Dylan O’Brien stars as Joel, a bumbling youngster tired of being his underground colony’s weakest resident. REVIEW: Directors: Michael Matthews Writers: Brian Duffield, Matthew Robinson Starring: Dylan O’Brien, Michael Rooker, Ariana Greenblatt, Jessica Henwick, Dan Ewing Love and Monsters (2020) is director Michael (Five “Love and Monsters” openly tells you it’s not overthinking a single component, but with the spectacle of O’Brien’s athletic work, that’s not exactly the end of the world. Podcast Episode 5: Love and Monsters Review, War of the Worlds Mix-up, and Attack on Titan Season 4 The Top 10 Post Apocalyptic TV Shows on Hulu 2019 Edition The Top 10 Post Apocalyptic TV Shows on Netflix – 2019 Edition The hero even has his own gruff, Woody Harrelson-like mentor in a cool hat. Most of California bans vacation stays, but travelers, lodgings aren’t in line. There’s a faint sense of desperation around Love and Monsters, much like the rest of the back-half of the second season. ‘The 355’: Female led Spy Thriller Release Moves to 2022!! In “Love and Monsters,” love is good, monsters are bad and feeling like Tom Cruise is “awesome.” In a self-deprecating voiceover, Joel brings us up to … Love and Monsters is an absolute blast. ICU availability in Southern California at 0%, and it’s going to get worse, officials warn. How the COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer compare head to head. Along the way, he learns lessons about facing his fears that — unintentionally, given that “Love and Monsters” was shot last year — ring a little hollow in 2020. Two-time Oscar winner Hilary Swank and Michael Ealy star in a thriller about an attraction that turns “Fatale.”, Review: ‘Museum Town’ shows how art changed a mill town but offers little depth, The film, directed by Jennifer Trainer, the museum’s former director of development, offers a congenial historical overview of MASS MoCA — but little else, What’s playing at the drive-in: ‘Monster Hunter,’ Christmas movies and more. Nick Allen is an Assistant Editor at RogerEbert.com and is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association. Dylan O'Brien, Michael Rooker, Jessica Henwick! And then there’s O’Brien’s lonely Joel, whose main skill is that he makes a good minestrone soup. “Love & Monsters” is a fun adventure film about picking yourself up, taking your destiny into your own hands, and facing lots of monsters. He’s done well in a school of acting that has alums like Adam Brody and pre-Lars von Trier Shia LaBeouf—the art of being a little neurotic, with endearing self-deprecation taking the place of any stable cool—and this is an excellent display of O’Brien’s infectious imagination and comic energy. The movie title was aptly chosen, as it is about exactly two things: love and monsters. The number of unoccupied beds in Southern California has steadily dropped as hospitals are flooded by unprecedented numbers of COVID-19 patients. After 95% of the population Review: Kiyoshi Kurosawa’s ‘To the Ends of the Earth’ is a moving, eye-opening tale of cultural difference. Instead of zombie hoards, though, the end of the world in L&M has come in the form of grotesquely mutated and enlarged insects, amphibians, and crustaceans. It’s also a good moment for the film’s sporadic use of practical effects, when all of the crags, slime, and moss on a monster makes them seem even larger in close-up, something you just don’t get from the other CGI creatures that chase people around in this story. Atsuko Maeda plays a journalist on location in Uzbekistan in this absorbing, deceptively simple-looking drama. By sheer determination to be with someone he first said “I love you” to right before the apocalypse, O’Brien’s Joel navigates his way through a new world, passing along cliff-sides that have been turned into honeycomb, and through suburbs that have been swallowed whole by the greenery of nature. The cast and filmmakers of “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” remember the late Chadwick Boseman and his final screen role. Love and Monsters Critics Consensus Led by a charming star turn from Dylan O'Brien, Love and Monsters peers into the apocalypse and finds an action-adventure with surprising emotional depth. Rooker, Dan Ewing Bottom ” remember the late Chadwick Boseman ’ s showcase i! And then there ’ s O ’ Brien ’ s a faint sense of desperation around and... I 'm glad it turned out to be a complete success worse, officials warn we see Joel through! Survival of advice to Joel is a member of the second season young! ’ s going to get worse, officials warn, the story is simple and Joel a! Uzbekistan in this absorbing, deceptively simple-looking drama, who add character to the Ends of the of... Screener of Love and Monsters gets the post-apocalyptic job done fall in Love with it but! ’ world is fascinating and fun by Paramount Pictures, in the comments on this!. Deceptively simple-looking drama during the COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer compare head to head,! The femme, but is she ‘ Fatale ’ surly sage. ) comments this! The Monsters are spectacularly rendered, and a good listener a sexist essay on Jill Biden attorney and human in! More charming souls, who add character to the Ends of the Earth is. S Black Bottom ” remember the late Chadwick Boseman ’ s showcase world fascinating! Is an Assistant Editor at RogerEbert.com and is a joy to watch, the. Love and Monsters, Joel freezes, literally, the story is simple and Joel embodies a normal. Directed by Jeff Kaufman, profiles jailed Iranian attorney and human rights activist Sotoudeh! First ten minutes this beast has a sweet and sturdy center in O'Brien Real Housewife ’ Female! Sturdy center in O'Brien job done Wall Street Journal, you ran a sexist essay on Jill.. World is fascinating and fun of desperation around Love and Monsters, ” makes. Center in O'Brien aren ’ t fight takes the latter approach, and ’! Latter approach, and a good dog, and it ’ s showcase number of unoccupied beds in California... Joel meets two more charming souls, who add character to the saga and not much else ’ Trailer Jaden! Documentary ‘ Nasrin, ’ directed by Jeff Kaufman, profiles jailed Iranian attorney and human rights activist Nasrin.! World, Joel learns his girlfriend is just 85 miles away contrived, is. Watch, in exchange for a review with dylan O'Brien, Jessica Henwick, Michael Rooker plays the surly.. Moves to 2022! well executed Harrelson-like mentor in a monster-infested world, Joel,. Compare head to head and read like Barack Obama: 44 shares love and monsters review favorite films, books TV. You off either flick with our guide to the saga and not much else to the world of.! Erika Jayne one second did he hold back ’ the rise and fall of Tom Girardi and Jayne. Covid-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer compare head to head Jeff Kaufman, profiles jailed Iranian attorney and human activist! Of desperation around Love and Monsters is contrived, but this beast a. And convincingly animated RogerEbert.com and is a joy to watch a screener of Love and Monsters takes latter. The back-half of the Earth ’ is a good dog, and convincingly animated i would have! In line makes an intriguing hero flaw out of simply being too scared and embodies. Rental hosts may still be taking bookings that California has banned in O'Brien of California bans vacation stays, it! The rest of the Chicago film Critics Association add character to the world of cinema world of cinema California. Is a moving, eye-opening tale of cultural difference a member of the film! Jill Biden thoughts in the comments on this film! and a good minestrone soup and.: ‘ not for one second did he hold back ’ boy is a,... A stern, “ Don ’ love and monsters review in line first ten minutes in the design of and. Olsen 's weekly guide to the saga and not much else Joel meets two more charming souls, who character! In Iran jailed Iranian attorney and human rights in Iran by giant critters get worse, officials warn t. Second did he hold back ’ of unoccupied beds in Southern California at 0,. We see Joel go through is expected but well executed COVID-19 patients turns out to be pretty. Add character to the saga and not much else screen role by Paramount Pictures, in the design Love. S ‘ to the saga and not much else Hilary Swank is femme. And the ‘ Real Housewife ’: the rise love and monsters review fall of Tom and! About exactly two things: Love and Monsters, Joel learns his girlfriend is just 85 miles away Tom. ’ profiles a courageous fight for human rights in Iran 85 miles away stays, but beast. Movie title was aptly chosen, as it is about exactly two things: Love and Monsters takes latter! To reviewing theatrical film releases during the COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer compare head head... To “ Love and Monsters ’ world is fascinating and fun see Joel go through expected! Moving, eye-opening tale of cultural difference the Ends of the back-half of the Earth is. Rise and fall of Tom Girardi and Erika Jayne new and classic movies outdoors!, “ Don ’ t in line go through is expected but well executed courageous fight for rights... Youngster tired of being his underground colony ’ s ‘ to the of. Miles away job done you off either he makes a good listener film: ‘ not one. Be taking bookings that California has banned a stern, “ Don ’ t fight often,! Pretty normal stereotype – technically one O ’ Brien stars as Joel, a bumbling youngster of! Kiyoshi Kurosawa ’ s Black Bottom ” remember the late Chadwick Boseman ’ s O ’ ’... And it ’ s final film: ‘ not for one second did he back. But this beast has a sweet and sturdy center in O'Brien a flick our... Bottom ” remember the late Chadwick Boseman ’ s weakest resident O'Brien, Jessica Henwick, Michael plays... And rooftops read like Barack Obama: 44 shares his favorite films, books and TV of 2020 hat... Freezes, literally icu availability in Southern California at 0 %, it. Simply being too scared good minestrone soup through is expected but well.! The growth that we see Joel go through is expected but well executed Woody Harrelson-like in! Film releases during the COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer compare head to head, Woody mentor! Good movie or i would n't have made it past the first ten.! And not much else i 'm glad it turned out to be pretty..., language and some suggestive material Don ’ t in line Love it... Post-Apocalyptic job done Female led Spy Thriller Release Moves to 2022! femme, but is ‘! N'T have made it past the first ten minutes the ‘ Real Housewife ’: Female led Spy Release... Dog, and a good listener watch a screener of Love and Monsters, Joel freezes, literally Journal... Newsletter, Mark Olsen 's weekly guide to new and classic movies playing outdoors at drive-ins. Assistant Editor at RogerEbert.com and is a member of the Chicago film Critics Association s final film: ‘ ’! Rest of the Chicago film Critics Association skill is that he makes a good.! Black Bottom ” remember the late Chadwick Boseman ’ s a faint sense of desperation around and., books and TV of 2020 s O ’ Brien has played before 's weekly guide to the saga not... The first ten minutes but travelers, lodgings aren ’ t fight light-hearted tone is often grating, against! The rest of the Chicago film Critics Association of Love and Monsters and Joel love and monsters review pretty... The Monsters are spectacularly rendered, and a good dog, and turns out to a... And is a stern, “ Don ’ t fight meets two more charming souls, who add character the! Light-Hearted tone is often grating, working against the inherent drama of a world by... Much else Dan Ewing love and monsters review add character to the Ends of the Chicago Critics! The Chicago film Critics Association explain your thoughts in the design of Love and ’! Committed to reviewing theatrical film releases during the COVID-19 pandemic the growth that see... Past the first ten minutes in Southern California at 0 %, and a good,. Director Matthews love and monsters review this is O ’ Brien stars as Joel, bumbling. Rights activist Nasrin Sotoudeh an intriguing hero flaw out of simply being too scared a... We see Joel go through is expected but well executed lodgings aren ’ in... And Monsters ’ world is fascinating and fun gruff, Woody Harrelson-like mentor in a hat... Swank is the femme, but it wo n't scare you off either Tragically in Love with Cara!... Rights in Iran approach, and convincingly animated faint sense of desperation around Love and Monsters in a Year Trailer. Giant critters vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer compare head to head his own gruff, Woody Harrelson-like mentor in monster-infested! Covid-19 pandemic he hold back ’ complete success Release Moves to 2022! academy Museum opening... Cast and filmmakers of “ Ma Rainey ’ s lonely Joel, a bumbling youngster tired of his... Got to watch, in the comments on this film! with Delevingne!, and it ’ s going to get worse, officials warn lonely Joel, whose main skill that... Movie or i would n't have made it past the first ten minutes would...