David Gordon Green is capable of tackling just about any story and doing it in his own distinct manner. His career has gone in so many directions, to be sure. So, when he was making a family film again with Nutcrackers, I was open to pretty much any type of family flick. As such, it’s a bit of a disappointment for the movie to be totally cute and inoffensive, but little more than that. It’s amusing, sure, but should be more amusing. Plus, it’s just not quite as funny as you want it to be.

Nutcrackers has charm and a good heart, no doubt about that. It just never builds on the goodwill to become something memorable. There’s a clear hope to become an eventual holiday staple, being rewatched over and over again by families. However, by playing it so safe, it falls short of that mark by a bit. The film threatens at times to become more, but ultimately is unable to get to that point and fully win you over.

Straight-laced Mike (Ben Stiller) has come from Chicago to the farm where his recently deceased sister and brother-in-law used to live in order to sign some paperwork. When he arrives in the small town, he finds out that he’s essentially become the temporary guardian of his now orphaned nephews. Moreover, the quartet of moppet young men are pretty much feral. Mike is initially no match for Justice (Homer Janson), Simon (Arlo Janson), Steve Jr. (Ulysses Janson), and Samuel (Atlas Janson). In fact, they’re actively torturing him.

As you might expect, both sides thaw. While a social worker (Linda Cardellini) attempts to find the boys a new home, some bonding occurs. Of course, Mike wants his old life back, while leads to tension when his nephews feel like he doesn’t want them. Some very funny moments result, but the climix obviously is going to be a heartfelt attempt to get you to roll a tear.

Ben Stiller isn’t asked to do anything he hasn’t done before, which is a shame. He’s good in the role, without question, but he has more to offer than this. He’s allowed to be funny and be serious, and he’s aces in a scene where he tells the story of Rambo as a bedtime tale, but it’s a case where you’re waiting for a next level that never comes. The quartet of Arlo Janson, Atlas Janson, Homer Janson, and Ulysses Janson are fine, provided you’re alright with cute kid performances. A sequence where they ask Mike to teach them sex ed has them at their funniest. Linda Cardellini doesn’t get much to do, unfortunately, but she’s a warm presence. Supporting players here include Ari Graynor, Tim Heidecker, Toby Huss, and more, but it’s mostly about Stiller and the boys, who can amuse and make you smile, albeit not quite enough.

Director David Gordon Green has a personal stake in this picture, but it never comes across in the final product. Now, the screenplay by Leland Douglas is just so generic that Green can’t do too much with it, but it’s still a shame. The aforementioned moments are comedy highlights, though you wish that Nutcrackers was funnier. The ending is cliched but effective, though you wish that the drama of it all was a bit more consistent. In the end, you just wish for a bit more all around.

Nutcrackers is perfectly fine, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but David Gordon Green and Ben Stiller’s presence had me hoping for more. As a Hulu release you can watch with family this holiday weekend, you can do a lot worse. The thing is, you can do better, and I just can’t fully let that slide. So, consider this ever so close to a recommendation, even though I’m not quite there…

SCORE: ★★1/2

Related

Embattled rock icon Marilyn Manson has dropped his lawsuit against former fiancée Evan Rachel Wood and will pay her $327,000 in attorney fees, her lawyers confirmed Tuesday afternoon.

Manson, whose real name is Brian Warner, sued the “Westworld” actor in March 2022 for defamation and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The couple dated for three years, beginning when she was 19 and he was 37.

The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles Superior Court, accused Wood of hatching plans to manufacture sexual-abuse allegations against Manson and to profit from them, among other claims, according to the complaint.

Most of that lawsuit was thrown out after Wood petitioned for an anti-SLAPP exemption, a legal maneuver used to strike down frivolous and expensive lawsuits that can silence critics, and Manson was ordered to pay $327,000 in attorney fees.

Manson had appealed but reached out to settle, according to Wood’s lawyers.

A call to Manson’s legal representative was not immediately answered.

Manson initially offered to pay some of the fees in exchange for settlement terms of confidentiality and a “mutually acceptable” public statement, according to Wood’s attorneys.

Wood’s legal team rejected the proposal. Manson eventually agreed to the full settlement without confidentiality.

“Manson…filed a lawsuit against Ms. Wood as a publicity stunt to try to undermine the credibility of his many accusers and revive his faltering career,” Michael J. Kump, Wood’s attorney, said in a statement. “But his attempt to silence and intimidate Ms. Wood failed. As the trial court correctly found, Warner’s claims were meritless.”

The crux of the lawsuit revolved around Manson’s accusation that Wood and artist Illma Gore had orchestrated a campaign to cast him as a rapist and destroy his career.

Wood alleged in 2022 that Manson had “essentially raped” her during the filming of Manson’s 2007 “Heart-Shaped Glasses” music video.

That allegation was strenuously denied by Manson’s legal team, which eventually filed the complaint.

“Game of Thrones” actor Esme Bianco also sued the musician in 2021, alleging sexual assault, sexual battery and human trafficking. They settled the lawsuit in 2023 after Bianco said Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascón “mishandled” the case.

Ashley Walters, Manson’s former assistant, also sued and alleged sexual assault and harassment. Court proceedings are expected to resume in January.

In 2023, Manson also settled with an unnamed woman who alleged that he had raped her in 2011.

“Gladiator II”

(Drama/Action: 2 hours, 28 minutes)

Starring: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, and Pedro Pascal

Director: Ridley Scott

Rated: R (Strong bloody violence)

Movie Review:

“Gladiator II” takes place 16 years after Russell Crowe’s gladiator Maximus from 2000’s “Gladiator” (also directed by Ridley Scott). “Gladiator II,” despite its unhistorical aspects and over-the-top fight scenes, is entertaining while not capturing the artful grandeur of the 2000 prequel.

In 211 A.D., Maximus’ former lover Lucilla (Nielsen) is now married to a hero of Rome, General Acacius (Pascal). As Lucilla, Acacius and some select senators plot to overthrow Emperors Geta (Joseph Quinn) and Caracalla (Fred Hechinger), Maximus’ young son Lucius (Mescal) returns as a gladiator owned by malevolent and sly gladiator promoter Macrinus (Washington).

“Gladiator II’s” narrative is comparable to its prequel. The protagonists in both movies are driven by a noble sense of revenge for a murdered loved one. “Gladiator II” just adds some political intrigue to the story, better special effects and more brutal action scenes..

Ridley Scott offers a similar story. He just makes it more ornately decorated. Apart from Denzel Washington’s Macrinus’ schemes to ascend to power, the “Gladiator II” story is unconvincing because of fast character shifts. Characters appear inconsistent from one scene to the next in a hastened manner filled with platitudes.

Go for the gladiator events in the Colosseum. The fight sequences are a bold reconceptualization of the ancient Roman arena.

Grade: B- (The arena is full of action but is not dramatically fulfilling.)

“Wicked”

(Musical Drama/Fantasy: 2 hours, 40 minutes)

Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Michelle Yeoh, Jonathan Bailey and Jeff Goldblum

Director: Jon M. Chu

Rated: PG (Scary action, thematic elements and suggestive material)

Movie Review:

“Wicked” is an absorbing movie based on characters from L. Frank Baum’s 1900 “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” and Gregory Maguire’s 1995 novel “Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West.” It holds one’s attention for a runtime of two hours and 40 minutes. It is a good movie with some interesting developments.

“Wicked” is a prelude to the famous “The Wizard of Oz,” a 1939 American musical fantasy film that has been seen in cinemas and televisions by multiple generations for 84 years. “Wicked” details how the Wicked Witch becomes the villain in the land of Oz.

A bubbly and popular student, Galinda Upland, who becomes Glinda the Good, is played by Ariana Grande. Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba Thropp, who becomes the Wicked Witch. Galinda and Elphaba must share a room at Shiz University, a mandate of Madame Morrible (Yeoh). Galinda despises her roommate and initially hates sharing the large dorm room. After multiple disagreements, the bitter rivals become friends at the elite school. As Elphaba adapts to her growing sorcery powers, she soon learns that the good life is not for all citizens in Oz. Even more, she is being duped into helping with the notorious scheme.

“Wicked” is one of the more entertaining movies – a dashing musical – one will see this year. It has plenty of good lessons to learn and meaningful characters and a well-developed story.

Erivo and Grande are a dazzling duo. Erivo plays Elphaba with endearing qualities. She makes the character endearing, a young being deceived. Conversely, Grande plays Galinda in a beautifully annoying style. Galinda is rich, spoiled and thrives on superficial aspects, such as her appearance and clothes.

The movie does have nuances that perplex. The biggest is that Elphaba’s green skin alarms everyone, yet the students take a history class taught by Dr. Dillamond, an erudite goat voiced by Peter Dinklage. No one finds that oddity strange.

However, the land of Oz is a fantasy ripe with talking trees, flying monkeys and other fascinating creatures. It is a nice escape for those looking for the perfect getaway for families.

Grade: B (Something deliciously wicked this way comes.)

“Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin”

(Period Drama/History: 2 hours, 13 minutes)

Starring: Jonas Dassler, David Jonsson and Clarke Peters

Director: Todd Komarnicki

Rated: PG-13 (Violent content, thematic elements and some smoking.)

Movie Review:

“Bonhoeffer” is an intriguing story set during World War II. It follows the plot of Dietrich Bonhoeffer (a skillful Dassler), a pastor who attempts to help save his homeland of Germany from Hitler. Bonhoeffer is one of the first people to notice that Hitler is trying to reinvent the Christian church as he annihilates the Jews. Bonhoeffer’s rejection of Hitler’s Third Reich through his fiery sermons does not go unnoticed, and he quickly becomes one of the freedom fighters deemed a threat to the Nazi’s rule of Germany.

This movie is based on true events, and it is captivating. It shows how a man of faith becomes part of a plot to assassinate Hitler. However, it does have two glaring faults. The producers and writer of this movie try too hard to make Bonhoeffer a modern Jesus Christ. This is sort of an overkill.

The second is something directors do too much today because they think it is an artistic measure. Director Todd Komarnicki (“Resistance,” 2003) is better known as a writer for his screenplay “Sully” (Director Clint Eastwood, 2016). He has too many flashbacks. They often interfere with the story.

Komarnicki does this to give insight into Bonhoeffer, but a straightforward synchronous story is often better. A visit to a concession stand or a bathroom break could cause one to be out of synch for just a split moment because flashbacks interfere with synchronous story-telling.

Otherwise, this true tale of a man’s bravery fighting against the evil he sees is gratifying. It captures a slice of history by making it a biographical thriller, even if its execution is iffy.

Grade: B- (The pastor’s theology is sound.)