Worst Movies of December 2017

December had a lot of highs, but it also had some serious lows.  Considering many attempted Oscar and general entertainment films are both released in December, this reality isn’t necessarily unforeseen.  Nevertheless, I had to sit through some painful moviegoing experiences, and they’ll continue to haunt me until another crop of films open up the wound once again.  Ahh, the terrors of being a film critic.  Let’s take a look at some of the worst movies of December 2017:

#3: Bright

Bright is another example that writer Max Landis is a great creative mind.  With news that Netflix is greenlighting a sequel to the fantasy cop drama, it’s clear that many viewers think so as well.

But, the actual execution of the ideas that Max Landis imagined are less than stellar to say the least.  Combined with David Ayer’s usual, gross aesthetic, Bright‘s goals become lost and even feel somewhat racist.  Orcs and Elves are painted without much variation, creating a discussion of race relations that is overly simplistic and obvious.

Bright falters mightily when it comes to pinning down a consistent tone.  One second the film attempts to appear incredibly gritty, and the next it’s playing a pop song by Bastille in the middle of a stylized shootout.  It’s one thing to offer variety to a viewing experience, but it’s a completely different story to breakdown the stakes of a film with severely out-of-place humor and editing.

*To read my full review of Bright, please click here.

image via The Verge

#2: Wonder Wheel

Wonder Wheel is the latest warm blanket of a film from Woody Allen that simply misses the mark.  The film looks lovely and has some fine performances (most notably from Kate Winslet) but the story surrounding these elements is nothing short of pretentious and cruel.

Justin Timberlake’s performance is a clear stand-in for Allen himself, acting as a playwright that loves deeply philosophical discussions and the deconstruction of other characters’ backstories as the creation of their character.  The dialogue surrounding these components is nauseating.  When it’s all said and done, Timberlake’s character just seems smug.

Winslet’s character is nothing short of weak.  Her entire existence revolves around finding the perfect man to sweep her off her feet, becoming hysterical as the men around her begin to look elsewhere.  It’s okay to have a movie centered around relationship drama, but having characters completely rely on it for inner peace is wrong.  By the end of the film, these characters have over-stayed their welcome.

*To read my full review of Wonder Wheel, please click here.

image via IndieWire

#1: Just Getting Started

Just Getting Started isn’t just one of the worst movies of December 2017, it’s one of the worst films of the entire year.

Morgan Freeman and Tommy Lee Jones have done enough in Hollywood to earn a few stinker movies where they can take it easy and take a paycheck.  They play the same version of themselves that you’ve seen countless times before, and they come out of this film unscathed because they have built up so much adoration over years of work in the industry.

But, everything about Just Getting Started appears unbelievably lazy.  The film feels entirely stitched together, weaving together scenes of characters that never interact in a clear sign that there were zero plot threads in place at the end of principal photography.  Other parts of the film look unfinished, including terrible effects that look like an amateur YouTube production.

To add to the carnage, what little story the film has is unfunny, boring, and generic.  Out of all the worst movies of December 2017, this one has no redeeming qualities.

*To read my full review of Just Getting Started, please click here.

image via Apple Trailers

In Case You (Or I) Missed It

The worst movies of December 2017 continue beyond the list above.  Here are some other films up for consideration:

Pitch Perfect 3

Many are claiming Pitch Perfect 3 as the worst of the series.  That description is certainly a possibility as the story is by far the laziest of the three films.  But, there’s an odd amount of fun here that defies classic film criticism.  Pitch Perfect 3 is destined to become a guilty pleasure by the ironic film community.

Downsizing

Some are applauding Downsizing for its ingenuity.  The film certainly has a clever premise that grabs your attention in its first act, but the film moves away from its science fiction roots into a story that becomes a bland mid-life crisis story.  Matt Damon’s character is fairly nonexistent in terms of definable traits, lending to a movie that leaves the audience a tad cold and misled from the film’s marketing material.

image via ew.com

Father Figures

In a flurry of movies that released in the days leading up to Christmas Day, I missed out on Father Figures.  Phew!

Warner Bros. pulled the film from its release date back in 2016, uncertain about its fortunes.  Father Figures apparently showed its flaws as the story of a paternity quest was a serious misfire with critics and audiences, performing horribly at the box office as a result.

Thanks for reading!  What are your thoughts on the worst movies of December 2017?  Comment down below!

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