Tim joined Jordana Green Tuesday to review the original streaming movie “Finch” (AppleTV+) and the original two-part documentary “What Happened, Brittany Murphy?” (HBO Max) on the “Paul and Jordana” show on WCCO-AM. Click to listen below. The segment is brought to you by Michael Bryant and Bradshaw & Bryant.
Tim Lammers reviews movies weekly for “The KQ92 Morning Show” with Tom Barnard on KQRS-FM, “Paul and Jordana” with Paul Douglas and Jordana Green on WCCO Radio, “It Matters with Kelly Cordes” on WJON-AM, KLZZ-FM, “Let’s Talk Movies with Tim Lammers” with Tim Matthews on KRWC-AM, “The Tom Barnard Podcast” and “The BS Show” with Bob Sansevere, and reviews streaming programming on WCCO Radio’s “Paul and Jordana” as well. On TV, Tim has made hundreds of guest appearances on NBC affiliate KARE on the news program “KARE 11 News at 11”.
Tim joined Tom Barnard and the crew for the “The KQ Morning Show” on KQRS-FM Thursday to review the Western adventure “News of the World” and the sci-fi mystery “Wander.” Then on Friday, Tim reviewed the films with Paul Douglas and Jordana Green on the “Paul and Jordana” show on WCCO-AM. Click to listen below. The segments are brought to you by Michael Bryant and Bradshaw & Bryant.
AUDIO: Tim Lammers reviews “News of the World” and “Wander” with Kelly Cordes on WJON-AM. Click above to listen.
Tim Lammers reviews movies weekly for “The KQ92 Morning Show” with Tom Barnard on KQRS-FM, “Paul and Jordana” with Paul Douglas and Jordana Green on WCCO Radio, “It Matters with Kelly Cordes” on WJON-AM, KLZZ-FM, “Let’s Talk Movies with Tim Lammers” with Tim Matthews on KRWC-AM, “The Tom Barnard Podcast” and “The BS Show” with Bob Sansevere, and reviews streaming programming on WCCO Radio’s “Paul and Jordana” as well. On TV, Tim has made hundreds of guest appearances on NBC affiliate KARE on the news program “KARE 11 News at 11”.
Nearly 24 years after the original film revolutionized the movie industry, the wow factor is as big as ever for the “Toy Story” franchise with “Toy Story 4,” a funny, emotional and visually stunning family film that is every bit as great as each one of its predecessors.
Even though it’s been nine years since the release of the tear-jerker “Toy Story 3,” the fourth installment in the Disney-Pixar franchise is set directly after the events of the last film, where Andy gifted his beloved toys Woody the Cowboy (voice of Tom Hanks), Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen), Jessie the Cowgirl (Joan Cusack) and a host of others to a young girl named Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw), who loves her new play pals every bit as much as Andy did. However, she’s not allowed to bring any toys to her kindergarten orientation, so during playtime she creates a new toy out of a plastic fork and calls it Forky (Tony Hale) and forms an instant bond with the odd-looking utensil-turned-toy.
AUDIO: Tim reviews “Toy Story 4” with Tom Barnard on “The KQ Morning Show” on KQRS-FM. Segment brought to you by Mike Bryant and Bradshaw & Bryant.
But when her family takes one last trip before school starts and Forky flies out of an open window in their RV, Woody springs into action to save Forky, knowing how much it will devastate Bonnie if she loses her new best friend. The quest leads Woody to an antique shop, where he finds the porcelain statute Bo Peep (Annie Potts), from whom he was separated from years before (the character only appeared in “Toy Story” and “Toy Story 2”).
Getting Bo Peep and Forky out of the shop isn’t so easy for Woody, though, as the antique doll Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) and multiple versions of the ventriloquist dummy Benson (Steve Purcell) try to thwart their big plans.
Like the “Toy Story” films before it, “Toy Story 4” is bolstered by an original story that manages to capture the imaginations of kids of all ages, whether through relatable situations for everyone involved and the adult nostalgia that resurfaces as the film visits toys from yesteryear. Naturally, the action in toy story in completely engaging and situations and dialogue is laugh-out loud funny, but amping up the comedy is the sly employment of Gabby Gabby and the ventriloquist dummies as the film’s villains, who have a natural creepy quality about them. It’s not the sort of creepiness that won’t scare little kids, however, as the characters’ presence is really there to evoke memories and nervous laughter from its adult audience members who once owed (and were petrified) by the vintage playthings.
Also providing for huge laughs is the introduction of new characters, including the stuffed animal duo of Ducky (Keegan-Michael Key) and Bunny (Jordan Peele), and the Duke McBoom (Keanu Reeves), the Canadian version of action figure and motorcycle rider Evel Knievel. The characters perfectly fit in with the menagerie of toys the “Toy Story” films have introduced to us over the years, including Hamm (John Ratzenberger), Rex (Wallace Shawn), Dolly (Bonnie Hunt), Trixie (Kristen Schaal), Mr. Pricklepants (Timothy Dalton), Slinky Dog (Blake Clark) and Buttercup (Jeff Garlin) – who all appear once again in this fourth chapter.
For as many feel great vibes that “Toy Story 4” gives, the film is rounded out by its emotion, so get ready to shed the same amount of tears in the film’s third act as you did at the conclusion of “Toy Story 3” when Andy bid farewell to his longtime toy pals. Like “Toy Story 3,” there’s a feeling of finality with “Toy Story 4,” as the film is indeed – at least for now – the last film in the “Toy Story” film series. Easily one of the best films (if not the best) this year so far, there’s no doubt that this final adventure will not only be admired for years, but for generations to come.
Lammometer: 10 (out of 10)
Tim Lammers reviews movies weekly for The KQ92 Morning Show,” “KARE 11 News at 11” (NBC), WCCO Radio, WJON-AM, KLZZ-FM, “The Tom Barnard Podcast” and “The BS Show” with Bob Sansevere.
AUDIO: Tim reviews “Toy Story 4” and “Dumbo” (new on video) with Henry Lake on “The Paul and Jordana” show on WCCO-AM. Segment brought to you by Mike Bryant and Bradshaw & Bryant.
Clint Eastwood masterfully tells the story of the “Miracle on the Hudson” and it’s surprising aftermath in “Sully,” a compelling drama that chronicles the events surrounding Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s daring and unprecedented landing of an A320 airbus on the Hudson River in New York City on Jan. 15, 2009.
“Sully,” naturally, documents in detail the events of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 on that fateful day in 2009, when shortly after takeoff Sully (Tom Hanks) and First Officer Jeff Skiles (Aaron Eckhart) a bird strike renders both engines in their jet useless. With no engine thrust to commandeer the plane back to its point of origin at LaGuardia Airport or make an emergency landing at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey, Sully makes the quick determination that landing on the Hudson River is the best if not only option.
People, of course, got to know Sully through his many appearances in the media following the miracle landing, which saved all 155 passengers and crew on board. Lost in whirlwind of press, however, was the National Transportation Safety Board’s investigation into the incident that threatened to end the careers of Sully and his first officer on the flight.
Though hailed as heroes by the general public, the NTSB’s reaction is quite different, as its computer analyses and flight simulations suggested that Sully and Skiles could flown the plane back at La Guardia Airport or at the very least, could have landed at Teterboro. Even more damning, the NTSB claimed that at least part of the left engine on the plane was functional and would given the A320 with enough thrust to land at either airport.
Hanks, whose career has been defined by good guy roles, is perfectly suited to play the hero in “Sully,” as he nails the quite demeanor and humility of the famed pilot who maintains a respect for the NTSB despite its intense scrutiny of the events surround the splash landing.
Listen to Tim’s review of “Sully” with Tom Barnard, Michele Tafoya and the KQ92 Morning Show crew at 13:30 in.
Eckhart is also terrific as Skiles, giving a face and voice to the pilot who, despite being relegated to the background as Sully captured most of the media’s attention, played a pivotal role in the landing of the plane on the Hudson. Laura Linney also gives a memorable performance in a supporting role as Sully’s wife and voice of reason as the pilot begins to question his actions in the face of adversity.
Eastwood, however, is the true star of “Sully.” He recreates the crippled Flight 1549 with gripping suspense (amazing, considering we all know the outcome), and his subtle direction defines the inspirational tone of the film, which ultimately gives it its emotional lift. Also chronicling the work of the first responders (many people from the real event recreated their roles for the film), “Sully” displays the work of everyday people at their finest. Be sure to stick around for the end credits of the film, as Eastwood includes emotional footage that punctuates the 90 minutes that precedes it.
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Original Interviews, Reviews & More By Tim Lammers
