Movie Stakeout Reviews: 14/12/18-20/12/18

The latest collection of Movieland case files investigated by Detectives Dick Japowski & Joey Arizona.

Detective Dick Japowski and the Importance of Seeing Ernest.
An ongoing series which sees me sitting down and getting into the psychology of what makes a person enjoy an Ernest movie.

Ernest goes to jail (1990)
Ernest P Worrell now works as a janitor at the bank. yes, you're right he does end up getting stuck in the vault and being sent to the big house where yes you're right there is a bad version of Ernest called Felix Nash who swaps life's with Ernest. Ernest sets off to prove his innocence whilst making some great death row jokes! On an Ernest scale this is top of the crop, with Varney having a great time playing Ernest's doppelganger. A lot of tasty ham on this bone.
First watch: 4 Doughnuts

The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
Jack Frost (1998)
Michael Keaton plays Jack Frost, a musician who's about to hit the big time with his Jack Frost band. Because of this he is not the most attentive husband and father at home. After dying in a car crash he is brought back to life a year later as a snowman.
I found this so incredibly sad, tragic and vague. My kids didn't even realise he had died and their faces when I explained what happened were Christmas crushing. Luckily the comical snowman and snow breasts gag was put in to make it all right for them, but a haunting film for parents.
Rewatch: 1.5 Baubles

The Arizona Christmas Files
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
In an alternative timeline George Carlin would have been Scrooge, which would never have worked...how could he embody Mr. Humbug, and still promote being excellent to one another. Brian Henson was thinking of the future.
Rewatch: 5 Baubles

The Many Jingly Views of Detective Dick Japowski
All the creatures were stirring (2018)
A first date to an avant garde theatre on Christmas eve is the set up for this new Christmas horror anthology. I'm pleased to report this is one of the good ones with the balance of dark humour and horror being just right and all the tales entertaining.
First watch: 3 baubles

The Arizona Christmas Files
The Santa Clause (1994)
Tim Allen kills Santa and takes his place, making several inappropriate jokes a long the way...it's all family friendly festive fun.
Rewatch: 3 Baubles

The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse (2018)
The most visually stunning movie of the year tells the story of Miles Morales who's world is about to get a little bit bigger when the different Spider-man worlds collide. One of the few cases I can recall where you can believe the hype. The storytelling is rich, the characters all great and the heart and spirit of this film really makes it the future of comic book movies. If you're looking to do some charity work this Christmas, take a child, yours or other (with consent of course) into the cinema to see this. This one will be looked back on fondly. Yet again, in Miller and Lord we trust!
First watch: 5 Doughnuts

The Many Views of Detective Dick Japowski
Mom and Dad (2017)
For no apparent reason and out of nowhere, parents start to turn on their children with harmful intent... Who better to star in a movie like this than Nicolas Cage who has been unlocked with his performances this year,and it's as scary as the promise.
A great film for the young whipper snappers to watch, scare some respect into them!
First watch: 3 Doughnuts

Have you seen any of the movies we've investigated? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below.