Author: Francine Brokaw

Bring home ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

They’re here! The hit movie Deadpool & Wolverine is now available on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, DVD, and in a Steelbook special edition for fans of these superheroes.

This is the highest grossing R-rated film of all time. The bonus content on the discs add to the background of the Marvel movie.

Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman star in this fun tale of superheroes.

“The movie broke so many records,” said Ryan Reynolds. “The only way to describe how I feel is, just south of ‘I’m finally enough’ and slightly north of, ‘I forgive my father.’”

Fans of the Marvel Universe will enjoy the two heroes joining together. There is action, comedy, peril, and a lot of fun in this film.

Wade (Reynolds) is taking life as a civilian in stride however when his homeworld is in trouble,  he goes back to his Deadpool persona and joins with a reluctant Wolverine (Jackman) to save it.

What many people enjoy when they purchase their favorite shows for home viewing are the bonus features, and this will not disappoint. Besides the usual commentary (with Reynolds and director Shawn Levy), there is a gag reel that is filled with a lot of laughs from the outtakes.

Another featurette looks at how the filmmakers created the scenes the “Oner” in which Deadpool and Wolverine unite. In another bonus, Jackman discusses returning to his role of Wolverine.

There are many cameos in the movie and in a featurette the filmmakers discuss them and their sequences.

The bonus titled “Practical Approach: Celebrating the Art of Ray Chan” is a tribute t one of the Marvel Studios longtime creator and the cast and crew discuss his contributions. Chan passed away earlier this year (2024).

There are some additional cute featurettes as well as three deleted scenes which fans of the show and the Marvel Universe won’t want to pass up.

To say this is an impressive cast is an understatement. Just check out the cast list:

  • Ryan Reynolds as Wade Wilson / Deadpool
    Hugh Jackman as Logan / Wolverine
    Emma Corrin as Cassandra Nova
    Matthew Macfadyen as Mr. Paradox
    Dafne Keen as Laura / X-23
    Jon Favreau as Happy Hogan
    Morena Baccarin as Vanessa
    Rob Delaney as Peter
    Leslie Uggams as Blind Al
    Karan Soni as Dopinder
    Jennifer Garner as Elektra
    Wesley Snipes as Blade
    Channing Tatum as Gambit
    Chris Evans as Johnny Storm

 

A special edition Blu-ray will be available exclusively at Walmart, featuring a Deadpool corps pop-up inside for an extra rise in fun!

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Needless to say, this is a collectible sure to be enjoyed by fans of the show and the characters. And, the holidays are just around the corner….just saying.

Deadpool & Wolverine is now available at Digital retailers, and will be released on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD October 22.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

klee has fun, colorful kid-friendly makeup

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Parents have the ultimate decision as to when their children are allowed to wear makeup. Sometimes it starts with some nail polish. Other times with lip gloss. But there does come a time when a child really wants to start wearing makeup. Kids want to grow up early and adults want to keep them from growing up to quickly. It’s quite a dilemma.

Klee has some non-toxic makeup kits MADE IN THE U.S.A. They do not contain paragons and are gentle to the skin. No talc, synthetic fragrances, or harsh chemicals go into these products. Adults might even enjoy them as well. The kits, however, are designed for ages 6+. (Again, parents get the final say as to what age they allow their children to wear makeup.)

There are two new kits in their Sugar Pop Collection.

Sweet Lil Nothings

This set contains pink shades. There is a soft mineral eye shadow, mineral pink blush, alcohol free roll-on fragrance, gingerbread house and pink lemonade flavored lip shimmers, a Water-based reelable litterbug glitter, and a pink nail polish.

Stick with Me

This set leans more toward the purple shades, with purple polish, Peppermint cocoa and Strawberry Kiss lip glosses, purple glitter, soft shades of eye shadow and blush, and holiday cookies roll on fragrance.

Each of the kits comes in a bright pink box with a plastic window to display the contents. Included in each set are two double-sided eye shadow applicators and a soft blush brush. 

All of the products are cruelty and gluten free.  A portion of the sales are donated to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, so it’s a win-win when you purchase these products.

To be honest, while the sets are designed for young girls, many moms will be reaching for some of these products as well. Hey, an extra nail polish or lip shimmer is always welcomed.

There are several other options from the company. This is a good way to start a healthy makeup routine with your young girls. While some might be too young to wear makeup on a daily basis, every once in awhile it’s fun to put on a little color or shimmer. And as most of us adults know, some days are just not makeup days, but a little lip shimmer fits the bill.

With the holidays just around the corner, perhaps a klee kit is on the wishlist. And for birthdays and birthday parties, these make wonderful gifts.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about books, products, travel, and all aspects of entertainment for over 30 years. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County.

Bring home ‘Despicable Me 4’

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

This fourth installment in the Despicable Me franchise introduces Gru’s baby Gru Junior. Besides this adorable little boy, the three girls – Margo, Edith, and Agnes steal their scenes. And yes, the Minions are all back with some adjustments creating a few Mega Minions.

The story begins with Gru and his family being put into protective custody as they are the targets of a villain who has escaped AVL prison and is seeking revenge against Gru. So Gru, his wife, the three girls, baby Gru, and three minions move to an idyllic town called Mayflower where they take on new identitie. But little Agnes has a hard time  lying about who she is. This little girl is absolutely adorable and knows the difference between right and wrong. She just can’t understand why she needs to lie about who she is.

While the family attempts to inhabit their new identities, things go awry. And Gru’s cover is blown by the neighbor’s daughter who blackmails him into helping her steal the school’s mascot. Poppy’s goal is to be a great villain, and even though he is not a villain any more and works for the Anti Villain League, Gru reverts to his old ways and teaches Poppy how to break into the school and steal the 

This is perhaps not the best movie in the franchise the characters are still enjoyable and the three girls, along with their new baby brother, are fun and provide all the laughs and enjoyment as this growing family becomes one of animations beloved family.

Fans of the franchise and the characters will enjoy the movie which is filled with all the minion antics they are expecting and the cuteness of the characters.

The 2-disc 4K version includes a Blu Ray disc as well as the 4K Ultra (for amazing color and quality), as well as a digital code. The 4K is the most desirable, so if you have 4K capability, this is the choice for you.

The bonuses include a cute feature with the marvelous and mischievous Minions as they play a game and try to get the best scores.  Another featurette has Minion Benny reliving a birthday party over and over again but with differences each time.

There are several deleted and alternate scenes, a look at the cast, a “making of” featurette, and lessons on how to draw the different Minions. 

Despicable Me 4 is rated PG for action and Rude Humor. If you love Gru, Margo, Edith, Agnes, Lucy, and little Gru Jr, not to mention all the funny Minions, you’ll love this fourth film. It’s available on DVD, Blu-ray, and 4K Ultra.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

‘A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery’ on Hallmark Mysteries

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

October 4, 2024 brings back a new Hannah Swensen mystery starring Alison Sweeney. Sweeney is Hannah Swensen, a baker and part time detective. Her mother Delores (Barbara Niven) has her PI license and never fails to let her daughters know that she is a professional private investigator.

A Sprinkle of Deceit: A Hannah Swensen Mystery begins with Hannah opening a new bakery that now includes coffee making. She is expanding her business but that doesn’t mean investigating murders will stop. No, on the contrary, Hannah is so good at investigating she often puts the police to shame. And even the Sheriff admits Hannah is an asset to them.

In this story Hannah caters a reunion that includes many of her friends. Advised by Chad (Victor Webster), the District Attorney to stay out of it for conflicting reasons, Hannah nevertheless dives right into the investigation. After all, one of her friends is the key suspect and she knows he is innocent of this murder. There are too many others who had reasons to kill this woman and she intends to get to the bottom of it.

All the while, Delores gets her big break in show business by filling in at a commercial shoot in town when the actress walks off. Delores is perfect for show business.

While Hannah continues to investigate, she also continues to keep her thriving bakery. She uses her baking talent to interview potential suspects and witnesses by taking boxes of goodies to them. After all, who can resist one of her tasty treats? Actually, Chad is the only one who can.

And speaking of Chad, viewers saw this coming. Chad and Hannah begin a flirtatious relationship and Delores uses her charms to push the two of them together at every opportunity.

Could Hannah and Chad be the new couple in town? Well, by the end of this film it looks like they are on their way.

But getting back to the murder, Hannah’s drive to clear her friend could put her own life in danger. Nevertheless she plunges ahead.

This series of mystery films is popular with the Hallmark Mysteries viewers as Sweetin is one of the favorite veteran Hallmark actors. And putting her together with Victor Webster is genius as the two of them make a great team – and a great on-screen couple. Keep your eyes out for more Hannah Swensen mysteries to come.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

courtesy photo: Crown Media

‘The Wild Robot’ comes to theaters

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

The Wild Robot is based on a book however the screenplay was written by Chris Sanders who brought us Lilo and Stitch, and there are many similarities between the two films.

The story begins when a package containing a robot crashes on a deserted island. This robot, Rozzum 7134 (now to be called Roz and voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) is programed to help complete a task. She is intimidating to the wildlife on the island who wonder if she is there to kill them.

Roz accidentally destroys a nest of goslings however one egg survives. She takes care of the egg until it hatches then she thinks her task is completed. Wrong! The gosling attaches to the first thing it sees, and the first thing this little fellow sees is Roz. The young gosling is voiced by Boone Storm.

Roz is instructed by the mother opossum that she is now the little guy’s mother. “I do not have the programming to be a mother,” she says. “No one does,” says Pinktail (voiced by Catherine O’Hara), the opossum mom.

Roz soon learns being a mom is “a full time thing.” She names the little guy Brightbill and sets out to help him perfect the three tools he will need to survive: eating, swimming, and flying. If he masters these he will be able to join other geese when they migrate for the winter, even though he is at a disadvantage due to his small size.  He is smaller than others his age due to the accident that killed his family, kind of like Nemo’s fin size in Finding Nemo.

Fink the fox (voiced by Pedro Pascal) befriends the two and soon they are all working together to help Brightbill gain the tools he needs. Throughout this time Roz and Brightbill become a family. In Lilo and Stitch they call it “Ohana.” Fink will capture the hearts of audiences because he is all alone and desperately wants to be loved, something he never experienced.

Roz learns about love and all the animals on the island learn to trust each other and work together even though they are a mixture of predators. It is Roz and more so Fink who brings them all together to live happy lives. 

When Universal Dynamics, the company that created Roz and all the Rozzum robots, finds out about Roz they send a team to retrieve her and bring her back so they can check her components to figure out how she deviated from her programming. They have never had a robot learn to love.

Just like in Lilo and Stitch when The Grand Councilwoman came to Earth to retrieve Stitch, Contra, a floating robot, brings her team to retrieve Roz. But Roz does not want to go back. She does not want to lose her memories of Brightbill, Fink, and all the others. She does not want to lose the love and family that is now programmed inside her.

When Roz realizes Universal Dynamics will keep coming after her, she relents and goes back. But don’t be discouraged. She found love once and that love is too strong to lose. And take heart, DreamWorks is working on the sequel to this heartfelt story of life, love, and family.

The beautiful scenery on the island and the fun of the various characters combine to make The Wild Robot a great family film. It’s memorable and completely enjoyable from start to finish.

The Wild Robot opens in theaters September 27, 2024.  It is rated PG for action/peril and thematic elements.  

 

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

‘The Real West’ looks at family dynamics

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Hallmark Channel’s The Real West is a deep dive into family relationships. Kimberley Sustad, Lucas Bryant, and James Denton star in this original movie.

Rebecca (Sustad), a widowed mother of two boys, Noah (Nicholas Holmes) and Ollie (Azriel Dalman), joins her sister Cassidy (Marlie Collins) and mother (Lynda Boyd) at a working ranch for a summer vacation. Noah brings his girlfriend Jasmine (Beatrice Kitsos) with them as the two teens are figuring out their upcoming college situations. Should they go to the same college or different ones and carry on a long-distance relationship?

Rebecca is waiting for the final decision on her tenure at UC Boulder, where she hopes Noah will attend. And little Ollie, who misses his father deeply, is anxious to find some ghosts on the ranch and maybe reconnect with his deceased father.

Their first day in the country Rebecca decides to go all out and buy herself a real cowboy hat. It’s then when she meets Jake West (Bryant). The two have an instant connection and Rebecca is all smiles when she returns to her family. 

Then, to her dismay, Rebecca discovers her sister’s new boyfriend, who she utterly adores, is none other than Jake West. What’s a sister to do? They cannot both date the same man. This brings up an awkward situation for Rebecca who decides to keep her feelings for Jake a secret.  After all, Cassidy is head-over-heels for Jake and Rebecca wants to see her sister happy, even though this is the first man she has been attracted to since the death of her husband.

The vacation continues as all of these family dynamics play out against the backdrop of the real west with cowboys, horses, and the country ranch life.

Secrets have a way of getting out so what will happen to the sisters once Cassidy discovers her older sister and her boyfriend are attracted to each other? With the advice of an old friend (Denton), Jake realizes his feelings for Rebecca are much deeper than he thought and to be fair, he must follow his heart.

There is one very emotional scene in which Ollie goes off on his own to search for ghosts. When he is found, he admits his desire is to see his dad again and if he saw a ghost then perhaps he could see his dad. The whole family discusses how they will never see him again but his memory is still with them.

This is a touching story involving many family dynamics.

The Real West is rated TV-G. It premieres September 28, 2024 on Hallmark Channel.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Image courtesy Hallmark Media

Jodie Sweetin stars in a new mystery series on Hallmark Plus

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

The new streaming service from Hallmark is filled with plenty of content for all kinds of viewers, and everything is infused with the Hallmark touch.  In a new mystery series, The Jane Mysteries, Jodie Sweetin stars as Jane Da Silva, a private investigator and a lounge singer. Yes, she does both and with her typical energetic enthusiasm.

In the first movie of the series on Hallmark Plus, The Jane Mysteries: A Deadly Prescription, Jane has taken over her late uncle’s PI foundation and intends to do it justice. She has an innocence about her but also some street smarts as well.

Jane teams up with Police Detective John Cameron (Stephen Huszar) to investigate a murder and free a wrongly imprisoned teen who Jane knows is innocent. But how to prove it?

The second film, The Jane Mysteries: Murder at Moseby, has Jane returning to her Alma mater Moseby College to help her ex-college boyfriend who thinks he has uncovered a murder that happened fifteen years ago. She uses her skills in the music profession to join the staff anonymously as a music coach. With the annual Poe festival concert coming up, Jane has emotional connections to this event. Fifteen years earlier her mother had been killed by a hit and run driver the night of the first Edgar Allan Poe festival.

As Jane reminisces about her past at the college and helps the new students prepare for their concert, she unravels mysteries about the college and the Dean’s past which might lead her to figure out if there actually was a murder fifteen years ago or if her friend’s concerns are unfounded.

Jane and John make a great team as they pull together to unravel the clues. But Jane’s life could be in danger when she gets close to the facts of what happened all those years ago.

In actuality, two of the current investigations merge into one as Jane and John investigate the disappearance of a Japanese woman who came to the U.S.A. years ago but has not been seen since. Could this woman be connected with Moseby College?

The Jane Mysteries are based on the Jane Da Silva book series penned by K.K. Beck. Stay tuned for more of Sweetin and Huszer in The Jane Mysteries streaming on Hallmark Plus.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Image courtesy Hallmark Media

30 and 60 years – time flies

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

 

Looking back at fan favs now available to bring home

60 years of UNCLE

Baby Boomers were introduced to Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin in 1964. These agents from U.N.C.L.E. entranced viewers for years. The Man from U.N.C.L.E. was a hit with viewers and Robert Vaughn (Solo) and David McCallum (Kuryakin) became the generation’s pin-up hunks for the girls and heroes for the boys.

By today’s standards the show is hokey, stupid, and juvenile, but in 1964 it was, to put it mildly, great fun, entertaining, and a must-watch for millions of fans. The agents were tasked with saving the world from the evil THRUSH. Solo was supposed to be America’s answer to Britain’s James Bond, but with a partner.

Personal note: When I sat down with Robert Vaughn, we discussed in full the show that still remains part of pop culture. He knew that in hindsight it was indeed hokey. But at the time they filmed it it was America’s escape from the everyday world that consisted of the aftermath of the assassination of President Kennedy, the ramping up of the Vietnam War, the civil rights movement, and the new freedoms of love and drugs that were taking over the campuses.

The show was in many ways ahead of its time, with communication devices that we use today. Well, maybe they weren’t wristwatch communicators ala Superman, but they were special. Pulling out a pen from their pocket and saying “Open Channel D” was what connected the agents to headquarters. And who ran the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement? Of course it was Mr. Waverly (Leo G. Carroll).

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. ran for four years as a series and has some TV movies as well as a spinoff called The Girl from  U.N.C.L.E. starring Stephanie Powers and Noel Harrison as mod-style UNCLE agents. Yes, there was a 2015 movie about the series, but it was not what fans wanted. They were and are content with leaving their beloved UNCLE the way it was, flaws and all.

When I asked Vaughn what he thought Napoleon Solo would be doing now (in 2005), he said he thought he would be running UNCLE, having taken over from Waverly.

30 years of Friends

Yes, it has been 30 years since Rachel ran into the coffee house escaping her wedding and meeting the rest of the friends that changed her life. Rachel, Monica, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, and Ross became the friends of millions of fans who religiously tuned in every week to watch what they were up to, how they managed their lives and jobs, and their friendship.

Each of the six friends had unique characters and they all blended together to form a group that even today is entertaining and delightful to watch. Matthew Perry’s death was a shock to fans but he still lives on as Chandler Bing, the joke-cracking wise-ass guy whose job was really not clear to anyone.

Ross, the bumbling but kind friend and his sister Monica, the clean OCD freak have their share of fans. Phoebe, the unusual yet caring friend was a hoot, as was Joey, the aspiring actor who really had no clue about life but did have street smarts. And Rachel, whose haircut took over the world, turned from a stuck-up snob to a loving, caring, down-to-earth woman.

Friends is now available in 4K and makes a great holiday gift. There are some extra features. Click on the links below to check some out:

Both The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and Friends are available to own in their entirety.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

‘Winner’movie review

Posted on by Francine Brokaw

Based on the true story of Reality Winner, yes, that’s her real name, this is a movie about choices and conscience. Emilia Jones stars as Reality, a woman who, from a young age, decided she wanted to do something important with her life.

After seeing America attacked on September 11, Reality knew she wanted to do something important. Her father, a drugged out man who saw things in a different light than her mother, instilled in her conflicts about life’s differences. For instance, he berated the family when they went to a pet store for a puppy instead of a shelter. 

Directly after high school Reality enlisted in the Air Force. She already knew several Arabic languages and was eager to put her knowledge to good use. After basic training she was tasked with listening to conversations and flagging potential terrorist plots. By doing this she did make a big change in the world. She actually stopped many attacks. Her conscience played games with her, however, and she knew by doing her job that people would be killed. Albeit they were the bad people. Yet innocent people would be saved. 

This woman was always thinking. She just about drove herself nuts with the “what ifs” and the “should I” and more. She really was conflicted deep within her mind.

When she left the Air Force to join the NSA (to earn more money to help care for her ill father), she thought she would be doing more than transcribing conversations and information. She had wanted to go to the Middle East to help build water tanks and make the people’s lives better. But that was not to be.

As an NSA contractor she discovered secrets that the government was keeping. When she learned about Russia’s involvement in the American election, she decided the people needed to know. She secretly sent the information to a media site.

Divulging government secrets is an act of treason and Reality was arrested. She spent several years in prison.

This film shows the life of this woman from the time she was a teen to her time in prison. She was definitely a deeply conflicted woman. 

All of this information in the film is out in the public so there are no spoiler alerts here.

Frustration might be the response of viewers when they watch the movie. Deciding what is in the best interest of the public and what should be kept secret is a difficult decision. Some would argue that the government should not keep any secrets from its people. But by keeping things hidden, are they keeping the world from things that could erupt in further conflicts? 

Winner will premiere in select theaters September 13, 2024 and On Demand that same day. Also in the film are Connie Britton, Danny Ramirez, Kathryn Newton, and Zach Galifianakis.  The movie is not rated.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Vertical

 

Bring home ‘Knuckles’ on Blu-ray or DVD

Posted on by Francine Brokaw


Taking place between the second Sonic the Hedgehog movie and the upcoming third movie, Knuckles is a fun adventure with this tough, strong, and sweet alien Echidna warrior. The Blu-ray and DVD include all six episodes from the Paramount+ mini series. Sonic (Ben Schwartz) and Tails (Colleen O’Shaughnessey) appear in the first episode in an attempt to help their friend/housemate Knuckles (Idris Elba) adjust to life on Earth.

When Knuckles asks for guidance from the spirit of his chief of his old planet, he is told he must find someone to for him to teach the ways of the Echidna warrior and keep their tradition and legacy alive.  He immediately sees Wade (Adam Pally), the local deputy, as the person who can use his help becoming a warrior.

Wade has been dumped by his cherished bowling team just before the championship in Reno. He, apparently, is not tough enough. Well, once Knuckles takes him under his wing, Wade definitely turns into a more robust guy, both physically and psychologically. He eventually has what it takes to be a warrior – human style.

Along the way to Reno, this little roadtrip has some fun aspects, not least of which is a visit to Wade’s mother (Stockard Channing) where his FBI sister (Edi Patterson) are about to have Shabbat dinner. Wade and Knuckles join in the celebration, with Knuckles discovering some delicious Shabbat food.  

Credit: Paramount Pictures/Sega/Paramount+.

Hot on their trail are two agents who capture weapons to sell on the black market. And Knuckles is truly a great weapon. With a buyer ready to take possession of the little red guy, Knuckles finds himself in and out of dangerous situations, however in the end he and Wade turn into a great team, and Knuckles realizes that he is now “home.”

There are some bonus features. The cast briefly discuss their characters and their stunts. Another featurette looks at how they worked with Knuckles (a puppet kind of figure) while filming before the CGI character was placed in the film. 

The cast try to imitate the voice of Knuckles, or actually, the voice of Idris Elba. There are some outtakes as well. 

The show is rated TV-PG, and it contains violence so keep that in mind.

Knuckles is available on Blu-ray, DVD, and limited edition Blu-Ray Steelbook beginning September 10, 2024.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 30 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. She is a longstanding member of the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.