Cube Critics

MPR News Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Alex V. Cipolle both review ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” the sequel to the beloved 1988 film by Tim Burton about a troublesome trickster ghost.

‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ — Alex V. Cipolle review

“Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” brings back several stars, including Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara, and, of course, Michael Keaton reprising his iconic role as Beetlejuice.

Having been obsessed with the original movie since I was a child, I found the film to be a visual delight with plenty of great performances. But it doesn’t quite ca...

MPR News Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss a biopic about an American president and another horror movie that Max is going to compare to David Lynch.

‘Reagan’

“Reagan,” a biopic about former U.S. President Ronald Reagan starring Dennis Quaid, presents an interesting mix of production values — sometimes it feels like a high-budget biopic from the 2000s, such as “W” or “Vice.” At other times, it resembles a Lifetime movie.

Quaid’s performance, while strong, is hindered by slightly distracting makeup and a voice that doesn’t quite nail Reagan’s di...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Melissa Olson discuss a movie about a corporation that has taken over the world and a movie from a galaxy, far far away — but in a language much closer to home.

‘Alien: Romlulus’

"Alien: Romulus" marks the latest entry in the "Aliens" franchise. As someone new to the franchise, I approached the film with fresh eyes — it’s like a classic slasher film but with a Xenomorph in place of the traditional masked antagonist. The setup involves young adults being pursued through close quarters, a formula th...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Aron Woldeslassie discuss an animated version of the Man of Steel and a new Batman series in a superhero-themed episode of Cube Critics. Up, up and away!

‘My Adventures With Superman’

This week, I dove into the first two episodes of the new season of “My Adventures with Superman,” an animated series that explores Superman’s early days as a budding journalist and an emerging superhero.

Season two builds on the foundations laid in the first season, with Clark Kent already donning his iconic suit and dating...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss a mediocre adaptation of a video game and a horror film about aliens who don’t like city noises. They’re just like Max!

‘Borderlands’

“Borderlands,” adapted from the popular dystopian video game series, transitions to the big screen with mixed results. Cate Blanchett stars as Lilith, delivering a standout performance that showcases her formidable presence and action chops.

Blanchett’s portrayal is a high point in the film, offering a refreshing look at a woman over 40 leading a scien...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss a gay dating show from Japan and a horror film about the trans experience.

The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.

‘The Boyfriend’

“The Boyfriend” on Netflix offers a delightful slice of queer joy through its reality TV format, featuring queer, gay and bisexual Japanese men operating a coffee truck while living together in a shared house.

“The Boyfriend” shows us the day-to-day dynamics of friendship and romance among...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Regina Medina discuss a comic book movie that is by fans for fans and super insider and a noir-ish mystery comedy.

The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.

‘Deadpool and Wolverine’

“Deadpool and Wolverine” marks a notable entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, being both the third installment in the Deadpool series and also its debut within the MCU following Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox.

This brings Deadpool (Ryan Reyno...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Mandy Thalhuber discuss a historical fiction that was confusing and a movie about weather-obsessed individuals doing anything they possibly could to die.

The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.

‘Fly Me to the Moon’

“Fly Me to the Moon,” a romantic comedy set against the backdrop of the Apollo 11 mission, stars Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum as a NASA public relations specialist and a scientist.

The film attempts to weave historic...

Cube Critics Alex V. Cipolle and Max Sparber discuss two serial killer movies set in the ’80s and ’90s and featuring women haunted by their pasts.

The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.

‘MaXXXine’

“MaXXXine” marks the third installment in director Ti West’s X series, following “X” and its prequel “Pearl.” Set in 1980s Los Angeles, the film sees the return of Mia Goth as the ambitious adult film star Maxine Minx, who is on the brink of mainstream success...

Cube Critics Max Sparber and Aron Woldeslassie discuss a 1996 film shot in California but set in Minnesota and season four of “The Boys.”

The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.

‘Mary Jane’s Not a Virgin Anymore’

“Mary Jane’s Not a Virgin Anymore,” a poignant film by the late Minnesota filmmaker Sarah Jacobson, is a rare gem from 1996 that occasionally surfaces in screenings.

Though shot in California, the film is set in an independent movie theater in...

Cube Critics Max Sparber and Matt Mikus discuss a brand new ‘60s outlaw motorcyclist film and a film about really big robot that feels like it was written by a robot.

The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.

‘The Bikeriders’

“The Bikeriders,” directed by arthouse filmmaker Jeff Nichols, follows an outlaw bike gang in mid-60s Chicago. Based on the authentic photographs and recordings by Danny Lyons, the film has an unexpected authenticity, with detailed costumes and a vivid sett...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Kyra Miles discuss a home renovation show with a drag queen and a romance that wasn't very romantic.

The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.

‘Trixie Motel: Drag Me Home’

This week, I tuned into “Trixie Motel: Drag Me Home,” featuring the fabulous Ojibwe Midwest drag queen, Trixie Mattel, who gained world fame not just for her drag performances but also as a YouTube star and cosmetics entrepreneur and especially as the winner of “RuPa...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Aron Woldeslassie talk about a Shakespearean drama at a Renaissance Festival and a pretty good comedy special.

The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.

‘Ren Faire’

“Ren Faire” is a three-part documentary series streaming on Max, which delves into the ongoing power struggle at the Texas Renaissance Festival, reputedly the largest in America.

The series focuses on the festival's founder and long-time ruler, George Coulam, as he contemplates retirement after nearly f...

Cube Critics Alex V. Cipolle and Max Sparber discuss a show about women in comedy and a movie about an English coastal town rocked by a string of obscene letters.

The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.

‘Hacks, Season 3’

The third season of “Hacks” on HBO Max continues to explore the comedic and sometimes contentious dynamics between different generations, especially highlighting the relationship between a boomer and a millennial. Jean Smart shines as Deborah Vance, a legendary Las Vegas co...

Cube Critics talk about “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” and “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.”

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Kyra Miles discuss an absurdist cartoon comedy for adults and a Regency simp pretending to be a player.

Cube Critics watch a movie that is a love letter to stunt performers and a film about a kidnapping where — oops, the kidnapped child is a vampire.

Cube Critics Regina Medina and Max Sparber discuss a miniseries about the killing of Lincoln and a psychedelic action film set in India.

The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.

‘Manhunt’

“Manhunt,” streaming on Apple TV+, is an engaging historical drama series that captures the intense pursuit of John Wilkes Booth following his assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

Styled as a 19th century version of the modern thriller “24,” the series substitutes advanced technology with the era’s horses and Morse code, adding a...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Alex V. Cipolle discuss dystopian media.

The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.

‘Fallout’

“Fallout” is a new TV series on Amazon Prime, inspired by the beloved video game series of the same name. While I wasn’t deeply immersed in the Fallout games growing up — mostly watching friends play — I loved this series.

“Fallout” unfolds in an alternate universe steeped in retro-futurism, where the narrative begins in the 2070s following a catastrophic nucle...

Cube Critics Max Sparber and Alex V. Cipolle discuss a film about a Minnesota legend and … they really don’t know what.

The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.

‘The Claw’

This documentary should be distinguished from another recently reviewed title, “The Iron Claw,” a tragic look at a southern wrestling family. This is the Minnesota Nice version.

“The Claw” is a heartwarming dive into the life of Jim Raschke, better known as Baron von Raschke, a promi...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss a return to a 1980s franchise and an Estonian hard rock martial arts comedy.

The following are capsule reviews edited from the audio heard using the player above.

‘Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire’

“Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire” is a vintage continuation of the beloved franchise, directly following the 2021 sequel, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife.”

This installment recaptures the spirit of the original 1980s series, featuring a plot where an ancient god resurfaces in modern times, aiming to conquer the world with an arra...

Cube Critics Max Sparber and Alex V. Cipolle discuss documentaries featured at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, “No One Asked You” and “The Fishing Hat Bandit.” Plus a web- and podcast-only extra roundtable of other MSPIFF films, featuring Alex V. Cipolle, Caitlyn Speier and Jacob Aloi.

The following are capsule reviews edited from the the audio heard using the player above.

‘No One Asked You’

“No One Asked You” is a compelling documentary about Minneapolis-born comedian Lizz Winstead — and film captures a quintessentially Minnesotan moment...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Alex V. Cipolle review “Dream Scenario” and “Kung Fu Panda 4.”

The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity.

MPR News senior arts reporter and critic Alex V. Cipolle: “Dream Scenario.”

MPR News arts reporter Jacob Aloi: (Simultaneously) “Kung Fu Panda 4.”

Both: 3.2.1.

Cipolle: Mystic.

Aloi: (Simultaneously) Dustin Hoffman?

I feel like Nic Cage has been in a movie with Dustin Hoffman. They’ve both been aroun...

Cube Critics Matt Mikus and Aron Woldeslassie review “Damsel” and “Love Lies Bleeding.”

The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity.

MPR News associate producer Aron Woldeslassie: Matt, I gotta ask: How did you end up surviving the two-day snowstorm?

MPR News digital producer Matt Mikus: Eating lots of very warm food. Also had to shovel a lot which was kind of a pain.

Woldeslassie: I’m Aron Woldeslassie.

Mikus: I’m Matt M...

Cube Critics Regina Medina and Alex V. Cipolle review “Shōgun” and “The Regime.”

The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity.

MPR News senior arts reporter and critic Alex V. Cipolle: Why did you want to watch this show in the first place? Like, what what drew you into it?

MPR News correspondent Regina Medina: It wasn’t even the trailer. It was, like, what’s going on here?

Cipolle: I’m Alex V. Cipolle...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Kyra Miles disagree about Netflix’s live-action “Avatar: The Last Airbender.”

The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity.

MPR News reporter Jacob Aloi: You can say “half-assed,” “you can say “kick-ass,” you can say “worked my ass off,” you just can’t say [BEEP] like, or refer to your [BEEP].

And with that, my name is Jacob Aloi.

MPR early education reporter Kyra Miles: And I’m Kyra Miles.

A...

Cube Critics Alex V. Cipolle and Aron Woldeslassie discuss the final season of “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and a new comedy special from Jenny Slate.

The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity.

MPR News senior reporter and critic Alex V. Cipolle: Richard Lewis recently passed. And he is, crazy enough, buried in Roseville.

MPR associate producer Aron Woldeslassie: Do we know his Minnesota connection? Did he just enjoy the city...

Cube Critics Max Sparber and Aron Woldeslassie discuss a quirky Ethan Coen film, “Drive-Away Dolls” and a unique adaptation of “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” as a series; plus, performer Bill Irwin’s deep dive into Samuel Beckett’s legacy, connecting vaudeville to the playwright’s profound influence.

The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity.

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MPR Arts Editor Max Sparber: Aron, “Mr. & Mrs. Smith,” the movie, starred Angelina Jolie, didn’t it?

MPR Associate Pro...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Sam Stroozas discuss “Madame Web” and “The Iron Claw.”

The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity.

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MPR News Art Reporter Jacob Aloi: This movie was so horrible, like I can’t even like begin to describe how much I hated this movie, and I paid money to see it. And with that, my name is Jacob Aloi.

MPR News Digital Producer Sam Stroozas: And I’m Sam Strooz...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss “Finding Her Beat” and “Marmalade.” Plus a Cube Critics extra: An interview with taiko drummer Jennifer Weir.

The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity.

MPR News Arts Editor Max Sparber: Jacob, what did you see?

MPR News Arts Reporter Jacob Aloi: Okay, hang on, wait! Max Sparber! And with that, I’m Jacob Aloi.

Sparber: And I’m Max Sparber.

Both: This is Cube Critics!

Aloi...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss “Argylle” and “Meat Raffle.” Plus a Cube Critics extra: An interview with “Meat Raffle” filmmaker Aimee Chenal.

The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity.

MPR Arts Reporter Jacob Aloi: I’m Jacob Aloi

MPR Arts Editor Max Sparber: And I’m Max Sparber.

Aloi: And you’re listening to Cube Critics.

Sparber: Cube Critics.

Aloi: And then the (hums theme music)

Sparber: Music s...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Lukas Levin discuss their differing opinions about the Disney+ series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.”

The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity.

MPR Producer Lukas Levin: The main difference between this and Harry Potter is that Harry Potter maintains a lot of whimsy.

MPR Arts Reporter Jacob Aloi: So, Lukas, this week we both watched “Percy Jackson and the Olympians,” which is an adaptation of the popular book series by Rick Riordan, which tells a story of...

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss “Echo” and “Wild At Heart.” Plus a Cube Critics extra: An interview with the Chief of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Gary Batton.

The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity.

MPR News Arts Editor Max Sparber: Howdy Howdy.

MPR News Arts Reporter Jacob Aloi: I don’t know what we should do for our little — Oh! Oscars! We should talk about the Oscars. So you know, the Oscars nominations just came out.

Sp...

Cube Critic Alex V. Cipolle discusses the new season of “True Detective”; guest critic Regina Medina discusses “Slow Horses.”

The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above, lightly edited for clarity.

MPR News Senior Arts Reporter and Critic Alex V. Cipolle: You can basically smell him through the screen.

MPR News Correspondent Regina Medina: Yes.

Cipolle: Not the best hygiene.

Medina: No, he doesn't like to shower.

Cipolle: So, Regina, we both watched detective shows this week. <...

The following is a transcription of the audio heard using the player above.

MPR News producer Matt Alvarez enters.

MPR News arts reporter Jacob Aloi: Matt Alvarez. Now take your time.

MPR News arts editor Max Sparber: No hurry.

Aloi: We’re just kind of chillin’.

Sparber: Chillaxing.

Aloi: I want to be so clear: Never say that again.

So, Max Sparber, this week I saw “American Fiction” starring Jeffrey Wright. It’s actually based on a novel, which I di...

Cube Critics Alex V. Cipolle and Nina Moini look at documentaries about cults: “Escaping Twin Flames,” “Desperately Seeking Soulmate” and “Love Has Won.”

MPR News Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Kyra Miles review “Anyone But You” and “The Color Purple.”

Cube Critics Max Sparber and Aron Woldeslassie discuss season five of “Fargo” and the film “Maestro”

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber review "The Boy and the Heron" and "Godzilla Minus One."

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Aron Woldeslassie review “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” and “Scavengers Reign.”

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber review Thanksgiving horror films "Thanksgiving" and "Blood Rage," plus a bonus podcast review of "Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes"

Arts reporter Jacob Aloi and original Cube Critic Stephanie Curtis review "The Marvels" and "Saltburn."

Cube Critics Alex V. Cipolle and Max Sparber discuss “Fingernails” and “Priscilla.”

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Aron Woldeslassie discuss “Five Nights at Freddy’s” and “I Am Not for Everybody.”

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss “The Burial” and “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

Cube Critics Alex V. Cipolle and Max Sparber attend two haunted houses: Onionhead’s Revenge at the Mall of America and Nowhere Haunted House in Inver Grove Heights, Minn.

Cube Critics Alex V. Cipolle and Aron Woldeslassie discuss “The Exorcist: Believer” and “Lessons in Chemistry.”

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi and Max Sparber discuss “The Creator” and “The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar.”

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi, Alex V. Cipolle and Max Sparber discuss “One Piece,” ”Krapopolis” and “Cassandro”

Cube Critics Jacob Aloi, Alex V. Cipolle and Aron Woldeslassie discuss 'Dumb Money,' 'El Conde' and 'Red, White & Royal Blue'

Cube Critics Samantha Matsumoto and Aron Woldeslassie discuss "Reality" and "Ultimatum: Queer Love"

Cube Critics Aron Woldeslassie and Samantha Matsumoto check out "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" and season three of Netflix’s "I Think You Should Leave."

Cube Critics Aron Woldeslassie and Samantha Matsumoto check out "White Men Can't Jump" and "Polite Society."

Cube Critics Aron Woldeslassie and Euan Kerr talk "Fast X" and "Barry."

Cube Critics Aron Woldeslassie and Euan Kerr discuss "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3" and "Mrs Davis."

Cube Critics Samantha Matsumoto and Aron Woldeslassie discuss "John Mulaney:Baby J" and "Are you there God? It's me. Margaret."

Cube Critics Aron Woldeslassie and Samantha Matsumoto discuss "The Diplomat" and "Yellowjackets: Season 2.”

Cube Critics Aron Woldeslassie and Samantha Matsumoto discuss "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" and "Beef."

Cube Critics Samantha Matsumoto and Aron Woldeslassie discuss "Rye Lane" and May Martin’s "SAP."

Cube Critics Samantha Matsumoto and Aron Woldeslassie discuss "The Last of Us" and "Daisy Jones and The Six"