NewFest 2025: LESBIAN SPACE PRINCESS

Written by: Josh "The Merc" Raynor

Movie Review: THE HALF OF IT (2020)

Bookish introvert Ellie Chu is perfectly content with her life: watching old movies with her widowed father and ghostwriting papers for her high school classmates to help pay the bills. But her side gig turns personal when lovelorn jock Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) hires her to craft love notes to Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire) — a smart, popular girl out of both of their leagues… and Ellie’s own secret crush. Just as the duo’s plan begins to work, a new wrinkle emerges: Ellie and Paul have fallen into a deep friendship neither could have anticipated, giving rise to a surprising love triangle. THE HALF OF IT is a heartfelt comedy-of-errors about searching for perfect love — and finding yourself in the process.

Movie Review: LOVE, SIMON

Every so often a movie comes out that hits you in a way you never would’ve expected.  Maybe it makes you laugh in a certain way, or think about things differently.  Maybe it makes you cry, or look inside yourself.  These are the films that stick with you, the films that you remember and watch time and time again, the films that you share with friends and family because it’s something you believe they truly need to see.  These are the rare films that remind you just how great filmmaking can be because they’re able to reach in and touch your soul.  This year, for me, that film was Love, Simon.

Comedy Corner: THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN

Welcome to another installment of COMEDY CORNER, where we review the movies that make the world laugh, or those that just try to. This week's pick is the 2016 dramatic comedy...THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN.

Directorial Debut: Nat Faxon & Jim Rash's THE WAY WAY BACK

Welcome to a new installment of DIRECTORIAL DEBUTS, where we look at some of the best, most interesting, and iconic directors and the films that started their careers. This week The Merc reviews the fantastic coming-of-age film by Nat Faxon and Jim Rush, THE WAY WAY BACK.

I recently rewatched this film (for the third time) and i have to say, I enjoyed it even more than the first and second times around, which I didn't think was possible.  An instant hit at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival, The Way Way Back is a nice mixture of a coming-of-age comedy and a dysfunctional family drama.  Filled with smart writing and a great cast, this film was definitely a hidden gem of that summer movie season.