Matt Hambidge

× You’re not always going to be surprised when a movie packs an emotional wallop. And sometimes a movie comes out of nowhere, catches you completely off guard, and affects you in a way you weren’t expecting. Voicemails for Isabelle is a prime example of the latter. While much of it looks the same as your standard fare Netflix original, it packs a serious emotional punch.

Describing a movie as a “turn your brain off” movie is often a kind, gentle way to say that it’s not all that good, but there might be fun to be had. You can apply that phrase to The Furious, except that here, it’s the exception that proves the rule. You won’t strain any brain cells keeping up with the plot or trying to solve a mystery or predict the next big twist. But none of that matters when its main feature is one perfectly staged, innovative fight sequence after another.

× Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is far from the first film to use a time travel setup where a character tries to go back and correct a mistake their past self made. But it presents a well-balanced mix of humor, action, and introspection that it elevates past being simply another dumb-but-fun action comedy.