What to Watch This Weekend: Shang-Chi, Cinderella, Ted Lasso, Only Murders in the Building, No Man of God, Spirit Untamed, House of Hummingbird, Cruella

For An Asian Avenger Adventure: Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Theaters)

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings kung fu kicks MCU Phase 4 into high gear, with a great Asian cast and focus on Asian culture, high flying action, and plenty of humor.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Fresh Take On A Classic Tale: Cinderella (2021) (Theaters and Amazon Prime)
Cinderella is a fresh take on the classic tale, with a wonderful remixed soundtrack, more independent leading lady, and plenty of smart updates to bring the classic tale to life.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Comedy Show With Extra Drama: Ted Lasso S2E7 (Apple TV+)

With things turning around for Richmond, it’s time for everyone to work on their issues—like Ted’s discomfort, Nate’s confidence, and Roy’s attention.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Hilarious True Crime Comedy: Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

Only Murders in the Building is an enjoyable series that will appeal to comedy and true crime fans, with a wonderful dynamic between the leads, great cameos, and a story with plenty of twists and turns.  For more information, check out the review! 

For A Compelling True Crime Drama: No Man of God (Theaters and Digital)

No Man of God is an unexpectedly deep exploration of Ted Bundy and FBI profiler Bill Hagmaier, with compelling and chilling performances and a wonderfully rich conversation focused story.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Kids: Spirit Untamed (Redbox)

Spirit Untamed rides into Redbox with a fun, rebellious cast of characters and a story for equestrian and adventure lovers to enjoy.  For more information, check out the review!

Emotional Korean Slice of Life Drama: House of Hummingbird (Amazon Prime)

House of Hummingbird is like life.  It is a complicated, layered film but at the same time a simple exploration of a family in the midst of cultural change.  Like life, there is so much going on but Kim's amazing shot choice lets you just stop and appreciate what is happening in the now.  It is like family: messy, rough, emotional, but also beautiful.  For more information, check out our review!

For A Stylish Origin Story: Cruella (Disney+)
Cruella is a stylish, bold origin story and an unexpected surprise from Disney, with a marvelously wicked performance from Stone and a darker, more fashionable film from the House of Mouse.  For more information, check out the review!

What to Watch This Weekend: Werewolves Within, F9, Mary J Blige, Good On Paper, Nobody, Echo Boomers, Spirit Untamed, Luca

For A Lycanthropic Whodunit: Werewolves Within (Theaters)
Werewolves Within has a quirky cast of characters, a dark sense of humor, and an over-the-top ridiculousness that will keep you entertained and guessing throughout this horror whodunit.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Soulful Documentary: Mary J. Blige's My Life (Amazon)

Mary J. Blige's My Life tells the story of this influential artist who inspired and gave a voice to so many young men and women and gives insights on what makes her sound so special.  For more information, check out the review!

For An Insightful Rom Com: Good On Paper (Netflix)

Good On Paper is a modern, insightful, hilarious, and very personal journey for Shlesinger that helps to highlight the female perspective on success and love.  For more information, check out the review! 

For A Ridiculous Revving Adventure: F9: The Fast Saga (Theaters)

F9 hits the NOS on all the Fast Franchise themes, with plenty of family, fast cars (and other vehicles), and a whole extra helping of insane action and ridiculousness.  For more information, check out the review!

For Some Angsty Action: Echo Boomers (Free on Roku)

Echo Boomers has an excellent cast, an exciting story, and some very visceral scenes of destruction in this encapsulation of millennial and financial angst.  For more information, check out our review!

For The Kids: Luca (Disney+)
Luca is in the vein of A Little Mermaid, but its beautiful animation, imaginative story, and focus on tolerance and being yourself is a timeless message that appeals to kids and adults alike!

For An Action-Filled John Wick-like: Nobody (Redbox)

Nobody is a middle class, family man John Wick, with high energy and varied action, a mysterious story, and an epic, final fightsravaganza.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Happy Horse Adventure: Spirit Untamed (PVOD)

Spirit Untamed rides into theaters with a fun, rebellious cast of characters and a story for equestrian and adventure lovers to enjoy.  For more information, check out the review!

Giveaway: Enter To Win A Rental Of Spirit Untamed And Have A Movie Night Horse Adventure!

We have partnered with Dreamworks for a contest to add some adventure to your week!  Enter now for your chance to win a rental of Spirit Untamed on Vudu so you can your own magical horse adventure by yourself or with friends!  Spirit Untamed released TODAY on PVOD and is an animated movie based on the Netflix series (check out the review or the video review), which has a "fun, rebellious cast of characters and a story for equestrian and adventure lovers to enjoy." 

Synopsis:

An epic adventure about a headstrong girl longing for a place to belong who discovers a kindred spirit when her life intersects with a wild horse.  Lucky Prescott (Isabela Merced) never really knew her late mother, Milagro Navarro (Eiza González), a fearless horse-riding stunt performer from Miradero, a small town on the edge of the wide-open frontier. Like her mother, Lucky isn’t exactly a fan of rules and restrictions, which has caused her Aunt Cora (Julianne Moore) no small amount of worry. Lucky has grown up in an East Coast city under Cora’s watchful eye, but when Lucky presses her own luck with one too many risky escapades, Cora picks up stakes and moves them both back with Lucky’s father, Jim (Jake Gyllenhaal), in Miradero.  

Cast: Isabela Merced, Julianne Moore, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marsai Martin, Mckenna Grace, Walton Goggins, Andre Braugher, Eiza González

Directed By: Elaine Bogan

Screenplay by: Aury Wallington and Kristin Hahn

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5ysj1zfGVE

Winners Will Recieve:

A code good for a rental of Spirit Untamed on VUDU.  Code must be redeemed before August 16, 2021.

The contest runs from now until June 30, 2021.  Winners will be notified on June 30, 2021.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spirit Untamed Review: Horsing Around With Some Headstrong Heroes

Release date: June 4, 2021
Running time: 87 minutes
Starring: Isabela Merced, Julianne Moore, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marsai Martin, Mckenna Grace, Walton Goggins, Andre Braugher, Eiza González
Directed By: Elaine Bogan
Screenplay by: Aury Wallington and Kristin Hahn

An epic adventure about a headstrong girl longing for a place to belong who discovers a kindred spirit when her life intersects with a wild horse.  Lucky Prescott (Isabela Merced) never really knew her late mother, Milagro Navarro (Eiza González), a fearless horse-riding stunt performer from Miradero, a small town on the edge of the wide-open frontier. Like her mother, Lucky isn’t exactly a fan of rules and restrictions, which has caused her Aunt Cora (Julianne Moore) no small amount of worry. Lucky has grown up in an East Coast city under Cora’s watchful eye, but when Lucky presses her own luck with one too many risky escapades, Cora picks up stakes and moves them both back with Lucky’s father, Jim (Jake Gyllenhaal), in Miradero. 

Spirit Untamed is a sweet adventure with a rambuncious rule breaker.  Lucky is a fun character to follow despite her constant destruction of what is around her.  And when she heads to the west, she really starts to let go.  The film has a good cast of characters for this adventure with Lucky's friends helping to teach her about life on a horse.  And her aunt and dad provide some nice advice, though less than I think you would normally expect to see from parents.  But overall you get a rebellious, rambunctious team of girls who will do what it takes for their friends.  And the girls themselves are fun to see as they have very different personalities and  backgrounds to help round out the cast.  This is really a group of individuals rather than a collective and it is great to see characters that young men and women can relate to.

Spirit Untamed is an animated film and the animation is hit or miss.  There are some really beautiful scenes of the countryside, but the characters themselves have a relatively simple style.  It is not bad, but just not as intricate as I would have expected.  This might be simply trying to keep up with the style of the previous shows and the cartoon, but it just was not overly impressive.  The animation felt more like a Saturday morning cartoon style.  And the story of spirit also feels a little like a Saturday morning cartoon, with a linear story that is simple to follow but also doesn't add much complexity.  There are not many surprises in this adventure.  It is not a bad story, just one that goes from point A to point B.  And finally, although I liked Lucky's character in the end, her character is a bit abrasive at the start of the film.  

Spirit Untamed rides into theaters with a fun, rebellious cast of characters and a story for equestrian and adventure lovers to enjoy.  

Rent it.

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Spirit Untamed is in theaters on June 4, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

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