What to Watch This Weekend: March 20, 2020

At Redbox: Jumanji: The Next Level

Jumanji: The Next Level returns with a new adventure featuring the same great cast, additional characters to meet along the journey, and a commitment to video game tropes that is entertaining and hilarious.  For more information, check out our review!

At Redbox: Richard Jewell

Richard Jewell is a compelling story about a man who went from hero to villain overnight, and the effect that can have on your life and beliefs.  It has a strong cast, a commitment to realism, and absolutely stellar performances by the main characters.  For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (Netflix): The Platform

The Platform delivers important messages about social responsibility in a new way, with a grim and interesting setting, fantastic characters, and a bizarre but effective premise.  For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (HBO): Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw

Although it doesn't have the Fast & Furious "family," this film does still attempt to keep the family spirit of the main series alive.  Hobbs and Shaw is the fast summer movie that we expected, so jump into an exotic car, buckle up, and enjoy the ride.  For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (VUDU Free With Ads): The Founder
Michael Keaton's biographically based drama gives you a look at the founder of the world's most famous food chain and the ruthless and inspiring way he revolutionized both food and business.  The movie is not a happy meal, but the story of the Golden Arch's founder will give you a new perspective on the famous brand.

Streaming (Showtime): Green Book
If you are looking for something a little more wholesome in this quarantine weekend, Green Book has strong performances by Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen, good lessons to be learned from this surprising friendship, and an interesting, if safe, take on traveling to the south at a time when a guide had to be published to tell black travelers what establishments were safe to go to.  

Deal: UHD Movies - Little Women 2019 + Bonus Movie, Joker, or Hobbs & Shaw for $9.99

Deal Alert!  There are some relatively new movies available for $10 in 4K / UHD from VUDU and other retailers.  One of these, Little Women, just got released on digital and is a fantastic film adaptation of the classic novel.  Additionally, make sure you buy Little Women from a MoviesAnywhere connected account to take advantage of this bonus movie offer: if you buy it from a store that you have connected to your MoviesAnywhere account you will receive an email and be eligible to pick one of the following for free: Julie and Julia, Riding in Cars with Boys, Steel Magnolias, Friends with Money, Easy Virtue, The Runaways, Mrs. Winterbourne, or Ladies in Black!

Joker and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw are relatively recent and have both had previous deals, but this is a great time to jump on some new movies.

All these movies are Movies Anywhere compatible so will port to your connected Amazon, iTunes, VUDU, Google Play, FandangoNOW, and Microsoft accounts if you link them.

• Little Women 2019 (UHD) - $9.99
• VUDU
• Little Women 2019 and Little Women 1994 (UHD) - $19.99
• VUDU
• Joker - $9.99
• iTunes
• Microsoft
• VUDU
• Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw - $9.99
• iTunes

What to Watch This Weekend: November 28, 2019 (Thanksgiving)

In Theaters: Knives Out

Since you are spending time with family (or avoiding time with family), why not check out this dysfunctional one?  Knives Out assembles a killer cast of characters and pairs it with Rian Johnson's amazing style and wonderful, witty writing to create an amazingly entertaining whodunit. .  For more information, check out our review!

At Redbox: Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw

Although it doesn't have the Fast & Furious "family," this film does still attempt to keep the family spirit of the main series alive.  Hobbs and Shaw is the fast summer movie that we expected, so jump into an exotic car, buckle up, and enjoy the ride.  For more information, check out our review!

Streaming (HBO): Crazy Rich Asians

Another movie about dysfunctional families, Crazy Rich Asians focuses on a wealthy guy with a heart of gold trying to introduce his fiancee to his Singaporean family, with mixed results. The acting and humor are a lot of fun, as are the spectacular set pieces.  And the overall family message is heartwarming to see.

Streaming (Netflix): The Irishman

A different kind of family movie, the Irishman is getting all the Oscar attention for its long, compelling story and Scorsese's amazing filmaking.  Stay indoors during the during this long, cold weekend, devote three hours to this epic film, and reward Netflix for releasing a streaming movie so close to the box office debut.   

What to Watch This Weekend: August 2, 2019

In Theaters: Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
The beautiful visuals, action scenes, hand to hand combat, and technology and weaponry make this an enjoyable summer blockbuster through and through.  Hobbs and Shaw is the fast summer ride that we expected, so jump into an exotic car, buckle up, and enjoy the ride.  Check out our review here.

At Redbox: Alita: Battle Angel
A complete visual treat, Alita: Battle Angel took the difficult task of making a feature length movie from an old Japanese anime, and did an amazing job.  Our review said that the "animation and sound are awe-inspiring, and the effort that the filmmakers went to to realize this world is great to see."  

Streaming (Starz): Stan & Ollie

A beautiful movie about two amazing entertainers, Stan & Ollie casts some of my favorite actors as the iconic duo.  The film shows the nuances of this entertainment marriage and the trials and beauty of the duo's comedic bond. 

Streaming (Amazon): Burning
An overlooked gem from 2018, Burning is a slow and suspenseful film that takes a deep look at some very flawed characters.  It is not action packed, but it is something that you'll want to pay attention to throughout.  The film is a slow, but satisfying burn.   

Review: Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw

Release date: August 2, 2019
Running time: 135 minutes
Starring:  Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba

After eight movies in the Fast and the Furious franchise--making well over $8 billion--the series goes on its first spinoff adventure in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.  Directed by David Leitch, and featuring Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham), this film tells a new story of the pair's paths crossing after they first encountered each other in Furious 7.

Hobbs a loyal and highly regarded agent of Diplomatic Security Service, and Shaw a former British military elite operative who plays outside the law, are two of the best in the world when it comes to finding their guy! When these two alpha males are tasked with finding a rogue MI6 agent Hattie (Vanessa Kirby), they find out that their mission could change the fate of humanity forever. 

Despite many associating the franchise with fast cars and grand heists, the overall message of the series is family.  Thankfully, Hobbs and Shaw stays true to this underlying theme, which was so important to many of the previous franchise characters and actors.  This was welcome to see as I was concerned that a spin off movie might veer from the franchises past tracks; knowing that the important fast themes are still the basis of the films makes me excited for the next movies in the franchise. 

The Fast and Furious franchise has been trying to keep a careful balance between keeping to its roots while introducing new characters.  Johnson and Statham aren't even from the original cast, but they were welcome additions to the world.  And despite the spin off's emphasis on family, it's strange to see that none of the original Fast cast members make it into the film.  Not even a Tyrese or Bow Wow!  That being said, two welcome additions were the very funny combo of Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Hart.  I love seeing both of these comedians, and they were absolutely hilarious.  

The Fast and the Furious franchise started with over the top stunts and has escalated ever since.  Heck, in Fast 5 there was a tank rolling down the freeway and no one batted an eye.  And Hobbs and Shaw keeps escalating the series' over the top effects; one thing you know with a Fast movie is that you can expect to be entertained.  Whether its crazy car stunts, over the top fights, or James Bond style weaponry (a new direction for the series), you might not believe it but you'll enjoy the craziness of the franchise.  

Hobbs and Shaw keeps the franchise emphasis on family but disappointingly doesn't include any of the original "family" of the film.  However, the beautiful visuals, action scenes, hand to hand combat, and technology and weaponry make this an enjoyable summer blockbuster through and through.  Hobbs and Shaw is the fast summer movie that we expected, so jump into an exotic car, buckle up, and enjoy the ride.  

Watch it.