What to Watch This Weekend: June 26, 2020

Political Comedy: Irresistible (Home Rental)

Irresistible will make you laugh, cringe, and think a lot about our political system, in this hilarious dark comedy that sheds a satirical light on our political process.  For more information, check out our review!

Irreverent Relationship Comedy: aTypical Wednesday (Digital)
aTypical Wednesday is an irreverent, original, and fresh comedy that takes J. Lee on a journey of self discovery that will have you rooting for and learning from him while laughing out loud.  For more information, check out our review!

Hilarious Musical Comedy: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (Netflix)

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is a classic return to form of the Will Ferrell buddy comedy, with great exaggerated characters, laugh out loud moments, and plenty of heart and talent underneath the ridiculous exterior.  For more information, check out our review!

For The Kids: Scoob! (HBO Max)
Scoob! is an entertaining animated reboot of the original television series.  It makes small updates but keeps much of what made the original show an enjoyable watch.  And it is now free to stream on HBO Max!

For The Older Kids: My Spy (Amazon Prime)
My Spy pits Bautista against his greatest challenge--a 9 year old girl--leading to some hilarious scenarios and heartwarming situations.  However, parents should be warned that this film has a little too much violence and language for young kids.  For more information, check out our review!

Anime: A Whisker Away (Netflix)
A Whisker Away is a beautifully animated Japanese film with strong characters, an interesting story, and plenty of raw emotion.  For more information, check out our review!

Anime: Okko's Inn (Netflix)
Okko's Inn is a beautiful, charming anime with bright, colorful animation, an interesting ensemble of characters, and good life lessons.  For more information, check out our review!

Serious Suspenseful Horror: The Lodge (Hulu)
The Lodge is a suspenseful masterpiece, whose visuals, sounds, and story will keep you on edge from start to finish.  For more information, check out our review!

Dark Comedy: Ready or Not (HBO)
Ready or Not tells a twisted tale with plenty of dark humor.  The setting is fantastic, the imagery feels authentic, and the performances give this deadly game a unique charm that will make you want to play again.  For more information, check out our review!

Review: A Whisker Away

Release date: June 18, 2020
Running time: 104 minutes
Starring: Mirai Shida, Natsuki Hanae, Susumu Chiba

Miyo Sasaki, nicknamed "Muge" meaning "infinitely mysterious," has a bright personality and is full of energy at school and at home.  She is also not so secretly in love with her classmate Kento Hinode.  Muge tries repeatedly to get Kento's attention, but he does not take her seriously.  Eventually, she finds a mysterious mask salesman who gives her the ability to transform into a cat.  Using this, she finally is able to get close to Kento, but at some point, the boundary between herself and the cat becomes ambiguous.  And as she spends more time as a cat, she realizes that to stay in that world, she will be forced to give up her life as a human.

Most anime are unconventional, but this one feels even stranger I am used to.  It was nice to see an anime with a strong willed female lead, an outspoken character who knows what she wants and will do what it takes to get it.  Muge has a lot going on, but her personality is definitely a highlight of this film.  Although she secretly has a lot of insecurity and a lot going on at home, outwardly she is a fun, slightly crazy character.  Hinode is the exact opposite of her; he is quiet, confident, and emotionally blank.  But as we learn in the film from both characters, your exterior is only part of who you are.  

Despite being a Netflix release, A Whisker Away is through and through a Japanese anime.  The animation is absolutely beautiful, with a bright, colorful style that is eye catching and entertaining.  The cats are all drawn beautifully and differently, which is a definite plus when you have so many of them to see.  And some of the more otherworldly places that we are taken to are very imaginative.  The story of A Whisker Away is interesting with a lot of raw emotion.  As we learn in the film, what people (and animals) project on the outside is sometimes very different from what is going on inside.  And these emotions are laid bare during the film.  If there is a negative about this film, it is that some of the emotional growth and epiphanies happen after characters run away, which is maybe not the best message to send.  But it is also a common anime theme and one that helps move the story along.

A Whisker Away is a beautifully animated Japanese film with strong characters, an interesting story, and plenty of raw emotion.  

Watch it.