Weekend Watch: Luca & Starstruck

As another long weekend approaches in the US, perhaps you need some distractions. Well I've got one family-friendly option and one not-so-family-friendly option that are sure to delight you in between your attempts at patriotic fervor!

Luca: If you're in the mood for some lush summery Pixar gorgeousness, then this is the movie for you. I have been pining for the beach lately and while I haven't been able to make it yet, watching this movie felt like a satisfying way to scratch my itch for ocean waves and sun (though the movie does feature a lot of rainy days on the Italian Riviera, for certain plot reasons). 

The movie tells the story of a young sea monster named Luca (voiced by Jacob Tremblay), who is increasingly curious about the life that humans lead above ground and out of the sea. His mother (Maya Rudolph) has tried to instill a sense of terror in him about humans and the dangers of leaving the sea, but of course, kids will be kids, and he ends up finding a fellow monster, Alberto (Jake Dylan Grazer) who has been living above ground for a while. To be clear, these sea monsters look exactly like humans when their skin is dry, so no one is suspicious when they arrive at the neighboring town of Portorosso. Here, they befriend a human girl named Giulia (Emma Berman), and get up to all manner of adventures as they deal with the local bully, Ercole (Saverio Raimondo). 

The story is sweet and simple - no unnecessarily convoluted Pixar machinations here, and certainly no existential dread to contend with. Many folks have seen this movie as an allegory for LGBT+ kids who feel different and have to find their place in society, which is something the filmmakers have denied, but you can certainly view this story with that lens if you choose. Most importantly, though, this is a beautifully animated film - the scales on the sea monsters are a shimmering multi-faceted riot of colors, and every plate of pasta looks good enough to eat off the screen. The animators spent a lot of time in Italy to get the settings just right (lucky them!) and you'll honestly feel like you've been on a grand vacation by the time you're done. My only quibble was why the main characters speak with American accents when they are supposed to be very Italian. Not sure if that qualifies as a hate crime, but hey, that's Hollywood for you!

Starstruck: Do you need a hilarious and delightful romantic comedy starring two very charismatic leads and oodles of fun supporting characters? Of course you do! Well, Rose Matafeo and Alice Snedden have co-written Starstruck, a six-episode series that you will binge in one afternoon and then possibly be ready to re-watch the next day because it is so damn charming. 

The show follows Jessie (Rose Matafeo), a Kiwi immigrant in London, who has a one-night stand with famous actor, Tom Kapoor (Nikesh Patel, who I've been jonesing to see since Four Weddings and a Funeral). Over the course of the six episodes, you will be subject to their will-they-won't-they romance, which encounters every possible stumbling block from New Year's Eve to Christmas. While the romance is ostensibly the point of the show, there is also so much hilarity to be had from Jessie's relationships with her coworkers and flatmate Kate (Emma Sidi, who is Matafeo's flatmate in real-life, a fact that seems very obvious given the amount of chemistry and camaraderie the two clearly share on screen). One of my favorite British comedians, Sindhu Vee, also puts in a few cameos as a woman who has hired Jessie to be her nanny, and Minnie Driver also unexpectedly pops up at one point, just to keep the lolz going. 

This show is a real gem, a perfectly crafted piece of British-Kiwi comedy that knows exactly what story it wants to tell, and is not too precious about it. The costumes and production design are also excellent - despite their zany antics, these characters feel like real people and their apartments feel so lived-in and true to their personalities. All of the dinner party scenes are a real joy, and while I think this series told a beautiful and complete story, I am selfish enough to hope that maybe Matafeo and Snedden could write a second series. If not, I hope they come up with a new show, because I need more joyous TV like this in my life.