The Monthly Roundup - April 2024

Sooooo the roundup is a little dry this month because I was unfortunately sick for a lot of April. A head cold turned into an ear infection and it was generally really gross. All of this on top of being in a show, so I didn't have a lot of time to focus on this kind of stuff. Regardless, I saw and red a bit from this month, so let's talk about it!

Movies & TV

• Wish (2023) - I'm among the vast crowd that chose to wait to see this movie on Disney+, and I feel that that was the right call. I really wanted all of my assumptions about this movie's quality to be proven wrong, but it was unfortunately just as unenthused as I thought it would be. I can't say that I found any of the songs too memorable, the writing felt awkward, and while I appreciate Disney trying to do something new with their in-house art style that they've had for a decade now, it still feels rough around the edges in some parts and generally makes me wish this film was animated entirely in 2D.

• Wonka (2024) - It's been a while since a film has exceeded my expectations nearly as much as Wonka did. It was clowned on very early on, even slightly before the first trailer came out, but the resulting movie was a huge breath of fresh air. The oodles of clever wordplay in each of the songs, the campiness of the trio of antagonists, and the genuine whimsy that permeated through this entire adventure created a genuinely entertaining experience that I certainly would like to watch again sometime. Jack initially put this on to poke fun at it, but not even ten minutes in, I was genuinely having a blast.

• Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022) - This is the second time I've watched this movie in full since my first viewing in 2022, and... gosh. It may have been my recent medication talking, but this movie made me bawl my eyes out so much. This is easily one of the best animated releases of the decade so far. I will never know why Dreamworks decided to pop off so hard for a sequel to a random spinoff movie from 2011, but I do know that this is one of the most creative, exciting, and unabashedly fun films they've ever produced. Do not let this one slip by. It really is a treasure.

Books

• Bone by Jeff Smith (Books 1-3) - For some reason, I hardly made it very far in the Bone series as a kid. I know I read the full series at some point, but I must not have been paying much attention because the whole story is kind of a blur to me. I've owned the full series for years at this point, and I finally decided to buckle down and start reading them all. Having gotten through the first three this month, I can honestly say that these are masterclasses in graphic novels. Complex characters, vivid and luscious illustrations, and compelling worldbuilding all contribute to this being one of the greatest comic sagas in recent memory. It's such a shame that Jeff Smith never got a good deal for an animated adaptation of the franchise. At the very least, these original books are still a wonder to look back on. Can't wait to read through the rest!

• Basil and Oregano by Melissa Capriglione - It's always nice to see another Indiana graphic novelist leap into their first published work! I recalled seeing flyers for this book in a local cafe several months back, and I was lucky enough to find a copy at my library. Going into it, I had expected this to be a whimsical, yet down-to-earth story of two Italian girls falling in love, and while that is partially true, it turns out there's an entire magic system at play in this world! The idea of a food-based magic system was certainly unexpected but welcomed. This book is very cute, and I hope Ms. Capriglione has more books in store soon!

Games

• Super Mario Maker 2 (Switch) - I had lots of time to kill during each performance of A Delightful Quarantine, and this was one of the ways I passed the time. I played the hell out of the first Mario Maker on Wii U back in 2015, and while this game doesn't quite capture the same magic of its predecessor, it's still a must-have for any Mario fan. In the short amount of time I've spent playing online levels, I've seen so many ideas that have challenged my perception of how versatile the level builder in this game really is. The story mode does a great job of displaying the boundless creativity that can emerge from this game. I haven't even come close to finishing it, but maybe I can nudge a little closer before the show is over.

• Pokemon Fire Red (GBA) - This was another game that I played during Quarantine. This was a convenient game because I was using an emulator- er, I mean, my trusty old Gameboy Advance from way back in the day. Anyway, I've never really been big into Pokemon, or RPGs in general, but I definitely see the appeal. I played a bit of Pokemon Red when I was an obsessive retro-game teen, and I think I made it about as far into this one as I did in that Gameboy original (Mt. Moon), but I think that's where I'll call it quits with this one. I got my first gym badge, caught a Pikachu, and fought some close battles. I definitely got my time's worth with this one.

Theatre

• Hot & Cole (Purdue Fort Wayne) - I had virtually no expectations of what this show could be because I admittedly don't know that much of Cole Porter's work. I left the theater wishing I could see it all over again! It was like an entire original story with Porter's music as not only the catalyst for the plot, but also the language of the plot. It was such an interesting spin on the format of a musical revue, and I can absolutely see why PFW felt that this was a worthy addition to their season. Of course I'm going to say that the cast was phenomenal, the set was magnificent, and the live music was so charming and delicious. This show seriously filled my whole heart, and I'm glad that the cast and crew seemed to love it as much as I did.

• Black Snow (Purdue Fort Wayne) - I unfortunately had an ear infection that was really bothering me as I was watching this one, so I got distracted at a few points during this show, but what I can say is this: Funny, perplexing, sweet, introspective. As much as I love seeing big and fancy shows, I have just as much appreciation, oftentimes even moreso, for the smaller, minimally-produced ones. This perfectly scratched that itch. I wish we saw more theatre like this in town, especially because I probably could have seen this one again as well. I think I need a second viewing to chew on it a little more.