July TV Roundup: Loki & Kevin Can F**k Himself

The theme of this post is TV shows that started out strong but kind of fizzled out at the end, in my humble opinion. You will be sure to find many other opinions online (as is the Internet’s wont), and I certainly am down to watch the next seasons of these shows, but what follows is a dissection of what worked and what didn’t. Your mileage may vary.

Loki: I mean, it’s Loki. This was probably the only Marvel TV show I was excited about when Disney+ first announced it was going into the business of generating Marvel content. I love me some Tom Hiddleston, and what with throwing Owen Wilson into the mix, the show started off like some kind of zany True Detective-esque satire. It was funny, inventive, and the plot was filled with twists and turns as Loki and Mobius (Owen Wilson) tried to find a variant who was hopping through time and wreaking havoc with the sacred timeline that was maintained by members of the mysterious Time Variance Authority. The time traveling allowed for some fun set pieces: my personal fave was a quick jaunt to Pompeii, where Hiddleston at long last got to make use of his Cambridge Classics degree by yelling at some Romans in Latin.

Unfortunately, as someone who is not interested in the comic books and the wider Marvel mythology, the show got a bit too heavy on the fan service and a bit too light on the light entertainment. This is my recurring complaint about the Marvel TV shows - the movies understand they only have two hours and change to tell a story and compel an audience with different levels of interest, so they tend to sprinkle in the Marvel lore as Easter eggs for the fans, while the rest of us casual moviegoers can just enjoy some quippy action and let the plot breeze through our empty heads. But TV shows have more episodes, and while Loki was only restricted to six, it still managed to stuff a lot of goofiness in there that was utterly delightful to hardcore fans and utterly bewildering to me. I shan’t spoil any further than to say that they lost me at the alligator. 

So should you watch Loki? Sure! It’s interesting, features some strong performances, and if you pay attention to the plots of these things, it’s probably deeply absorbing and fun. It might actually be better as a binge now than as a week-to-week show, which is how I watched, promptly forgetting everything by the time the next episode aired. Do you want to watch the god of mischief rustle up some more trouble? Do it!

Kevin Can F**k Himself: Now with a title like that, we all knew I was going to watch this show, right? Toss in the fact that it stars Annie Murphy from the beloved Schitt’s Creek, and I was sold. The show has an absolutely brilliant premise: Murphy plays Allison, a housewife who appears to be in a typical American sitcom where the star is her schlubby man-child of a husband, Kevin (Eric Petersen), who has reckless adventures with his dad and next door neighbors, while Allison is the humorless nag who is always trying to keep the house clean and plan for their future. Whenever we see Allison and Kevin together, the lights are bright and there’s canned laughter from the studio audience, chuckling away at Kevin’s jokes and the scrapes he gets himself into. But as soon as Allison is away from Kevin, the lights dim and we enter into a Breaking Bad-esque drama, where she gradually realizes that she hates her husband and will take dramatic steps to escape.

I won’t spoil anything further because this is definitely a ride you want to take with as little information as possible. Again, this might be a show where bingeing is more effective than weekly viewing, as each episode has a cliffhanger that will leave you itching to press play on the next installment. Unfortunately, the problem here is that as brilliant as the premise is, it works a little too well. Kevin’s sitcom shtick that is driving Allison up the wall, also drove me up the wall as an audience member. The show is almost evenly divided between the sitcom and the behind-the-scenes drama and after the initial thrill of seeing how cleverly they were playing with these two genres, the gimmick became a bit tiresome. The show was ratcheting up the tension and went into a lot of fun areas, but overall, I didn’t feel like they quite nailed the landing on that final eighth episode.

Of course, I will definitely watch season 2 because I want to see how they tinker with this format and perhaps figure out a way to tell this story without having sections of it become quite so tedious. Murphy is doing such excellent work on this show and bringing to the fore the plight of all those harridan women who were doomed to be supporting actors in sitcom hell for decades prior. For that alone, I want this show to right the ship and sail forth - they’ve got a good thing going, they just need to figure out how to get there.

Black Widow: Marvel is Back on the Big Screen!

Watching Black Widow in an IMAX theater on opening weekend was a grand experience. The theater was mostly full, the audience was excited, and once the movie started, there was lots of laughter, cheering, and whooping as the events unfolded in classic Marvel fashion. After a month of going to see some lovely movies in mostly empty theaters, I finally felt like I had had the complete cinematic experience. And remembered what a difference it makes to watch a Marvel movie in a theater versus trying to watch one of their TV series on Disney+ at home.

First off, this is the first Marvel movie directed by a woman, Cate Shortland, and THANK GOD. Marvel had gotten a lot of flack for never having a female character star in a standalone film (which they finally rectified in 2019 with Captain Marvel) and it's unfortunate that the next one we got is a prequel of sorts since Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff died in Avengers: Endgame (spoiler alert? You should have known that going in, come on). So it's a little bittersweet, but Shortland takes this material, this incredible cast, and runs away with it. Scarlett Johansson reprises her role (presumably for the final time?) as Natasha and Florence Pugh is introduced (presumably not for the final time?) as her younger sister, Yelena. We also have Rachel Weisz and David Harbour playing their "parents," and that's about all I'm willing to tell you about the plot. While there are a lot of references to events from other Marvel films (this film takes place shortly after Captain America: Civil War), you don't really need to remember anything (I certainly didn't!) to sit back and enjoy. Because this is a tour-de-force action movie and you've got a wild ride ahead.

Much like when Wonder Woman came out, I was re-reminded of how excellent it is when we get to see women fight on screen. There is so much inventive stunt choreography going on here, with Johansson and Pugh doing a lot of stunts themselves but also relying on some incredible stuntwomen along the way. And as the plot of this movie hinges on a whole cadre of women like them who have been trained to be assassins, you are going to be treated to multiple action sequences where women are just whaling on each other or other people who can't stand a chance, and it is oh-so gratifying. Everyone gives as good as they get, and I always enjoy how women have a lot less ego about how they look in fight scenes - if they're ultimately meant to win the fight, they don't care if they get roughed up along the way, and that allows for a much more realistic and tense scene as you watch these battles take place. And don't fret, it isn't just all hand-to-hand combat - there are a lot of helicopters and cars and dazzling sequences of sliding along bannisters and roofs to make quick getaways as well.

Finally, this is a Marvel movie, so it is funny. Written by Eric Pearson, the script zips along but always takes time to breathe and throw in those comedic beats that are so crucial to ensuring that Marvel characters don't take themselves too seriously. There's a whole thing about how Natasha "poses" when she's in a fight, there's a lot of sibling rivalry and banter between the two sisters, and David Harbour has a nice time chewing the scenery with a character who is slightly pathetic and being rapidly left behind in the new world order. So watch Black Widow. There's action, there's intrigue, there are laughs, and there are a lot of women violently and emphatically taking down the patriarchy. It's exactly what we need.

July Movie Kickoff: Summer of Soul, Zola, No Sudden Move

It seems like filmmakers are making up for 2020 by flooding the movie market in 2021. As a result, I found myself watching three movies in three days during the July 4th weekend. These movies ran the gamut of genres so settle in: you’re about to find your next weekend recommendation!

Summer of Soul: Directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson (an incredible musician and music historian, who you might also know as the drummer of The Roots, the band on the Tonight Show), this documentary tells the story of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival. The festival took place over six weekends in Harlem and featured a roster of incredible talent, including such folk like Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Sly and the Family Stone, Mahalia Jackson, Gladys Knight & the Pips, etc. However, like most great moments of Black joy, this festival was forgotten - the Moon Landing took place during one of the weekends, and later that summer, Woodstock happened and there was only room for society to remember one great music festival, so the Harlem one took a back seat. Even though the entire event had been filmed, the producer couldn't get anyone interested in buying the footage, so it sat in a basement for 50 years until it was finally unearthed and shared with the world via this glorious documentary.

No joke - I spent two solid hours dancing in my seat while watching this film. The music is a relentless onslaught of greatness and it's impossible not to smile and sway as you're being serenaded by some of the best musicians known to man. It's also an incredible history lesson, given that America was at a tipping point in the Civil Rights movement when tensions were flaring after multiple assassinations of prominent figures, but also Black people were starting to proudly declare that "Black is beautiful" and take ownership of their identities. Afros and African designs were the norm, the New York Times moved to use the word "Black" instead of "Negro" after lobbying from journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault (she is one of the people interviewed in this film and her whole personal story is incredible and worthy of its own movie), and we even get some ethnomusicology with the people of East Harlem who brought their Latin influences with amazing Afro-Caribbean beats that punctuated this festival. 

Watch this movie - it is pretty perfect and you will both learn something and be enormously entertained. I dare anyone to not get chills when Nina Simone takes the stage or have a big smile on their face when The 5th Dimension start singing Aquarius (or when watching the older members rewatch that footage and beam in pride). I mean...COME ON. 

Zola: A movie based on a Twitter thread? Sounds like it would be vapid and insubstantial. But nope. It's a dark, funny, twisty thrill ride that perfectly captures our social media era and the inherent dangers of going off on adventures with people you've just met. 

Taylour Paige and Riley Keough play Zola and Stefani, two women who are going down to Florida for a weekend to make some quick money stripping at some clubs. They met when Zola waited on Stefani at a restaurant, and Zola thinks nothing of it when Stefani calls her up with this sudden proposal to make some quick money. They embark on a road trip with Stefani's boyfriend Derrek (Nicholas Braun, aka Cousin Greg from Succession, who is simply perfect casting for hapless fools who have no idea what's happening around them), and the mysterious X (Colman Domingo), a man whose name Zola won't get until the end of the movie, but who is apparently Stefani's roommate. 

Well, things go haywire quickly. Turns out X isn't a roommate, he's Stefani's pimp, and Zola is gonna get into some hot water if she doesn't help Stefani turn some tricks during this weekend. What follows is a sleazy, but somehow still hilarious film where Zola does whatever she can to keep the craziness at bay and just make it through this weekend. Directed by Janicza Bravo, and co-written by her and heralded playwright Jeremy O. Harris, this movie absolutely zips along, throwing you from one insane scenario to the next. Also, I HAVE to point out that because the director is a woman, even though this movie contains a lot of sexual content, both men and women are equally exploited (I got more male full frontal nudity in this one film than I've ever seen in all the films I've watched before) and there was also a hilarious scene in a public restroom where, for the first time, I accurately saw a cinematic depiction of how different women pee. It's amazing what diversity behind the camera can mean in terms of what we get onscreen.  

I came home and read the original Twitter thread posted by the real-life Zola in 2015, and the film captures almost all of it verbatim. It is an epic story, told by some epic filmmakers and actors, and you won't be bored for a second. Throughout the movie you'll also hear the familiar chirps and pings that accompany social media posts and you'll feel like you're texting about this movie as you're watching it. It's a bizarre, immersive experience, and well worth your time. 

No Sudden Move: Steven Soderbergh directed and the cast is a who's who of talent, including Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, Jon Hamm, David Harbour, Brendan Fraser, Amy Seimetz, Julia Fox, Kieran Culkin, and so on and so forth. The poster lists them all, but if you don't read up too much about it beforehand, you'll also get a fun cameo that you didn't expect towards the end.

That being said, I'd be hard pressed to walk you through the plot. Set in 1950s Detroit, this is about some small-time gangsters who get roped into what should be a fairly simple job. However, it doesn't go according to plan, and as they try to unravel what went wrong and find out who was ultimately responsible for all the events they've set into motion, they uncover an increasingly complicated scheme that involves some high-up people doing some shady things. You can sort through all the machinations yourself, I was not able to keep up.

This movie has been getting a lot of critical love, so by all means, go forth and enjoy it! It's classic Soderbergh, with witty repartee and actors who look like they're having a whale of a time, but ultimately, the plot was too convoluted for my liking. Also, the setting was a bit dark and grimy, and while it was impeccably shot (natch), you get tired after a while of just watching a bunch of men in suits swanning around with bags of cash and pistols. The film wasn't as funny as the Ocean's trilogy or some of Soderbergh's lighter heist films, and felt a bit too weighty and portentous in terms of its stakes. I prefer my heist films to have less of a body count, you know? So give it a try if you're ordinarily a fan of this filmmaker and this insane cast, but don't be too disappointed if it can't quite measure up. 

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.