I appear on “CTV News at 11:30” with anchor Andria Case to talk about the best movies and television to watch this weekend, including Hercule Poirot and “A Haunting in Venice,” the crime comedy “A Retirement Plan” and the political satire “El Conde.”
I sit in with NewsTalk 1010 host Jim Richards on the coast-to-coast-to-coast late night “NewsTalk Tonight” to play the game “Did Richard Crouse Like This?” This week we talk about Hercule Poirot and “A Haunting in Venice,” the crime comedy “A Retirement Plan” and the political satire “El Conde.”
Fast reviews for busy people! Watch as I review three movies in less time than it takes to shut the door! Have a look as I race against the clock to tell you about Hercule Poirot and “A Haunting in Venice,” the crime comedy “A Retirement Plan” and the political satire “El Conde.”
I joined CP24 to have a look at new movies coming to VOD, streaming services and theatres. Today we talk about Hercule Poirot and “A Haunting in Venice,” the crime comedy “A Retirement Plan” and the political satire “El Conde.”
I join CTV NewsChannel anchor Renee Rogers to talk about Hercule Poirot and “A Haunting in Venice,” the crime comedy “A Retirement Plan” and the political satire “El Conde.”
I joined CP24 to have a look at new movies coming to VOD, streaming services and theatres. Today we talk about Hercule Poirot in “A Haunting in Venice,” the Nicolas Cage crime comedy “A Retirement Plan” and the return of the Apple TV+ series “The Morning Show.”
I sit in with CKTB morning show host Tim Denis to have a look at Hercule Poirot in “A Haunting in Venice,” the crime comedy “A Retirement Plan” and the political satire “El Conde.”
I sit in on the CFRA Ottawa morning show with host Bill Carroll to talk the new movies coming to theatres including the new adventure of Hercule Poirot and “A Haunting in Venice,” the crime comedy “A Retirement Plan” and the political satire “El Conde.”
Nicolas Cage caps off a busy 2023 with “The Retirement Plan,” an unusual family dramedy that marks his fifth foray into theatres since New Year’s.
He plays Matt, a retired older guy, content with the life of a beach bum after a life of “government work.” He was, he says, an arbitrator, someone who settled disputes and “gets the job done.” He was also a crappy father to Ashley (Ashley Greene), the daughter he left behind when he abandoned her and her sick mother years ago. “If she wants to visualize me as dead, she has every right,” he says.
When Ashley and husband Jimmy (Jordan Johnson-Hinds) steal a hard drive from ruthless crime boss Donnie (Jackie Earle Haley) and his Shakespeare-loving henchman Bobo (Ron Perlman), the baddies will do almost anything to get it back, including taking her young daughter Sarah (Thalia Campbell).
Caught up in a web of trouble, Sarah reaches put to dear old dad, unaware of his violent past. As he assesses the situation, his instincts kick in as he levels the playing field.
“Here’s the thing boss,” says Bobo to Donnie, “the old guy keeps killing everybody. Everybody!”
“The Retirement Plan” owes a debt to Guy Ritchie. It doesn’t have the snap, crackle and pop of Ritchie’s early films, like “Snatch” or “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,” but stylistically its mix of violence and comedy plays like Ritchie Lite.
Cage hands in a charming, off-the-wall take on Matt, possibly the goofiest and most casual assassin we’ve seen on screen since “The Hitman’s Bodyguard.” He’s deadly, an unapologetic oddball, and more than just a bit silly, but it is Cage’s performance that breathes life into the desiccated one-last-job/bad father-with-a-violent-past genres. He’s letting his freak flag fly, having fun, and it shows.
“The Retirement Plan” isn’t a great movie, even by the standards of Cage’s choppy resume, but it doesn’t take itself too seriously, and neither should you.