Within this last week, those of us living in the UK were treated to something very special and quite rare indeed. What was it? Some summer sunshine in spring!
It happened rather briefly, it took many of us by surprise, but it was certainly a treat. And as soon as the temperature rose and the sunbeams appeared, not only did it improve everyone’s mood tenfold (possibly even elevenfold), it also felt like we had skipped forward in time to the summer blockbuster season.
Sadly, we had not, but it sure felt that way. However, the good news is, we’re really not far away from some summer flicks.
In a few weeks we will start to see the light roll-out of a few potential heavy-hitters, including A Minecraft Movie and Until Dawn, and then it really is only a hop, a skip, and a jump until the likes of Marvel’s Thunderbolts*, Final Destination: Bloodlines, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Karate Kid: Legends, 28 Years Later, Superman, and many more top titles.
Excited? Great stuff! Then consider this your reminder to stock up on bags of popcorn in preparation.
The summer blockbuster season truly is a glorious thing, even if it can sometimes be a bumpy ride. Yet bumpy ride or not, it’s the summer movies which tend to draw in the crowds, and they are often the films we find ourselves catching up on later in the year via streaming, digital, or disc.
But anyway, before we get to all those big summer movies, there’s still plenty of other films to capture your interest. And hopefully some decent movie reviews too.
Speaking of which, in this week’s edition of Movie Reviews 2025 you will find reviews for Delicious, Love Hurts, Fight or Flight, and The Electric State. Plus, Ridley Scott’s Legend is back out on DVD and there’s fun and laughs with From Roger Moore with Love.
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Now streaming…
Delicious (2025)
Now streaming on Netflix is the dark German thriller, Delicious. Written and directed by Nele Mueller-Stöfen, the movie stars Fahri Yardim, and Valerie Pachner, and follows the story of a young family whose lives get turned upside down when they encounter a mysterious woman.
In the movie, John and Esther are on holiday in the south of France with their two children, Alba and Philipp. The family are using the opportunity to kick back and relax, with Esther keen to distance herself from work.
One night, while on their way back from dinner, John accidentally hits a young woman with his car. The woman – named Teodora – appears to have only a minor injury, so Esther suggests taking her back to their villa to patch her up.
Teodora indicates she would like to go to a hospital, but Esther is insistent she can take care of the wound herself. Esther believes that with a few bandages, and maybe a small bribe, Teodora will be fine, and more importantly, she won’t report the incident.
Initially this plan seems to work and the family aim to continue their holiday. But the next day, Teodora returns to the villa, explains she is currently out of work and would like a job as their maid.
Concerned about the consequences of their actions, Esther and John agree and Teodora becomes a part of the household. However, this decision soon has significant ramifications for all involved.
Question: Did you enjoy 2019’s Parasite and 2023’s Saltburn? Yes? No? You’ve still not watched either of them?
Well, the answer you give may help you decide if Delicious is for you. While Delicious isn’t quite the same as Parasite or Saltburn (and it’s certainly not as bonkers as the latter), it does feel like an amalgamation of the two.
Essentially Delicious is a story about deception, manipulation, and infiltration, and borrows a similar vibe from the aforementioned pictures. It’s dark and ominous, with a cast of unlikeable characters, and if this is your sort of thing, it may find you well.
Do be warned though, Delicious is a slow burning picture, so there are no quick thrills here. However, there is plenty of confidence in the filmmaking, along with a good cast and a devilish heart, so this does help to balance out the slower pace.
Delicious marks writer/director Nele Mueller-Stöfen’s feature-length directorial debut and it’s a strong and promising start. The filmmaker has a clear vision, is not afraid to unspool her story as she sees fit, and moves all of her pieces around quite well.
Does it always work? No, and some may check out early, but those who stick with it could find themselves with an uncomfortable, yet satisfying experience.
More importantly, Delicious is better than most of the drivel offered up on Netflix. There is a sense that Nele Mueller-Stöfen cares about her film, and isn’t just phoning it in for the streamer, and this counts for a lot.
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Now streaming…
Love Hurts (2025)
Next up is the action comedy, Love Hurts. Directed by Jonathan Eusebio, and starring Ke Huy Quan, Ariana DeBose, and Sean Astin, the film tells the story of a realtor with a dark secret.
In the movie, Marvin ‘Marv’ Gable is a happy-go-lucky guy working for Frontier Realty. Marv has a positive outlook on life, loves his job, and is polite to everyone he meets.
But Marv is harbouring a secret about his past. Prior to finding a peaceful existence in the property sector, Marv was a hitman – and a good one at that!
Up until now, things have been ticking along fine, and Marv has been making a success of his new life away from all the killing. But things soon change when his estranged brother ‘Knuckles’ seeks him out, keen to get payback for a hit Marv refused to perform.
Released theatrically across the Valentine’s season last month, but now available to stream at home via video-on-demand platforms, Love Hurts is a watchable, if somewhat slight action movie. It has all the ingredients of a decent picture, and it does boast a likeable performance from Ke Huy Quan, but the comedy fails to land and the story is stale.
There is the general sense the film’s heart is in the right place, and everyone involved is giving it their all, but it all feels like it has been done before and much better. It’s also a film that is elevated by Ke Huy Quan’s involvement, and without him this would be the sort of thing which would have gone straight to streaming with no cinema release at all.
On the plus side, the action sequences are fun, the cinematography is superb, and the movie is pretty short. It all comes in at just over 80 minutes, so doesn’t outstay its welcome either.
Is there enough story for around 80-minutes? Arguably no, but at least it doesn’t drag things out for two hours (small mercies and all that).
Anyway, watch if you’re a big fan of Ke Huy Quan, or you like the sound of the premise, but skip if you’re not fussed. It could be worse, but ultimately it is underwhelming and should be better.
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On disc…
Legend (1985)
Fancy a bit of fantasy this week? Then you’d best fire up the DVD player, because the 1985 dark fantasy adventure film, Legend is back out on disc in time for its 40th anniversary.
Directed by Ridley Scott, Legend stars Tom Cruise, Mia Sara, Alice Playten, and Tim Curry. The film follows the story of Jack – an innocent young man who sets out to save the last two unicorns and prevent an oncoming danger.
In the movie, the Lord of Darkness wishes to obtain the horns from two sacred unicorns, sending out his goblin minions to complete the task. Should they succeed, the Lord of Darkness will be able to block out the sunlight forever, resulting in an endless winter.
Problem is, the Lord doesn’t factor in some interference from Jack. He is set to throw a spanner in the works, and hopefully save the day!
Mad as a box of frogs, with a story that’s all over the place, but absolutely beautiful to look at, Legendis a movie you either throw yourself into whole-hog or at the very least admire greatly while quietly deciding to never watch again. What it lacks in the script department (and believe me, it’s lacking) it more than makes up for in the visuals, offering up some of the best fantasy imagery from any film of the 1980s.
In fact, of all the fantasy films from this time period (Labyrinth, Krull, The Neverending Story, etc), you’ll be hard pressed to find one so exquisite on the eyes as Legend. Every inch of the picture is stunning, often showcasing an ethereal, dream-like quality, resulting in something you’ll be unable to take your peepers off… even if you have no clue what the story is about.
From goblins and dwarves to elves, fairies, and the aforementioned unicorns, Legend has a great deal to offer. And then chief amongst the fantasy characters is the Lord of Darkness who is both captivating and utterly terrifying.
Hidden under horns and heavy make-up, and played to absolute perfection by Tim Curry, he is the stuff of nightmares. Slightly sexy nightmares, but it’s nightmarish nonetheless.
Of course, imagery and erotic villain aside, the wonky narrative is a considerable sticking point and it’s fair to say the best way to follow Legend is to be completely off your box on fairy dust. Trying to keep track of what’s going on is a headache waiting to happen, so don’t even bother.
Alternatively, turn the volume down, and just invent your own dialogue. It’ll make more sense and you’ll no doubt be drawn into the imaginative world much quicker.
If you miss the days of all-encompassing worlds and practical effects, dive into Legend and you’ll be in prosthetics heaven. The film doesn’t work in every department, but it does try, and in the years since its release it has become a cult favourite.
Should you wish to grab a copy of Legend on DVD, the film is available now from all good entertainment retailers. The price? About £5.99.
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Now streaming…
Fight or Flight (2025)
In Fight or Flight, ex-Secret Service Agent, Lucas Reyes is called in by a government agency to take part in a special mission. He is to board a flight in Bangkok, apprehend a suspect, and bring them back to the US in custody.
The suspect is a highly illusive terrorist who goes by the codename, the Ghost. No one know’s the Ghost’s real identity, nor what they look like, but it is clear the Ghost will be flying from Bangkok to San Francisco.
As Lucas boards the plane he prepares to seek out the Ghost and complete his mission. But as he soon comes to realise, he’s not the only person looking for the Ghost, and with other secret operatives onboard the plane, the situation could quickly descend into a mid-flight free-for-all.
Directed by James Madigan, Fight or Flight is an action comedy starring Josh Hartnett and Katee Sackhoff. The film is a Sky Cinema Original, which is now streaming on Sky/Now in the UK, and will be touching down in the US from May 9th.
Filled with daft action sequences, and an equally daft premise, Fight or Flight is a fairly playful romp which at times is fun and somewhat lively. Josh Hartnett is likeable in the role of Lucas Reyes, the action scenes are jam-packed with slapstick, and the runtime isn’t too long either.
However, despite the parts that work in this picture, Fight or Flight is unfortunately a bit of a misfire. It has many of the right components, and it travels in the right direction, but there is some considerable turbulence which robs it of a smooth landing.
Not all of the humour catches as intended, the story doesn’t have quite enough twists and turns to be fully engaging, and outside of Hartnett and Sackhoff the whole thing lacks star power. Perhaps with a few high profile actors popping up as assassins this could have been something else entirely.
Fight or Flight also suffers with one rather pressing problem: It all feels a bit like a lesser version of 2022’s Bullet Train (a Marmite movie at best… and that’s being generous).
Sure, it’s watchable, but something continually feels off. Sometimes it’s the tone, at other times it’s the energy, but for the most part it just appears to lack the right edge.
Ultimately, and this is the biggest issue of all, while Fight or Flight might grab your interest at the beginning, and you may even be there at the end, there will be times in between when you will check out. Whether you find yourself taking a mid-flight nap, or a quick scroll on TikTok, your eyes will be diverted for a bit and not even the sight of Josh Hartnett beating the crap out of someone will keep you fully invested.
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Now streaming…
From Roger Moore with Love (2024)
Now available to rent or buy on digital in the UK is the playful documentary film, From Roger Moore with Love. The film, directed by Jack Cocker, tells the life story of British actor, Sir Roger Moore, who passed away in 2017 and is perhaps best known for playing James Bond across seven big budget movies.
The film features never before seen footage of the actor, taken from various home videos, along with input from friends and colleagues including Joan Collins, Jane Seymour, Pierce Brosnan, and Christopher Walken, amongst others. The main aim is to provide a portrait of the man, his work, his romances, and his legacy, as well as his marvellous self-deprecating humour.
In a neat little twist, From Roger Moore with Love is narrated by Steve Coogan pretending to be Roger Moore. Coogan’s take on Sir Rog is fun and light-hearted, and played with a knowing wink and tongue firmly in cheek.
Coogan’s dialogue is inspired by Roger’s own words, with thoughts taken from diaries, memoirs, and interviews. Although, as noted quite clearly on screen, the narration plays fast and loose with anything Roger has said, so take it for what it is.
If you consider yourself a fan of Roger Moore, then this documentary should find you well. It has a lively energy, offers plenty of insights, and has some good input from contributors.
It’s not the greatest doc in the world, but it’s lovely stuff. Coogan’s narration adds that extra bit of sparkle, although the big draw is getting to spend some time celebrating the man himself.
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Now streaming…
The Electric State (2025)
And finally, in The Electric State, it’s the early ‘90s and after years of being used as slave labour, a robot uprising occurs. Robots of all shapes and sizes turn on humanity and a two-year war begins.
Using advanced technology, humans eventually gain the edge, and the war ends. A treaty is signed, robots are imprisoned, and life continues, albeit very differently than it was before war broke out.
One such person living a very different life is Michelle Greene. After a car accident left her an orphan, Michelle has moved from foster home to foster home, and in 1994 she finds herself in the latest home which is less than ideal.
But things change considerably for Michelle when one night her not-so great existence is interrupted by a robot named Cosmo. This robot appears to have a connection to Michelle’s late brother, Christopher, which sends her on a journey to discover the truth about his supposed death.
This journey sees Michelle join forces with rough-and-ready trader, Keats, as well as his companion bot, Herm. They too are outcasts, and whether they like it or not, are now caught up with Michelle and Cosmo, as outside forces threaten their lives.
Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo (Avengers: Endgame), and loosely based on Simon Stålenhag’s illustrated novel of the same name, The Electric State is a fun sci-fi action movie which is now streaming on Netflix. The film stars Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Anthony Mackie, Alan Tudyk, Stanley Tucci, Ke Huy Quan, and Giancarlo Esposito, and plays like Steven Spielberg meets Robert Zemeckis, via Fallout and I, Robot.
A bit derivative then? At times, yes, yet highly enjoyable nonetheless.
I’m the first to call out Netflix when it is simply going through the motions and offering up moving wallpaper, but The Electric State is likeable stuff. The movie offers up some great visuals, with plenty of kooky and imaginative robots, plus the mix of sci-fi, action, and comedy blends well, and Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt are enjoyable leads.
Brown continues to prove she has the acting chops to move beyond her role on Stranger Things (and Netflix in general) and is great as Michelle, while Pratt channels his inner Star-Lord to deliver a safe, but perfectly fine turn as Keats. Sure, this isn’t a stretch for Pratt, but he’s giving audiences what they want and it works well enough for this picture.
Joining Brown and Pratt are Anthony Mackie as the voice of Herm and Alan Tudyk as the voice of Cosmo, while Stanley Tucci and Giancarlo Esposito pop up as the film’s villains. Other actors who get thrown into the mix in some capacity include Jason Alexander, Woody Harrelson, Brian Cox, Hank Azaria, Colman Domingo, and Ke Huy Quan.
In fact, this film is pretty stacked in the talent department. Some actors get voice roles, others get on-screen appearances, but it all adds to the production and it’s a good ensemble.
Some early reviews for The Electric State started to crop up last week, and the majority were a bit sniffy and fairly negative. I think this is unfair to the movie, because while The Electric State isn’t some revolutionary thing, it is absolutely decent stuff with family appeal.
Is it worth the ridiculous $320 million budget that is attached to it? Jeez, no. But I didn’t pay for the film’s production, so that’s down to the investors and Netflix to reconcile with.
Ultimately, while the Russo Brothers might not push the envelope with The Electric State they still deliver the goods. And with this film being classified as a 12 by Netflix, I imagine it’ll do well with its intended family audience.
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Movie of the Week
OK, all the reviews are in and the title of Movie of the Week goes to The Electric State. Brown and Pratt are fun, the movie offers strong visuals, and overall this is solid stuff for Netflix.
And should you enjoy The Electric State, then you may like:
- Avengers: Endgame (2019) – The Russo Brothers take on Marvel’s mighty super-group for the biggest MCU movie to date.
- Enola Holmes (2020) – Millie Bobby Brown stars as the titular super-sleuth in this likeable family film about Sherlock’s sister.
- Ready Player One (2018) – Steven Spielberg adapts Ernest Cline’s novel of the same name for this spirited futuristic geek-fest.
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Forthcoming attractions
And that’s your lot for another week. But coming soon… Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot star in Disney’s live-action remake of Snow White; there’s Oscar-winning animation in Flow; and the 4K disc of Deep Blue Sea makes a splash!
Plus in the not too distant future, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith returns to cinemas for its 20th anniversary. If you haven’t done so in a while, it’s time to polish your lightsaber in preparation.
Alex
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Thank you for taking the time to read Movie Reviews 2025 on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
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