is instantly recognizable and even duplicated in rapper Iggy Azalea’s “Fancy” music video.
9. ‘Scream‘ (1996)
– Horror films always have memorable costume designs. From Dracula to Michael Myers, the genre is filled with recognizable characters. But there’s one look in horror that stands above the rest. The Ghostface costume from ‘Scream‘ is not only instantly recognizable but still a Halloween go-to 21 years later.
8. ‘Memoirs Of A Geisha‘ (2005)
– This list could’ve simply been made-up of Colleen Atwood costume designs. Atwood is a legend in the film industry for her work and ‘Memoirs of A Geisha‘ is a standout. She knew taking on the kimono would be a challenge but Atwood mastered the art form. Rightfully winning an Academy Award in 2005, nothing has came close since.
7. ‘Harry Potter‘ Franchise (2001-present)
– Other than a very famous witch I’ll mention later, the wizardly world was in need of something fresh. Thankfully in 2001, the genre got a massive makeover when J.K. Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone‘ hit theaters. The franchise got a fashion upgrade in 2016 when Colleen Atwood designed ‘Fantastic Beasts‘.
6. ‘Marie Antoinette‘ (2006)
– Like the work of Colleen Atwood, this list could’ve been filled costume designs from period pieces. To make it easier, the more inventive choice of ‘Marie Antoinette‘ was chosen. Instead exact replicas, the costumes went more for a fantastical route. Along with the rest of the art direction, Sofia Coppola’s epic is beautiful to watch.
5. ‘The Fifth Element‘ (1997)
– Jean Paul Gaultier blessed this sci-fi film with some of the most insane fashions ever. ‘The Fifth Element‘ took everything the genre did before and gave it a new edge. It’s quoted that Gaultier created over 1000 costumes for this film but somehow a white bandage outfit worn by Leeloo (Milla Jovovich) lives on the most.
4. ‘Breakfast At Tiffany’s‘ (1961)
– At first, I struggled with putting ‘Breakfast At Tiffany’s‘ on the list. It’s only really known for one major look but that one dress is seriously iconic. The Black Givenchy dress worn by Hepburn even has it’s own wikipedia page. This film made “the little black dress” a staple in any woman’s closet. Also, the original dress sold for $923,187 in an auction.
3. ‘Cleopatra‘ (1963)
– The looks of ‘Cleopatra‘ forever changed after 1963. It didn’t get the race of the titular character correct, the costume designs remains legendary in the film industry. It’s not a shock the elaborate outfits in this film won an Academy Award. With over 26,000 costumes created and Elizabeth Taylor changing 63 times, nothing can top this fashion spectacle.
2. ‘The Wizard Of Oz‘ (1939)
– There’s a point in almost every young girl’s life when she wants to dress up as someone from ‘The Wizard Of Oz‘. If it’s The Wicked Witch, the Tin-Man, or Dorothy herself, all of these looks have found a place in pop culture history. Even cinematic choices like changing the shoes from silver to ruby proved to work out perfectly.
1. ‘Star Wars‘ Franchise (1977-present)
– The sheer amount of memorable looks from this franchise is way it makes it to number one. You can easily say Darth Vader or Slave Leia as the most distinct moments but almost everyone in ‘Star Wars‘ wears something so iconic. When taking everything into consideration, costume design was forever changed in 1977.
What beers should you drink while watching ‘Beauty and the Beast’?
‘Beauty and the Beast’ hit theaters last, and among many questions with the film, this is the one lingering on a beer snobs mind.
If you’re like me, you often enjoy a cold brew with your movie. There are theaters where you can actually get a beer while you watch the movie. Have you ever wanted to theme your beer around your movie experience? This article is for you!
This past weekend, the live-action Disney feature completely rocked the box office. According to Fox Entertainment News, The opening blew out records with $170 million and claimed it’s spot at number one. Let’s pair this movie with a good beer, shall we?
One type of beer clearly comes to mind when thinking of this movie. A lager. This type of beer was popular back in the days of ‘Beauty and the Beast’, and we all know that’s what they were drinking at Gaston’s Tavern.
Obviously, the beers from that time are no longer around… Or are they?
Pabst Blue Ribbon. Do we dare go, hipster? PBR has been around since 1884. Now, there is an argument about when the movie took place, but one of the theories is the late 1880s. PBR would fit.
This American lager is a 4.74% ABV, perfect for a session drink, or even an all day event. With the light and crisp flavor, it’s easy to drink as if you were having your water for the day.
Not exactly the hoppiest of beers, but back then the hops didn’t matter. They went for taste value and what could get you drunk.
This weekend when you go see ‘Beauty and the Beast’ for the second time, grab a PBR, sit back, and pretend like your in the tavern with these crazy gents.
What beer would you recommend for ‘Beauty and the Beast?’ Comment below.
With Action Comics #976 being released, so ends the Superman Reborn arc. The adventures of Clark Kent and his family have undoubtedly been some of the strongest books to come out of DC Rebirth thus far. It seems now the Kent family can officially settle in thanks to the Superman Reborn aftermath.
**Major Spoilers Lie Ahead**
Mxyzptlk tore the Kent family apart and left it up to Jon to fix them. Through the sheer power of love, Jon helped his parents merge their Pre-52 selves with their New 52 selves and solidified the Rebirth Lois & Clark.
What does this mean for the Kents going forward? This could allow them to come out of hiding for the most part. Lois and Clark can both work for the Daily Planet without that pesky fake Clark roaming around. Does that mean their marriage is public?
Looking at the beautiful page above, it appears that not only is their marriage public, but Jon’s existence as well. At least Perry and Jimmy know about Jon Kent. Which is a pretty significant change for Superman comics given that the family’s secrecy was a major element thus far.
This also allows them to drop their fake name, going public as the Kents. It’ll be interesting to see how writers Dan Jurgens (Action Comics) and Peter J. Tomasi (Superman) put these puzzle pieces together moving forward.
With all these new questions, at least one thing is for certain. By merging the two Supermen together, and being reborn into the true Superman of DC Rebirth, we got a new costume. Clark’s new duds are more of a return to former glory. Ditching the blue boots and weird belt, Superman looks more traditional than ever. All he’s missing is the red underwear!
What did you think of Superman Reborn? What changes are you looking forward to the most for the Kent family? Let us know in the comments below!
1989 will always remain a landmark year in history books, and not only because the Germans began to tear down the Berlin Wall and the United States and the Soviet Union declared the Cold War to be over. The world heard AOL’s iconic greeting – “Welcome! You’ve Got Mail!” – for the first time, and we also got our first taste of its instant messaging service. Gas cost .97 cents per gallon, and people were introduced to the cell phone on a massive scale when the first commercial for Centel’s handheld device launched. Billy Joel taught the planet a history lesson when he released We Didn’t Start the Fire, and Michael Jackson left people humming his newest tune, Smooth Criminal. Nintendo released the popular handheld gaming system – the Game Boy – and audiences around the globe witnessed the births of arguably the two best television comedies of all time – Seinfeld and The Simpsons. If all of that wasn’t enough, I was brought into this earth, a pencil in hand, waiting to shower my adoring fans with my writing.
The year of 1989 will always remain an important year in cinematic history as well, with some of the most iconic and beloved films of entire generations hitting theaters for the very first time. In celebration of this, here is a list of my top five favorite movies that were released the year I was born.
5. Ghostbusters II
Long before Sam and Dean Winchester graced our television screens as outlaw ghost hunters on Supernatural, the world knew a different group of paranormal experts living the lives of misfits in New York City. Sure, the Ghostbusters – consisting of Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddemore – weren’t hunky heartthrobs and may have dealt more with bright, neon-colored slime than anything truly scary, but that’s what made them so endearing. The appeal of these four social outcasts wasn’t just their humor, although that was a big part of it, but also the fact that they were average people trying to maintain their friendship and make a living doing what they loved. Sure, Vigo the Carpathian wasn’t the most intimidating villain, and yes, managing to control the Statue of Liberty via a remote control was incredibly corny, but none of it mattered because the misadventures that our four heroes got up to during their investigations were filled with heart, laughter, and fun that made the journey worthwhile.
Although the original Ghostbusters is arguably the better movie, Ghostbusters II has always held a special place in my heart because of the fact that, growing up, I actually saw this one for the first time before I ever saw the original. Not only that, but as a born-and-bred New Yorker, any piece of media that really gets the Big Apple right – like both Ghostbuster films do – tends to hold a special place in my heart. On top of which, I am a huge horror movie aficionado now, and I consider this movie to be the gateway drug that opened up that world to me as I grew up. Every time I happen to catch this one while flipping through channels on television, I always stop to watch it in its entirety, and after each viewing, I become disappointed yet again that the long rumored Ghostbusters III will never come to see the light of day.
4. Back to the Future Part II
Lo and behold, there are two sequels in my top five movies of 1989! I’ve always considered my love of sequels a sort of guilty pleasure, but in my defense, sequels produced in the late 1980s were still legitimately good films and not merely cash grabs. Back to the Future is one of those iconic movies that every person has to see growing up for its sense of whimsy and adventure, and Back to the Future Part II is one of those rare follow ups– like the Empire Strikes Back – that not only reproduces everything that worked in the original, but also improves upon it to create a film that is superior in every way.
Unlike with the Ghostbusters franchise, I viewed the Back to the Future trilogy in chronological order, so by the time I saw the second one, I was already in love with Marty McFly and Doc Brown. While it was great seeing their adventures continue in the sequel, I remember truly staring at the screen in awe of the advanced technology bordering on magic that the filmmakers promised would be our reality by the year 2015. Who didn’t want a pair of self-lacing sneakers, a hoverboard, or a flying car? Though they’re still not a reality as of yet in 2017, at least we can take solace in the fact that the real life Biff Tanner is running America and is as influential as his fictional counterpart, as well as the fact – the way Hollywood keeps churning out sequels – we probably will get a Jaws 19 at some point sooner rather than later.
3. The Little Mermaid
Growing up, a lot of young children develop cute, completely innocent crushes on certain cartoon characters, and I was no exception. For me, it was on Ariel in The Little Mermaid. While I can’t remember if it was this “crush” that drew me as a young boy to watching this film in the first place, it’s certainly not the titular mermaid’s strategically placed seashells that makes me rank it as one of the best films of 1989, nor what drives me to re-watch it every time I stumble across it playing on Freeform or the Disney Channel.
I’m an enormous Disney fan, and I think I can attribute my huge fandom for the company directly to this movie as it was the first film released by the studio that I remember watching. In that way alone, The Little Mermaid changed my life. Watching it as a child was an absolutely magical, colorful experience, and I remember belting Under the Sea and Kiss the Girl along with Sebastian the crab every time my mother put the VHS tape into our VCR. While there may be lessons in the film that are questionable at best nowadays (ie. a woman giving up her entire life for a man she loves), it still holds up as an excellent musical adventure that ushered in the Golden Age of Disney films that includes Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King. When the inevitable live-action remake hits theaters within a few years, you can bet I’ll be one of the first people in line to see it.
2. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Let me be honest upfront – I’m a sucker for Christmas. It’s by far my favorite holiday, and my favorite time of year; I love everything about it. If a movie or a television show incorporates any aspect of the holiday into its plot, chances are it will bump my rating up a point. I don’t think it’s my bias speaking, however, when I say that not only is Christmas Vacation the best-made film in the entire National Lampoon franchise, but it is also legitimately the funniest.
While I always loved this movie as a child, it’s one of the rare ones that gets funnier and becomes more relatable with age, which is why I’m rating it so high on my list. Clark Griswold’s determination to have a “good old-fashioned family Christmas” that includes both sides of the family, the perfect tree, a nicely decorated house, a delicious feast, and plenty of presents is a plight that many people can relate to. What even more people can relate to, however, are the most perfectly laid out plans going wrong, which I believe is a key facet to this film’s enduring popularity. What this film truly accomplishes, however, is being incredibly funny, while having an abundance of Christmas cheer that never veers too close to becoming overly sappy or sentimental. That, in itself, is a Christmas miracle that many holiday films have failed to achieve since. It’s because of this that, every December without fail, I end up watching this movie multiple times.
1. Batman
I can’t even begin to express in words just how much the character of Batman means to me. He is, and always has been, my favorite fictional character of all time. I think I was destined from birth to love this particular hero, because there are pictures of me in my parents’ house at only a few months old wearing onesies with the insignia of the Caped Crusader embroidered into them. So in case either of them are reading this, I just want to say, “Thanks, mom and dad, for starting my life off right by introducing me to the Dark Knight right off the bat! (Pun intended.)”
I’ll never forget the first time I watched Tim Burton’s Batman. I always knew that I would like it, but I had no idea that it would open my eyes as to what the character of Batman is truly all about. I didn’t see it for the first time until I was almost ten years old, and up until that point in time, all of my Batman knowledge came from the old Adam West television series and the incredible Batman: The Animated Series. Tim Burton’s film, however, was a revelation to me in terms of exactly what could be done with the character. It introduced me to his complex psychology, and opened my eyes to the fact that people actually could take a movie about a man dressed as a giant bat while fighting a homicidal clown seriously. More so than Richard Donner’s Superman from a decade before, Batman truly laid the groundwork for the modern superhero renaissance that we currently live in nowadays. And in terms of the character himself, the movie helped him to escape the campy perception of him the public had developed since the sixties, bringing him back to his darker roots. It also inspired me to delve into the Batman mythology via comic books, from which I branched off into other DC titles before making my way over to Marvel. This movie truly helped to shape me, turning me into the enormously proud geek that I am today, and for that, I am eternally grateful.
I’m extremely proud whenever I get to bring up the fact that these five legendary movies came out the year of my birth. Besides the ones mentioned above, however, there were a plethora of other films that came out in 1989 that are just as iconic – did I happen to disregard any that you would have included in place of any of the above? Hit the comments and let me know below!
Earlier this week, Stephen King revealed the first poster for The Dark Tower film adaptation. This was welcome news for fans, considering that marketing for the film has been relatively quiet. To date, there has not been an official teaser trailer, let alone a full cut. Yes, there was a leaked trailer with terrible quality back in the fall, but I refuse to acknowledge that. King deserves us to be our best selves! So in the meantime, this poster is all we have.
Luckily, the revealed poster is a veritable treasure trove of information. Here are the 7 details and questions the poster revealed about the upcoming film. Make sure to read them before the world moves on.
Roland Deschain of Gilead and Jake Chambers of New York City: it should be obvious, but these are the identities of the two folks at the bottom of the poster, and undoubtedly the protagonists. Much like its namesake book series, The Dark Tower will likely spend quite a bit of time on the relationship between Roland and Jake, which goes from two broken strangers sharing a fire, to a father-son bond. That bond is integral to the story, and Roland’s journey. Speaking of journey…
6. The Focus of the Story
The Tower. In case the title didn’t make it clear, this modern epic focuses on one thing: Roland’s quest for the Dark Tower. This poster makes it explicitly clear that the film will not deviate from this basic point. The negative space in the middle outlines what is clearly a tower, making the focal point of the poster not what is, but rather what is not present.
For those who haven’t read the books, The Dark Tower is a nexus point of space-time. It is “the center” of all worlds, all realities. And it is Roland’s destination, for he is determined to climb the Tower and see what is at the top. However, standing in his way…
5. The Antagonist
At the top (or bottom?) right of the poster is The Man in Black, Roland’s nemesis. He is a trickster sorcerer, and servant to the Crimson King. Honestly, it’s far too complex to explain, but boiling it down to the bare minimum: The Man in Black is Roland’s Darth Vader, and the Crimson King is the Emperor. The Man in Black intends to stop Roland from reaching the Tower…or does he? Saying anything else is a possible spoiler. The important part is that Matthew McConaughey seems to have a perfect grasp of the character, telling Entertainment Weekly,
I revere him. He’s really the only true adversary I have…He’s very precious to me. I almost don’t want to see him go…My love, my adoration, my muse, my shadow, is Roland.
4. Antagonist Part 2
Sitting on a car off to the Man in Black’s right is a pale individual, who looks a little off. He’s too small to make out, but considering his proximity to the Man in Black, it’s safe to assume he’s another antagonist. Our best guess, based on his Gollum-like paleness and strange skull shape, is that he’s a Can-Toi, also known as Low-Men. They are the henchman of the Crimson King, and are described beings as able to pass for humans at a distance, but when viewed up close, it becomes clear that something is wrong.
3. Somebody Else?
There is someone standing off the left of the poster dressed in a leather ninja costume that looks like they borrowed it from Netflix’s Daredevil Season 2 costume rack. The person in it looks they are a woman? But it’s rather hard to tell. As a self-nominated Dark Tower expert, I can safely say that I have absolutely no clue who that person is. But here’s what we do know. She is purposely dressed in such a manner that her identity is a secret. She is standing on the same plane as the Man in Black, but on the opposite side of the street from him. This suggests that she’s someone who may start as an antagonist, or is perceived as one, but is not in line with the Man in Black. Perhaps an secret ally, or new character all together?
2. The Setting
Now, our editor extraordinaire Larry theorized that the city shown was Lud, a destroyed shell of a city that Roland comes to later in the series. And Larry was not alone; there is a bevy of sites that have said the same thing. While showing Lud would be great, there’s just one problem with that theory: this is definitely New York City. In the back left is the Empire State Building, guaranteed. This makes a lot of sense, as a lot of the series takes place in New York, particularly Jake’s story. Which of course clues is in to one of the most important things the poster tells us…
1. There Are Other Worlds Than These
“Go then. There are other worlds than these.” One of the most famous lines of the series, spoken by Jake to Roland, and an important part of the upcoming film, as the poster reveals. Not only is part of the quote subtitled on the poster, but the entire construction lends itself to this theme. Roland and Jake on one orientation, the Man in Black, maybe Can-Toi, and mystery ninja woman on the other. The two towers: The negative space Dark Tower, and the Empire State Building, standing in contrast to each other in both usage of space and direction. Even the smaller spire on the bottom-right of the poster contrasts to the negative space on the bottom right. Without a doubt, the film adaptation will explore these other worlds. And just as The Gunslinger did to the fleeing Man in Black, we will follow.
The Dark Tower stars Idris Elba, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Taylor, Abbey Lee, Jackie Earle Haley, and Abbey Lee. Directed by Nikolaj Arcel. The journey begins on July 28th, 2017.
What did you think of the first poster for The Dark Tower? What are you looking forward to seeing in the film? Let us know in the comments!
At the end of an interview with Collider, actor Woody Harrelson talked, vaguely, about why he thinks 2018’s Han Solo spinoff film will be the best of the Star Wars franchise.
“They’re [Phil Lord and Chris Miller] great. You know, any movie’s only as good as the director or in this case directors, and so I have a suspicion, because if you look at the whole, all the movies, the backlog of every one of these movies, there’s a lot of great stuff, but one might not be not as good with the writing in this or the acting in that or the directing in that, this has great actors, great directors, great script, and I really feel like we’re gonna make the best one.”
Harrelson seems very confident about the untitled Han Solo film. However, granted that he’s a star in the movie, it’s unlikely that he would say anything different.
Do you think the Han Solo spinoff film will be as great as Harrelson makes it out to be? Let us know in the comments below!
The movie features Alden Ehrenreich as the titular character, Donald Glover as Lando Calrissian, Harrelson as Garris Shrike, Michael Kenneth Williams, Emilia Clarke, and Pheobe Waller-Bridge.
Currently, Han Solo is slated for a May 2018 release date.
Death Note is a Netflix exclusive movie, and although it has no official release date, it’s likely coming sooner rather than later, based on Wingard’s attitude toward the project.
The trailer dropped a few hours later.
Are you excited for Wingard’s take on Death Note? Comment below, let us know!
Following in the footsteps of the best-selling Death of Archie storyline and the critically acclaimed Archie relaunch, Over the Edge serves as a culmination of years of risk-taking stories and promises to change the lives of Riverdale’s core characters dramatically.
Writer Mark Waid said:
Up until now, Archie and his pals have led fairly untroubled, normal lives. Suddenly, in one horrifying instant, that all changes when one of the kids looks death in the eye–and death doesn’t blink.
The 3-part Over the Edge event begins in May’s Archie #20, as Archie Andrews’ and Reggie Mantle’s ongoing feud pits the two against each other in a thrill ride on the dangerous Dead Man’s Curve. In June, a life-changing phone call will leave Riverdale’s citizens in shock and readers on their toes in Archie #21.
The heart-wrenching storyline concludes in July’s Archie #22 as the end comes for one of Riverdale’s most beloved residents – while setting the stage for years of new and undiscovered destinies for the entire cast.
ARCHIE #20 It’s the BIGGEST comic event in ARCHIE HISTORY! Archie and Reggie’s ongoing feud reaches a fever pitch that pits the two against each other in a thrill ride on the deadly Dead Man’s Curve!
Script: Mark Waid
Art: Pete Woods, Jack Morelli
Cover: Pete Woods
Variant Covers: Elliot Fernandez with Joey Vazquez, Greg Smallwood
On Sale Date: 5/17
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
ARCHIE #21 A phone call leaves everyone in Riverdale in a state of shock and despair!
Script: Mark Waid
Art: Pete Woods, Jack Morelli
Cover: Pete Woods
Variant Covers: Matthew Dow Smith, Greg Smallwood
On Sale Date: 6/21
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.
To pre-order Archie #20 and the entire Over the Edge storyline, contact a local comic book shop using the Comic Shop Locator Service.
Empire Magazine has released a new cover, and it features the team from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2!
What are your thoughts on the cover? Let us know in the comments below!
“Set to the backdrop of ‘Awesome Mixtape #2,’ Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mysteries of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel cinematic universe continues to expand.”
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 stars Chris Pratt as Star-Lord/Peter Quill, Zoe Saldana as Gamora, Bradley Cooper as the voice of Rocket Raccoon, Vin Diesel as the voice of Groot, Michael Rooker as Yondu, Kurt Russel as Ego The Living Planet, Karen Gillian as Nebula, Dave Bautista as Drax, Pom Klementieff as Mantis, Sean Gunn as Kraglin, and Sylvester Stallone in a currently unknown role. The film is directed by James Gunn.
The next chapter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe hits theaters on May 5.
Smosh is one of the earliest success stories of YouTube. The channel founded by friends Ian Hecox and Anthony Padilla reaches more than 22 million subscribers. Three different times since 2005, when the YouTube channel went live, it’s been the channel with the most subscriptions. Now, in YouTube’s push to create original content, they’ve turned to their early stars, handed them money, and said: “Do your thing!” Smosh does its thing with Ghostmates. But that’s not necessarily a good thing.
Ghostmates stars Hecox as Eddie, a shallow, unremarkable loser who gets himself killed in a way that leaves people believing he’s a pervert. It’s a running gag that comes up again and again. Padilla is Charlie, another somewhat shallow loser who dreams of making an epic comic book about a socialist possum. When Charlie rents Eddie’s old place, Charlie finds himself with a new roommate, Eddie’s ghost.
Hecox and Padilla have both performed their schtick now
for a long time and are excellent with it.
Ghostmates is the second cinematic attempt from Smosh. The first, Smosh: The Movie, was a journey into maddening mediocrity. The film was a dizzying mess of skits that were sometimes hilarious but mostly not. However, it was the first attempt from a comedy duo used to making short format entertainment. Smosh: The Movie was also watchable if you’re into the comedy stylings of Hecox and Padilla.
So, where does that leave Ghostmates? For starters, it’s a definite jump in quality in almost every aspect. The writing is sharper, with the flow of the film more cohesive than their previous effort. Writer Ryan Finnerty has worked with Smosh for more than a decade and brings a much clearer approach to Ghostmates. However, Ghostmates still has this strange sense of being underwritten with the characters saying just enough to move things along.
The tried-and-true formula of a ghost requiring closure to reach heaven works here just fine. But the pair of Hecox and Padilla, who have come up with a plethora of smart material, don’t do that here. Ghostmates is played very straight, which helps make this movie a little more appealing to the non-Smosh crowd. But it’s playing it safe that kind of bogs down Ghostmates too.
Ghostmates is a better movie than Smosh: The Movie, but oddly still less noteworthy. Ghostmates never reaches brilliant comedic heights, but it also never hits any real lows. The film rides down the middle lane, staying within the lines and cruising ahead. Smosh: The Movie is more like having a drunk at the wheel. Both films work, but you’ll likely end up talking more about the ride with the drunk.
Hecox and Padilla have both performed their schtick now for a long time and are excellent with it. Director Jack Henry Robbins doesn’t break any new ground here although the moment Eddie returns as a ghost is slick. It’s a neat visual that lasts about three seconds in a 90-minute movie.
Ghostmates is a better movie than Smosh: The Movie,
but oddly still less noteworthy.
If you’re already a member of YouTube Red, then Ghostmates is worth a watch, particularly if you already like Hecox, Padilla, and Smosh. However, if you’re not on YouTube Red, then don’t work too hard tracking this movie down. Ghostmates mostly plods along, but it’s a notable step up in quality for a Smosh flick. If they keep improving with each film as they have, then there’s comedy gold coming soon.
