We’re 25 movies deep into 2016 reviewing all but 3 movies that have made it to 500 screens or more. Sorry Kung Fu Panda 3, Fifty Shades of Black and The Other Side of the Door (which is in the plans to see tonight).

Personally, I’ve never been a fan of ratings for movies. The old thumbs up/down system has always been my favorite. But then what do you do with those movies that fall in the middle? Anyway, let’s avoid going off on a tangent about movie ratings (we’ll save that for another day) and grade the first 25 films of 2016 seen on a scale of 0-5 stars (yes, 0… we’re glaring at you, Norm of the North!)

The “Thumbs Up” Group

Zootopia 5 out of 5 stars (5 / 5) REVIEW
Disney’s best animated film since The Lion King.

The Witch 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) REVIEW
Deadpool 4.5 out of 5 stars (4.5 / 5) REVIEW
I’ll never forget the images of Black Phillip and the uncomfortable feeling of watching The Witch and will likely avoid the experience again. Meanwhile, I could watch Deadpool on a loop for a week straight.

The Finest Hours 3.5 out of 5 stars (3.5 / 5) REVIEW
13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi 3.5 out of 5 stars (3.5 / 5) REVIEW
Maybe it was the lower expectations of January but both felt like good, solid movies. The Finest Hours brought out the inner sap in me and 13 Hours made me not hate Michael Bay for a few hours. One is a much easier feat than the other.

Hail, Caesar! 3 out of 5 stars (3 / 5) REVIEW
How to Be Single 3 out of 5 stars (3 / 5) REVIEW
Two very different films. The Coen Brothers was a mild disappointment at just 3 stars while the Dakota Johnson/Rebel Wilson comedy was a pleasant surprise.

The “Thumbs Eh” Group

Eddie the Eagle 2.5 out of 5 stars (2.5 / 5) REVIEW
Triple 9 2.5 out of 5 stars (2.5 / 5) REVIEW
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies 2.5 out of 5 stars (2.5 / 5) REVIEW
Risen 2.5 out of 5 stars (2.5 / 5) REVIEW
Race 2.5 out of 5 stars (2.5 / 5) REVIEW
The 5th Wave 2.5 out of 5 stars (2.5 / 5) REVIEW
For those looking for a very mediocre experience at the movies.

The “Thumbs Down” Group

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot 2 out of 5 stars (2 / 5) REVIEW
Jane Got a Gun 2 out of 5 stars (2 / 5) REVIEW
Yosemite 2 out of 5 stars (2 / 5) REVIEW
All 3 of these films promised to be something they were not. WTF wasn’t really funny (or even a comedy), Jane Got a Gun wasn’t a powerful female Western (just a Western with a female) and Yosemite wasn’t this generation’s Stand By Me.

Gods of Egypt 1.5 out of 5 stars (1.5 / 5) REVIEW
The Boy 1.5 out of 5 stars (1.5 / 5) REVIEW
The two guilty pleasures of the “Thumbs Down” group. Gods of Egypt was both god-awful and oddly enjoyable at the same time. Similar could be said about The Boy if you only pay attention to the first 2/3 of the film.

The Choice 1 out of 5 stars (1 / 5) REVIEW
The Forest 1 out of 5 stars (1 / 5) REVIEW
Both The Choice and The Forest fall apart as they enter the third act to such a disastrous degree that it completely discounts any positives of the first two acts.

London Has Fallen 0.5 out of 5 stars (0.5 / 5) REVIEW
Zoolander 2 0.5 out of 5 stars (0.5 / 5) REVIEW
Ride Along 2 0.5 out of 5 stars (0.5 / 5) REVIEW
Dirty Grandpa 0.5 out of 5 stars (0.5 / 5) REVIEW
Three unnecessary sequels and a Deniro heist. No, not a Deniro heist movie, a Deniro heist because he robbed the studio of a payday. 

Norm of the North 0 out of 5 stars (0 / 5) REVIEW
My head does the Artic Shake every time this movie is mentioned. Rob Schneider? Really? You thought Rob Schneider? ASMH.