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The Secret Life of Pets 2 Is Worth A Look [MOVIE REVIEW]

Once again Max (a Jack Russell Terrier), and his sidekick, Duke (Newfoundland mix), take viewers on a journey into secret pet world. In this film, Max faces a potentially radical life change: his owner Katie gets married and has a child, Liam. Originally unsure about how Liam’s coming on the scene will affect him, Max prepares for the worst. Only to have Liam love him as much as Katie does.

On a family trip to his grandparents’ farm, Max meets Rooster, a Welsh Sheepdog, who teaches Max lessons that will help in the countryside and beyond.

Before leaving, Max leaves his favorite toy with his pal, Gidget (a Pomeranian) for safekeeping. But the toy bounces out the window into a cat-packed apartment. She has to figure out how to get it back. Snowball (a rabbit) visits a circus and decides to free an unfairly treated white tiger named Hu.

The Secret Life of Pets 2 has the same characters featured in the start-of-the-art 3D animation which made the original film a success. But it has more plots than you’d see in a two-hour drama. The market for this film is children; however, I have to wonder if they want to see all of this on-screen busyness.

There’s a star-studded cast providing the voices: Patton Oswalt, Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, Dana Carvey, Bobby Moynihan, and Harrison Ford. Kevin Hart’s voice just doesn’t fit the little white rabbit named Snowball.  Maybe a Pitbull. But not a small bunny.

As I have said before I don’t understand why studios spend bundles hiring big name stars to do the voices. Kids don’t care. The characters’ voice can be from unknown performers.

Ultimately, The Secret Life of Pets 2 provides the visual stimulation and characters that viewers would like to see, and it musters a See It! rating.

It’s rated PG and is 86 minutes in length.

The Oath is pretty good; I promise [MOVIE REVIEW]

In The Oath, the White House announces it is requesting that all Americans take an “optional” loyalty pledge to the president. This request outrages Chris (Ike Barinholtz), a diehard liberal and only fuels his existing anger over the direction the country is heading. He shares his disgust with his wife, Kai (Tiffany Haddish) who appears to be just as offended. As they prepare to host his family for Thanksgiving, he hears stories of people who vocally oppose the pledge being taken from their homes by federal agents. Chris’ family comprised of his parents, sister and her husband, and brother and his girlfriend arrive and as Chris expects, there are contentious exchanges among them about the pledge and politics in general. Kai does her best to keep the peace but things only get worse when some unexpected guests arrive.

Writer, director, and star Ike Barinholtz makes a strong statement about America’s current political climate in this provocative production. He hits both the government and those who remain quiet and are even supportive of the erosion of U.S. constitutional principles. The characters are authentic and credible, except for the fact that they ALL curse like the proverbial sailor which makes all of their dialogue sound very similar.

Chris’ interracial marriage fits his persona perfectly but is not really a major issue in the storyline. Tiffany Haddish continues her tendency, we first saw in Girls Trip, to play the stereotypical, horny black woman. When Chris first hears of the pledge and goes on a rant, her focus quickly becomes getting his pants off.
While the performances are stellar across the board, Ike Barinholtz is exceptional; just as you might expect of someone who writes, directs, and stars in a film.

As to our cast diversity rating, The Oath gets an A-. The cast is relatively small and Haddish, an African American woman and Asian American John Cho have major roles.

Ultimately, The Oath works because it’s thought-provoking and takes viewers on an emotional rollercoaster. It gets our highest rating, See It!

It’s rated R (for language throughout, violence and some drug use) and is a fast-paced, 93 minutes in length.

 

Katt Williams Starts a Family Feud on Atlanta Radio Show [VIDEO]

VIDEO DISCUSSION: Kevin Hart defends Tiffany Haddish and Katt Williams doubles down

It all started with comedian Katt Williams going after Tiffany Haddish’s edges during a guest appearance on the Atlanta radio show, Frank and Wanda in the Morning.

Williams also had a lot to say about Mo’Nique and Kevin Hart.

Although Williams and Haddish made up at The Emmy Awards, Katt Williams continues to check Kevin Hart after Hart stood up for Tiffany Haddish.

And now, the feud between Williams and Hart is amped.

Will this family feud settle down?

Is Katt Williams jealous of other people's success?

Hit us up on YouTube with your thoughts.

 

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Kat Williams

Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh: Gender Politics on Full Blast [VIDEO]

VIDEO DISCUSSION: Nelly settles sexual assault case; plus Katt Williams, Bill Cosby, Tyler Perry, Kanye, Lil’ Wayne, and more!

 

WHAT’S THE 411’s QUICK TAKES

In this episode of What's The 411 recorded on October 2, 2018, journalist Kizzy Cox, and comedian Onika McLean start off the episode with birthday wishes for Onika, and the acknowledgment of the death of Onika's cat, Glitter.

In this Quick Takes segment, Kizzy and Onika are talking about news stories related to film and TV producer Tyler Perry gifting a house to the mother of an actress who used to work for him; Lil’ Wayne’s new album, Tha Carter V; rapper Kanye West’s antics and strange performance on Saturday Night Live, The rapper known as Nelly, settles a sexual assault civil case with Monique Green, who accused Nelly of forcing her to have sex with him on his tour bus; an Ohio police chief orders an FBI investigation into the arrest of porn star, Stormy Daniels, and; to end this Quick Takes segment on a high note, actor Geoffrey Owens, who was shamed by people on Twitter for working at Trader Joe’s, is taking producer Tyler Perry up on his offer. Owens is going to appear on 10 episodes of Perry's hit, "The Haves and the Have Nots" on OWN.

WHAT’S POPPIN' – CULTURE & THE LAW: BILL COSBY

Actor, comedian, and philanthropist, Bill Cosby, who was once America’s TV dad in the 1980s, has fallen from grace. A Pennsylvania jury convicted Cosby of three counts of aggravated indecent assault. The judge agreed with the prosecutors that Cosby is a "sexually violent predator," which carries a sentence that will last at least three years and no more than 10 years.

WHAT’S POPPIN' – CULTURE: KATT WILLIAMS’ FEUD WITH OTHER BLACK COMEDIANS

It all started with comedian Katt Williams going after Tiffany Haddish’s edges during a guest appearance on the Atlanta radio show, Frank and Wanda in the Morning. Williams also had a lot to say about Mo’Nique and Kevin Hart. Although Williams and Haddish made up at The Emmy Awards, Katt Williams checks Kevin Hart after Hart stood up for Tiffany Haddish. And now, the feud between Williams and Hart is amped.

WHAT’S POPPIN' – CULTURE & THE LAW: DR. CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD HEARING

Dr. Christine Blasey Ford takes center stage as the US Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to “afford” Ms. Blasey Ford with an opportunity to tell her story of an alleged sexual assault when she was a teenager by Judge Brett Kavanaugh, who is up for Senate confirmation to ascend to the U.S. Supreme Court. There were a number of takeaways from the hearing, but most people are shaking their heads over was a clash of gender politics.

QUICK TAKES: Megyn Kelly Disappoints NBC; Sloane Stephens Wins US OPEN

Insecure actress Yvonne Orji is set to join Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish in the movie directed by Malcolm D. Lee

Regret is growing at NBC for pushing Tamron Hall out the door to make room for former FOX News host, Megyn Kelly.

Prior to Kelly’s debut, NBC was reportedly in a "panic" over the fear that Megyn Kelly could not attract non-White and younger audiences for her daytime show.

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According to reports, Tamron Hall, the former Today show anchor is being dragged into the ugly divorce of Jesse Jackson Jr. — and the former U.S. congressman is not happy about it.

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Can we just say that Black Girl Magic was on display at the US OPEN!

While tennis star, Serena Williams was out on maternity leave, her sister Venus, Madison Keys, and Sloane Stephens were holding it down.

All three made it to the US OPEN semi-finals and this was the first US OPEN women’s final with two Black women at center court and their names were not Williams.

Congratulations to Sloane Stephens for winning it all!

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The Kevin Hart comedy Night School just added another name to its roster. Insecure actress Yvonne Orji is set to join Hart and Tiffany Haddish in the movie directed by Malcolm D. Lee.

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Musician, John Legend, revealed in an interview with The Guardian, a British newspaper, he tried to break up with Chrissy Teigen years ago and she was not having it. The breakup lasted 90 minutes.

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Girls Trip - Avoid This Nasty Adventure! [MOVIE REVIEW]

In Girls Trip, the decades have passed and four college friends Ryan (Regina Hall), Lisa (Jada Pinkett Smith), Dina (Tiffany Haddish), and Sasha (Queen Latifah) travel to New Orleans for the annual Essence Festival. They are determined to have a GOOOD time and unleash all inhibitions.

Girls Trip is a Trip. It’s vulgar, crass and disappointing. This barrage of crudeness is ultimately the film’s undoing. There is a constant referencing to women as the “B word”. And, the “N word” and MFs are flying everywhere. There’s nothing funny about someone suspended in air urinating on the people below. This happened twice! Dina is sexually tempted by a filthy, old, homeless man who exposes himself to the group.

The characters are stereotypes fitting comfortably into pigeon holes. Tiffany Haddish, who I have to admit I had never heard of before, as Dina, is loud, crude, damn near a nympho. On the other hand, Lisa is matronly, prim and proper, and blindly devoted to motherhood. Sasha is the struggling one who’s trying to keep up a façade of financial and career success while things are crumbling. And then there’s the highly successful Ryan whose fairy tale marriage to former football star, Stewart (Mike Colter), is marketed as an example a woman who’s having it all.

The storyline involving Ryan and her husband is substantive and interesting. His ability to smoothly rationalize his misgivings is nothing short of amazing. Unfortunately, his talent and the film’s attention to worthy scenes are lost in a bombardment of B.S.

I am embarrassed for Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, and Jada Pinkett Smith because they are all talented actresses. And I understand that there’s a paucity of quality roles for black women in Hollywood. But, Girls Trip?

Further, I don’t know where they got the “guy” who’s hairless, lotioned, lady legs are featured in the film’s poster. Real men don’t shave their legs – unless they’re swimmers.

Girls Trip is written by Kenya Barris who penned Barbershop: The Next Cut. That film featured black men of dignity and character. I wonder why he chose to write such trash for women.

Girls Trip also trips up when it comes to casting diversity, earning a C-. We have to be fair in discussing diversity. Other than Kate Walsh who plays Ryan’s agent, Lara Grice, a TV exec, and a few minor roles, this cast is all black including individuals in the background.

Directed by Malcolm Lee and produced by Will Packer, Girls Trip has a modest budget for films today, $28 million. It’s rated R for crude (you can say that again), sexual content throughout, pervasive language, brief graphic nudity, and drug material. Girls Trip is 122 minutes too long.

Sorry girls but your trip is Dead on Arrival!

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