Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, Steve Martin, Gene Wilder Documentaries | See It or Skip It

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4) — Will you be monkey-ing around with the new Godzilla and Kong film, or staying at home with some insightful documentaries? ABC4 Film Critic Patrick Beatty tells us what to see and what to skip!

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire

We return to Hollow Earth, the new home where Kong resides, but it is a lonely life for this giant ape. He’s seemingly the last of his kind until he discovers a new hidden threat that could threaten not only his new home but the world as we know it. He’s going to have to team up with his titan rival, Godzilla, to face this challenger and protect both kingdoms. Oh, and there are some humans in this too.

I went into this with very low expectations, especially having seen Godzilla: Minus One just a few months ago. It’s impossible to compare the two films fairly due to firstly, the creative teams behind them, and secondly, because of what they are looking to achieve in their respective stories.

In the American saga that has been going on since 2014, Godzilla has only ever wanted to focus on the monsters fighting, and the epicness of their power and destructiveness with the tone of a WWE wrestling special. With Godzilla X Kong you get more than enough of those moments throughout the movie. Some crazy battles and fights hit hard and are creative in their fight choreography. I had a lot of fun in those moments and think if you’re going into this only looking for the fights, you’ll not be disappointed.

What sours me on the movie overall is just how incredibly lazy the storytelling is. I get that the humans are the least important aspect of these types of movies, but I at least would like to care about them even a little. Sadly most of the human roles are dedicated to long-winded exposition scenes and stale jokes that did not work once during my opening day screening. There’s an attempt to bring heart with Rebecca Hall’s character and her adopted daughter, but there’s zero time to really flesh that story out to feel anything towards their arcs. The real story in the film belongs to Kong, and it’s showcased in a fantastic long scene involving no dialogue at all, yet you feel completely in tune with what’s happening, and is the emotional throughline for the rest of the film.

Overall this isn’t as strong a sequel as Godzilla Vs. Kong, and I struggle to even recommend it to anyone wanting to dip their toes into the franchise at this point. All I can say is, if you like big monsters punching each other in the face, you’ll get your money’s worth.

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Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces

If you’re looking for a quick and easy watch about one of the greatest comedians of our time, Apple TV+ brings you a two-part look into Steve Martins’s early days and where he is now.

I grew up religiously watching The Three Amigos, Father of the Bride, and yes, Cheaper By The Dozen. He was always a movie star first to me, and it wasn’t until later in life that I discovered his incredible comedic chops from his stand-up to his time on Saturday Night Live. The first episode is narrated by Steve himself as he reminisces on the early days of his career. The second covers his cinematic history and what he’s doing now in working with his comedic partner in crime Martin Short.

While it did have its moments of enjoyment in seeing archival footage of his work, I feel this docuseries was still very distant from really exploring who Steve Martin really is. He talks about his anxiety issues and lots of situations from the past, but you can feel how guarded he is in the present, which is something I think was intentionally done by him and stifled the series for me. There may be another pass at a look into this incredible performer, and I look forward to that possibility, as this is one I don’t think measures up.

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Remembering Gene Wilder

Another documentary this week — See It or Skip It covers the life of Gene Wilder. From his days starting on Broadway, his work with prolific and hilarious director Mel Brooks, to his later years battling the loss of his loved ones, and his eventual passing due to Alzheimer’s disease.

This was an incredibly heartfelt look of a friend from the perspectives of everyone who knew and loved him. I loved hearing all of the stories about his time on set, his creativity, and his passion for not only boosting the material with out-of-the-box performances but also his intelligence and longing to make his own work as well.

There are great stories surrounding Young Frankenstein, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, and his directorial work. I highly recommend checking this out if you have a chance.

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Note: See It or Skip It is proudly owned and produced by Patrick Beatty. ABC4 is a broadcast partner, but the show, its content, and opinions are independently created.