Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: Despite everyone believing she should open a restaurant; Portland chef Cleo Morelli is content selling sandwiches based on her grandfather's recipes from her food truck. Due to her popularity, Cleo decides to try to enter a food truck competition. However, as she tries to gain enough customer nominations, another chef, Gabe, parks his bacon-based food truck across from her, drawing a bigger crowd. The cordial competition turns into romance, but that romance is threatened when both trucks are nominated for the contest. Who's in it? The movie stars Natalie Hall , Michael Rady , Michael Karl Richards , Rhiannon Fish and Brenda Chrichlow . Review: We had a busy Memorial Day weekend and by yesterday afternoon, my wife and I were ready to crash on the couch. I was getting a bit bored with reruns of The Simpsons and after some contemplation, decided to watch this movie, which has been in our library for a while. It ended up being an OK film. The overall plot is a bit simp

Synopsis: A pair of stepsisters reluctantly agree to dive with two friends to a sunken Mayan city. They were only going to see the entrance, but wind up deeper inside and ultimately get lost in the flooded passageways. Already running low on oxygen, they also need to fend off hungry great white sharks. Who's in it? The movie stars Corinne Foxx ,  Sophie Nélisse , Brianne Tju , Sistine Rose Stallone and Brec Bassinger. Review: Last night was family movie night (our first since our oldest returned from college) and both daughters agreed on this movie. Overall, it ended up being an OK choice, though not as good as I would have hoped. This is technically a sequel to a 2017 film we've never seen. However, it didn't have a sequel feel to it and seemed more like its own movie, which I appreciated. My wife and I also found having the movie take place in tight, flooded passageways did add a little something to the film. At minimum, it was making us feel a bit claustrophobic. I&#

Synopsis: This non-fiction book discusses 365 separate world events in history that took place on each day of the year, with a bit of profanity thrown in. Review: I'm always a bit hesitant when someone gives me a book to read as a present. I tend to be a bit picky in that regard and more often than not, find I lose interest in books I didn't pick out myself. I was worried that would be the case when my wife gave me this book for Christmas, but it ended up exceeding my expectations. The author has an intriguing way of discussing the world events. This includes not holding back when it comes to the profanity as he slips in his opinion (good or bad, usually bad) regarding things that happened and the people who were responsible for those events. I will admit, at first, this was something that made me doubt whether I'd enjoy the book. But as I progressed through it and became desensitized to some of the crudeness, I was able to admit it made reading the book more enjoyable, a

Synopsis: After his wife is murdered by red wizards, Elgin leaves the order of peacekeepers he had been working with, teams up with Holga and becomes a thief to support his young daughter, Kira. When he learns about a tablet that can bring his wife back from the dead, Elgin and his team of thieves attempt one last heist, but he and Holga are captured. They escape two years later and learn their former friend/colleague, Forge, has partnered with a red wizard to make himself a lord and, while raising Kira as his own, brainwashed the child with lies about her father. Determined to get Kira back and knock Forge down a few pegs, Elgin assembles a team to break into Forge's vault and steal both his treasure and the tablet he had sought two years earlier. Who's in it? The movie stars Chris Pine , Michelle Rodriguez , Hugh Grant , Sophia Lillis and Chloe Coleman. Review: I wasn't a big fan of the Dungeons & Dragons film that came out 23 years ago and, when I saw trailers fo

Synopsis: An overworked construction worker is given the opportunity to clone himself, so he has more time to spend with his family. However, while the clones do succeed in making his life a little easier at first, his plan ultimately backfires and, instead of winning points with his family, his wife leaves him, and he ends up losing his job. Who's in it?  The movie stars Michael Keaton , Andie MacDowell , Zack Duhame , Harris Yulin and Eugene Levy . You can read my review here:  Movie Review: Multiplicity (1996) (wizzley.com)

I will admit, I had a lot of doubts when I heard they were going to reboot one of my favorite series from my childhood. And I will also admit, the new Night Court has exceeded my expectations and has become one of my favorite must-watches. However, with the show's first season in the books and a second season likely delayed due to a writer's strike, I am going to pose the question about the lone holdover from the original series. Is it time to say goodbye to attorney Dan Fielding ( John Larroquette )? The relationship between Fielding and Judge Abby Stone ( Melissa Rauch) , the daughter of his long-time and deceased friend Harry Stone (the late Harry Anderson ) was one of the pleasant surprises from the reboot. The newer version of Fielding is less of a chauvinist and more of a father figure both to Abby and the rest of the main characters while providing a connection to the original series. However, his presence has always (at least in my opinion) felt a little bit forced. I t