Movie reviews of Sandy Schaefer

2015, Comedy

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

2015, Drama, Comedy

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

2015, Comedy

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

2015, Adventure, Drama, History, War

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

2015, Fantasy, Horror, Comedy

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

2015, Drama, Love

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

2015, Drama, Suspense, Science fiction

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

2015, Adventure, Animation

Still boasts a touching story and gorgeous animation.

2015, Drama, Crime, Mystery

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

2015, Drama, History, Suspense

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

2015, Adventure, Animation, Comedy

Succeeds at giving the Peanuts property a shiny fresh coat of paint, while keeping its heart and humanist spirit intact.

2015, Drama, Comedy

Fails as a character study, but thrives when bringing the fast-moving world of professional chefs to cinematic life.

2015, Fantasy, Drama, Music

What good intentions Jem and the Holograms has are weighed down by its cheap aesthetic and thinly-drawn storyline.

2015, Adventure, Horror, Comedy

A fun, if frantic, scary adventure for kids that even captures the spirit of R.L. Stine’s original books.

2015, Adventure, Fantasy

Falls short at being either an imaginative origin story for Peter Pan and/or a satisfying standalone big-budget fantasy adventure.

2015, Adventure, Drama, Suspense

An entertaining and often thrilling piece of storytelling...

2015, Comedy

An insubstantial Nancy Meyers comedy kept afloat by Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway’s screen chemistry.

2015, Drama, Suspense

An engaging and well-made biopic with solid performances, but fails at being an insightful and thematically rich work of cinema.

2015, Drama, Suspense, Science fiction

Uses its post-apocalyptic backdrop to craft a compelling and moody character study.

2015, Action, Suspense

A thin story and xenophobic overtones make No Escape an unpleasant movie to watch.

2015, Horror

Lacks the restrained direction and eery mythos of its predecessor.

2015, Drama, Music, Comedy

A half-baked comedy/drama, but the cast (including Meryl Streep’s aging rocker) makes it a charming one.

2015, Adventure, Action, Suspense

A smart and exciting blockbuster, as well as another strong installment in the Tom Cruise action franchise.

2015, Drama, Action

A paint by numbers boxing drama kept afloat by good direction and a ferocious Jake Gyllenhaal performance.