Re-Election is a feel-good comedy that is fully entertaining throughout, before it sneaks up on you in the end, so have those tissues handy.

Re-Election (2025) delivers a back-to-school comedy that manages to be both a hilarious throwback and a deeply moving movie on what it means to truly grow up. This one is sneaky, so be sure to have tissues on hand as you approach the final moments.

After losing a high-stakes race for class president in 1995, Jimmy Bauer (Adam Saunders) didn’t just lose a title – he lost his momentum, eventually dropping out and spending the next thirty years in a state of arrested development. This film follows him as he returns to school, determined to finish first this time.

We meet Jimmy in his 40s, working in a sports memorabilia store owned by his father (played by the legendary Tony Danza). Surrounded by relics of other people’s victories, Jimmy decides he’s had enough of being the underdog. This is when he decides to return to high school, earn his missing credits, and win the very election that derailed his life three decades ago.

While the “grown man in high school” trope has been explored before, Re-Election avoids the mean-spiritedness that often appears in these films. Instead, it leans into the absurdity of the generational gap with a sharp, modern wit that feels fresh rather than forced.

A Balancing Act: Comedy Meets Heart

The film’s greatest strength lies in its ability to sneak up on you. What begins as a goofy premise about a man-child trying to out-maneuver teenagers quickly evolves into an emotional journey.

Adam Saunders pulls off a difficult quadruple-threat as star, writer, producer, and director. His performance as Jimmy is anchored in a relatable vulnerability; he isn’t just a guy looking for a trophy, he’s a man looking for a reason to believe in himself again.

Patty Guggenheim and Kym Whitley provide much of the film’s levity. Their chemistry brings a high-energy, improvisational feel to the screen. Whitley, in particular, shines in a role of authority that allows her to be delightfully mean while maintaining the film’s core warmth.

While the 90s nostalgia is a major draw, the film’s heart belongs to Noa, played by Bex Taylor-Klaus. Noa is a Gen-Alpha student who becomes Jimmy’s friend and mentor in the ways of the modern world.

Taylor-Klaus delivers a standout performance as a non-binary character who is immensely capable and self-assured, yet still finding their own path. The relationship between Jimmy and Noa isn’t just a plot device; it’s a bridge between two generations who both feel like outsiders. As the film progresses, it becomes clear that Jimmy isn’t just teaching Noa about life – Noa is teaching Jimmy how to exist in the present instead of the past.

It is impossible to discuss Re-Election without mentioning Tony Danza. Playing Jimmy’s father, Danza brings a grounded energy to the film. His presence adds a layer of prestige and old-school charm that balances the film’s high-energy comedic sequences.

Overall Thoughts

Re-Election is that rare breed of independent film: a feel-good movie that doesn’t shy away from real emotion. It tackles modern themes, from gender-neutral bathrooms to the crushing pressure of social media, with a curiosity and acceptance that is rarely seen in mainstream comedies.

By the time the credits roll, you might find yourself surprised by a few tears. It’s a film that reminds us that while we can’t go back and change our 17-year-old selves, we can always choose to be better versions of our 40-year-old selves.

About Re-Election

High school haunts everyone, in one way or another. For Jimmy Bauer (writer-producer-director ADAM SAUNDERS), it was losing the race for class president during his senior year back in 1995, which caused him to drop out.

Now a 40-something underdog stuck working in a memorabilia store owned by his dad (TV comedy icon TONY DANZA), Jimmy decides to go back to school for his missing class credits — and win the election he’s sure will make his life right. But after 30 years, things have changed a bit, and with the help of his new Gen-Alpha friend Noa (BEX TAYLOR-KLAUS) and former classmate-turned-girlfriend Ama (NATHALIE KELLEY), Jimmy learns that it’s not how we start a journey that matters — it’s how we finish it.

Re-Election is now available to buy or rent on Prime Video and Apple TV.

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The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants offers important lessons for viewers of all ages while delivering classic SpongeBob humor and fun.

There is a rare kind of magic in a franchise that can span decades and still feel as fresh, bubbly, and earnest as it did on day one. As someone who has loved SpongeBob SquarePants since the beginning (wow, that makes me feel old), I went into The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants with high hopes, and I am thrilled to say it exceeded every single one of my expectations. This isn’t just another sequel; it’s a hilarious, heart-filled seafaring adventure that proves why SpongeBob remains the undisputed king of optimism.

The plot follows SpongeBob on a quest to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs – a motivation that feels perfect for this character. To do so, he teams up with the legendary, swashbuckling Flying Dutchman for a journey into the deepest, darkest depths of the ocean.

What I loved most is that while the story feels like a fresh, brand-new narrative we haven’t seen before, it remains perfectly in vein with the original series. It captures that specific DNA – that chaotic energy, surrealism, and relentless kindness – that defines Bikini Bottom’s beloved resident.

One of the greatest strengths of this film, as with every SpongeBob project, is its humor. It’s packed with the kind of silly, slapstick jokes that younger audiences adore, but it doesn’t leave the adults behind. I always appreciate when writers throw in those clever jokes for the adults that fly over the kids’ heads, but have the parents chuckling in their seats. There were a couple of moments in this film that were genuinely, laugh-out-loud funny for me.

I watched this with my daughter, who is almost 13, and seeing her cracking up the entire time was the highlight of the experience. It’s a testament to the writing that a 12-year-old and her parent can sit together and have an absolute blast.

It goes without saying, but Tom Kenny is a master of his craft. He knows this character so deeply by now that SpongeBob’s voice and mannerisms feel like second nature. He brings a level of nuance to the character that keeps him from being just a cartoon.

That said, the real scene-stealer in The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants is Mark Hamill. He is, as always, a phenomenal villain. He brings a certain gravitas and theatricality to the role that makes him the perfect foil for SpongeBob’s high-pitched energy. Seeing the two of them together throughout the film and how this relationship evolves is a blast. Without spoilers, how it all ends up in the end is truly perfect.

I was also delighted to see the movie take us back to the surface once again. It has become a bit of a tradition for the SpongeBob movies to blend animation with the real world, and I am so glad they were sure to work that element into this story.

Overall Thoughts On The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants

At its heart, the movie carries a beautiful, cute message about the importance of being yourself. It reminds us that you don’t need to change who you are or put on a tough persona to be brave; your true self is more than enough. It also shines a light on how important friendships are and how they can help ground you when you need them. These are lessons that are important for kids, of course, but also for all ages.

If you love SpongeBob, you are going to love this movie. It’s a fun, squeal-inducing adventure that stays true to its roots while offering something new. However, the caveat remains: if you aren’t a fan of the series’ specific brand of humor, this won’t change your mind. But for the rest of us? It’s a 10/10 trip to the bottom of the sea.

About The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants

Hoping to prove his bravery to Mr. Krabs, SpongeBob follows a mysterious, swashbuckling ghost pirate known as the Flying Dutchman on a seafaring adventure that takes him to the deepest depths of the ocean.

The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants comes to theaters on December 19th.

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The Housemaid is a wild, trippy, insane ride! An extremely faithful adaptation of the book, but with quite a few little additions for those who have read it.

As a big fan of Freida McFadden’s novel, The Housemaid, the announcement of a film adaptation left me equal parts excited and nervous. Could the book’s specific brand of unsettling domestic chaos and its infamous narrative rug-pulls translate to the big screen? Thankfully, director Paul Feig has not only cleared this high bar but has soared over it, delivering an adaptation that is thrillingly faithful while proving unafraid to innovate where the story demands it. The result is a genuinely shocking psychological thriller that works just as well for those who have no idea what is coming and those who do.

A story that relies so heavily on shifting perspectives needs to have a capable cast, and this is where The Housemaid truly shines. The core trio – Millie, Andrew, and Nina Winchester – are brought to life by Sydney Sweeney, Brandon Sklenar, and Amanda Seyfried, and their on-screen chemistry is pure perfection. They capture the volatile, truly insane energy perfectly.

Sydney Sweeney’s portrayal of Millie is finely tuned, allowing the audience to feel her initial vulnerability and growing unease as she navigates the increasingly bizarre rules of the Winchester household. She anchors the narrative, giving us a protagonist we can root for even as the story spirals into utter unpredictability.

Brandon Sklenar as Andrew Winchester is also perfectly cast. He embodies the sophisticated yet subtly intimidating veneer of a wealthy and powerful man. It is a performance of calculated charm and simmering tension, and the way Sklenar maneuvers through the character’s complex arc is riveting. His interactions with both Sweeney and Seyfried are performed brilliantly, establishing a triangle that feels constantly on the verge of collapse.

That said, the casting of Amanda Seyfried as Nina Winchester was easily the most polarizing decision, given the character’s description in the book as being older than Millie. However, the film brilliantly subverts expectations, and the screenplay manages to flawlessly integrate Seyfried into the role. I can promise that any initial doubts about the age discrepancy are completely dispelled by the narrative’s clever workaround. This choice ultimately enhances the film’s central power dynamic, making Nina’s influence on the household all the more unsettling.

Moreover, the film addresses Nina’s physical decline over the course of the narrative. While the book depicts her growing overweight and haggard, the film makes the understandable creative choice to simply use the hair and makeup to its advantage. While a devoted fan might have wished to see the full physical transformation, the production successfully uses makeup and styling to convey the character’s inner turmoil and exhaustion without resorting to cumbersome physical prosthetics.

Paul Feig’s direction is the glue that holds this complicated story together. He demonstrates a profound understanding of the source material’s structure, knowing exactly when to let the tension simmer and when to unleash it.

One of my favorite parts of the film is something that does not take place in the book – at least not in the same way. Paul Feig has managed to take one particular section of the book that many readers found a little anticlimactic and reimagined it for the big screen with spectacular success. This is the mark of a great adaptation: respecting the source’s spirit while recognizing areas where the cinematic medium can heighten the drama.

That said, there are a few parts of the book, which I cannot talk about in detail for fear of spoilers, that are removed from the film, but I wish they had not been. Still, I understand the reasoning behind the decision.

Overall Thoughts On The Housemaid

The core pleasure of The Housemaid is, of course, its unrelenting parade of twists and turns. Even those of us who knew the major plot beats were surprised by the fresh execution and the added cinematic flourishes. The energy in the theater from those who were experiencing these twists for the first time was incredibly fun to witness, proving that the mystery holds up even in a new medium.

The Housemaid is a triumph of adaptation. It’s slick, relentlessly paced, and features career-best performances from its central cast. It satisfied me, the fan who knows every secret, while shocking those who had no idea what was coming next. It is a psychological roller coaster that you will want to ride again and again.

About The Housemaid

The Housemaid is a wildly entertaining thriller starring Sydney Sweeney and Amanda Seyfried, based on the best-selling book. From director Paul Feig, the film plunges audiences into a twisted world where perfection is an illusion, and nothing is as it seems.

Trying to escape her past, Millie (Sweeney) accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for the wealthy Nina (Seyfried) and Andrew Winchester (Brandon Sklenar). But what begins as a dream job quickly unravels into something far more dangerous — a sexy, seductive game of secrets, scandal, and power. Behind the Winchesters’ closed doors lies a world of shocking twists that will leave you guessing until the very end.

The Housemaid comes to theaters on December 19th.

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