January 2023 Movies Ranked

With January coming to a close, I thought it would be fun to rank and share my thoughts on all 5 new releases I saw this month. January is usually a lighter month when it comes to new releases with studios dumbing their lower-quality films in this month or just not releasing any at all. It was surprising to me that I managed to see 5 movies when I expected to see 2-3. This month had movies of varying quality with some being movies that one would expect from a January release while others were surprisingly really good. With that being said, here are my thoughts and ranking of all 5 new releases that I saw.

5. You People

You People was a pretty boring comedy that was more focused on telling its message than it was telling a compelling story. There are a few funny moments in this but most of the jokes either fall flat or make you cringe instead of laugh. Eddie Murphy is the best part of the movie and even he is really neutered down in his humor and charisma. I also didn't really care for the Jonah Hill character. I'm sure if his humor was just like this for this particular movie or if this style of humor is just how he is but I really didn't find his character all that funny. Overall, this was a pretty bland movie that just didn't do a great job of entertaining me.

Score:4.5/10 Grade: C-

4. Plane

Plane is your typical Gerard Butler action movie. It is entertaining enough but there isn't really much to it in terms of plot or characters. The action itself is pretty bland and generic with not much of any notable action sequences. The exciting part of the movie was the sequence on the plane before landing on the island. The characters themselves are also pretty bland. Nobody has any sort of personality or any sort of character growth. It was fun to see the actor that played Luke Cage in another movie but even he doesn't have much charm. Overall, this is a movie that will keep you entertained but will be easily forgotten once you leave the theater.

Score: 5.5/10 Grade: C

3. Missing

Missing was a very exciting thriller with a unique premise. The movie was shot in a very interesting way with the entire movie being viewed through a computer screen. Showing the movie this way really adds intrigue and suspense to the overall film. With us only seeing things on a computer or through facetime, the movie does a great job of keeping us up to speed on what is going on as well as making sure to emphasize all of the important details. The big issue I have with the film is that I was not a fan of the direction they want with the big reveal at the end. It made sense and explained things but I just did not like that this was the direction the film went. If they really wanted to go this way, the movie really needed to set up certain relationships differently. In the end, this was an interesting intriguing movie but it just really fell back for me after that big reveal at the end.

Score: 6.5/10 Grade: B-

2. M3gan

M3gan was a surprisingly fun January horror movie. It had just the right about of horror and intrigue but not too much horror that it would deter casual viewers. M3gan is a really fun character and is entertaining on screen. The movie also manages to take on some more complex issues like parenting and grief. I also really enjoyed how the movie doesn't take itself too seriously. It knows its premise is kind of goofy and just embraces it to create a fun story. Finally, I just found all of the human characters really likable and not super bland as is typical for a horror film. Overall, this was a very entertaining horror movie that knows exactly what it is and just makes for a great time.

Score: 7.5/10 Grade: B

I. A Man Called Otto

A Man Called Otto is easily the best movie I saw this month. It showcases Tom Hanks as the lovable grump Otto that he pulls off so well. The movie has a lot of very sweet moments and a good amount of humor as well. The film also does a great job of tackling the difficult topics of loss, depression, and suicide. The movie naturally handled these topics without there being any sort of sudden tonal shift. The movie also does a great job with Otto and the chemistry he has with his various neighbors. The relationship between Otto and Marisol is really sweet along with the relationship between Otto and the little girls. Overall, this isn't just a great movie by January standards but is just a great movie in general and would probably be at the top of my list for any month.

Score: 8.5/10 Grade: A-