Vincent Daly, Author at CuteMonster.com

Kubo and the Two Strings

September 1, 2016August 31, 2016 by Vincent Daly

Kubo and the Two Strings represents one of those highly anticipated films carrying the burden of living up to lofty expectations. Prior to the actual film release numerous articles were written about it building the hype to stratospheric levels. In a world driven by social media, the average movie fan’s ability to tune out such influence is exceedingly difficult. After viewing Kubo and the Two Strings with my two favorite movie reviewers aka my kids, we left the movie theater in a state of disappointment. All that was left for me to do was to process what went wrong.

Pete’s Dragon or Giant Green Furry Puppy?

August 19, 2016 by Vincent Daly

When I first read about a remake for Pete’s Dragon I was indifferent. The original animated movie never intrigued me as a child and I suspected a modern live action update would leave me cold as well. Yet the imaginative folks at Disney have proven to be creative storytellers as seen in recent reboots such as Cinderella and Maleficent. Begrudgingly, I opted to give this new iteration of Pete’s Dragon a chance. Besides, my kids insisted we see it.

Off-Broadway’s STOMP Still Making Beautiful Noise

August 15, 2016August 15, 2016 by Vincent Daly

Off-Broadway’s STOMP has been bringing the noise to thousands of audiences at the Orpheum Theater in New York City since 1994. In fact, that year I took my future wife on a date to see STOMP, one of the hottest tickets in town. Unfortunately, she was dead tired from a combination of travel and hectic work schedule. The result? She inexplicably fell asleep during the middle of the show despite the wall-shaking volume. Nonetheless, I personally loved the performance and promised to take her again in the future when she was not in a state of exhaustion. That fateful day arrived this past Saturday for my family. Prior to the show I wondered if our kids would enjoy it and if my wife, now juggling work and parenthood, would resist napping.

The BFG Will Win You Over

August 10, 2016 by Vincent Daly

Admittedly, I did not read Roald Dahl’s original book version of The BFG. Other than the movie trailer, I had no inkling what the story would be about. Perhaps that particular tidbit was serendipitous. My colleagues for this particular review were two pint-sized versions of yours truly, namely my kids. One was thrilled at the prospect of seeing this film while the other likened viewing this movie to getting one’s teeth cleaned at the dentist. It was a tough sell but luckily after extolling the “cool factor” of Giants, my oldest was all in for the review.

Ghostbusters 2016 Reboot Surprisingly Entertaining

July 25, 2016July 25, 2016 by Vincent Daly

When I first read about a new Ghostbusters movie being developed for release in 2016 I felt physically uneasy. Why would a movie studio chance ruining the beloved 1984 comedy classic? Shortly thereafter it was announced the Ghostbusters reboot would be an original story featuring four women instead of men in the lead roles. Fan reaction to the news was largely unfavorable. The movie seemed more of a publicity gimmick than an artistic endeavor. Despite the controversy, I made a concerted effort to reserve judgement until actually seeing the new film. Besides, Ghostbusters (2016) had a stellar cast of female comedy veterans.

Family TV Nights Make a Comeback

July 12, 2016 by Vincent Daly

Remember Family TV nights? I grew up in the late 20th Century before cable television or the internet was an option. A mere three television networks provided the bulk of entertainment content for families across the United States. Yet, a variety of family oriented programs, ranging from dramas to comedies, were available at ideal time slots for family viewing. The advent of cable television changed viewing habits tremendously. Streaming video via the internet further altered the entertainment landscape. It seemed as though Family TV nights would never be relevant again. In reality, they never went away. Modern parents just need to adapt.

Finding Dory

June 24, 2016 by Vincent Daly

Disney-Pixar’s Finding Dory didn’t need to provide audiences a compelling reason to come see the movie. After all, it was the sequel to the beloved Finding Nemo. Yet as many in the movie business will attest, making a great sequel is not easy. Sure there are numerous examples of sequels being superior to the original. Alas, Finding Dory, although a cute movie, is not one of them.

S1E3 The CuteMonster Show – Interview with Monster Factory’s Rhya Tamasauskas

March 26, 2017June 20, 2016 by Vincent Daly

In this episode of The CuteMonster Show podcast, I interviewed Rhya Tamasauskas—entrepreneur, multi-disciplinary designer,and co-founder of Canadian based toy brand The Monster Factory. I first stumbled upon the brand at the New York Toy Fair. I checked out their website, had the opportunity to review a couple of their plush toys and have been recommending the brand for years. What’s always fascinated me has been the creative process behind a toy brand’s success. Rhya gives the inside scoop from her own personal experience on what it takes to make it in the toy industry.

Congratulations Baby, you have a Brand New Dad

June 17, 2017June 16, 2016 by Vincent Daly

I’ve been a Dad for nearly 10 years. My grey hairs and sleep-deprived appearance prove it. Yet in my rare moments of coherence, a smile emerges across my face from cheek to cheek. I’m more than just a father. And I’m thankful to the little humans in our family. You see, although science informs me my wife and I created our children, it was my kids who transformed me into a Dad.