Heads Of State

2025 Amazon Prime Studios

Rated: PG-13

Length: 1 hr 53min

Action ~ Comedy

Starring: John Cena, Idris Elba, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Jack Quaid, Paddy Considine, Stephen Root, and Carla Gugino.

Two Leaders. One Mission. No Diplomacy.

Heads of State, an action comedy about two world leaders who must put aside their differences when they become the targets of a powerful and ruthless foreign adversary, is streaming now exclusively on Prime Video. Despite their not-so-friendly and very public rivalry that jeopardizes their countries’ “special relationship,” UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) and U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) are begrudgingly forced to rely on the only people they can trust: each other. Allied with brilliant MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), they must go on the run and find a way to work together long enough to thwart a global conspiracy that threatens the entire free world.

The movie starts with The World’s Greatest Food Fight in Bruñol, Spain. The site of the annual overripe tomato festival which erupts into everyone throwing tomatoes at everyone, it is a big red mess. MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), is undercover as a news broadcaster covering the event along with her crew in the undercover News van. They are on the lookout for Russian arms dealer Viktor Gradov and when they think they have spotted him, they quickly realize that it is a trap set up to eliminate the undercover team. The entire team is eliminated with the exception of MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas). She holds her own in the gun battle but is shot in the chest in the end. Luckily she had on her bulletproof vest.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) and U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) are meeting in London before they head to the NATO summit in Italy. President Derringer suggests that Prime Minister Clarke should join him on Air Force One so they could arrive together in Italy for the summit. He does and after they are airborne things take a turn for the worst. The Airplane staff has been infiltrated by assassins and another plane shows up and starts firing armed drones at Air Force One. The President and The Prime Minister manage to make it to the back of the plane and get the last two good parachutes with the help of a Secret Service Agent.

They jump out of the plane, deploy their parachutes and land in the Belarus countryside. The agent had instructed them to make their way to Warsaw, Poland where they have a CIA safe house. Now Prime Minister Clarke and President Derringer must make their way safely through the countryside to the safehouse and figure out what is going on and who is responsible for trying to kill them. They make it to the safehouse in Warsaw only to find out that the safehouse’s cover has been blown and whoever is responsible is storming the house trying to kill them. The CIA agent at the safehouse informs them that the bad guys are using tech to turn all the NATO countries against each other and that all hell is about to break loose.

There are tons of Puns, pun intended. It is hilarious comedy, non-stop action and political intrigue as they try to outwit the bad guys and stop them from tearing down the world order. Priyanka Chopra Jonas does an awesome job as Agent Bisset coming to their rescue and helping them thwart the evil plans. The witty banter between John Cena and Idris Alba is infectious, it is simply good clean fun. The Tomato fight scene at the beginning was a sight to see, as was the gun battle during it. The Air Force One scene was pretty intense and worth a watch just to see. Well done CGI. I liked it, a lot. Made me laugh, I really enjoyed and I think you will too. Give it a go and let me know what you think.

The Thursday Murder Club

2025 Netflix

Rated: PG-13

Length: 1 hr 58min

Comedy ~ Crime ~ Mystery ~ Thriller

Directed by: Chris Columbus

Starring: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie.

We’re The Thursday Murder Club

The Thursday Murder Club starts out in black and white, flashing back to a late Full Moon lit foggy night in London. We hear Helen Mirren narrate the events as we them. There is a scream, then a woman falls out a window with a knife in her chest. A masked man runs….and we fade to color and see a cork bulletin board with details of the case and three people standing in front of it discussing the murder…..

Helen Mirren stars as Elizabeth Best, a retired pensioner residing in the upscale Cooper’s Chase Retirement Village outside the seaside Village of Fairhaven in Kent, United Kingdom. She lives there with her husband Steven who is battling the onset of dementia. It is Thursday and she is in the jigsaw puzzle room with Ron Ritchie (Pierce Brosnan), a former Trade Union Official, and Ibrahim Arif (Ben Kingsley), a retired Psychiatrist. They are discussing a murder cold case from the 1973 they are attempting to solve. They have drawn out the details of the case on a display board and are discussing the details trying to find something perhaps the police missed when…….

Joyce Meadowcroft (Celia Imrie) and her daughter walk into the room. She apologizes for seemingly interrupting but wonders if this isn’t the Puzzle room, to which Elizabeth replies, “It is except on Thursdays, Thursdays it is The Thursday Murder Club.” Joyce replies, “Oh, ok” and the two move on exploring the retirement Village. Elizabeth notices that Joyce barely flinched at the site of the murder photo and deduces that she must be someone used to seeing such things, such as a trauma nurse. Convinced that Joyce might be able to help them with their case, the three head to find Joyce. They catch up with her and Joyce confirms that Elizabeth is right, she is a retired Hospital trauma nurse. Elizabeth asks her to help with the case and she readily agrees.

As the four amateur sleuths get acquainted over cake they get further involved in trying to crack the cold case. As they are out walking the grounds they overhear Tony Curran and Ian Ventham, the two co-owners of The Retirement Village, arguing heatedly. The next day Tony Curran is found murdered, bludgeoned to death in his home. Sensing that the rift between Tony and Ian may have resulted in Tony’s death, The Thursday Murder Club see an opportunity to really put their skills to the test in a real life homicide that involves the future of their retirement home.

And that’s where the real antics begin, chasing down clues, involving and manipulating the local police department, and anyone else they think can help them crack their case. They all put their individual skills to work, Ron helps organize a protest as Ian tries to break ground on new construction, Abrahim constantly makes note and deciphers clues and information using his psychiatrist background to see beyond the obvious, Elizabeth pulls on her MI5 background to really kick things in gear, and Joyce brings common sense and cake at every turn.

It is a comedic, light- hearted whodunit with thrills and mystery at every turn, based on a group of amateur sleuths at a posh retirement home. There is mystery, intrigue, unexpected twists and turns, and action as The Thursday Murder Club work their game. Honestly I don’t know how you could go wrong with these three; Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan and Ben Kingsly. It was great, I thoroughly enjoyed it, a good bit of fun ole’ chap! You know what I think, I think you should…….

Make some popcorn,

Grab a beverage,

and Stream This Movie

On Netflix!

The Thursday Murder Club

was based on The 2020 Novel

by Richard Osman.

Sir Ben Kingsley and Pierce Brosnan in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’

Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren, and Celia Imrie in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’

The Thursday Murder Club Coming To Netflix Thursday August 28, 2025

The Thursday Murder Club Coming To Netflix Thursday August 28, 2025

2025 Netflix

Rated: PG-13

Length: 1 hr 58min

Comedy ~ Crime ~ Mystery ~ Thriller

Directed by: Chris Columbus

Starring: Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan, Ben Kingsley, and Celia Imrie

We’re The Thursday Murder Club

FROM NETFLIX TUDUM:

The newest resident of Coopers Chase retirement village, Joyce (Celia Imrie), learns about the Thursday Murder Club the same way the audience does: while giving her daughter a tour of the grounds, they admire the sprawling gardens, the painting and archery classes, and even the jigsaw room. But when she opens the door expecting to find seniors hunched over puzzle pieces, she instead finds the members of the titular club poring over photos of a grisly cold case from the 1970s. Joyce, a recent widow in search of community, is in luck, The Thursday Murder Club needs someone with medical expertise, and with Joyce’s past career as a trauma nurse (as well as her offering of delectable sponge cake), she earns temporary membership.

Helen Mirren, Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, and Celia Imrie in ‘The Thursday Murder Club’

⋅

Based on the bestselling book by Richard Osman, The Thursday Murder Club is adapted by Katy Brand and Suzanne Heathcote and directed by Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone). Osman was inspired to write the novel after visiting his mother’s retirement village and pondering the expectation “that you’ve reached a certain stage in your life and that’s it,” he says. “The Thursday Murder Club have lived these extraordinary lives. Take these people who are underestimated, who have these incredible skills, put them together, and they can achieve anything.”

The film takes place at a quaint country estate and stars some of the UK’s most renowned actors. Helen Mirren (The Queen, Gosford Park) plays ex-M15 spy Elizabeth, the steadfast leader of the crew. Speaking to Tudum, Mirren, who described the novel as “unputdownable,” immediately connected with Elizabeth, noting how intuitive the process of getting into character was. “For once I thought, ‘I’m just going to be myself,’ ” says the Academy Award-winning actor. “The best Elizabeth I can be is just to be who I am.”

Pierce Brosnan (The World is Not Enough, Mamma Mia!) plays good-humored former labor organizer Ron, who isn’t afraid to get into character to help with a case. “I love that he’s like a bull in a china shop at times,” says Brosnan of his character.

As Ron’s best friend, Ibrahim, Ben Kingsley (Gandhi, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Three More) found a balance that made his character an ideal detective. “He’s clearly empathetic because he’s a psychiatrist and he needs to interpret patterns of human behavior,” says the actor. “Now he can bring those same skills to a forensic quest to solve unsolved police cases through empathy, knowledge of patterns of human behavior, compassion, and imagination.” Rounding out the club is newcomer Joyce, played by Imrie (The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Diplomat). “Where a retirement village could seem like the end, she gets here and it’s actually uplifting and fun and she finds friends,” says the actor.

After all, Mirren points out that her posse’s hobby stems from a universal place of curiosity and care about the world around them. “One of the things that keeps one alive and engaged in life at whatever age you are is a curiosity and questioning about the world, and a sense of constantly learning,” she says.

Says Brosnan, “You’re dealing with life and death, and it’s coming from the perspective of people who are in their 70s and 80s. You have to find the answer to the crime, why that person took another person’s life, and the meaning of that. But it’s about the humanity of these men and women and the unexpected relationships that unfold.”

But, Imrie notes, “Friends are so important when you get to a certain age. So, it’s a rather wonderful blossoming for everyone, actually.”

The Thursday Murder Club streams Aug. 28 on Netflix.

The Comeback Trail

2020 Cloudburst Entertainment

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 44min

Crime ~ Comedy

Directed by: George Gallo

Starring: Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones, Morgan Freeman, Zach Braff, and Emile Hirsch.

Hollywood has never pulled a stunt like this.

The Comeback Trail was filmed in 2019 but because of The Covid-19 Pandemic, which also drove the initial distributor out of business, and the subsequent lawsuits over distribution, the release was delayed until February 25, 2025 and is currently on a number of streaming services including Hulu, Amazon Prime and Paramount+.

Let’s not beat around the bush—the trailer for “The Comeback Trail” promises more laughs than the movie actually delivers, except for the scene where the horse kicks Robert De Niro. I literally busted out laughing, it was completely obvious it was going to happen and so stupid, it was funny. You’d think with legends like Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones, and Morgan Freeman sharing top billing though, we’d have an instant classic with star-studded comic hijinks blazing across the screen. Instead, what we get is a worn retread of old Hollywood satire, a little too safe, not nearly dark enough, and just sort of… familiar.

If you’re expecting De Niro in full-on comedic genius mode—think Midnight Run or Analyze This—you’ll get flashes of it here, but mostly he’s dialing up the chaos as Max Barber, a washed-up producer who decides his only way out of mob debt is to “accidentally” kill his faded cowboy star, Duke Montana (Jones), to cash in on insurance. Forget twisty plotlines; the story is as predictable as you’re guessing right now, but with fewer laughs than you’d hope for.

The cast puts in the work. Jones, especially, walks off with the movie’s soul, playing Duke with a mix of melancholy and earnestness rarely seen in broad comedies. His suicidal cowboy could have been a running gag, but Jones injects heart and a hint of regret that almost—almost!—makes you care. De Niro is all bluster and wild schemes, burning calories trying to make Max’s desperation land. Freeman, meanwhile, has a few smirk-worthy lines but is largely sidelined.

Visually, the film actually looks decent. There’s an undeniable flair to the cinematography—the grimy, cut-rate movie sets and LA backlots sell the atmosphere. If you muted the sound, you might be tricked into thinking this is a riotous good time. But Bobby’s cardinal rule: it’s not how it LOOKS, it’s how it PLAYS, and here the play is just… average.

Bottom line? This is one of those late night cable comedies you watch on a whim, forget about by morning, and don’t exactly regret. There’s fun to be had—mostly courtesy of Tommy Lee Jones—but with three Oscar winners on deck and a premise ripe for crazy hijinks, it should have swung for the fences instead of bunting. Not awful, not great, just a movie that’s been here for years, reheating leftovers instead of serving up anything new.

The Pickup

2025 Amazon MGM Studios

Rated: R

Length: 1 hr 34min

Action ~ Comedy

Directed by: Tim Story

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria, and Keke Palmer.

They’re Armed But She’s Dangerous

FROM AMAZON MGM STUDIOS:

The Pickup starring Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Eva Longoria, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Jack Kesy, Andrew Dice Clay, Marshawn Lynch, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i and Keke Palmer premiered on Amazon Prime Video last night, Wednesday August 6, 2025. In the action-comedy, a routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when two mismatched armored truck drivers, Russell (Eddie Murphy) and Travis (Pete Davidson), are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe (Keke Palmer), with plans that go way beyond the cash cargo. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities, and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.

The Pickup brings together two generations of comedy for an explosive and hilarious partnership that showcases the chemistry between old-school experience and new-wave energy. In addition to Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, and Keke Palmer, the film features a diverse cast including Eva Longoria, Marshawn Lynch, Joe “Roman Reigns” Anoa’i, Andrew Dice Clay, and Ismael Cruz Córdova. Directed by Tim Story, who’s known for his work on The Blackening, Barbershop and Ride Along, the film blends high-octane action with sharp humor.

THE REVIEW:

I remember a different Eddie Murphy than the one I saw in this movie. It seemed like a watered down version of the explosive comedy rawness of the Eddie I remember, Saturday Night Live, Raw, Beverly Hills Cop. I watched Beverly Hills Cop 4 and I couldn’t hang, couldn’t finish. It was a trip down memory lane that should have happened decades ago, instead it looked more like a sad “where are they now…oh..in the old folks home” story about a bunch of have beens. That’s harsh I know, but it’s true. The same applies here, it seems like Eddie Murphy is trying to regain his stature before he heads into old age obscurity.

Don’t get me wrong, I like Eddie Murphy, Pete Davidson, Keke Palmer and Andrew Dice Clay. It was nice to see Andrew but it seems more like a nostalgic trip than an action comedy movie. It almost seemed more like an endless bunch of skits. To quote Randy Jackson, “It was just alright for me dog.” The witty banter between Pete and Eddie seemed forced, like they were reading for a skit. The two thugs working for Keke were kind of corny. Not really believable. And the plot and some of the action was just too over the top, almost too silly to be believable.

We were promised, to quote the studio, ” high-octane action with sharp humor”. The action was more like regular unleaded and the humor for the most part was pretty dull. The partnership between Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson was described as explosive and hilarious;” The Pickup brings together two generations of comedy for an explosive and hilarious partnership that showcases the chemistry between old-school experience and new-wave energy. Nah, it just kinda fell flat. But again, to quote Randy, it was just alright. Worth a watch, sure. A second time….nah.