What to Watch This Weekend: Stillwater, Ride the Eagle, The Exchange, Jungle Cruise, Boy Behind The Door, Murder Bury Win, Quiet Place, No Sudden Move

For A Masterful and Tragic Drama: Stillwater (Theaters)
Stillwater is a masterclass in storytelling, with stellar performances, a story filled with beauty and tragedy, and an amazingly complex journey that asks the viewer to experience it.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Heartwarming Coming of Age (And Puppy): Ride the Eagle (Theaters and Digital)

Ride the Eagle is a cute, heartfelt indie that takes Jake Johnson's natural charisma, adds a little ridiculousness and a puppy, and leaves you with an entertaining, heartwarming experience.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Biting Comedy About Friendship and Acceptance: The Exchange (Digital)

The Exchange's wonderful setting and cast, ridiculous situations, and biting humor will touch both your funny bone and your heart.  Très magnifique!  For more information, check out the review! 

For A Fun Adventure And Wild Ride: Jungle Cruise (Theaters and Disney+)

Jungle Cruise uses great chemistry between the leads, enjoyable characters, and an action-comedic take on the beloved ride that makes it easy to sit back and enjoy the adventure.  For more information, check out the review!

For The Horror Fans: The Boy Behind The Door (Shudder)

The Boy Behind The Door shows a tension-filled night with great performances by these young stars and a brutal, sinister story that will keep you on edge.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Killer Board Game Night: Murder Bury Win (Amazon)
Roll the dice on Murder Bury Win, a darkly comedic indie film that has the humor and charm to be as entertaining as any board game night.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Tense, Quiet Evening: A Quiet Place Part II (Redbox and Paramount+)

A Quiet Place Part II continues the Abbott's story with the same amazing sound effects and trademark muffled horror that made the first movie such an auditory treat.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Crime Drama: No Sudden Move (HBO Max)

A Soderbergh crime thriller that you can watch at home?  Also one that has Don Cheadle,  Benicio Del Toro, and David Harbour? Sign me up!

The Exchange Review: A Hilarious And Biting Movie About Friendship And Stereotypes

Release date: July 30, 2021
Running time: 95 minutes
Written By: Tim Long
Directed By: Dan Mazer
Starring: Ed Oxenbould, Avan Jogia, Justin Hartley, Jennifer Irwin, Paul Braunstein, Jayli Wolf, David Huband

In The Exchange, a socially awkward but highly enterprising teenager decides to acquire a "mail order best friend"; a sophisticated exchange student from France. Instead, he ends up importing his personal nightmare, a cologne-soaked, chain-smoking, sex-obsessed youth who quickly becomes the hero of his new community. 

The Exchange has an amazingly biting sense of humor and although it is set in the 80s, it has plenty of relevance in today's world.  The crux of this film is the great cast and the wonderful setting that it takes place in.  Set in a small Canadian town, the film makes full use of the small town charm and interesting characters to tell this tale.  But the best part of this movie is the camaraderie (and friction) between the two newly made brothers.  Both Oxenbould as Tim and Jogia as Stéphane are a lot of fun to see on screen.  And despite the fact that Tim has moments that are infuriating in how socially awkward he is, in the end I did like his character.  And many people from small towns can probably relate to his frustration and dislike of some aspects of his childhood. 

But the creme de la creme is Jogia as Stéphane, who is so insanely over the top that you can't help but laugh.  I love his lack of understanding about some strange aspects of American life and his insights that delivered through the lense of a foreign eye.  And wow is he funny.  The small town itself has some wonderfully humorous situations, some limited to a small town and some that are universal.  But overall this is a thoroughly funny movie.  

But what also makes the Exchange so special is that it touches on relevant topics of acceptance and friendship.  I loved the film's focus on stereotypes and how it subtly chips away at those.  Each character has some vision of how the other person should have been and none of them match that.  And the movie isn't afraid to approach racism head on, but despite the overall humorous nature of the film.  And the journey of this film does feel incredibly personal through all of the ridiculous humor and raunchy situations.  It makes for a wildly entertaining ride that will touch both your funny bone and your heart.  But if anything makes you laugh, the end credits scene is just pure hilarious brilliance. 

The Exchange's wonderful setting and cast, ridiculous situations, and biting humor will touch both your funny bone and your heart.  Très magnifique!

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The Exchange is available digitally and on demand on July 30, 2021.  

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