I join the Bell Media Radio Network national night time show “Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift” to talk about “There Will Be Blood” actor Paul Dano’s reaction to being called “weak sauce” by Quentin Tarantino, Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” milestone and Neil Young’s gift to Greenland. Then I review the new desert island drama “Send Help” and suggest some cocktail to enjoy while watching tghe movie.
Fast reviews for busy people! Watch as I review three movies in less time than it takes to make a smoothie! Have a look as I race against the clock to tell you about the desert island drama of “Send Help,” the déjà vu of “Shelter” and the awesome animation of “ARCO.”
SYNOPSIS: In “Shelter” Jason Statham plays Statham Character #2. That’s the “loner with a past who must protect a youthful innocent.” (As opposed to Statham Character #1 in which he plays “a loner with a past who must protect a loved one.”)
CAST: Jason Statham, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Bill Nighy, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays. Directed by Ric Roman Waugh.
REVIEW: Whenever I watch a Jason Statham film, I imagine that somewhere in Hollywood there is a small, organized office with two employees called the Déjà Vu Department, whose sole job it is to oversee the writing of Jason Statham scripts.
Statham has made a career of repeatedly making the same movie. They are not sequels— locations, character names and situations change—but in their mix of formula and form, they are remarkably similar.
In his new film “Shelter,” instead of a beekeeper with the past (à la “The Beekeeper”) he’s a lighthouse keeper with a past (see: “Homefront,” “Mechanic: Resurrection” and many others) who rescues a young innocent woman (as he did in: “Transporter 2,” “Safe” and others) by switching to one man army mode (see: “Wrath of Man,” “A Working Man,” “The Mechanic” and too many others to mention here).
So, to say “Shelter” doesn’t reinvent the wheel is like saying that Statham’s signature character is handy with his fists.
Still, despite the echoes of past movies that reverberate throughout the movie, “Shelter,” like Statham’s other films, is entertaining. It’s a by-the-Statham-book story but, for fans, his take on a character who says, “People like me don’t get to live normal lives,” is comfort food. Like meatloaf or a hot soup on a cold day, there’s something reassuring about the actor’s consistency. In a constantly changing world, where everything is disrupted, there is something appealing about knowing exactly what you’re going to get when you buy a ticket to one of his movies.
They are as cozy and reassuring as a movie with a body count in the dozens can be.
Add to that a talented teen sidekick in the form of Bodhi Rae Breathnach—even though most of her role consists of being told to, “Sit here. Don’t move.”—and Oscar nominee Bill Nighy to class up the joint, and you’re left with another entertaining, if forgettable, action film from Statham’s Déjà Vu Department.
Near the film’s climax young innocent Jessie (Bodhi Rae Breathnach) laments that with the bad guys after him Michael (Statham) won’t be able to return to the refuge of his isolated island.
“There’s always another island,” he replies. And for Statham, there’s always another film.
SYNOPSIS: In “Send Help,” the new survival thriller starring Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien now playing in theatres, the power dynamic changes between a mousy office worker and her arrogant boss when they are stranded on a deserted island in a desperate fight for survival.
CAST: Rachel McAdams, Dylan O’Brien, Edyll Ismail, Dennis Haysbert, Xavier Samuel, Chris Pang, Thaneth Warakulnukroh, Emma Raimi. Directed by Sam Raimi.
REVIEW: “Send Help” has a jump scare or two, gallons of blood and some grisly moments but this isn’t Sam Raimi in full-on horror mode à la “Drag Me to Hell.” Instead, it’s kind of like a viciously humorous mash-up of “Survivor,” “Gilligan’s Island” and season four of “The Apprentice” with a side of “Misery.”
Rachel McAdams plays Linda Liddle, a genius with numbers, but socially awkward office worker in the Strategy & Planning department of a large company. After seven years of keeping her head down and doing the work, she is passed up for a promised promotion when the owner of the company dies, and his arrogant son Bradley (Dylan O’Brien) is put in charge. “I need someone who can charm a room, who can make a deal, somebody who golfs,” he sneers. “Does that make sense?”
When the company jet goes down during a work trip to Thailand, Linda and Bradley wash up on the shore of a deserted island, the lone survivors of the crash. As she uses lessons learned by watching the reality show “Survivor” to nurse him back to health, he takes every opportunity to remind her who’s boss. “Watch how you speak to me. You work for me. You got a problem with that?”
But when it becomes apparent the teachings of the boardroom don’t apply to life on a desert island, the power dynamic changes. “We’re not in the office anymore Bradley,” she says. “OK?”
“Send Help” is a nasty piece of work. In a good way. Director Raimi, working from a script by Damian Shannon and Mark Swift, sets up a study in control dynamics that allows for maximum meanness and brutal betrayal all covered with a lush layer of uncomfortable laughs.
Essentially a two hander, the real success of the film relies on its leads.
As the gauche Linda, McAdams leaves behind the glamour of many of her most famous roles to embrace the character’s awkwardness and rage. The island situation offers Linda a sense of control she’s never experiences before and she is willing to go to extremes to maintain it. It’s a wacky, violent and unpredictable performance that allows McAdams to use the full arsenal of her talent. Behind the million dollar smile she’s funny, feral and furious, and it’s a blast to see her do something we’ve never seen her do before.
As toxic manchild Bradley, O’Brien isn’t as flashy as McAdams but manages several memorable moments. His chewing of food alone—which ranks on par with Denis Quaid’s mastication work in “The Substance”—could have earned this movie an R-rating for its unpleasantness. Misophoniacs beware.
“Send Help” is a twisted crowd-pleaser powered by frustration, empowerment and fun lead performances.
SYNOPSIS: In the Oscar nominated animated film “Arco,” now playing in theatres, a ten-year-old from a utopian society time travels to the dystopian world of the year 2075. “Arco, why have you come to our time? This period, it’s the worst of humanity.”
CAST: Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo, Will Ferrell, America Ferrera, Andy Samberg, Flea. Written and directed by Ugo Bienvenu. Produced by Natalie Portman.
REVIEW: A family-friendly sci fi story, the animated “Arco” is an adventure film that shuns spectacle, in favor of ideas and introspection.
The action begins in 2932 with ten-year-old Arco (Juliano Krue Valdi) living a nice life in a picturesque tree city with his family. Like all preteens, he’s curious about everything, including why his family time travels on the weekends. Turns out, they go back in time to harvest extinct plants and bring them back to their world. He wants to go too, in hopes of seeing a dinosaur, but is too young.
Taking matters into his own hands, he steals his sister’s time travel suit and careens fifty years into the past. Instead of dinosaurs he finds a dystopian world, ravaged by storms, fires and other ecological disasters, where robots raise families for absent parents who only appear to tuck the kids via hologram.
There he meets Iris (Romy fay), a young girl who wants change her damaged world.
Together, with the help of Iris’s robot caretaker Mikki (Mark Ruffalo), they try and find a path home for Arco and a path forward away for Iris’s doomed world.
A story of connection and hope, “Arco” is a colorful, whimsical adventure that balances the melancholy of a world falling apart with some humor—mostly courtesy of three conspiracy theorists, Dougie, Stewie, and Frankie, voiced by Will Ferrell, Andy Samberg and Flea—and the hopeful, sweet relationship between Arco and Iris. If Steven Spielberg dabbled in animation after watching a bunch of Studio Ghibli films, this is possibly the kind of tone he’d hit.
The English version (dubbed from the original French) is a little slow in its midsection, but lively voice work and beautiful, organic looking 2D animation pick up the slack.
As it winds toward an optimistic conclusion “Arco” regains its momentum, finishing off the climate change tale on a hopeful, humanistic note. It’s a coming-of-age story, not just for Arco and Iris, but for the idealistic notion that the future lies in the hands of today’s youth.
On the Saturday January 24, 2026 edition of The Richard Crouse Show we meet musician, songwriter, and director Gerald Casale. Best known as a co-founder, co-lead vocalist, and bassist of band DEVO. He was a key creative force behind DEVO’s satirical, art-driven sound and aesthetic, contributing to hits like “Whip It” and directing many of their innovative music videos. His work is deeply influenced by his experiences as an art student at Kent State University during the 1970 May 4th massacre, which shaped his views on societal devolution, a core theme in DEVO’s music. Today we talk about evolution of a band famous for singing about devolution.
Then, we’ll meet singer and songwriter Aiyana-Lee. Anyone who saw the Spike Lee, Denzel Washington film “Highest 2 Lowest” will remember her stunning film debut singing the title song, which she wrote, at the end of the film. She has an incredible story. She grew up surrounded by music, with family ties to Motown legends like grandfather Jimmy Ruffin and uncle David Ruffin of The Temptations, moved to LA at 15, where she faced industry challenges being taken seriously as a writer, and building a music career with millions of streams, and praise from figures like Elton John.
Each week on the nationally syndicated Richard Crouse Show, Canada’s most recognized movie critic brings together some of the most interesting and opinionated people from the movies, television and music to put a fresh spin on news from the world of lifestyle and pop-culture. Tune into this show to hear in-depth interviews with actors and directors, to find out what’s going on behind the scenes of your favourite shows and movies and get a new take on current trends. Recent guests include Chris Pratt, Elvis Costello, Baz Luhrmann, Martin Freeman, David Cronenberg, Mayim Bialik, The Kids in the Hall and many more!
All iHeartRadio Canada stations are available across Canada via live stream on iHeartRadio.caand the iHeartRadio Canada app. iHeartRadio Canada stations are also connected through Alexa, Siri, and Google Home smart speakers.
On this episode of Entertainment Is Broken, the podcast I do with Sarah Hanlon, we break down the newly announced Oscar nominations, including surprise snubs, unexpected front-runners, and why horror films are finally getting serious Academy attention.
The episode opens with a sharp review of Mercy, a futuristic thriller built around an AI judge, total surveillance, and a ticking clock. Is it anti-AI, pro-AI, or just a confusing sci-fi experiment? Richard explains why it may be the ultimate hate watch… and a “seatbelt movie” in the worst way.
From there, they dig into this year’s major Best Picture contenders, including Sinners, Hamnet, Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, Frankenstein, and One Battle After Another. The conversation covers Oscar predictions, blockbuster fatigue, genre bias, and what actually makes a great film.
Also discussed:
Oscar snubs (Wicked, Ariana Grande, and more)
Blockbusters vs critical darlings
The rise of “smart horror”
Casting as the Academy’s newest awards category
Why modern movies are too long…and why 90 minutes still matters
Smart, opinionated, and funny, this episode is for anyone who loves movies, film criticism, Oscar season, and debating why some films deserve awards…and others deserve mercy.
Join me for a special Q&A of the dystopian drama “The Well” with Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker Hubert Davis and cast at Cineplex Yonge-Dundas this weekend! Tickets are on sale NOW.
Friday, January 23 · 7pm · SOLD OUT
Saturday, January 24 · 6:45pm
In a world where environmental collapse has left survivors to fight over the precious remaining resources, a young woman’s loyalties are tested by the arrival of a wounded man who discovers her family has a secret supply of freshwater.
I sit with Deb Hiutton on NewsTalk 1010 to go over some of the week’s biggest entertainment stories and movies playing in theatres. We talk about “Heated Rivalry’s” tourism boom, AI on the Swedish charts, Elizabeth Hurley’s claims against the Associated Newspapers Limited, and I review both Chris Pratt in “Mercy” and Claire Foy in “H is for Hawk.”
I join the Bell Media Radio Network national night time show “Shane Hewitt and the Night Shift” to talk about “There Will Be Blood” actor Paul Dano’s reaction to being called “weak sauce” by Quentin Tarantino, Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” milestone and Neil Young’s gift to Greenland. Then I review the new desert island drama “Send Help” and suggest some cocktail to enjoy while watching tghe movie.
