Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

 Musical numbers by John Legend. A young inventor has his book of inventions stolen by his apprentice. He's lost his "magic"; his ability to believe in the impossible. His granddaughter comes to visit and with the help of his new apprentice - he might be able to find the magic again. The costumes are amazing. The cast: Forest Whitaker (Respect), Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele), Ricky Martin (singer), and Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey). The sets pieces are pretty cool, too. All in all, I say: SEE IT on Netflix.  

The Princess Switch: Switch Again

 

I like the actress - I don't know why she has made these movies. A sequel - adding a 3rd look alike. PLot just as bad. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Christmas Survival

 

A British every goes wrong family Christmas movie on Netflix. It wasn't laugh out loud, but it wasn't bad. All in all, I say: SEE how the British do it.

Santa Girl

 

On Netflix, another low budget Canadian Christmas movie. The 2 main characters had chemistry and could somewhat act. The others not so much. The editing wasn't great. The plot was okay. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

A New York Christmas Wedding

 

An independent film produced by Chris Noth. There was a lot going on. A woman facing a Christmas wedding. A woman looking for her first love. Preachy parts about same sex marriages. Making different decisions in the past and what would your life look like. It was long and boring. All in all, I say: SKIP IT o Netflix

The Paleface

 

An old racist movie starring Jane Russell (7 Brides) and Bob Hope (comedian). It wasn't funny, lasted too long, and was very historically inaccurate. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Christmas with a View

 

A famous chef is looking for a small restaurant to run in a place he last remembered his parents happy and in love and alive. He meets a girl with similar dreams and they fall in love. It's low budget and cheesy. All in all, I say: SKIP IT on Netflix.

Holly Star

 

A woman loses her job and heads home to Maine for the Holidays. Every year since she was a little girl he spent Christmas running around her small town with a tree farmer's son when they came to sell trees. Her best friend is there and her grandmother is also there - they add comic relief. Everyone does a good job acting even if the movie is a little too long and the plot wavers some. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Christmas Wedding Planner

 

A woman's first wedding planner job is to plan her cousin/best friends wedding. Her supportive aunt is ther and her cousin's ex?! The ex is a PI and ropes the planner into helping him find dirt on the fiance. They fall in love. It's low budget, not well edited, but the 2 main actors had rapport. It was fun and predictable. All in all, I say: SEE ON Netflix.

Hometown Holiday

 

2 sisters looking for love over the holidays. A low budget Canadian holiday film on Netflix. Predictable and boring. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath

 

It was a 3 season show on AMC maybe originally. I watched season 3 only on Netflix. They focus on how the religion is a cult and should not be tax exempt. It's amazing to me what they have been able to get away with because of their tactics. I was hooked and streamed all season 3 in one weekend. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Christmas in the Smokies

 

A Netflix Christmas movie from 2015 filmed in Georgia, but supposed to be in Tennessee. SOuthern accents are all over the place. A women is about to lose her family ranch until a former boyfriend turned country music star comes back and helps. Predictable. All in all, I say: SKIP IT - I got bored.

B Positive

 

On the CBS app, this is a screechy half hour comedy with a laugh track. It stars Annaleigh Ashford (Masters of Sex) as a party girl with a lot of problems who has a good heart. She wants to help a high school friend who is dying of kidney failure. She just has to stop using drugs and alcohol for a certain amount of time in order to donate. I like her - I'm not fond of the make character played by a comedian. I'm trying it out with volume on low. It's not bad, it's not great. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you get bored.

Swamp Thing

 

In the 80s Wes Craven (Nightmare) made a movie based on the comic book about a scientist that has a chemical accident and gets turned into a creature. LIke any good creature feature - he has a thing for the leading lady. One of the Queens or Princesses of horror Adrienne Barbeau (The Fog) who was once married to John Carpenter stars as the leading lady. Arcane is a man. Ray Wise (Twin Peaks) was the scientist. All in all, I say: SEE IT

 In the 90s Swamp Thing was brought to tv with 3 years and 70 something episodes. Arcane is a male - bad guy, and Swamp Thing is trying to protect the innocent. It was kind of done like the Hulk. All in all, I say: SKIP IT unless you want to pay for it on Amazon.

 The CW DC world takes on Swamp Thing. Crystal Reed (Teen Wolf) combines the female lead & Arcane into one character - a good person character. There is even more supernatural elements to this series - like a darkness in the swamp and dead haunting the swamp. Virginia Madsen (Operation Christmas Drop) and Will Patton (The POstman) also star. It's interesting. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Kevin Hart: Zero F%^&s Given

 

A during the pandemic comedy special. Kevin does a small show from his home. I didn't laugh out loud, but I did smile a lot. I really like him - he's is struggling for cancel culture for sure. I enjoyed this special on Netflix. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Christmas with a Prince

 

A doctor is asked to allow a Prince to recover in her pediatric cancer ward over the holidays. They fall in love. It's very low budget and the acting is really bad. All in all, I say: SKIP IT on Netflix.

Midnight at the Magnolia

 

A Netflix Christmas romance movie. 2 people who have been friends since kids since their father own a jazz club together fake love for their radio show. They want to go from local to national. They fall in love. All in all, I say: SEE IT - cute, predictable. 

Dash & Lily

 

A Christmas series on Netflix. A love story slash scavenger hunt slash game of dare between 2 young people in NYC. It was cute. It was multi-cultural and it revolved around literature. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Operation Christmas Drop

 

Based on a true story on Netflix. A US Congresswoman played by Virginia Madsen (Swamp Thing) sends her chief to Guam to get a full report on the base there to consider for closure. While there the chief gets a glimpse at a real life operation where much needed supplies are dropped on all the islands around GUam over Christmas time. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Love, Death & Robots

 

On Netflix, series that consists of animated shorts. Some focus on love, some focus on death, and some on....you guessed it robots. Some are strange, some are dirty, and some are creepy. I really, really liked the first one with the cats. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Zomboat!

 

A funny half hour English comedy that didn't even last one season from the looks of it. It is clever though - never seen a zombie apocalypse from one of the house boats on the English channel. Well, not the channel, but you get it. Two very different sisters are trying to survive by using the houseboat of an ex. I liked it - All in all, I say: SEE IT on Hulu

The Unsettling

 

Holly Taylor (The Americans) has lost her parents and is placed with an unusual and religious couple with evil plans. She thinks she's being haunted and no one really believes her. TUrns out she is being warned. It's kind of creepy at first - it just goes on for too long. Would have made a better movie than a series. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Artemis Fowl

 

Based on the novel and on Disney +, a young man discovers magic and magical creatures are real when his father is kidnapped. Josh Gad (Frozen) and Colin Farrell (In Bruges) star. It is different than I remember the book, but it has been forever since I read it. Kenneth Branagh (Hamlet) directs. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you've read the books.

The Social Dilemma

 

We can't say we weren't warned. In this documentary on Netflix we hear from the actual creators what dangers lie in wait with the progress social media has made. IMDb writes, "Explores the dangerous human impact of social networking, with tech experts sounding the alarm on their own creations". All in all, I say: SEE IT

Secret Society of Second Born Royals

 

ON Disney +, a kids movie about princes and princesses who are not in line for the throne. They develop superpowers to help fight evil. It had potential, but it was too out there for me. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The Queen's Gambit

 

Anya Taylor-Joy (Split) loses her mom - who was bipolar and tried to kill them both. She ends up in an orphanage until a couple who has lost their child come calling. While in the orphanage she seeks refuge in the basement with the janitor learning chess. She is a prodigy - various people come and go from her life and influence her as a player. All in all, I say: SEE IT - very well acted, and cool costumes. 

Sensitivity Training

 

A woman who hates people and has no idea how to treat people - one track mind for science. A fellow scientist commits suicide. The university blames her and asks her to complete sensitivity training. It's an independent film on Amazon Prime. It was spotty in parts - editing wise - otherwise not bad. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Professor Marston and the Wonder Women

 

Luke Evans (Dreamland) stars in this movie on Hulu. IMDb writes, "The story of psychologist William Moulton Marston, and his polyamorous relationship with his wife and their mistress who would inspire his creation of the superheroine, Wonder Woman". Rebecca Hall (With/In) plays his wife. Good acting, but I couldn't get into it. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Holidate

 

Once Nancy Drew, Emma Roberts is looking for a date for the holidays like her aunt (Kristin Chenoweth from Rio 2) suggests. Luke Bracey (Point Break - remake) is that date for her and vice versa. It has some funny parts - it's not a "thinker". It's also not a Hallmark, so don't expect that. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Assistant

 

Julia Garner (Ozark) is a powerhouse of an actress. Her character in this made me scream, "Speak up for yourself", "don't put up with that shit, say something", and "spit it out - say what you mean"! I got so frustrated and angry with her character - opposite personality from the character she plays on Ozark. Such a good actress. She is one of 3 assistants to a Hollywood producer who is like a "Harry Weinstein". It's slow, dark, and messed up. Normally, I would say f that, but she did such a good job. All in all, I say: SEE IT on Hulu. 

Good Boy episode from Into the Dark

 

A series on Hulu of horror shows. I watched Judy Greer (13 Going on 30) in Good Boy. A women adopts a dog whose owner is in jail. As the dog starts to show it's true evil self we know why. All in all, I say: SEE IT - it kind of reminded me of a Tales from the Crypt episode. 

Playing with Fire

 

Okay it's a kids movie on Hulu about fire jumpers, so it's not going to be a masterpiece, but.... The cast: John Cena (Trainwreck), Keegan-Michael Key (Key & Peele), John Leguizamo (The Power), Judy Greer (Halloween Ends), and Brianna Hildebrand (Trinkets). With a cast like that you know if it's bad it is the screenplay, director, and editing that f'd that up. It was so bad. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Totally Under Control

 

A documentary about America's handling of the Pandemic. The people interviewed and despite the NDAs the things they were a witness too will make you so angry. Pissed me off even more than I already was - this administration should be charged with murder among other things. All in all, I say: SEE IT on Hulu.

Sirens

 

Denis Leary (comedian) created this half hour comedy show for USA. It's on Hulu and it's about EMT workers in Chicago. All in all, I say: STREAM IT - it was the perfect light hearted comedy to watch during a pandemic. 

Helstrom

 

Based on a graphic novel and made for Hulu, this show follows two children of a serial killer. They have some demon in them and they fight demons. I like it all the way until the episode where the bad guys capture the nun in training. After that downhill in my opinion. All in all, I say: SKIP IT. And this makes me sad because I like Tom Austin (The Royals).

The Good Lord Bird

 

Created, produced, and acted in by Ethan Hawke (The Northman) for Showtime about the life of John Brown when he was busy trying to start to a war to free the slaves. It was adapted from a fictional novel, so it is not to be taken as 100% truth. Fredrick Douglas's depiction for example might raise some eyebrows, but it is a comedic and fictional look at these famous people. It was off putting, but interesting enough to keep your attention. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Comedy Store

 

This is a comedy club started in LA by Paulie Shore's parents and run by his mother until her death after the divorce. The five show season on Showtime is a documentary about the comedians and the club throughout it's opening to it's reimagining. It was extremely interesting and well done. I loved seeing some of the comedians of old being interviewed. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Witches

 

Angelica Huston (Ever After) starred as the head witch in this adaptation of Roald Dah's young adult novel. Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean) played the hotel manager. A young boy having lost his parents goes to lives with his grandmother. She teaches him about witches. When on vacation at a hotel, he stumbles across a witch convention. They have develop a formula to turn kids into mice, so they can kill them. All in all, I say: read the book first and then SEE IT

HBO Max remade the movie starring Anne Hathaway (Brokeback Mountain) as the head witch. This time it is set in Alabama, USA instead of England with a more diverse group of actors. Stanley Tucci (Big Night) plays the hotel manager. Chris Rock (Fargo season 4) does the voice over/narrator. Octavia Spencer (Invasion) is the grandmother. I was skeptical, but it actually seemed closer to the book than the original movie. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Barrier

 

A netflix series from Spain about a dystopia society. There is a lot going on - plots within plots within subplots. It could have been better and maybe if it had been a movie. I got so bored and frustrated with everything. When everything always goes wrong no matter what you know you're being set-up for the next season. I finished it, but I changed my recommendation by the end. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Project Power

 

A drug as been invented which when taken can bring out a superpower in a person. It was created for soldiers in the military, but a company wants to sell it on the black market. They test it in Louisiana to convince criminals to bid on the drug. Jamie Foxx (Ray) doesn't want to use his power in his pursuit of his daughter who has been kidnapped by the scientists. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Looper) is a cop that uses the drug to fight crime. It was kind of different - a little hard to catch on at first. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Devil All the Time

 

Horrible movie on Netflix about religious zealots, serial killers, and rapists starring Tom Holland (Spiderman). All in all, I say: SKIP IT

The Worst Witch

 

I never read the young adult English series, but I loved the original tv series based on the books. This is a re-imagining  - brought more to present times - in four seasons on Netflix. Bella Ramset starts out the series and then leaves to film GoT. She is supposedly a normal (hmm Muggle) child that doesn't come from a family of witches. She is clumsy and in trouble constantly, but has a good heart. Raquel Cassidy (Downton Abby) plays Miss Hardbroom (a Snape influence for sure). It takes place at a school for witches. Before Harry Potter this was the place for a magical school. All in all, I say: SEE IT

Vampires vs. the Bronx

 

On Netflix, a kids movie that is predictable and sometimes funny. Three friends get caught up in a vampire conspiracy to take over Bronx, NY while they are trying to stay friends and keep the local bodega open. It's cute - it's for kids. All in all, I say: SEE IT

The Haunting of Bly Manor

 

On Netflix, a horror series that takes place on a manor in England. In reality it's an American production filmed in Canada. I'm not going to bother with the recognizable cast because this sucked. It was not scary, in fact, it was highly irritating and frustrating. Even at the end when they are explaining things and twists arise it still doesn't make sense. All in all, I say: SKIP IT

Hjordis

 

The fun loving teacher from the Danish series Rita - my favorite show about teaching - gets her own short series. Hjordis has been asked to put on a play about bullying for the school, but when the Princess says she's going to visit things get turned around. All in all, I say: SEE IT if you like Rita.

Staged

 

David Tennant (Good Omens), Michael Sheen (Good Omens), and their wives participated in a brillant series filmed mostly via Zoom during the Pandemic. They all play exaggerated versions of themselves. Tennant and Sheen are convinced (by the director of the play they were going to do together before the pandemic hit) to run lines to prepare. Their daily lives and wives get interwoven into the story. There are good jokes, celebrity appearances, and good acting from Tennant and Sheen. It can be seen on Hulu. All in all, I say: SEE IT.

The Booksellers

 

A documentary (pre-pandemic) on Amazon about the history and influence of all the booksellers in New York City. The people, the shops, the famous New Yorkers who grew up in and around all the shops. I found it extremely fascinating. Really well done. All in all, I say: SEE IT