"YOU'LL LIKE HER WHEN SHE'S ANGRY" // A SERIES PREMIERE REVIEW OF "SHE-HULK: ATTORNEY AT LAW"

BY MATEO MORENO

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has gone a lot of different ways, and even for those who might complain that some of Phase 4 isn't their favorite (I'm not one of those people, but you know, some people have), you have to admire how their latest projects are swinging for the fences and really crafting different kinds of storytelling. From Sam Raimi being very "Sam Raimi" with Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness to the horror thriller vibe of Moon Knight to its latest offering SHE-HULK: ATTORNEY AT LAW, they all feel VERY different. With She-Hulk, Marvel is taking on two new genres: the romantic comedy and the law procedural. Only one episode has dropped, but it's clear that this fast moving, sweet and fun new series is getting off on the right foot.

Tatiana Maslany (best known for playing 17 characters in Orphan Black) takes the lead of Jennifer Walters, a sweet and charming District Attorney. Her best friend and coworker Nikki Ramos (Ginger Gonzaga) is a paralegal and someone who always has her back, especially when sexist coworkers rear their ugly head. Almost immediately Nikki checks in with Jennifer as she's preparing for a closing argument and asks if she's gonna "Hulk out." Whoa, did we skip the origin story here?! Well, kinda, but only for a moment. Jennifer then turns to the camera, breaking the fourth wall just as she does in the comic books and tells us that yes, she's a Hulk and we should probably know how she came to be that way. We then spend most of the episode with Jennifer and her cousin Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) finding out how his mild mannered and sassy cousin ended up following in his big green footsteps.

The entire episode felt like a fresh, fun and self-aware set up to what looks to be a really entertaining series. Maslany is fantastic and perfectly cast as Jennifer Walters, and her chemistry with Mark Ruffalo (who is also charming as usual) is pitch perfect. Just like Deadpool, She-Hulk constantly breaks the fourth wall in the comics and by continuing that into the series, it gives the show a self aware and fresh feel. Director Jessica Gao also has some fun and nifty tricks here, like giving us a confused monster POV when Jennifer first changes and a fun almost sibling rivalry of who can "out Hulk who" as Jennifer trains to control her powers. We also get a bit of fun filler information regarding Hulk, see how he's able to revert back to Hulk and where he hid away during the blip to craft his "Smart Hulk" persona. Banner annoyingly quips at one point, "Smart Hulk. You don't get to pick the names." Which is a fun side comment that's clearly going to come back with Jennifer not being the one who chooses to be called "She-Hulk." And although there was plenty of griping about the unfinished CGI from the trailers, it looks good here, with a clear difference in how much work they put into the She-Hulk finished look.

What's interesting about Jennifer's transformation is that she's basically "Smart Hulk" right away and Bruce doesn't quite understand how. So we won't have to sit through any "Hulk smash" moments of dual personalities here. In fact (minor spoilers here), she sometimes practices law as She-Hulk and not Walters in the comics, so it'll be fun to see what they do here. The episode ends with a blink and you'll miss it intro to Jameela Jamil's Titania character, a character that everyone involved promises to be loads of ridiculous fun. It does feel like A LOT is crammed into a this first half-hour episode, but since this series (unlike Marvel's other offerings) will run 10 episodes in total, I have hope that it'll be giving plenty of time to establish the law world and personal life of Jennifer Walters and the super power beings that she will be forced to work alongside. I'm excited to see where this charming ride will take us.

GRADE: B+

BASED ON THE MARVEL COMIC CHARACTER CREATED BY Stan Lee and John Buscema SERIES CREATED BY Jessica Gao WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY Jessica Gao STARRING Tatiana Maslany, Mark Ruffalo, Ginger Gonzaga, Jameela Jamil. NOW STREAMING ON DISNEY PLUS.

ONCE UPON A NEW YORK AVENUE // A FILM REVIEW OF "BEGIN AGAIN"

BY W. DEREK JORDEN

What a feel-good New York movie! BEGIN AGAIN, written and directed by John Carney (Once) is a story about the beautiful redemption one can find in this great city. After defeats and major failures, bad habits and too many hungover mornings strung together, you can pick yourself up by the bootstraps, trust your skills and intuitions, mix in equal parts hard work, scary risk, and passionate pursuit and good things will come. 

That’s what happens with Dan Mulligan (Mark Ruffalo). After he gets fired from the record label he co-founded and ditched by his wife because of his consistent shenanigans, he hears a sound on a drunken night at Arlene’s Grocery that starts to turn it all around. That sound is the angelic voice of singer/songwriter Gretta James (Kiera Knightley) who is in town providing moral and writing support for her boyfriend Dave Kohl (Adam Levine) as he is recording a new hit album himself. Cool shaggy-mopped blazer-wearing classic-Jaguar-driving Dan hears something special in pretty Gretta, and as Dave sells out to the music industry, Dan and Gretta stay true to their hearts. It pays off.

The soundtrack, mostly written by Gregg Alexander will undoubtedly receive some attention as it is not only a number of catchy songs that could stand well on their own, but well in tune with the vibe of the movie. As a rom-com musical, there are several music industry faces that pop up. It’s Adam Levine’s first time acting in a movie and you can tell; it’s Kiera Knightley’s first time singing in a movie but she does well; Mos Def plays Mulligan’s record label co-founder; CeeLo Green plays big time producer TroubleGum and is funny; even James Corden (amateur opera singer in last year’s One Chance) does a great job as Gretta’s best friend making us laugh between his busking sessions in Union Square.

Ruffalo and Knightley have an exciting chemistry together that begins in amicability, grows to a delightful fondness and serious trust and even teeters for a moment on the edge of romantic. They work together to make an album that, in the world of the film, will bring joy and inspiration to an entire city, and to make a movie, in this world, that did the same. 

DEREK'S GRADE: A

Written and Directed by John Carney Starring Kiera Kightley, Mark Ruffalo, James Corden and Adam Levine

Rated R

FINAL THOUGHTS: With a soundtrack that will rival some of the best indie pop albums this year layered on top of great shots from recognizable spots all around the city and meaningful performances from Ruffalo, Knightley and Corden, this movie will reinvigorate what you came to this city to do: follow your dreams.

W. DEREK JORDEN is an actor currently living and working in New York City. He and his wife live on a Spaceship on the top of a building, which makes for some interesting dinner parties.