Movie reviews of Sandy Schaefer

A subpar installment in The Divergent Series that fails to justify the decision to split the final Divergent novel into two movies. Review

A middle of the road action/comedy where Sacha Baron Cohen’s R-Rated comedy brand offers diminishing returns. Review

An uneven, but otherwise passable wartime comedy/drama anchored by Tina Fey’s performance. Review

An uninspired sequel to Olympus Has Fallen, but has some of its predecessor’s cheesy action movie throwback charm. Review

A cheesy and visually unimpressive fantasy adventure that’s too dull to make for fun campy entertainment. Review

Its talented cast and inspired directorial flourishes are offset by messy storytelling choices. Review

Effectively unpleasant and creepy, but it works better as a psychological thriller than a horror film. Review

Relies heavily on rom-com tropes, but succeeds in putting a more thoughtful and funny spin on many of them. Review

Aims to be bigger and crazier than its predecessor, but amounts to a serviceable (though less memorable) comedy sequel. Review

A respectful dramatization of the real-life events that inspired it, but is too by the numbers to leave a strong impression. Review

An uninspired retread of its predecessor, but manages to reach the (low) bar set for this action/comedy franchise. Review

Has elements of a lean and efficient action/thriller, but is bloated and overblown thanks to Michael Bay’s directorial approach. Review

A visually rich period drama that boasts strong performances and refined direction, though some may find it easier to admire than love. Review

A decent biographical drama anchored by Jennifer Lawrence’s performance, but fails to realize its greater ambitions. Review

A formulaic Will Ferrell comedy, but enough jokes hit their mark to make it a passable one. Review

Has its flaws, but is one of the more unique movies based on non-fiction literature in recent memory. Review

An uneven mix of raunchy farce and sincerity that’s elevated by the undeniable chemistry between Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Review

An effectively grim and well-acted Shakespeare adaptation, but prioritizes style over substance. Review

Provides enough kitschy fun for those craving a darker holiday yarn. Review

A beautiful period drama and rich piece of romantic storytelling that boasts great performances. Review

An entertainingly kooky, but otherwise messy and slapdash re-imagining of the Frankenstein mythos. Review

Still boasts a touching story and gorgeous animation. Review

A well-acted and politically-charged drama/thriller with ambitions that exceed its grasp. Review

A well-crafted and thoughtful investigative journalism docudrama that is buoyed by great performances. Review