Irish Wish, Love Lies Bleeding, American Society Reviews | See It or Skip It

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4) — It’s Saint Patricks Day Weekend, what will you be watching?

Will you have the luck of the Irish with a new Lindsay Lohan Netflix film, or will you venture out to the theaters with a new Kristen Steward suspense thriller? ABC4 Film Critic Patrick Beatty let’s us know what to see and what to skip.

Irish Wish

Where to Watch: Netflix

Directed By: 

Janeen Damian

Written By: 

Kirsten Hansen

Starring:

Lindsay Lohan, Ed Speleers, Alexander Vlahos

Genre:

Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

Rated TV-G

All media courtesy of Netflix

Lindsay Lohan returns to collaborate with Janeen Damian for the second time for Irish Wish. This is a romantic comedy where she makes a wish to marry who she thinks is the love of her life to have her fairytale happy ending. Little does she realize that perhaps he wasn’t meant to be her prince charming, as she’s faced with a choice to marry the man of her dreams or another man who could possibly be the one for her.

This is a romantic comedy very familiar to anyone who loves Hallmark or Lifetime movies. It’s very straightforward, the story is simple and the dialogue somewhat pedestrian and easy to follow. I love to see Lindsay Lohan return to the small screen and hope that this means we will see a triumphant return to the big screen as well. While I do think this is a film many are going to enjoy, for me it didn’t reach the level I needed it to for a recommendation.

See it or Skip it? Skip It

The American Society of Magical Negros

Where to Watch: Theaters

Directed By: 

Kobi Libii

Written By: 

Kobi Libii

Starring:

Justice Smith, Zachary Barton, Anthony Coons

Genre:

Comedy, Fantasy

Rated PG-13

All media courtesy of Focus Features

Debuting at Sundance this year, The American Society of Magical Negros follows an out-of-work artist who’s inducted into a society of black people with one mission — to make white people feel comfortable. He’s given a client who is having workplace issues, but when he falls for his client’s crush, the magic and the entire society is in jeopardy of losing everything.

I thought this was a very charming film with great performances by our leading characters. Justice Smith proved he is a leading man and I’m excited to see his next project. There is so much to explore and discuss with this subject matter, such as how we are perceived in the world and what we let slide that maybe we shouldn’t.

The tone is fascinating, striking a balance between Men In Black and Harry Potter but with topics of race and identity woven throughout the story. It’s got a lot of heart and humor, but maybe they could have delved more into the message where the love triangle takes away from it. Still, this is a recommendation for me!

See it or Skip it? See It

Love Lies Bleeding

Where to Watch: Theaters

Directed By: 

Rose Glass

Written By: 

Rose Glass, Weronika Tofilska

Starring:

Anna Baryshnikov, Kristen Stewart, Dave Franco, Ed Harris, Jena Malone

Genre:

Action, Adventure, Crime

Rated R

All media courtesy of A24

Another film that debuted at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, Love Lies Bleeding centers around the relationship between Lou, a manager of a bodybuilding gym who begins a relationship with Jackie, an aspiring bodybuilder who is on the road to a competition in Las Vegas. The two fall in love but both choose infatuation before information, with their history unraveling throughout the film.

This is a neo-noir suspense thriller that has a lot of sexual content and graphic violence, so with that said if you are squeamish to either this may not be the film for you. I do think this film showcases how great of an actor Kristen Stewart is, as well as a unique story that keeps you guessing throughout the film. I love the bodybuilding aspect and how striving to be great may come at a cost. Jackie delves more and more into psychological difficulty and I loved how the director was able to build on her mental stability slowly and in a way you don’t see coming.

Ed Harris who plays Lou’s father does a great job, as well as Dave Franco and Jena Malone who are a couple in an abusive spiral. Director Rose Glass delves into this world with steadiness and a clear vision, but whether you are in for the ride or not depends on your ability to handle the graphic content. For me, I would recommend it, but it’s definitely not for everyone.

See it or Skip it? See It

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