Fresh off an Oscar win for Best Animated Feature the creators of Soul bring up the delightful 22 for a short in 22 vs. Earth. Directed by Kevin Nolting and set before the events of Disney and Pixar’s “Soul”, the short follows 22 (Tina Fey) as she defies the rules of The Great Before and refuses to go to Earth. Upset that all of her friends are leaving her, 22 enlists a gang of five other new souls in her attempt at rebellion.
22’s get along gang includes Peanut (Aela Drabek), Zimmy (Aiyana Miorin), Macaroni (Karee Ducharme) and Neptune (Azrael Dalman). The hexad’s come up with the name Apocalypse, which is a clever acronym that I won’t reveal here. Initially things seem to be going well for 22 and her new friends. However, as her cohorts’ activities lead to unexpected results, 22’s subversive plot may actually lead to a surprising revelation about the true meaning of life.
While Jamie Foxx’s Joe Gardner was a highlight of Soul, Tina Fey’s 22 was a highlight as well. Now I can honestly admit that I would’ve loved a prequel short focusing on Joe and an adolescent version of Curly, but I understand why the studio went with 22’s character for a short. Tina Fey brings a delightful humorous moxie to the role as she interacts with the other young souls. Quite honestly, in watching the prequel, I got the feeling that it was made concurrently with Soul.
In addition, the scene stealing Jerry’s also return to provide some dead pan humor and one-liners. Clocking in at under ten minutes, 22 vs. Earth is an enjoyable watch for the family, followed by a repeat viewing of Soul.
Final Grade A-
22 vs. Earth is streaming on Disney+ plus now
Martial arts auteur Siyu Cheng delivers his latest action-packed fest in “The Tai Chi Master” from Well Go USA. The Tai Chi Master” examines the journey of Zhang Junbao, a dedicated disciple of Wuji, who emerges as a crucial figure during significant upheaval.
On a musical level, the documentary is a library of Williams’ great works. It’s dramatic performances of his most famous songs, such as the classic “Star Wars” marches, the grand piano music from “Jurassic Park,” and the melancholy music from “Schindler’s List.” Each song is part of a narrative, a call to revisit old films and remember their heart-wrenching connections. Its thrilling finale (which celebrated his work on “Harry Potter”) also underscores the longevity of his music among audiences today.
Megan Fox teams up with director S.K. Dale to bring her feminine wiles to the world of A.I. in “Subservience” from XYZ Films. Will Honley and April Maguire wrote the film’s screenplay. Alice (Fox) is a lifelike, artificially intelligent android who can care for any family and home. Looking for help with the housework, struggling father Nick (Michele Morrone) purchases Alice after his wife Maggie (Madeline Zima) becomes sick. Alice suddenly becomes self-aware and wants everything her new family has to offer, starting with the affection of her owner — and she’ll kill to get it.
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