By now you’ve likely crushed The Crown, played your way through The Queen’s Gambit, and are now making your way through The Mandalorian at hyperspeed, so I’ll stick to some recommended shows and movies that might not yet be on your radar just yet. Here are a few that I’ve enjoyed lately:
Happiest Season
When I heard about this movie back in March, it felt like Christmas was SO FAR OFF. Billed as the first, big-budget queer Christmas rom-com, the movie features many of my favourite things including Mackenzie Davis (from Halt and Catch Fire), Aubrey Plaza (aka April Ludgate from Parks & Recreation), Victor Garber (Jack ? Freaking ? Bristow from Alias), as well as Dan Levy (Schitt’s Creek) and Kristen Stewart (Panic Room [yes, that’s the credit I’m sticking to]). When I first saw the trailer I thought it looked a little lame, but ultimately it surpassed my expectations, and was fairly funny and entertaining, although, admittedly, a bit frustrating at times. Dan Levy provides a lot of levity and hilarious one-liners, while Aubrey Plaza’s character Riley is perhaps the most beloved by the end of it all. If you’re looking for a holiday movie that’s not Love Actually or Elf, you can add this one to your playlist on iTunes (if in Canada), or Hulu (in the States). Also, stick around for a delightful holiday track from Tegan & Sara.
We Are The Champions
Netflix seems to be edging itself deeper into obscure genres and topics (case in point: there’s a 7 EPISODE show just about about tacos) and We Are The Champions is no better example. This series features 30-minute episodes, narrated by Rainn Wilson, that peer into obscure cultural competitions like Cheese Rolling races (yes, that’s a thing), competitive Yo-Yo-ing, and chilli eating contests. The show does a good job of taking a topic that you are likely to have ZERO apparent interest in, and quickly investing you in it, by focusing on the stories of the people who love that “weird” thing. (It reminds me a bit of The Speed Cubers from earlier in the year in that way.) These episodes go down easy, and are refreshing, entertaining, and quick to watch.
Bombshell
This movie didn’t really get the acclaim that it seemed destined to get last year, but I found it to be a perfectly good film. Featuring a stacked cast of Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, John Lithgow, and Kate McKinnon, the movie is set in the 2016 election cycle and focuses on Megyn Kelly, and other Fox News talent, as they expose the reprehensible sexual misconduct of their CEO Roger Ailes. An interesting look at the behind-the-scenes decision-making and social pressures that permeate mainstream media. By the end, you’ll want to dismantle “the system” altogether.
The Right Stuff
While perhaps nothing revolutionary, if you’re into the space race, The Right Stuff is a perfectly fine watch that will make you feel better about shelling out $10 a month for Disney+. Much like First Man, it gives you a good look at how little anyone knew about how to safely get a human out of the atmosphere. Patrick J. Adams delivers a fine, if not intentionally muted performance, as John Glenn, with Jake McDorman as Alan Shepard. The show also delves a tiny bit into Jerrie Cobb and the Mercury 13, which I hope they explore more next season.
Star Trek: Discovery
Season 3 of Star Trek: Discovery has finally returned! If you haven’t watched it, this new take feels more like the recent movies than TNG of old – focusing more on impressive CGI action sequences than the soothing background sounds of the bridge. But, hey, who doesn’t want to be transported into the future with advanced medical systems right about now?! Time to hit warp-speed and catch up if you haven’t been following along already.
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