CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on The Eddie Volkman Show with Hannah B on WSSR-FM (Star 96.7 Joliet, Illinois) on January 20th, reviewing the new series reboot “Velma,” created by Mindy Kaling and featuring the Scooby-Doo gang. Currently streaming on HBO Max.
Michelle Rodriguez
Faster & Furiouser! On-Air Review of ‘F9: The Fast Saga’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on June 24, 2021 - 11:41am- Chalize Theron
- F9
- Fast & Furious Saga
- Franchise
- Helen Mirren
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- John Cena
- Jordana Brewster
- Kurt Russell
- Ludacris
- Michelle Rodriguez
- Monroe
- Movie Review
- Ninth
- Pat Über TV
- Patrick McDonald
- Scott Thompson
- The Morning Mess
- Tyrese Gibson
- Universal Pictures
- Vin Diesel
- WBGR-FM
- Wisconsin
![]() Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on June 24th, 2021, reviewing the new film “F9,” the ninth “Fast & Furious” film, in theaters beginning June 25th.
‘The Fate of the Furious’ is a Vehicle Running on Fumes
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 13, 2017 - 3:17pm- Charlize Theron
- Chris Morgan
- Dwayne Johnson
- Elsa Pataky
- F. Gary Gray
- Helen Mirren
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- Jason Statham
- Kurt Russell
- Ludacris
- Luke Evans
- Michelle Rodriguez
- Movie Review
- Nathalie Emmanuel
- Scott Eastwood
- Spike Walters
- The Fate of the Furious
- Tyrese Gibson
- Universal Pictures
- Vin Diesel
![]() Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Bigger, Dumber, and Duller…that’s the name of the game this time in this ongoing franchise which is now so ludicrous it makes Bond films seem like the epitome of realism. While it’s true this is the first time Oscar winners and a “Fast and the Furious” film have ever been associated together, there’s a dearth of inspiration in this eighth go around, as this series is now operating almost completely on autopilot.
‘Smurfs: The Lost Village’ Should Have Remained Undiscovered
Submitted by JonHC on April 11, 2017 - 10:34am![]() Rating: 1.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – There are only a few times that I have left a film mentally shouting, “Won’t someone think of the children?” Not through some self-righteous religious fit, of course, but through a general concern for the animated films created for our young. “Smurfs: The Lost Village” is either made for a specific crowd in mind or made for a crowd without a mind.
Relentlessly Action-Packed ‘Furious 7’ Actually Has a Story, Too
Submitted by HollywoodChicago.com on April 3, 2015 - 7:16am- Adam Fendelman
- Chris Morgan
- Djimon Hounsou
- Dwayne Johnson
- Elsa Pataky
- Furious 7
- Gal Gadot
- Gary Scott Thompson
- HollywoodChicago.com Content
- James Wan
- Jordana Brewster
- Kurt Russell
- Ludacris
- Luke Evans
- Michelle Rodriguez
- Movie Review
- Nathalie Emmanuel
- Paul Walker
- Tony Jaa
- Tyrese Gibson
- Universal Pictures
- Vin Diesel
![]() Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – I’ve never classified myself as a “Fast & Furious” franchise fan. Nor have I been a hater. I’ve fallen somewhere in between – willingly watching the popcorn flicks but then quickly going about my life as fast as the furious action ended. Until “Furious 7”…
Wham Bam Pass the Popcorn, Man For ‘Furious 7’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on April 2, 2015 - 10:25pm![]() Rating: 4.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The “Fast & Furious” franchise of films has probably one of the strangest evolutions in action history. What began as a rebellious street race movie, has morphed into a sort of superhero saga. “Furious 7” amps up that element of it, creating a mythic and magical “Kingdom of F&F Cars.”
‘Machete Kills’ So Over the Top, it Has No Bottom
Submitted by PatrickMcD on October 11, 2013 - 7:16am![]() Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – You gotta love director Robert Rodriguez. When other filmmakers are slogging through their important films, he’s out convincing big stars to blow off cinematic fireworks, giggling all the time. The excess is the thing, more so and more so, in his new film “Machete Kills.”
Light, Speedy ‘Turbo’ is a Great Race for Kids
Submitted by PatrickMcD on July 17, 2013 - 9:03am![]() Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Summer vacation means summer animated movies, and nothing will give the kids more of a break than rooting for a snail that becomes as fast as an Indy race car. Why not put him in the Indianapolis 500? Ryan Reynolds is the voice of that miracle mollusk named “Turbo.”
Formula Takes Another Lap in ‘Fast & Furious 6’
Submitted by BrianTT on May 23, 2013 - 11:53am![]() Rating: 3.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – “How did you know the car would be there to break my fall?” Everything you need to know about the current tone of the “Fast & Furious” franchise exists in that line. Not only are these people superhero enough to leap through the air from one vehicle to another but this is a world in which automobiles are designed to BREAK falls. It’s ridiculous, insane escapist entertainment, and while the bloated running time and less-exciting setting makes “Fast & Furious 6” a slight step down from the more well-paced “Fast Five,” it’s still a damn fun ride that’s sure to please the audience out to see a sixth installment of vehicular man-sanity.
Loud, Annoying ‘Battle: Los Angeles’ Fails in Spectacular Ways
Submitted by BrianTT on March 11, 2011 - 3:36pm![]() Rating: 1.0/5.0 |
CHICAGO – It used to be an insult to say that a loud action movie reminded a critic of a video game. The fact is that most recent video games feature better storytelling and more entertainment value than the horrendous “Battle: Los Angeles,” an annoying movie with such inept direction that it’s not even fun on a visceral level. Even the explosions are boring.
Robert Rodriguez’s ‘Machete’ Pushes Excess Past Breaking Point
Submitted by BrianTT on September 2, 2010 - 11:29pm![]() Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – Not everything should be filet mignon. Sometimes you just want a greasy, delicious cheeseburger. Now imagine eating ten of those cheeseburgers in a row. Robert Rodriguez’s “Machete” starts as a wonderful gore-fest but falls victim to its creator’s inability to realize he doesn’t need to answer to every violent vision he can dream up. The film is proof that even extremely over-the-top films can be monotonous in that their one tone is “ARGH!”
