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wigwurq · 3 years

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WIG REVIEW: THE PROM

You guys. Remember when just last week week I LOLed at my mom when I told her I had finally watched the lesbian holiday movie (The Happiest Season) and she thought I meant The Prom and I told her (and then you, dear readers!) that it would take me forever to hate watch that. WELL I JUST HATE WATCHED THAT. There is a lot to discuss, you guys. ALSO WIGS.

We begin in “New York City” or the CGI hellscape replication of it. Nothing about this movie is authentic except for maybe NY1′s theater reporter, Frank Dilella at the opening of a fake musical called “Eleanor! The Eleanor Roosevelt Musical!” which is meant to be a hilarious joke (it is not) starring Meryl Streep as Eleanor and James Corden as FDR and JOKE IS ON THEM AND US because why are they in this terrible movie and why the hell am I watching it? Oh right: THE WIGS. YOU GUYS THE WIGS. Meryl, who is truly slumming more in this than any other actor in this garbage also has to endure the very worst wig. SHE DID HAVE AN EVEN WORSE WIG IN MARY POPPINS RETURNS. But here this wig is so very much a bad wig that I struggled for a while wondering if this was going to be a wig within the narrative but no. Sadly, it looks like a castoff from some QVC Liza Minnelli wig collection.

AND EVERYONE LOOKS LIKE THEY ARE DRESSED IN A QVC LIZA MINNELLI NON-HALSTON SEQUIN COLLECTION GHOSTMARE (Liza should probably trademark that tho). I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY SEQUINS OUTSIDE OF DAVID GEST’S GUEST HOUSE. Also, after the fake Eleanor musical opens, Meryl and James retire to “Sardis” or the CGI version of it where they discover that their show got (gasp!) bad reviews. EVERYONE LEAVES IMMEDIATELY except Meryl, James, Andrew Rannells who is another actor/bartender and NICOLE KIDMAN.

SHE IS ALSO WEARING SEQUINS AND HAS A BAD WIG. But we are talking about Nicole Kidman, so the chances of her wearing a bad wig are 110%. I couldn’t honestly tell you what her role is in this other than “another Broadway actress”(?) Her wig is likely the same one that Joanna Lumley wore for 10 seasons as Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous which has in the last decade or so been slowly decaying in a crawlspace somewhere only to reappear on the head of Nicole Kidman in the role of “another Broadway actress” in this movie. Anyway, all these washed up randos decide they need to stop acting and start activist-ing and pin all their hopes on a lesbian in Indiana who wanted to go to the prom and got the whole prom shut down due to smallmindedness. They travel to Indiana in a non-equity Godspell touring bus during which time my husband asked me who designs bus seats and truly: that is a question more profound and interesting than anything you will find in this “film.” But I do have many questions! If these actors have all been on Broadway and Meryl’s character has a few Tonys even, why do they need to bus it to Indiana?!?!

Anyway, over in “Indiana” (all places are actually LA or a set or a CGI hellscape), there is a big community meeting or something which is still all about not having a prom, because the only damn thing that matters in this community is THE PROM. The NYC actors show up and turn the meeting into a musical extravaganza with Meryl and her tragic wig center stage. More questions!! As a theater piece, it would make sense for this whole meeting to suddenly become a musical performance complete with spotlight entrances and sparkle curtains because it is already all fantasy. Ryan Murphy has no interest in creating a more realistic presentation in this new medium and just lets that happen here too? Sure - I guess the actors could have just arrived with all stage cues and crews to make this happen (LOLOL NO THEY COULDN’T) and this is honestly exactly why most stage to screen adaptations rarely work (though to be very fair - I had just about as much interest in seeing this on stage as on TV - negative 1000%). All realism, logic, quality, are not at all what this “movie” is aiming for. JUST SEQUINS! CONSTANT GODDAMNED SEQUINS!

It should be noted that Kerry Washington plays the conservative PTA mom at the center of canceling prom and bitch got away with the very best wig! Also the big spoiler here is that her daughter is the secret lesbian love of the lesbian she is trying to stop from going to the prom! GASP! Kerry also made really terrible career choices this year between this and Little Fires Everywhere which also involves secret lesbians.

Also those lesbians have a love song that looks like this - aka that one scene in the loathsome La La Land which was itself completely derivative. There are many (many!) derivative scenes in this movie - a later one on a staircase with Nicole Kidman is a clear nod to that one staircase scene in All That Jazz (RIP ANN REINKING!) This was all done intentionally for us theater nerds but also all the movies it ripped off I also hated so? NO THANK YOU THE PROM. ALSO THE MAIN LESBIAN’S GRANDMOTHER IS PLAYED BY MARY KAY PLACE AND I LOVE MARY KAY PLACE FYI.

Anyway! The NYC actors start their very ill-advised get-back-the-Prom campaign at......CGI monster truck rally wherein Andrew Rannells wears THIS GODDAMNED COAT. Trying to find any logic or realism in this movie is about as foolhardy as being Andrew Rannells wearing this coat and singing a musical theater song at a CGI monster truck rally in “Indiana.”

Also! Keegan Michael Key is in this (WHO I LOVE ALWAYS) as the liberal principal who is trying to make prom happen. He also is a HUGE MUSICAL THEATER FAN though that doesn’t actually translate to being gay - it translates to him being obsessed with Meryl Streep who is his favorite stage actress. Sure! It all turns into Keegan Michael Key being a love interest with Meryl Streep which I DID NOT SEE COMING but I would love to watch an actual rom com with the two of them and not whatever this is? THEY HAVE A DATE AT AN APPLEBEES YOU GUYS HOW DID THIS HAPPEN.

At said Applebees (or “Applebees” more accurately because I’ve never seen one that sparkles like this), Keegan has a nice ballad which I couldn’t possibly hum for you now where he sings about the escapism of THEATRE and there is a flashback to him seeing Meryl in a musical called “Swallow the Moon” which is a pretty hilarious title and the whole thing looks exactly like another Liza Minnelli fashion show - this time with maybe a circus theme? At any rate, Meryl’s flashback wig is longer and more of a fashion bob but is still very fretful.

I would like to take this opportunity to say that although I never saw The Prom musical on Broadway, from the pictures I have seen, Beth Leavel’s wig (in the same role as Meryl) is vastly superior in every way, despite the fact that stage wigs are allowed to be different/inferior as they are viewed from further away and not in bitter bitter closeup.

Meryl looks great in close-up by the way BUT THAT WIG!!! I couldn’t find a good picture of it, but the hair part (if you can call it that?) is a dangerous ravine of mysteries none of which have anything to do with looking like real hair. MERYL HAS MORE OSCARS THAN ANYONE HOW WAS SHE GIVEN THIS WIG?! HOW!!!!!

Anyway, back to the “plot” of this movie, the PTA somehow agree to having a prom and all the kids go around prom-posaling (which is an awful horrible thing that I’m glad I was never part of) and which truly begs the question: if the kids hadn’t prom-posaled (UGH) to begin with, how did word get out that two lesbians were going and how did this prom get derailed in the first place? WHY AM I ASKING ABOUT PLOT HOLES WHEN THIS ENTIRE THING IS A PLOT HOLE?!?!?! So they have the prom, but it’s all an elaborate and cruel ruse and the real prom is at some hotel and the fake prom only for this one sad lesbian is a really depressing affair in the school gym (THIS PART OF THE MOVIE IS LEGIT HORRIBLE AND SAD). So Nicole Kidman, in the very important role of “another Broadway actress” that definitely needed to exist, decides to tell her to just “razzle dazzle ‘em” (WHICH ABSOLUTELY MEANS NOTHING IN THIS CONTEXT) in a very Fosse inspired (AND INCREDIBLY NIGHTMARE INDUCING) and also very confusing number. Also Andrew Rannells convinces a bunch of teenagers in a mall to like gay people! Mazel!

ALSO TRACEY ULLMAN IS IN THIS MOVIE AND NO ONE TOLD ME AND SHE HAS AN AWFUL WIG! So ok - James Corden, who I normally adore, plays a gay character with an American accent and in conclusion, is very miscast in this role. One of the few things Ryan Murphy has done which I actually liked was the revival of Boys in the Band (the play - I have yet to watch the movie!) And the entire cast was gay men playing gay men. Not sure why he then cast James Corden in this role because it’s not like we’re having a shortage of gay men who can sing? A friend of mine rightly pointed out that this character should have been played by Titus Burgess and VERY YES. Anyway, that’s not what happened and anyway, Tracey Ullman plays his mother who he reconnects with and I’m pretty sure the wig she wears was from her own collection from one of her past sketch shows and though I applaud wig recycling, bitch deserved better.

So yes - all these Broadway actor characters inexplicably are still in Indiana just TRYING TO MAKE THE PROM HAPPEN and Meryl, who somehow has both a celebrity ex husband and a Hamptons house (AGAIN WHY DID SHE TAKE A BUS TO INDIANA) uses both to get the main lesbian a forum on TV but she doesn’t take it and instead makes a singer-songwriter YouTube video which everyone on earth simultaneously watched!!! We are supposed to believe that this random video got 8 million views and she decides to use that leverage to make her own inclusive prom. This is a very lovely idea but again: not based in reality so Keegan is all: girl we need $$ to have a prom and somehow she doesn’t immediately make a go-fund me from all those YouTube views she got and instead all these actors throw down their credit cards to fund The Prom which is really horrifying knowing about real events which will totally make all those actors very unemployed (#2020) and YES I KNOW THIS MOVIE IS THE OPPOSITE OF REALITY BUT STILL.

In the end, ALL OF LIZA MINNELLI’S NON-HALSTON SEQUIN COLLECTION QVC FASHIONS get their own damn prom and even Kerry Washington shows up in the most outrageous sequined number after her daughter finally comes out to her and everyone dances it out and life is reaffirmed and Meryl’s wig IS STILL A PILE OF GARBAGE AS IS THIS MOVIE.

VERDICT: DOESN’T WURQ

#wigwurq #theprom #netflixtheprom #merylstreep #nicolekidman #jamescorden #keeganmichaelkey #NOTHANKYOU #LIZAMINNELLICOLLECTION

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adamwatchesmovies · 4 years

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Playing with Fire (2019)

I didn’t go into Playing with Fire with high expectations. At best, I hoped to see a harmless film which would entertain young children and leave their parents mildly amused. I suppose the smallest of kiddies will laugh at big ol’ John Cena trying in vain to contain a trio of children but even so, this movie doesn’t do anything particularly well.

Superintendent Jake Carson (Cena) wants nothing but to be the best smoke jumper he can be. He must impress Commander Richards (Dennis Haysbert), which is why his world is turned upside down when he saves a trio of children - Brynn (Brianna Hildebrand), Will (Christian Convery) and Zoey (Finley Rose Slater) - and must take care of them until their parents arrive.

Don’t tell me I didn’t give the film a chance. When Jake saves the three siblings from a blaze, they hardly have a speck of soot on them much less suffer from smoke inhalation. How did they even get into a position where they needed saving? We never find out. It doesn’t matter. Anything to get the three troublemakers in the smoke jumper’s station so they can tear the place apart like gremlins. The kids go beyond simply being clumsy or too curious for their own good. They cause thousands of dollars of damages and never learn any lessons that would prevent them from wreaking more havoc. Worse, these kids are too old to be doing this kind of nonsense. They’re flat-out dumb - perfectly matched with Jake and his co-workers, who have somehow managed to keep their dog alive but act as if they live in a world in which no child has been born in decades.

There isn’t one character whom you can’t figure out within minutes. Judy Greer plays Dr. Amy Hicks, an amphibian specialist Jake ditched midway through their third date but you know what role she plays in this film. You know what’s going to happen to the kids in the end and to Jake as well. The only possible unknowns are the trio of goofballs whom Jake works with - Rodrigo (John Leguizamo), Mark (Keegan-Michael Key), and “Axe” (Tyler Mane). Will the film care enough to give them something to do in the end, or are they just a collection of quirks glued together?

Playing with Fire is the kind of movie whose last scene has everyone happily dance to a popular song. It’s got no basis in reality whatsoever but the gags don’t come at a pace that’s fast enough to keep you entertained. The adults are so incompetent and the children so destructive I was grinding my teeth by the time the obligatory forced sentiments were dumped onto my head. If you have a significant other and they want kids but you don’t, I suggest you take them to this movie. They’ll be looking at quotes for a vasectomy in no time. (Theatrical version on the big screen, November 10, 2019)

#Playing with Fire #PlayingWithFire #movies #films #reviews #movie reviews #film reviews #film criticism #andy fickman #dan ewen #matt lieberman #john cena #keegan-michael key #john leguizamo #brianna hildebrand #dennis haysbert #judy greer #2019 movies #2019 films

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onetruesporkbot · 6 years

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The Star in Whatever Direction The Theater’s At

It may seem weird to talk about a movie I saw nearly two weeks ago. Especially one that had such a short theatrical lifespan. But given today is Christmas, I figure, why not talk about it.

Two of these animals don’t show up until the last 15 minutes or so.

I was concerned about an animated comedy featuring talking animals that related to the birth of Jesus. Even more so when I saw “Affirm Films” credited. I know nothing of this company, but given the name, I was expecting something along the lines of God’s Not Dead, or another movie that exaggerates alleged slights to Christianity. But hey, I bought my ticket, and I’ve never walked out of a movie yet, so...

We open to what got the first laugh out of me: “9 Months B.C.” That is genuinely funny, and raised my hopes a bit. A small rodent tries sneaking away with a plate of food belonging to Mary (yes, that one, voiced by Jane the Virgin’s Gina Rodriguez, no less), who takes it back, but gives the little creature some. An angel appears, with saying Mary has been chosen to bear the son God, to which the young woman stammers, wondering if “thank you” is appropriate, and the rodent scampers off, having witnessed the whole thing.

From there, the focus is on a donkey, later named Boaz (or Bo) by Mary, voiced by Steven Yeun, and his friend, a dove named Dave (Keegan Michael-Key, a big reason I decided to see this). The two want to join the Royal Caravan for glory and respect, and escaping Bo’s less-than kindly owner was step one. Bo happens upon recently married Mary and Joseph’s stable, the latter discovers his new wife’s pregnancy, and we get a rarely seen reaction from him. Joseph (Zachary Levi) is less suspicious of his wife’s faithfulness (it’s a kid’s film), and more unprepared to raise the son of the Almighty. He prays and eventually accepts his circumstances, and it’s a scene done pretty well, I think.

Meanwhile, the Three Wise Men and their Camels (voiced by Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey, and welcome surprise Tracy Morgan) travel to King Herod in search of a NEW King, and after dismissing the Wise Men, Herod sends a soldier with no lines to terminate this “threat” to his throne, along with his two vicious dogs, slow-witted Rufus (Gabriel Iglesias) and serious Thaddeus (Ving Rhames). The camels do some spying to discern Herod’s plan, and it lends itself to some funny slapstick, even posing as the King’s shadow at one point. However, the Camels aren’t ALWAYS funny, sometimes leaning towards running gags a bit too long. Not Family Guy levels of bad, but still. The dogs learn of Mary from the rodent, spinning the tale of Mary’s pregnancy to other critters, and narrow their search.

A few months later, Bo’s leg is healed, and he for some reason doesn’t like Joseph, stubbornly refusing to pull their cart so they can head into Bethlehem for the census. So Joseph pulls them, and no sooner do they leave than the soldier and his dogs arrive looking for them. Bo figures he and Dave can join the Royal Caravan later and go to warn the expecting couple. Along the way, they meet a sheep named Ruth (Aidy Bryant), that helps Bo navigate a cliff side. Having left her doubting flock to follow the bright Star in the sky, she joins Bo and Dave, and they soon find Joseph and Mary. Unable to verbally communicate, Bo tries miming the imminent threat and the roles involved, including an unflattering imitation of Joseph that, while humorous, isn’t built up. They never really get into why Boaz doesn’t like Joseph.

Bo narrowly saves Mary from the soldier and his dogs (not without collateral damage to some vendors), and eventually the journey begins taking its toll. Bo tells off Ruth, for whatever reason...their relationship didn’t seem to be structured enough for a falling out to have much impact. He and Dave find the Royal Caravan, but Bo figures, dream or no dream, protecting Mary may be more important. Joseph finds that even Mary seems taxed by everything, though she’s put up an upbeat front, and eventually they reach Bethlehem. When they look for vacancies at various inns and Mary goes into labor, the soldier closes in and the various animals converge, including heretofore unseen ones, including Ruth’s conveniently placed flock and some animals in a manger that had prepared a bed of straw, bathed in the light of the Star.

With the assistance of the various beasts of burden, the soldier is sent over a cliff, hanging on by his embedded sword, holding his chained dogs. Boaz tries to help them, but the solider merely drops the dogs and gets back up...in time for the cliff to crumble as he falls to a classic Disney-style death. Bo manages to save Rufus and Thaddeus, and they hear the wail of a newborn child. As the animals gather around Jesus, they bow and Boaz lies in Mary’s lap. The credits roll as we see some still drawings of some of the animals and Jesus as he ages a few years.

This review counts as a birthday AND Christmas present, okay?

Overall...it’s not a bad movie. Is it great? No. Is it better than Coco? Not really. But for a family movie depicting the most important moment in all Christianity besides creation itself? It does a good job of being entertaining while maintaining scriptural respect. It’s not unlike Ice Age before it got a bunch of unnecessary sequels.

The animation is good, the comedy ranges from clever to basic, I have no problem with any of the actors (Michael-Key and Morgan being quite entertaining), and some of the dialogue felt a little contemporary, more in delivery. Throughout, there are Christmas carols performed in various styles. That may jar some, but I didn’t really mind. Mary and Joseph are portrayed likeable and understandably overwhelmed at times. I really liked the dogs at the end; they were basically trained killers, but upon the birth of Christ, they’re released from their shackles, and have a second chance to be better...but as Thaddeus noted, they’d have to try. That, I think, is a great message. It did feel odd hearing the animals talk about God, but maybe that’s because there aren’t many movies or TV shows that discuss God in serious, respectful way, so I’m not used to the dignified context.

Downside, some characters don’t get much development, so you don’t get a feel for how they fit into the story or why you should care. Ruth rallying her flock had no real tension to it, the animals already in the manger were just kind of there, and, as noted, the animosity between Joseph and Boaz was built on nothing. Oh, and half the reason Bo managed to escape at all was because an older donkey helped him out of the blue. An older donkey that previously told Bo to accept his lot in life, but changed his mind...for no reason.

If you’re a religious family looking for something fun for all ages, this may be up your alley. There are definitely better animated movies in several respects, but this isn’t nearly as bad as I was fearing. It’s a good balance between a religious film and an average family-aimed cartoon.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

#Christmas #Jesus #The Star #movies #animation #cartoon #Gina Rodriguez #Tracy Morgan #Keegan Michael Key #Oprah #Tyler Perry #Zachary Levi #Patricia Heaton #Kelly Clarkson #Gabriel Iglesias #Ving Rhames #The Nativity #Steven Yeun

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njawaidofficial · 6 years

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38 Awesome TV Shows That You Can Stream On Hulu Right Now

https://styleveryday.com/2018/03/28/38-awesome-tv-shows-that-you-can-stream-on-hulu-right-now/

38 Awesome TV Shows That You Can Stream On Hulu Right Now

PSA: None of these are streaming on Netflix.

The Golden Girls

What it’s about: Four senior ladies living together in Miami. Why you should watch: It’s a hilarious classic about friendship that’ll make you hopeful about growing old. Watch Now!

NBC / Via huffingtonpost.com

Hey Arnold!

What it’s about: A fourth-grader with a famous head-shape who helps his friends and grandparents solve problems in their Brooklyn-esque city. Why you should watch: It’s full of positivity and will take you right back to your childhood. Watch Now!

Nickelodeon / Via variety.com

Key & Peele

What it’s about: A sketch show featuring the comedy stylings of Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. Why you should watch: You get to enjoy Peele’s brillance before he became an Oscar-winner. Watch Now!

Comedy Central / Via lamag.com

Broad City

What it’s about: Two best friends who go on numerous adventures in NYC whilst failing to get their shit together. Why you should watch: Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer are empowering and unapologetically hysterical. Watch Now!

Comedy Central / Via indiewire.com

Bob’s Burgers

What it’s about: A zany family and their burger joint. Why you should watch: It’s fun, funny, and there’s a 100% chance you’ll relate to at least one of the characters. Watch Now!

FOX / Via hulu.com

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

What it’s about: The wacky misadventures of a Brooklyn police precinct. Why you should watch: It’s got the perfect sitcom blend of humor and heart. Watch Now!

FOX / Via mixdeseries.com

The O.C.

What it’s about: A troubled teen who moves in with a rich California family. Why you should watch: It’s a Millennial rite of passage. Watch Now!

FOX / Via pastemagazine.com

30 Rock

What it’s about: A behind-the-scenes look at an extremely dysfunctional sketch show. Why you should watch: Liz Lemon is the most relatable character in the history of relatable characters. Watch Now!

NBC / Via basementrejects.com

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

What it’s about: A teenager with super strength fights demons with the help of her loveable friends. Why you should watch: It’s the greatest show of all time. Don’t @ me. Watch Now!

UPN / Via hazlitt.net

Boy Meets World

What it’s about: The trials and tribulations of a young boy growing up in Philadelphia. Why you should watch: It unfolds one of the greatest love stories of all time. Watch Now!

Buena Vista / Via mentalfloss.com

Animaniacs

What it’s about: Ummm, everything? Nothing? Weird stuff. Why you should watch: It’s incredibly smart, bizarre, and deserves to be revisited before the reboot. Watch Now!

Warner Bros. / Via nydailynews.com

Lost

What it’s about: A group of people whose plane crashes on an island that’s full of mystery and death. Why you should watch: It changed the way we watch television. If you hate the ending, it’s still worth rewatching. And if you’ve never seen it, it’s never too late to join the debate about the ending. Watch Now!

ABC / Via robhasawebsite.com

What it’s about: Doctors dealing with doctor drama. Why you should watch: It was the OG Grey’s and features a dynamite cast. Watch Now!

NBC / Via collider.com

Living Single

What it’s about: A group of 20-somethings living and loving in Brooklyn. Why you should watch: Of the many sitcoms about 20-somethings in New York, it’s one of the few that focuses on women of color. Also, you can’t go wrong with Queen Latifah. Watch Now!

FOX / Via vulture.com

Jersey Shore

What it’s about: The Jersey Shore, obviously. Why you should watch: You’re going to want to remember every bit of drama before it returns. Watch Now!

MTV / Via imdb.com

How I Met Your Mother

What it’s about: The very, very long story of how a man meets the mother of his children. Why you should watch: You’ve probably been missing it since Netflix took it away. Watch Now!

CBS / Via rollingstone.com

Rick and Morty

What it’s about: The sci-fi adventures of an alcoholic genius and his anxious grandson. Why you should watch: The hype has died down a bit, so you can enjoy it without the pressure of the fandom. Watch Now!

Adult Swim / Via studybreaks.com

Black-ish

What it’s about: An upper-middle-class American family, working on gaining a sense of cultural identity. Why you should watch: It’s one of the best family sitcoms there is, and touches on incredibly important topics. Watch Now!

ABC / Via goldenglobes.com

One Tree Hill

What it’s about: The kinship and rivalry of half-brothers in a small town. Why you should watch: It’ll make you nostalgic for high school and the early 2000s. Watch Now!

CW / Via zimbio.com

Steven Universe

What it’s about: A half-human boy who is being raised in a small beach town by magical beings from another planet. Why you should watch: It’s touching, sweet, and will surprise you at every turn. Also, amazing songs. Watch Now!

Cartoon Network / Via usatoday.com

Angie Tribeca

What it’s about: A satirical take on police procedurals. Why you should watch: Rashida Jones doesn’t get enough credit for her comedic prowess. Watch Now!

TBS / Via tv.avclub.com

Atlanta

What it’s about: A man trying to balance his family life and life in the Atlanta rap scene. Why you should watch: Ummm, it’s a dramedy created by and starring Donald Glover. Watch Now!

FX / Via variety.com

Scrubs

What it’s about: A comedic look at the everyday workings of a hospital. Why you should watch: It’s unique, fun, and depicts one of the greatest bromances of all time. Watch Now!

NBC / Via geek.com

Preacher

What it’s about: An outlaw/preacher whose body is taken over by a cryptic force. Why you should watch: It’s an excellent comic book adaptation and Dominic Cooper is delectable. Watch Now!

AMC / Via vanityfair.com

Archer

What it’s about: A spy agency that is full of miscreants. Why you should watch: It’s ridiculously funny and always manages to stay fresh. Watch Now!

FX / Via variety.com

Will & Grace

What it’s about: Two best friends, a gay man and straight women, living together in NYC. Why you should watch: Two words: Karen and Jack. Watch the Original Now! Watch the Reboot Now!

NBC / Via brit.co

Smallville

What it’s about: The early years of Clark Kent. Why you should watch: Easily the most enjoyable Superman adaptation. Watch Now!

CW / Via geekandsundry.com

Seinfeld

What it’s about: Nothing. Why you should watch: Well, it is considered the greatest sitcom of all time, so… Watch Now!

NBC / Via businessinsider.com

UnReal

What it’s about: The behind-the-scenes drama of a Bachelor-esque reality show. Why you should watch: It follows three-dimensional female characters who are actually allowed to be powerful (and sometimes ruthless). Watch Now!

Lifetime / Via huffingtonpost.com

Firefly

What it’s about: A space western that follows the adventures of the crew of a small transport ship. Why you should watch: It’s a small commitment with a mere 14 perfect episodes. Watch Now!

FOX / Via giphy.com

Community

What it’s about: A ragtag group of community college students. Why you should watch: It gets a lot of flak for taking a dive, but it’s still one of the funniest sitcoms ever made. Watch Now!

NBC / Via scroll.in

Runaways

What it’s about: A group of teens discover their parents are super villains. Why you should watch: Teen drama meets Marvel plus there’s a freaking dinosaur. Watch Now!

Hulu / Via hulu.com

Party Down

What it’s about: A catering company made up of employees trying to succeed in Hollywood. Why you should watch: It’s got a killer cast and you get to enjoy the spectacular chemistry between Adam Scott and Lizzy Caplan. Watch Now!

Starz / Via amazon.com

Full House

What it’s about: Three men raising three girls in San Francisco in the late ’80s/early ’90s. Why you should watch: It’s just good, wholesome fun. Watch Now!

ABC / Via geekandsundry.com

Legion

What it’s about: An institutionalized man whose supposed schizophrenia is more than it seems. Why you should watch: It takes place in the same universe as the X-Men films and will make you respect Aubrey Plaza even more than you already do. Watch Now!

FX / Via rottentomatoes.com

Rugrats

What it’s about: Babies having adventures. Why you should watch: It’s about babies having adventures. Watch Now!

Nickelodeon / Via abcnews.go.com

Saturday Night Live

What it’s about: Well, it’s a sketch show, and it’s been on for 43 years. Why you should watch: It’s like taking a tour through the history of comedy. (Seasons 1-5 and 30-43 are currently streaming.) Watch Now!

NBC

The Handmaid’s Tale

What it’s about: A fundamentalist regime that treats women as property. Why you should watch: It’s the first show by a streaming service to ever win a Best Series Emmy. Watch Now!

Hulu / Via cosmopolitan.com

Do you have any Hulu recommendations that aren’t listed above? Tell us in the comments!

NBC / Via giphy.com

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hollywoodjuliorivas · 7 years

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POLITICS Grade the president: Tell us how you think Trump did this week ENTERTAINMENT MOVIES Jordan Peele on 'Get Out,' the horror film about racism that Obama would love "Get Out" director Jordan Peele at first didn't have high hopes that his horror-satire would get made. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) Jen Yamato Jordan Peele never thought his directorial debut “Get Out,” a horror spin on “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” for the post-Obama age, would ever actually make it to the big screen. “I said, ‘You want to hear a cool story?’” the comedian-turned-filmmaker says of his pitch to a producer years ago, teasing a thriller about an African American man who goes home to meet his Caucasian girlfriend’s parents only to suspect insidious goings-on in her affluent liberal hometown. “The caveat is: No one will make this movie.’” Happily for Peele, 38, a comedy star best known for his sketch show “Key & Peele,” his run on “MADtv” and last year’s “Keanu” movie, he was wrong. With backing from QC Entertainment, Blumhouse Productions (the company behind horror hits “Paranormal Activity” and most recently “Split”) and distribution from Universal Pictures, Peele turned the pitch into a script filled with scares, laughs and searing social commentary about race and racism in America. Little Haley Joel Osment in ‘The Sixth Sense’ can see dead people. Well, I can see racist people. — Jordan Peele, writer-director of "Get Out" Wanting to make sure his vision for the film would come to life with the nuance and edge it required, he made the leap to directing, a lifelong dream for the cinephile. The result is a taut, unrelenting and frequently hilarious horror-satire that’s scored a rare 100% positive rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as raves from hip-hop luminaries like Chance the Rapper, who recently hosted a private screening of the film in Hollywood. With nods to paranoia classics like “The Stepford Wives” and “Rosemary’s Baby,” Peele turns his lens on the “monster of racism” lurking in the manicured suburbs. Like his predecessors and cinema idols, he exploits the conventions of the horror genre to open a universal window into one of the most marginalized voices in contemporary America: that of the young black man. “I’m so in awe of movies like ‘Alien,’ ‘Aliens,’ ‘The Shining,’ ‘Edward Scissorhands,’ most [Steven] Spielberg films — entertaining, ‘give the audience what they want’ movies,” Peele said on a sunny afternoon in downtown Los Angeles. Growing up in New York, Peele would spend his nights obsessively poring over the films of Spielberg, Stanley Kubrick and David Cronenberg, favoring horror titles among his collection of more than 300 VHS movies. “My friend and I would spend the better part of an evening figuring out what to watch. While other teenagers were getting laid, I was just trying to decide between ‘Dead Again’ and ‘The First Power’ for the third time.” But one of his favorite movies — Ridley Scott’s “Thelma and Louise” — also taught him how effectively film can open audiences to experiences outside of their own. “ ‘Thelma and Louise’ was a pretty important film for me, and still is,” Peele said. “It’s a social film about many things — gender, freedom — and it puts someone like me into the place of these protagonists. Watching that movie, you are living through the eyes of these women. It’s an inspiring movie that affected me so much. And until I saw it I wouldn’t have guessed that it had anything for me.” The trailer for "Get Out," written and directed by Jordan Peele. “Get Out” puts its audience into the shoes of Chris (Daniel Kaluuya), a New York City photographer who joins his girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), on a weekend trip home to meet her parents (Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener). He’s apprehensive about how her family will react to their interracial romance, despite her reassurances. (“My dad would vote for Obama for a third term if he could,” she insists.) But as odd encounters rack up, he begins to wonder if the paranoia and fear is all in his head. “Part of being black in this country, or being a minority in this country, is about feeling like we’re perceiving things that we’re told we’re not perceiving,” said Peele. “It’s a state of mind. It’s a piece of the condition of being African American, certainly, that people may not know. They may not realize the toll that it does take — even if the toll is making us doubt ourselves.” “Little Haley Joel Osment in ‘The Sixth Sense’ can see dead people. Well, I can see racist people,” he chuckled, his smile fading to a more sober expression. Although he couldn’t have planned for its unexpectedly acute real world relevance, “Get Out” arrives in theaters at a time of post-election tumult and terror among the country’s minority population under President Trump’s first two months in office. “It’s not impossible to think why someone might miss a deeper, darker, crazy twist, because we do have this absurd actuality that we’re dealing with,” he said. British actor Daniel Kaluuya stars in "Get Out." (Justin Lubin / Universal Pictures) This film is how racism feels. You get paranoid and you can’t talk about it. You can’t voice it. — Daniel Kaluuya, star of "Get Out" He cast Kaluuya after watching the 27-year-old British actor’s breakout turn on an episode of “Black Mirror.” Kaluuya was already a fan of Peele’s comedy work — he and Emily Blunt spent their downtime watching “Key and Peele” in their trailers on the set of “Sicario,” he remembers — but found in Peele’s script an urgency that reflected familiar trauma onto the screen. “That party sequence is why I really wanted to do this film, because I’ve been to that party,” Kaluuya said of a scene in which Chris politely navigates a series of white strangers whose pleasantries are edged with passive-aggressive racist undertones. Kaluuya, who got his start on the hit British series “Skins” and is currently filming Marvel’s “Black Panther” for “Creed” director Ryan Coogler, delivers a nuanced performance that builds as the dread mounts. In one scene, his wide, expressive eyes stream unblinking tears, conveying a horrifically visceral feeling of physical and metaphorical powerlessness. “This film is how racism feels,” said Kaluuya. “You get paranoid and you can’t talk about it. You can’t voice it. No one around you gets it, so you can’t speak about it. And in the end it just comes out in a rage.” Director Jordan Peele is best known for the sketch comedy "Key & Peele." (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) You know Obama's got a devilish sense of humor. I know he'll love it. . . . I can't wait for Trump to see it, either. — Jordan Peele, director “Get Out” makes black lives matter far more than they traditionally have in movies, particularly in the horror genre, simply by depicting the reality of being a marginalized minority in white-dominated spaces. “Those are the times you have to bite your lip, when an officer’s disrespecting you, in order to get by. In order to have freedom. In order to not be strip searched. In order to not be imprisoned,” said Kaluuya. “So you circle at the party, having to smile, because if you stand up and want to go, you’re the troublemaker, you’re the nuisance, because you are not playing the game — you’re not making everybody else feel comfortable.” “Get Out” premiered as a surprise screening in January at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, garnering glowing early reviews. The critical acclaim and strong box office tracking, with reports expecting an opening weekend take to quadruple the film’s $5-million production budget, put Peele’s career as a multi-hyphenate filmmaker in a promising position. “I’ve done enough time in sketch comedy where you know that you’re going to piss people off, and you know that that’s not the end of the world, and that that’s OK,” said Peele, who is developing several feature film thrillers similarly built around contemporary social ills. Emboldened by the recent successes of films and television show like “Straight Outta Compton,” Donald Glover’s “Atlanta” and Issa Rae’s “Insecure,” and the accomplishments of director Ava DuVernay helming “Selma,” “13th” and “A Wrinkle in Time,” he sees change coming to a Hollywood that has long resisted diversity. “The theory that black doesn’t sell overseas is . . . . We need to give more diverse points of views the platforms to do good work. And I think part of the key is for the underdogs to realize that this is a possible aspiration,” said Peele. “I want to produce untapped voices, find people and help them get their platform.” Peele’s push into directing comes at a time in America when socially provocative mainstream fare has the potential to permeate the national consciousness and drive vital conversations about race, inclusion and empathy for otherness. “I feel like we’re entering a time now when it’s not as much about being mad as it is about being strategic,” he said. “I believe Barack Obama when he says progress isn’t a straight line. We just have to mitigate the potential damage and get through this together. I think art is going to play a huge part in that.” To Peele’s knowledge, former President Obama, who famously tapped his comedy partner Keegan Michael Key to bring the duo’s “Obama Anger Translator” sketch to the 2015 White House Correspondents Dinner, hasn’t yet seen “Get Out” — although former first daughter Malia Obama was in attendance at the film’s Sundance premiere. “You know Obama’s got a devilish sense of humor,” Peele grinned. “I know he’ll love it.” He paused, his comedy senses tingling, teeing up a joke. “I can’t wait for Trump to see it, either. You know he definitely consumes content. He probably spends 10 hours a day watching news and Netflix,” he smiled. “He probably binge-watches shows on his iPhone during national security meetings. I’m sure he’s caught up with ‘The OA’ at this point.” CAPTION The Oscars red carpet in two minutes The Oscars red carpet in two minutes Watch the Oscars' shocking best picture mix-up Why the Oscars still matter: Academy Awards attendees weigh in Red Carpet time-lapse video On the Oscars red carpet, Barry Jenkins on why film matters [email protected] @jenyamato ALSO Jordan Peele explains ‘Get Out's' creepy milk scene, ponders the recent link between dairy and hate How Allison Williams mined the horrors of white privilege for ‘Get Out’ Review: Jordan Peele's clever horror-satire 'Get Out' is an overdue Hollywood response to our racial anxiety Jordan Peele’s ‘Get Out’ — the scariest movie at Sundance Alabama theater will not show 'Beauty and the Beast' because of gay story line The force that is Zoey Deutch: Ambitious, curious and hater of the term 'it' girl The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac to top new Classic West, East festivals in July Privacy Policy Copyright © 2017, Los Angeles Times Barack Obama Donald Trump Reviews Steven Spielberg Ryan Coogler Stanley Kubrick Catherine Keener

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