I usually gravitate towards the crossovers that bring different characters together (Infinity War, Civil Wa) or towards the more comedy-centric ones (Ant-Man, Guardians), but setting that aside, Winter Soldier is one of the strongest MCU movies in terms of plot and characters. It is more of an action/suspense/political thriller vibe than pretty much all the other MCU movies, with meaningful character development. Bonus points for leading us to Scarlet Witch.
Favorite (Not Necessarily Best) Four From Every Year Since Birth
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Not just a great Godzilla film, a GREAT film, PERIOD!! Absolutely amazing!!
Shazam is my favorite DCEU movie, and I thought this would be similar. Overall the DC tends to be too dark and brooding for me. This is not dark and brooding, and it also isn't especially fun or charming. The story wasn't very interesting, and most of the Reyes family scenes weren't as funny as they were trying to be. I know Ms. Marvel is polarizing, but Ms. Marvel executed the family-of-the-new-hero aspect so perfectly, and Blue Beetle missed the mark. Xolo Maridueña was good as the lead.
Incredibly underrated, an annual must-watch. Vince Vaughn is at his Vince Vaughniest, but in a yuletide form, and Reese can match the energy in her own style.
It's not very good, but Adam Sandler is a comfort-watch presence, and I like the little old man.
Yelena is the most fun character to debut in an MCU movie in ages. Obsessed.
Black Widow is one of the more serious MCU movies, with a pretty dark plot compared to a lot of the others. Natasha deserved a stand-alone film, and casting crushed it by filling out her family with Florence Pugh, David Harbour, and Rachel Weisz. I don't really like the plot choices around Taskmaster; that's the biggest strike against it.
Favorite (Not Necessarily Best) Four From Every Year Since Birth
He only takes one.
Not as funny as it could be considering the cast, but I like it and own the blu-ray and watch it every year. My Christmas line-up is a lacking post-2000 holiday comedies, so this fills that void. Even though it could be better, it does still have Jason Bateman, Jillian Bell, Vanessa Bayer, Randall Park, and a few others that I really like, and that's enough.
I like Trevor, and I LOVE Justin Hammer.
I love this so much that I own multiple jigsaw puzzles of its iconic moments.
I know it is crazy to give this 4 stars. I am more forgiving of Christmas movies because I churn through them in the background for a full month. I make it through 30 minimum every year, so the bar is lower for a movie to join the annual rotation.
Anyway, Kathryn Hahn is so funny. I love an unhinged Kathryn Hahn role.
Cute but forever doomed to live in the shadow of A Charlie Brown Christmas. Why would they even make another?
