Tag: Laurie Metcalf

Film Review: Scream 7 (Spyglass Media Group/Project X Entertainment/Paramount Pictures)

By: Jesse Striewski

I’ve been a fairly loyal fan of the Scream films over the years, having gone to see each and every one of them on the big screen since the release of the original way back in 1996. But if you recall my scathing review of the last (and arguably worst) entry, Scream VI a few years back in 2023, I was convinced that the series had run its course indeed.

But there’s always a chance for redemption, and for the most part, Scream 7 hits the mark that’s been largely missed with the majority of the sequels that have come since. Writer/Director Kevin Williamson, whose imprint on the series has been there going all the way back since the original (this marks his first time directing, and first time returning as a screenwriter to the series since Scream 4 in 2011), invokes the same sort of atmosphere and “whodunit” type quality that Wes Craven gave us way back when that’s been largely missing since 1997’s Scream 2.

It’s no secret that this time around Neve Campbell returns as Sidney Prescott (now Prescott-Evans) after missing in action for that last horrid entry. This time around, she’s in the role of wife and mother as her husband Mark (Joel McHale) and teenaged daughter Tatum (Isabel May) are terrorized by another Ghostface killer (or killers). And for the first time in far too long, we’re actually given some characters whose well-being the audience truly cares about again, too.

There’s plenty of nods to the earlier films, with Courtney Cox once again returning as Gale Weathers, and – without giving away too much here – other franchise alumni, including Matthew Lillard, David Arquette Laurie Metcalf, Scott Foley, and of course the all-too familiar voice of Ghostface himself, Roger L. Jackson, each show up one way or another, yet it never comes off as too overly nostalgic. Even Mason Gooding and Jasmin Savoy Brown as twin brother and sister Chad and Mindy from the past two films return for the proceedings here as well.

Sure there’s some cliche or predictable elements that still work their way in, and the big reveal ending is definitely one of the weaker points (though still nowhere near as as bad as that over-the-top car crash of an ending we got in part six). But I heard someone else describe Scream 7 as a “reset” for the series, and after the direction it was heading with the “whiny sisters” (whose sudden absence is honestly not felt one bit here) plotline the past two films were following it is indeed a welcomed return to form. Far from perfect, but a much-needed step above its predecessor.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Series Review: The Conners Season 7 (ABC)

By: Jesse Striewski

The tagline for the final season of Roseanne spinoff The Conners makes the claim “A working class act from start to finish,” but I can’t honestly recall a more recent or larger travesty in American television history than what has become of this show.

When Roseanne was first rebooted on ABC in 2018 with the majority of its main original cast intact, it had potential. Then one careless (and admittedly dumb) tweet from Roseanne Barr seemingly put an end to it all. At least it should have ended there, but unfortunately the network decided to kill off its main character and re-tool the series as The Conners (effectively becoming one of the worst possible decisions imaginable).

Since that first season, I only seldomly tuned in here and there out of sheer curiosity, and every time I did I regretted it almost instantly. While the original Roseanne show was an honest portrayal of the American family at that moment in time, what evolved to become The Conners quickly turned into an embarrassment, with the remaining cast (obviously lacking much integrity here in the first place) unable to add much to what was left of the proceedings other than negativity (even Michael Fishman, who played DJ, was apparently written off the show after just the first four seasons).

I was determined to watch all six episodes of this “farewell” season though, which at times ranged from slightly entertaining, to levels of near torture.

John Goodman as Dan Conner was once one of those TV Dad greats most kids looked up to and respected, and Sara Gilbert as the cynical, wise-cracking Darlene was reminiscent of your best friend’s cool older sister you didn’t want to admit having a small crush on (that moment has long since passed too though). Only Lecy Goranson as Becky and Laurie Metcalf as Jackie added any sort of “comic” relief that I could see, the rest seemed content at just wallowing in their own misery for the sake of it.

Most of this final season centered around Roseanne’s passing and the final outcome of the trial surrounding her death, with the final episode accumulating with the family (what was left of it, anyway) gathering at her grave in yet another failed celebration that’s almost touching at times if not for the sheer arrogance of it all. The cast and crew of The Conners might actually believe that they bowed out graciously, but make no mistake – that would have required them doing so a long time ago.

Rating: 1.5/5 Stars