With a light week at the box office this weekend, we wanted to give our critics here on the Banana Meter a chance to highlight some of the films that haven’t hit the Meter. We have a wide range of films selected by our team here to highlight the Overlooked Film Spotlight.
What is the Banana Meter scale, you ask?
When a film hits above 85% or higher from our critics, it means it hit Bonafide Bananas status.
When a film hits between 55-84% or higher from our critics, it means it hit Ripe status.
When the film hits under 55%, it means it hit Sour Status.
2022 Overlooked Film Spotlight
Here is what our Ripe Banana Critics are saying about the films:
Aayush Sharma
The Umbrella Academy
Banana Meter Rating: 88%
Much darker than the previous 2 seasons, ‘The Umbrella Academy’ moves forward with its strongest selling point: characters. Elliot Page wins hearts with his transition as Viktor in the show’s most emotional season yet
Benjamin Miller
Resurrection
Banana Meter Rating: 87.5%
Fans of white-knuckle psychological thrillers will be in for a treat. Go in as blind as possible and let Rebecca Hall and the film mesmerize you.You definitely won’t forget it.
Brian Skutle
Nomad: In the Footsteps of Bruce Chatwin
Banana Meter Rating: 89%
Werner Herzog takes us through the life of travel writer Bruce Chatwin, but also reveals a lot about himself in the process. The German master remains a richly-talented storyteller.
Don Shanahan
DC League of Super-Pets
Banana Meter Rating: 80%
With no apologies to Joss Whedon, Zack Snyder, or anyone else, it took bringing in a bunch of animal characters, the writers of “The LEGO Batman Movie,” and shifting to animation to give us the best theatrical Justice League movie we’ve had to date.
Edward Douglas
Vengeance
Banana Meter Rating: 75%
A particularly timely addition to the conversation about many things in the country’s current narrative, but it never gets so far up its own butt that it forgets it is first and foremost a comedy.
Gary Cruise
Anaïs in Love
Banana Meter Rating: 80%
Anaïs in Love is a beautifully made and well written queer love story with wonderful performances, stunning cinematography and a fantastic tone setting soundtrack. I feel like Emilie definitely could’ve been introduced sooner but that’s a small issue in comparison to the many things I loved about this funny, sweet and melodramatic piece of French cinema that had me fully invested in its story from start to finish.
Hector Gonzalez
Not Okay
Banana Meter Rating: 70%
Although some of Not Okay ’s provocative ideas don’t land, its witty script and Zoey Deutch’s piquant performance are engaging enough to make this a chaotic and fun ride.
Craig McKenzie
Green Lantern: Beware My Power
Banana Meter Rating: 80%
Another strong animated DC movie with an excellent central character arc, powerful vocal performances and stunning animation
Shaurya Chawla
Resurrection
Banana Meter Rating: 85%
The final 10 minutes are a toss-up in terms of what people–or this reviewer–will make of it, but RESURRECTION is a tense psychological thriller led by arguably the finest performance Rebecca Hall has given to date.
Tina Kakadelis
Marcel the Shell With Shoes On
Banana Meter Rating: 100%
It’s easy to make excuses and turn down opportunities that scare us, and it’s easy to stay in the world that we know, but humanity is at its best when we are brave. Just like Nanna Connie said.
Ruth Maramis
My Donkey, My Lover & I (Antoinette dans les Cévennes)
Banana Meter Rating: 85%
Laure Calamy is an instantly likable actress with a wonderful gift of physical comedy, which is put to good use by writer/director Caroline Vignal. A gorgeous film set in Southern France that offers the perfect cinematic escapism.
Connor Petrey
DC League of Super-Pets
Banana Meter Rating: 62%
DC League of Super-Pets is perfect for kids with its superhero narrative and adorable leads, while being just the right amount of adult to appease its older audience (including a few blatant “bleeps” along the way).
Christer Emanuelsson
The Sky is Everywhere
Banana Meter Rating: 25%
Her latest film is further from that than ever before. It is twee rather than quirky, and it comes off as a work not only without guts but, more alarmingly, without a heart. Josephine Decker is a formidable talent whose first three films are among the most exciting of the last decade
Beta Critic
Peaky Blinders Season 6
Banana Meter Rating: 45%
Peaky Blinders Season 6 is the weakest season of the show for me marred by the unnecessary subplots, inconsistent writing choices and lacklustre execution.
Austin Belzer
Not Okay
Banana Meter Rating: 100%
Not Okay shows the dangers of social activism & social media intertwining, crafting an impactful and humorous story in one of Zoey Deutch’s best roles.
Jack Walters
On the Count of Three
Banana Meter Rating: 80%
On The Count Of Three could easily have been a complete disaster, but the film knows exactly how to toe the line between comedy and tragedy in the most effective way. Full of dark laughs whilst also presenting a story that couldn’t be more relevant and universal if it tried, Jerrod Carmichael’s directorial debut takes some seriously bold and instinctive decisions that almost always pay off massively.
Jon Pascuzzi
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
Banana Meter Rating: 100%
90 minutes of pure joy, happiness and sincerity brought to life by a 1-inch shell with shoes on
Karen Woodham
King Knight
Banana Meter Rating: 70%
The dark comedy isn’t going to be for everyone, but King Knight is one of those movies that deserves a viewing, OK it’s not the best movie in the world, but Bates Jr. has brought us a dark comedy that works and it works well for the story and the characters. Look out for some out-of-this-world animation sequences and Thorn having a conversation with a pine cone and rock, no seriously!
Larry Chillson Jr.
DC League of Super Pets
Banana Meter Rating: 55%
DC League of Super Pets perfectly defines a more or less harmless family film that provides bright colors and fun action sets to keep the young ones entertained, while adding just enough heart for pet owners. Unfortunately, it is the most generic plot and story imaginable and doesn’t do anything noteworthy. Not to mention, these jokes and humor mostly do NOT land.
Matthew Fox
Vengeance
Banana Meter Rating: 85%
BJ Novak creates a heck of a tale. I was drawn in and deeply moved. Ashton Kutcher is great in a supporting role. This is a gem of summer.
Matthew Simpson
Not Okay
Banana Meter Rating: 70%
Some structural elements aside, Zoey Deutch and Mia Isaac are both excellent in Quinn Shephard’s indictment of influencer culture and Not Okay is entirely worth your time.
Ryan Terry
Thirteen Lives
Banana Meter Rating: 55%
DC League of Super Pets perfectly defines a more or less harmless family film that provides bright colors and fun action sets to keep the young ones entertained, while adding just enough heart for pet owners. Unfortunately, it is the most generic plot and story imaginable and doesn’t do anything noteworthy. Not to mention, these jokes and humor mostly do NOT land.
Ricky Valero
Vengeance
Banana Meter Rating: 80%
Overall, Vengeance has some flaws, but it’s one of the more fascinating films you will watch all year and more importantly, it makes you excited to see what Novak has in store for us in the future with his next project. So if you’re looking for something different to watch this weekend, I recommend checking this one out.
Ripe Banana 