Review - Masters of the Universe - Prime

If you're wondering about the new film, Masters of the Universe, a live-action remake of the beloved movie from the 80's, I'll tell you what I thought about it.

BACK TO THE FIRST MOVIE

Let's walk back in time to the 1987 movie that every boy from kindergarten age to high school adored. Yes, it was a critical failure according to critics and an economic failure for Cannon Films.

However, in the hearts and minds of those boys of that generation—and girls too—it was AWESOME!

Given that, how could they create such a mess of this 2026 remake?

THE PROBLEM

Lack of focus seems to be the main problem. It's as if they didn't know whether they were making a movie for kids or one for young adults because there's an irritating mix of silly, stupid comedy and colorful over the top violence, sex, and innuendo. Yes, too adult for children; too ridiculous for adults.

What's even worse, if that's possible, is that the comedy bits to characterize "Adam" aka He-Man as young and naive, either aren't funny or the cast weren't comfortable in their respective roles.

Honestly, after the first 30 minutes, I began fast forwarding through the movie. The story just wasn't compelling and the acting seemed as if the cast thought the story was as ridiculous as the AI tiger.

I'm reluctant to say this movie was lackluster and rather boring, but, it was. I think there's a reason, or reasons for that. Sony Pictures announced the movie in 2009, but the project underwent multiple changes—writers, directors, and cast—before it finally went into filming and production in 2025.

To me, all of those changes indicate a lack of focus on what the movie should be. Sony transferred the rights to Netflix in 2022. In 2024 the rights were bought by Amazon MGM Studios. Filming occurred in the first half of 2025 with the premiere held a hear later in May 2026 at TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles.

In June, the film was released in the U.S. by Amazon (internationally by Sony). The latest stats say it underperformed at the box office, grossing $114M on a $170M budget. Perhap it will break even with revenue from streaming.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This rather harsh review is just my opinion. You may have an entirely different appreciation for the movie.

Sign up for my free NL that offers exclusive content, news about book bargains, and new release notices. I promise your email will never be shared. SIGN UP TODAY and receive your copy of I LOVE READING in your Inbox next week.

Review - The Old Way - Prime

If you're a fan of westerns set in the Old West, you may like THE OLD WAY, a flick starring Nicolas Cage that's streaming free for subscribers on Prime, Hulu, Disney, and Roku.

It can be rented on YouTube, Apple, Fandango, and Google Play.

QUICK BLURB

The Old Way, a 2023 American Western film directed by Brett Donowho, from a screenplay by Carl W. Lucas, is a revenge movie starring Nicolas Cage as Colton Briggs, a retired gunman intent on hunting down the outlaws who killed his wife.

Seemingly amoral and with no conscience, Briggs cared only for his wife. Beyond that, he relates to no one, but his young knows how to get him to allow her to accompany him as he tracks down the killers.

The story is as much about Briggs's odd personality as it is about his quest for revenge. As the two journey together, Briggs is as dependent on his daughter as she is on him.

The Old Way was theatrically released by Saban Films on January 6, 2023, and received mixed reviews by critics. I seem viewers will also have mixed reviews about it because it's definitely not a traditional view of a leading character in a western.

I think it was obviously aimed at the video market from the get-go because Cage, although an excellent actor, can't pull in an audience for a theatrical release. Marketing departments know this as do the producers so you won't get the production values of a top movie release. Still, it's better than many other movies circulating on the streaming platforms.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Like westerns and want to watch one? I found this one had a few surprises.

Sign up for my free NL that offers exclusive content, news about book bargains, and new release notices. I promise your email will never be shared. SIGN UP TODAY. and receive your copy of I LOVE READING in your Inbox next week.

Review - French Lover - Netflix

Don't be dismayed, but today's movie review is for a French romantic comedy starring Omar Sy as Abel, a dashing but jaded movie star, and Sara Giraudeau as Marion, a down on her luck waitress in a divorce battle with her ex who doesn't watch action movies and doesn't know who Abel is.

I saw a trailer for this Netflix movie and was intrigued. Since most foreign movies one can stream have English audio tracks embedded, it's not nearly as distracting as reading subtitles.

I found the movie to be funny and well-acted. I also found it intriguing to see a romcom aimed at a mostly French audience.

Some of the funny parts tickled my funny bone because they weren't what one normally would see or hear in an American romcom.

Except for Omar Sy, whom I'd seen in another French movie as well as several American films, I wasn't familiar with the cast which I found to be superb. This French romcom had pretty much the same kind of supporting actors as an American romcom featuring a movie star hero: a cutthroat sister, a slightly weird brother-in-law, starstruck mother and father, etc.

There were a few anachronistic bits, i.e., mentioning Jimmy Hoffa in what was supposed to be funny dialogue. In this country, there's an entire generation who wouldn't get that reference. The English translator for the audio track should have known better. 

Those English translated bits provided a different kind of amusement, but that didn't take away from the film.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

All in all, I found the film amusing and entertaining. From an author's perspective, I found it educational as to what the French would find amusing in a romantic comedy. If you have Netflix, watch it. You may find you like it too.

Sign up for  I LOVE READING, my free Newsletter and receive exclusive content, news about book bargains, and new release notices. I promise your email will never be shared.

SIGN UP TODAY. and receive my book news in your Inbox next week.

Review - Voicemails For Isabellle - Netflix

What can I say about VOICEMAILS FOR ISABELLE, now streaming on Netflix? Well, grab a box of Kleenex before you sit down to watch the film.

(I apologize for the typo in the Post Title.)

This 2026 American movie, billed as a romantic comedy drama, is sweet and heartwarming with a touch of heat, but there are scenes that will make you weep.

Written and directed by Leah McKendrick, the movie stars Zoey Deutch, Nick Robinson, Harry Shum Jr., Lukas Gage, and Nick Offerman.

BLURBING THE FLICK

Jill copes with the tragic death of her sister Isabelle by leaving voicemails on Isabelle's phone number. The only problem is that  Isabelle's phone number was reassigned to Wes, an upwardly mobile young man who finds Jill's voicemails hilarious. As time passes, Wes begins to fall in love with Jill.

Truly, the movie is delightful. It was funny and poignant and romantic. What more can you ask for in a contemporary romantic comedy, or dramedy, if you prefer?

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

The ending of the movie is exactly what the viewer wants. Definitely watch this film if you're a Netflix subscriber.

None of my books have been made into movies, but they are exciting and full of passion and romance. Sign up for my free newsletter, I LOVE READING, and receive exclusive content, news about book bargains, and new release information. SIGN UP TODAY.

Review - NOPE - Netflix

 If you're looking for something completely different in the science fiction genre, you must watch NOPE, a 2022 American film that was written, directed, and produced by Jordan Peele.

This movie, an interesting mix of science fiction and horror, stars Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, Steven Yaun, Michael Wincott, Brandon Perea, and Keith David.

Now streaming on Netflix, this film will keep you guessing until you realize what's happening. It's almost like a detective story with bits and pieces of clues that end up giving a picture of what's going on.

Set in the modern west, siblings Otis—OJ Junior— (Kaluuya) and Emerald (Palmer) are horse wranglers trying to carry on their father’s tradition of training and handling horses for film productions.

But there’s something strange going on at their dry-as-a- bone California ranch.

Honestly, I don't want to say too much because the film is mesmerizing as OJ and Emerald, struggling to stay afloat, realize something way out of the ordinary is stalking their ranch.

When their father is struck dead by a small object falling from the sky, everything takes a turn for the worse.

Throw in some secondary characters with their own life crises, an electronics store camera installer, and a documentary film maker, and you have the kind of movie where you know everyone is going to end up dead.

The movie is—I don't want to say slow-paced. I'll say methodical, like when Sherlock Holmes is gathering all the evidence. 

It’s subtle, but it will grab you and make you keep watching to find out what the heck is going on. You have to pay attention to understand what’s actually happening.

NOPE was Peele’s 3rd directorial film. When asked, he said his inspirations were King Kong, 1993; Wizard of Oz, 1939; Jaws, 1975; Close Encountrs of the Third Kind, 1975; Jurassic Park, 1977; and Signs, 2002.

If you think about all of those movies, you'll realize they're all characterized by a sense of wonder and an element of dread.

Released in July 2022, NOPE was a box office succes, capturing $171.1M after a $68M budget. It has been named one of the top 10 films of 2022 by the American Film Institute and has been included in lists of the best science fiction films of the 21st century.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Watch NOPE and come back to this post to leave a comment with your thoughts about the movie.

None of my books have been made into movies yet, but they're exciting stories full of passion and romance. Sign up for my free newsletter, I LOVE READING. and learn more about my books. You'll receive exclusive content, news about book bargains, and new release notices. SIGN UP TODAY.

Review - Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning - Netflix

I’m probably the last person on the planet to see the final part of the last Mission Impossible movie starring Tom Cruise. I guess it’s the last.

After all, Mr. Cruise is now officially a senior citizen, but 63 isn't as old as it used to be. Ask any of the people I know who are that age or way beyond.

I'm thinking there may be another IMF movie or movies in his future where he must come back to the IMF to do something  only Ethan Hunt can do. What do you think?

Anyway, I gave the movie a look and found it to be rather standard IMF fare with a “today” plot revolving around artificial intelligence that is seemingly unstoppable.

Directed by Christopher Mcuarrie and written by McQuarrie and Erik Jendresen, the move was produced by McQuarrie and Cruise.

Along with Cruise, the movie stars Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Henry Czerny, Anglea Bassett, and Esai Morales. This flick was touted as the climax of the franchise and ended upbeing one of the most expensive movies ever made. The budget came in at $300-400M. Generally, the movie pleased critics and audiences.

I'll admit I'm not the target audience for this film because I thought it was pretty standard fare. I see the target audience for this as comparable to those readers who enjoy "comfort reads." This is easily a "go-to" flick for those wanting an action film without a complicated plot, with charismatic actors, and with a predictable outcome.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're looking for something entertaining  to watch on a lazy Saturday evening, you could do worse so watch the "last" IMF film.

Love to read? Sign up for Joan's free newsletter, I LOVE READING, and receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases. SIGN UP TODAY.

Review - Unfamiliar on Netflix

If you don't watch foreign films, you're missing some amazing movies and TV shows. For instance, have you watched UNFAMILIAR, on Netflix? If not, you're missing a stunning action series.

The great thing about streaming services is you can not only see it with English sub-titles, you can also select to watch with English Audio turned on.

Unfamiliar is a spy thriller with a convoluted plot that will keep you guessing all the way through. It's a 6-episode German thriller involving 2 former government agents, Meret and Simon, who run a secret safe house in Berlin.

A deadly threat from their past resurfaces on their daughter's birthday, and they end up running for their lives from assassins, the BND (German Intelligence Agency), and Russian agents. 

The series is addictive, and the ending makes you scream for more. Unfortunately, Netflix has not renewed the series yet, but a second season may happen since the show performed well globally.

If it is renewed, a second season would probably be released in early 2027.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Watch Unfamiliar, and if you like it, be sure and give it a thumbs up. Viewership determines the future of any streaming series.

Books are little vacations between two covers. Love to read? Sign up for Joan's free newsletter, I LOVE READING, and receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases. SIGN UP TODAY.

Review - Jack Ryan: Ghost War - Prime

The long-awaited (by some) return of the Jack Ryan character as portrayed by John Krasinski premiered on Prime last week.

Jack Ryan: Ghost War, an American political action thriller film based on Tom Clancy's work of the same nave, was directed by Andrew Bernstein and written by Aaron Rabin and John Krasinski from a story by Krasinski and Noah Oppenheim.

In case you're keeping score, this is the 6th film and 3rd reboot of Jack Ryan, and it's distributed by Amazon MGM Studios.

Starring Krasinski as Jack Ryan, the film also has Wendell Pierce, Michael Kelly, Max Beesley, J.J. Feild, Douglas Hodge, Betty Gabriel, and Sienna Miller.

SHORT BLURB

Jack Ryan reluctantly allows himself to be pulled back into an espionage operation action in which he reunites with his former CIA "friends" to uncover a deadly conspiracy. The international covert operation goes sideways, and he must go rogue to find those responsible.

MY THOUGHTS

I'd seen the previous Jack Ryan flicks with Krasinski. I remember a couple of them had the Ryan character trying to straddle the line of being hard-core covert operative and a man who found it all distasteful. One was a pretty good action flick.

This most recent offering has Ryan a little more firmly committed to being an effective operative even though he rails against the evil done by the CIA, etc. The opening of the movie has a pretty good action scene even though it's contrived to move the plot to the next act. The middle is a bit of a muddle, but the end gets back to action scenes that move the plot to the finish. 

I think Krasinski initially got the part of Ryan because of his work in the stellar film, 13 Hours. He was riveting in that movie as were the other actors. Of course, a story like Benghazi doesn't come along every day—thank goodness.

So it's probably not fair to compare the storytelling of this movie with that of 13 Hours where Krasinksi shone.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're looking for light entertainment with an action story, this latest Jack Ryan film should satisfy you.

Books are little vacations between two covers. Love to read? Sign up for Joan's free newsletter, I LOVE READING, and receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases. SIGN UP TODAY.

Monday Magic - Rewire Your Brain

Today's Monday Magic Tip is a little different. Instead of telling you about an app that may make your work life easier, I'm going to tell you about a YouTube video that may do the same.

I'm always urging SlingWords readers to keep a journal, to write your goals, to write an action items list, etc. even though I know many of you never put pen to paper in this digital world.

You make lists on your smartphone or a web app.

Guess what? There's sound science behind writing with pen and paper. Watch this video on The Upgrade with Makai Allbert channel which has over 42K subscribers. 

His video Handwriting Literally Rewires Your Brain has well over 2K comments, but what I like is the explanation of the science behind the premise. If you don't believe me, try it for a couple of weeks. I think you'll be shocked at how much you remember when making notes with handwriting and how much clearer your thinking is.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

This is one of many videos I've seen and articles I've read about the effects of digital reading and/or learning and retention of what was learned. The truth is startling.

Subscribe to Joan's free newsletter, I LOVE READING, and receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases. SIGN UP TODAY.

Review - Happiness for Beginners - Netflix

This 2023 romantic comedy seems to be a quiet little film, but don't be fooled. It's compelling in every way even though it's not a rip-roaring, laugh out loud, romcom.

The movie, based on a 2015 novel of the same name by Katherine Center, features some popular romance  tropes—grouchy vs. sunshine, enemies to lovers, fish out of water, opposites attract, age-gap romance, and brother's best friend as hero—but it is subtle, not blatant.

The characters are fully realized. Luke Grimes of Yellowstone and Marshals is Jake, a man with an optimism that's ingrained in his personality. He's nice in the best way possible, and everyone likes him.

Ellie Kemper is Helen, a recently divorced 30-something who's standoffish and unhappy in a way that makes you think she probably doesn't know how to be happy.

These two end up on a guided hiking trip in the Appalacians, and Helen isn't happy that Jake, her brother's best friend, has horned in on her vacation.

ABOUT THE FILM

Happiness for Beginners, the novel, was adapted for the 2023 movie and directed by Vicky Wight. The film was released by Netflix on July 27, 2023 and is still streaming on that platform.

The movie was produced by Geoff Linville, Vicky Wight, and Barry Meyerowitz with Cinematography by Daniel Vecchione , Film Editing by Suzanne Spangler, and Music by Sherri Chung.

The other cast members are: Nico Santos as Hugh, Blythe Danner as Gigi, Ben Cook as Beckett, Shayvawn Webster as Windy, Julia Shiplett as Sue, Gus Birney as Kaylee, Esteban Benito as Mason, Alexander Koch as Duncan, and Mary Neely as Lulu.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

The movie didn't fare well with critics, but I've not seen many romance movies that do. I enjoyed it, and I think you might too.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

A READERS AND AUTHORS EVENT ON MAY 16.

ALSO

SIGN UP TODAY FOR JOAN'S FREE NEWSLETTER

Books are a ittle vacation between the front and last pages. I LOVE READING has exclusive content, new release information, and book bargains.

Review - Everest - Netflix

For several months, I've foound very little of interest on the streaming services. It's times like this that I question why I'm paying so much for so few well-written, well-crafted movies and TV series.

In fact, the only streaming service I don't complain about is YouTube Premium because it's an excellent research source for writing. But Netflix, HBO Max, and Prime since they started ads? I could easily jettison them, but I'll probably keep Prime because Amazon is a primary shopping destination for us.

Indeed, it seems as if the older movies and TV shows are so much better than the movies and TV since 2020. A case in point is the movie EVEREST, a 2015 movie based on the true story of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster.

I remember seeing this several years ago. I didn't remember the complete details of the production so I thought I'd watch it again.

The story is about the 2 rival expedition groups that attempted to reach the summit only to find their lives at stake when a massive storm struck.

Starring Jason Clarke, Jake Gyllenhaal, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Martin Henderson, and Emily Watson, the movie is edge of the seat suspense. 

This high drama film is suspenseful and ultimately heart breaking as it tells the story of the ill-fated expeditions. Eight climbers died. Several had to undergo amputations. The horror of it makes one wonder why anyone wants to attempt Mount Everest climbs.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're looking for a suspenseful, scary movie that's absolutely true, check out EVEREST, now streaming on Netflix.

May 16, 2026, A READER'S EVENT

BEGINS AT 11:00AM CDT

Love to read? Subscribe to Joan's free newsletter, I LOVE READING, and receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases.

SIGN UP TODAY.

Review - Better Off Dead - YouTube

If you're looking for a quirky, absurd, hilarious movie kind of like Airplace, then you'd probably enjoy the John Cusack film BETTER OFF DEAD.

This eighties film full of teen angst and suburbia cliches is ridiculous and laugh out loud funny in so many places you'll want to jump back and see the scenes again.

Written and directed by Savage Steve Holland, this 1985 American film was billed as a teen black comedy. 

When it was first released, I don't think anyone knew what to think about it because the reviews were mixed, but it's become a cult film since then for the very things critics didn't get back in 1985.

Joining Cusack are David Ogden Stiers as his dad, Kim Darby as his weird mom, Diane Franklin as the French exchange student, and Curtis Armstrong as the wacko Charles de Mar.

What's the film about? Let's just talk tropes: high school misfits,  popular girl heartbreaker, bullies, French exchange student, weird parents, 80's music, genius psycho little brother, awesome muscle car, sports competition, and complete absurdity.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

When you need a good laugh and don't want to over-analyze something, watch Better Off Dead free on Netflix.

Books are little vacations between two covers. Love to read? Sign up for Joan's free newsletter, I LOVE READING, and receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases. SIGN UP TODAY.

Review - War Machine - Netflix

War Machine starring Alan Ritchson aka Jack Reacher in the popular Prime series, Reacher, premiered March 6 on Netflix.

The film is a 2026 Australian-American science fiction action film directed, co-produced, and co-written by Patrick Hughes. In addition to Ritchson, Dennis Quaid pops in and out with co-stars, Stephan James, Jai Courtney, Esai Morales, Keiynan Lonsdale, and Daniel Webber.

War Machine was released to theaters in Australia on February 12, 2026 and received generally positive reviews from critics, praising it as "a fun, old-school, throwback action movie despite its familiar, formulaic storyline." 

What the critics said pretty much sums up what Darling Hubby and I thought about the film. 

Regrettably, much of the dialogue seems aimed at an aaudience that might not know much about the military, military vehicles, or tactical actions. 

The characters are basically stereotypes you've seen in many films, and the plot mines the usual cliches. It's just good escapism that doesn't require you to tax your brain.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

So toss a bag of popcorn into the microwave, turn on the movie, and enjoy the flick.

April Fool Bride, now on SALE.

Love to read? Subscribe to Joan's free newsletter, I LOVE READING, and receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases. SIGN UP TODAY.

Review - Letters to Juliet - Netflix

I watched Letters to Juliet, streaming on Netflix, a couple of weeks ago. I'll confess that the title of the movie is why I chose this 2010 romantic comedy starring Amanda Seyfried, Christopher Egan, Gael García Bernal, Vanessa Redgrave and Franco Nero. 

Strictly speaking, I didn't find it to be a romantic comedy. It was more like a romance with mild humor. 

Regardless, I found this film, the last directed by Gary Winick before he died, to be entertaining and romantic with its dual love stories.

The "feel-good" film leaves viewers with a sense of optimism and hope that romance and love can be found at any age.

MOVIE DESCRIPTION

Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is on a pre-honeymoon in Verona and  inadvertently finds an old unanswered letter asking for love advice from Juliet. She discovers that this is a traditional practice in Verona with the letters answered by a group of women who write as Juliet.

Sophie takes it upon herself to answer the decades-old letter which brings the letter-writer (Vanessa Redgrave) to Verona, along with her cranky grandson (Christopher Egan). Together the three go in search of the woman's long-lost love (Franco Nero).

The film was inspired by the 2006 non-fiction book Letters to Juliet by Lise Eve Friedman and Ceil Jann Friedman, about the phenomenon of writing letters to Shakespeare's Juliet.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I enjoyed Letters to Juliet very much. I'm sure if you're not a Netflix subscriber that you can purchase  the movie from Amazon.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

Get it for 99¢ before the sale goes away.

Love to read? Subscribe to Joan's free newsletter, I LOVE READING, and receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases.

SIGN UP TODAY.

Review - The Night Agent 3 - Netflix

Read The Night Agent, Amazon

 Thankfully, Season 3 of The Night Agent on Netflix is infinitely better than Season 2.

The Night Agent was a big hit for Netflix when the first season premiered on March 23, 2023. It was so popular that it was renewed in its first week of broadcast.

Fans of the thriller series couldn't wait for Season 2. Unfortunately, that season was underwhelming.  In fact, it was so disappointing, I didn't immediately watch Season 3 when it hit the small screen last week.

However, this past weekend when we were searching for something to view, we clicked on it. I'm glad we did because it was as compelling as Season 1 had been.

WHY WATCH SEASON 3 OF NIGHT AGENT

Better story. Better drama. Better new characters. Better pacing. Interesting villains.

It was great to see a character from Season 1—Secret Service agent Chelsea Arrington (Fola Evans-Akingbola )—who helps ground the series emotionally. Her character is likable, smart, and brave. She does the right thing even if it means her career is at stake. 

Honesty in a character is so refreshing. She had a big part in Season 1 but only a cameo in Season 2. They were smart to bring her back because for whatever reason they haven't brought back Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan) whose relationship with Peter (Gabriel Basso) was a big part of the Season 1 success.

 WHY NOT BRING ROSE BACK?

Showrunner Shawn Ryan made the decision not to bring Rose back in order for Night Agent Peter to be a lone wolf focused only on his assignments. Blah blah blah. I see it as another James Bond persona with no relationshiips except fleeting one-night stands. Peter though isn't finding a woman in every destination. 

Emotionally, he still has his demons—still trying to prove his loyalty to his country. He seems lonely and has no "real" life. Maybe Season 4 will change all that. We can only hope to see some emotional growth in a compelling character.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're looking for action, adventure, and thrills, definitely watch The Night Agent 3. If you don't have Netflix, read the book.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

Love to read? Subscribe to Joan's free newsletter, I LOVE READING, and receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases.

SIGN UP TODAY.

Review - The Wrong Paris - Netflix

For Valentine's weekend, I chose to watch a romcom, The Wrong Paris, a Netflix Original directed by Janeen Damian and starring Miranda Cosgrove and Pierson Fodé.

When the film began, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the stereotypes and clichés associated with Texas. I was about ready to stop the film, but I decided to give it another 5 minutes.

I'm glad I did because the movie proved to be delightful in its portrayal of a billionaire Texan and the woman who found herself stuck on a reality TV show that wasn't what she thought it was.

The premise of the TV show is the same as The Bachelor. Instead of a rose, this Texas cowboy gives his approval by giving the woman a—no, I won't tell you what, but I found it funny.

The supporting cast of Madison Pettis, Torrance Coombs, Frances Fisher, and Yvonne Orji are excellent, but the story and the charm belong to the 2 stars, Miranda Cosgrove as Dawn and Pierson Fodé. as Trey McAllen

THE DETAILS

The screenplay was written by Nicole Henrich, produced by Brad Krevoy and Michael Damian, edited by Scott Hill, and with Cinematography by Graham Robbins. 

The music was by Nathan Lanier, and some of the scenes—I'm thinking of the scene where Trey McAllen (Pierson Fodé) is tending his horse—has pop music that makes the scene hysterically funny.

The Production companies involved were MPCA and Brad Krevoy Productions with distribution by Netflix. The film was released in September of 2025. I don't know if it was on Netflix immediately. If it was, it simply wasn't on my radar.

The "famous" critics panned the movie with some harsh comments. A couple of critics said rather dismissively that it was for "hopeless romantics" which was the most flattering remark about those who might find the film worth watching.

What? Hopeless romantic? I'm not that. I'm a HOPEFUL romantic! And I bet you are too!

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're looking for a fun movie that is a hopeful romcom (is there any other kind?), watch The Wrong Paris on Netflix. It will entertain and delight you.

Love to read? Subscribe to Joan's free newsletter, I LOVE READING, and receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases.

SIGN UP TODAY.

Friday Facts About Poldark

Poldark Books on Amazon

Poldark, the BBC series that was recently added to Netflix, is a train-wreck of a series that I simply can't get enough of!

The latest TV series was created and written by Debbie Horsfield, based on the book series by Winston Graham.

This 2015 offering of Poldark is not to be confused with the earlier Masterpiece series in 1975 which starred Robin Ellis as Ross Poldark and Angharad Rees as Demelza.

That production covered the first 7 of Graham’s novels, and it was a huge success on Masterpiece Theatre in the U.S.

The Netflix offering debuted in March 2015 and ran until August 2019 and was offered on PBS in the U.S. Like the 1975 production, this new version of Poldark was a huge success from the beginning.

TEASER

Aidan Turner is Capt. Ross Poldark, a redcoat returning to Cornwall after the American Revolutionary War. He discovers that his father is dead, his estate is in ruins, and his true love is engaged to marry his cousin. The action-packed series is full of drama, passion, and romance.

Rent or Buy Episodes on Amazon

But, I didn't actually sit down to write a review of Poldark.

I wanted to tell you about the YouTube channel LIFE AT THE MANOR, created by James Lowsley-Williams, the proud inheritor of Chavenage Estate, the 500 year-old Elizabethan Manor where Poldark 2015 was filmed.

I found the channel last year when I was doing a bit of research on historic mansions and castles.

James and his wife Emma reside at Chavenage and film their restoration and enhancement of the house and grounds, a 2,000-acre Cotswold estate that’s been in James’s family for 6 generations. The history of Chavenage is evident in every room.

The paintings that adorn the walls are breathtaking even to their frames. A centuries-old organ still works.

If you're a Poldark fan, you'll recognize the house as the family home where Poldark's uncle and family lived. Since he was the son of a second son, he didn't inherit the manor. 

If you watch James's channel, you'll recognize Elizabeth's bedroom, the window from which she gazed longingly at Poldark, the drawing room where she eavesdropped on her husband's conversations.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Be warned, Poldark is totally binge-worthy. If you like the historical series, you should watch Life at the Manor.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

BLAME IT ON CHOCOLATE

Love to read? Subscribe to Joan's free newsletter, I LOVE READING, and receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases. Next issue goes out Friday.

SIGN UP TODAY.

My Biggest Complaint About Videos

No humor or inspiration today on Hump Day. I'm a little POd and feel like sounding off. Not about you, dear SlingWords readers and visitors.

My complaint is with YouTubers who aren't serving their audiences.

HERE WE GO

There is a lot of educational content on YouTube. In fact, you can learn how to do just about anything from replacing a hard drive in a computer to cleaning the foggy headlamp covers on a car.

Awesome, right?

What isn't awesome is that too many YouTubers are editing the sound on their videos—removing natural pauses in the video so everything becomes one continuous stream of dialogue with no breaks whatsoever.

Not only is that unnatural, it makes it difficult for the viewer to actually absorb the information being given.

Today, I watched a woman YouTuber describing how she bought an old computer including where she purchased it and what it contained.

Without so much as a nano break between those topics, she went into into the process of removing Windows from the computer and downloading Linux—in exquisite detail.

From what I grasped, it sounded easy enough that I could probably do it EXCEPT she did the entire presentaton at warp speed with not even a breath of a break in the avalanche of words coming out of her mouth.

This is typical of too many videos now. If it's information I want, I have to go back to the beginning, slow the speed to 75% of normal, get a notepad to take notes, and still have to stop and rewind many times to capture this detailed tech information.

Now, she claims her audience is composed of "normal" people, not tech experts. 

Lady—and other YouTubers who may read this—you are NOT serving your respective audiences.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Blog Readers, if you also hate this rushing river of dialogue, please leave a comment. I'd like to gather some stats on this.

Love to read? Subscribe to Joan's free newsletter, I LOVE READING, and receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases. Next issue goes out Friday.

SIGN UP TODAY.

Review - Flipped - Family Friendly - Netflix

Flipped - BluRay from Amazon

If you look in vain for a family friendly movie, you can relax. I have one for you, and it's a true gem.

FLIPPED, a Rob Reiner film, is on Netflix now, and I loved it. If you don't have Netflix, I included a link to Amazon where you can pick up a Blu-ray copy for a low price. It's good enough that you may want to watch it again and again.

BLURB

When Juli Baker lays eyes on her new neighbor Bryce, she falls in love with him at first sight.

Bryce does not reciprocate that feeling. In fact, he doesn't like her at all. From that day forward, Bryce (Callan McAuliffe) tries his best to avoid her, but Juli (Madeline Carroll) is persistent in everything she undertakes.

Eventually, Juli realizes that Bryce does not return her feelings. Just as Bryce begins to see Juli's true worth, she decides he's an unfeeling jerk who isn't worth her time.

Billed as a young adult—the story begins at second grade and moves to junior high—the movie is based on Flipped, the book by Wendelin Van Draanen.

By Wendelin Van Draanen

Like the book, the movie is told in alternating viewpoints showing how each of the 2 protagonists viewed every interaction they had.

THE CAST 

The main cast is composed of Madeline Carroll as Julianna "Juli" Baker with Morgan Lily as young Juli, and Callan McAuliffe as Bryce Loski with Ryan Ketzner as young Bryce.

Rebecca De Mornay is Patsy Loski, Bryce's mother; Anthony Edwards is Steven Loski, Bryce's father; and John Mahoney is Chet Duncan, Bryce's grandfather. (Flipped was Mr.  Mahoney's final film before his death in 2018.)

Penelope Ann Miller is Trina Baker, Juli's mom; Aidan Quinn is Richard Baker, Juli's dad; and Kevin Weisman is Daniel Baker, Juli's uncle.

THE DETAILS

The movie was obviously a labor of love for Rob Reiner who served as Director, Screenplay writer along with Andrew Scheinman, and Producer with Alan Greisman also producing.

Cinematography was by Thomas Del Ruth. Editing by Robert Leighton, and Music by Marc Shaiman.

The companies involved were Castle Rock Entertainment and Reiner/Greisman Productions with distribution by Warner Bros. Pictures.

The movie was released September 10, 2010 in the USA. It had a budget of $14M, but brought in only $4.3M at the box office. 

This kind of movie will never be a box office blockbuster, but it will be a big hit with families looking for intelligent family-friendly movies. 

MY THOUGHTS

This movie is emotional, heartwarming, funny, and poignant. It made me remember what it was like to be in elementary and junior high and having all those feelings that come with growing up. Feelings a kid doesn't really know what to do with.

As an adult, it makes you understand how awkward boys and girls of that age are and how they don't really understand what's going on in their parents' lives because everything is still all about them. If you have kids, it may help you understand that too.

It's the kind of film you could watch with your kids and discuss what's happeneing and why it's happening—especially with the scene involving Juli's uncle who was brain-damaged at birth.

Yes, that's a bit heavy, but it's something must families never talk about—and they should. Maybe it would help kids develop understanding and compassion for others.

This coming-of-age story explores the sacrifices families make, how others may misunderstand their life situaiton, and the themes of first love, personal growth, and how opinions can change with insights.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I hope you watch it if you have a Netflix subscription—rent it or buy it if you don't. It's worth the price.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

Love to read? Subscribe to Joan's free newsletter, I LOVE READING, and receive exclusive content and news about book bargains and new releases. Next issue goes out Friday.

SIGN UP TODAY.