What to Watch This Weekend: Blush, James Bond, Horror Movies, and Kids Movies

For An Emotional Animated Experience: Blush (Apple TV+) 
Blush is a beautifully animated triumph that packs a ton of emotion into this short story supported by a deeper meaning to the whole experience and some beautiful music!  For more information, check out the review!

For A Dramatic Indie Thriller: Coming Home In The Dark (Theaters and Digital)

Coming Home In The Dark is an indie film that masterfully uses all it has to offer, with a tense story, brilliant performances, and an unsettling encounter that will have you holding your breath.  For more information, check out the review!

For An Atmospheric Experience With A Deeper Message: Madres (Amazon Prime)

Madres has a slow, dread-filled build up that directs viewers to its deeper message of the marginalization of people and the horrors of the past and present.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Stylish and Grotesque Horror Film: Bingo Hell (Amazon Prime)

Bingo Hell is a winner, bringing a bright style, wonderful music, and eccentric characters to craft an entertaining horror film that scores with visceral gore and social commentary.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Triumphant Return to Theaters: No Time To Die (Theaters)

No Time To Die is a solid return to the theaters, with intense action, amazing sound, and the Daniel Craig Bond you know and love.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Season Finale That Scores A Hat Trick: Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

Ted Lasso's season finale scores by tying up several loose story threads, giving a satisfying end to the drama this season, and setting up an exciting clash for the next one!

For The Kids: Muppets Haunted Mansion (Disney+)

Muppets Haunted Mansion hits Disney+ today and it is a great, family friend way to get your kids into the holiday spirit!

For The Kids Part Two: My Little Pony: A New Generation (Netflix)

My Little Pony touches a new generation of kids with a message about unity and banding together against misinformation, something many kids and adults could use these days.

Interview: Joe Mateo, writer and director of Blush, Emotional Animated Short Film on Apple TV Plus

Joe Mateo, writer and director of Blush, discusses the inspiration for this movie, the real life occurrences for the behaviors on screen, and loss and grief. We also discuss his love of mangos and how he was able to get this film made. So give it a watch and make sure to check out Blush, streaming on Apple TV+ now! Release date: October 1, 2021 Running time: 11 minutes Directed by: Joe Mateo “Blush” follows the journey of a stranded horticulturist-astronaut’s chances for survival after he crash lands on a desolate dwarf planet. When an ethereal visitor arrives, the once-lone traveler discovers the joy in building a new life and realizes the universe has delivered astonishing salvation.

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What to Watch This Weekend Veeeeerrryyy Niiiiccce Edition: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Haunt, On the Rocks, White Riot, The Owners, Totally Under Control, Blush, Emma

For Veeerrrryy Niiiice Viewer People - Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Amazon)

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm keeps much of what made the first film such a crazy, funny experience while tackling some new, modern American issues.  However, the shock value that was characteristic of the first movie just doesn't have as much impact this time around.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Missing Halloween Festivities - Haunt (Digital, Disc, Streaming)

Haunt's combination of atmospheric, impactful sound, tense and gruesome horror, and unsettling villains makes this a haunted house you will want to explore.  For more information, check out our review!

For Rock Fans and Future Activists - White Riot (Virtual Cinema)

White Riot is a sadly timely movie that showcases how music can be a force for good with a rebellious soundtrack and cast of characters.  For more information, check out our review!

For Relationship Drama Fans - On the Rocks (Apple)

On The Rocks takes many of the tropes of this genre and turns them on their head, with an unconventional story, Bill Murray craziness, and great chemistry between Jones and Wayans.   For more information, check out our review!  

For Those Going Through A Midlife Crisis - Blush (Amazon)

Blush tells a different mid life crisis story with some great acting and an unconventional plot.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Stuck At Home - Totally Under Control (Hulu)

Totally Under Control looks at the US response to COVID-19 in an eye opening and timely documentary!

For Those Bored And Looking For Trouble - The Owners (Redbox and Digital)

The Owners turns the traditional break in thriller on its head with some brutal scenes, a ton of tension, and a good cast of characters.  For more information, check out our review!

For Those Looking For Something Happy - Emma (HBO)

Emma brings the Jane Austin classic to life with a colorful style, a stellar cast, and an absolute charm that will capture you from the first scene.  For more information, check out our review!

Review: Blush

Release date: April 10, 2020
Running time: 101 minutes
Starring:  Wendi McLendon-Covey, Steve Little, Max Burkholder

Blush follows Cathy (McLendon-Covey), a suburban mom who lives a seemingly perfect, fulfilled life.  However, under this happy exterior hides a woman who is stuck in the monotony of her daily routine and lack of connection with her family.  She has a regular routine and fulfilling outside activities, but it seems like there is something missing that starts to surface when she makes a few new chaotic friends.  

What Blush does so well, especially at the start, is show the repetitive nature of Cathy's life in a seemingly perfect setup.  Whether it was her constant routine, or having family time with no communication, or a relationship with little interaction, the film sets up her character and the main problem very early.  And in doing so, the film takes a slow approach at the start but it does a really good job of setting everything up.  You really get a sense of what she is going through.  But the other really great thing about this film is that the story doesn't take your typical boring life crisis story.  When Cathy starts to experience other things and live a more exciting life, it does not actually get better for her.  Her new friends and endeavors tend to complicate what was a normal, boring life.  It's an interesting change and one that I didn't see coming.

And Blush sets up this story with some really good acting from McLendon-Covey and Burkholder.  McLendon-Covey is great and is able to convey a lot with her looks and interactions.  You really get a sense of what she is feeling from the subtle aspects of her character.  Burkholder is more outspoken in this one, and more sporadic, but together they have an interesting dynamic.  They are a good combination and keep the story interesting.  However, one issue with the story is that it seems to have random asides that don't necessarily need to be there.  Incidents that happen for no reason and don't really contribute to the overall journey occur and feel like they are just there to fill time.  However, do not worry about those as there is plenty in Blush to keep you entertained and on the edge of your seat as you see this seemingly perfect life with a rotten core collapse before your eyes.

Blush tells a different mid life crisis story with some great acting and an unconventional plot.  

Rent it.