The PAW Patrol is on a roll! When their biggest rival, Humdinger, becomes Mayor of nearby Adventure City and starts wreaking havoc, Ryder and everyone’s favorite heroic pups kick into high gear to face the challenge head on. While one pup must face his past in Adventure City, the team finds help from a new ally, the savvy dachshund Liberty. Together, armed with exciting new gadgets and gear, the PAW Patrol fights to save the citizens of Adventure City!
PAW Patrol: The Movie premieres August 20, 2021 on Paramount+.
Marc Cherry of Desperate Housewives (ABC 2004 – 2012) fame has created so many addictive yet poignant female-forward black humor shows. His first streaming anthology series, Why Women Kill, debuted on then-CBS All Access in 2019. The premiere season followed three married women living in the same Pasadena mansion in three separate decades and was a jarring reminder of how the times in which we live shape our beliefs, behavior, and expectations.
The sophomore run of Why Women Kill is set in 1949 and follows an envious homemaker who is fed up with her lackluster life and demands a radical overhaul of her social standing. Beauty knocks many doors, but how does a frump recognized merely as ‘veterinarian’s wife’ get what she desires? It is an amusing reminder that life is not fair so you have to play the best game with the cards you’re dealt.
Alma Fillcot (Allison Tolman) has always behaved like a mature, respectful adult regardless of what’s thrown in her face. All her life she has settled for scraps and crumbs, thanks to her appearance and demeanor. In other words, Alma knows her place and stays in her lane. The only wish in her dull and boring life is to hobnob with highfalutin, fancy ladies of Elysian Park Garden Club. The ‘ladies who lunch’ certainly live life to the fullest or so it seems.
Take for instance Rita Castillo (Lana Parrilla), a sardonic trophy wife à la Rita Hayworth. While waiting for her 80-year-old cruel and vulgar husband to die, the snarky suburban royalty kills time presiding over the elite Garden Club and dallying with a new aspiring actor. A typical femme fatale, Rita is an accomplished liar and a master manipulator with criminal tendencies.
When Alma discovers her veterinarian husband, Bertram (Nick Frost), has a bizarre hobby, her whole world is turned upside down. Shocked, hurt, and deeply scarred by his betrayal, she realizes that it’s about time she put her needs first. She is determined to rub elbows with the local beautiful people no matter what.
Rita is hell-bent on stopping Alma from getting what she yearns for. I wouldn’t push her too far, though. You don’t know what a nice lady sick and tired of being ignored and overlooked by society might do in order to finally belong. When a repressed woman releases her cooped up anger and frustration in search of power, I guarantee it won’t be pretty. You know what they say – “A cornered rat will bite the cat!”
Why Women Kill returns to Paramount+ (an expansion of CBS All Access as you knew it, but with even more content and features) on June 3, 2021.
About the Author
Meg Mimura is a TV critic who actually watches shows zealously in search of thought-provoking and paradigm shifting human drama worth our precious time. She is a member of Television Critics Association. Follow her on Twitter.
Five years after he captured the hearts of female audiences as hunky Moondoggie in Gidget, James Darren returned to the ocean in another light hearted romantic comedy. For Those Who Think Young also stars Pamela Tiffin, Paul Lynde, Tina Louise, Ellen Burstyn and Bob Denver plus roles for Nancy Sinatra (Frank’s daughter) and Claudia Martin (Dean’s daughter). This film introduced Woody Woodbury, a comic and actor who actually steals this movie.
The premise of the story is a rich playboy named Ding Pruitt (his actual name is Gardner Pruitt III) has his sights set on fellow college student named Sandy Palmer (Tiffin). Sandy is attracted to Ding but just doesn’t trust him. He is, after all, the playboy of the campus.
While Ding is wooing Sandy, her two uncles (Lynde and Woodbury) are working at the local watering hole to pay her tuition. The club is popular with the students however the administration, namely Dr. Pauline Swenson (Burstyn), tries to shut it down. The main benefactor of the college, Burford Sanford Cronin (Robert Middleton) has his personal reasons for getting the club shut down. He does not approve of his grandson, Ding, falling in love with Sandy. He is a snobby man that thinks she is beneath his family.
Unlike Moondoggie, Ding does not sing to his beloved. Darren does sing the title song, “For Those Who Think Love.” The movie is filled with twists (both in the plot and the dance) and some very funny comedy from Woodbury. While this isn’t the best film of its kind, Woodbury manages to lift it up with his comedy routines. And, let’s face it, Darren was still a top draw for women around the world!
While watching this new Blu-ray from Kino Lorber I though that this might have been what Moondoggie (aka Jeff Matthews) might have been like had he not met Gidget (aka Francie Lawrence). He would have returned to college, continued surfing and wooing women. While Ding (I know, Darren gets stuck with strange nicknames) seems like a low-life, using people for his own pleasure and womanizing, in the end he is a decent, sweet, and kind man.
For Those Who Think Young is not rated however it is suitable for all ages. There is no graphic language or any untoward acts.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 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 Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.
Wings of Fire is an animated event series adaptation of the #1 New York Times and USA Today best-selling book series from author Tui T. Sutherland. A bitter war has raged for generations between the dragon tribes who inhabit the epic world of Pyrrhia. According to prophecy, five young dragons will rise to end the bloodshed and bring peace back to the land. Raised and trained in secret from the time they were hatched, the Dragonets of destiny – Clay, Tsunami, Glory, Starflight, and Sunny – embark on an evolving quest that will bring them face to face with their true selves and the overwhelming scope of this savage war they are destined to bring to an end.
“We couldn’t be more proud that Ava has chosen Netflix as the home for her first animated series. An epic fantasy saga full of sweep and spectacle, Wings of Fire promises to be a must-see event for the whole family,” said Melissa Cobb, VP Original Animation at Netflix.
Taken from the popular ride at Disneyland, Jungle Cruise is sure to entertain viewers this summer.
Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt go on the adventure of a lifetime. See the movie in theaters or order it on Disney+ with Premier Access July 30. Additional Fee Required.
Although I am not a big fan of live-action films taken from classic animated stories, I can say I enjoyed Cruella more than I expected I would. Emma Stone and Emma Thompson star in this story of the young Curella De Vil, the evil villain from 101 Dalmatians.
The film begins with a young girl names Estella who sees her mother killed. She then is taken in by two street kids named Jasper and Horace, and they form their own unique family.
They grow up and Estella (Stone), Jasper (Joel Fry), and Horace (Paul Walter Hauser) are a lucrative grafter team. Why not? They have cunning and courage. Plus they have nothing to lose. But Estella wants desperately to be a designer, so the boys get her an interview with a posh clothing store.
Estella is taken under the wing of the Baroness (Thompson), a kind of Devil Wears Prada boss, who sees great potential in the girl. But as time goes by, Estella discovers it was the Baroness who is to blame for her mother’s death. Estella puts a plan in play with the assistance of Horace and Jasper. She becomes the arch nemesis of the Baroness and names her new persona Cruella.
Cruella has a different personality from Estella. This new persona has only one thing on her mind – revenge. While she goes about making a name for herself and her wonderful designs and creations, Cruella has her eyes on the prize, which is taking out the Baroness and becoming the number one designer.There is an interesting plot twist that might surprise viewers.
There are no animals killed to make coats, so don’t let that worry you when deciding about watching this movie with your kids. And, the story stops before Cruella becomes an animal killer. The film gives the history of this woman and possibly is a set up for a sequel. Who knows?
Anyway, I did enjoy it more than I expected, and Stone is appealing as the cunning up-and-coming villain. The soundtrack is a great part of the film.
Cruella streams on Disney+ Premier Access beginning May 28, 2021. It is rated PG for some violence and thematic elements. Very young kids might be upset by the death of her mother.
Premier Access provides an opportunity for consumers to watch newly released theatrical films on Disney+ for an additional one-time fee and an active Disney+ subscription. Disney+ subscribers can get Premier Access for a one-time fee of $29.99 per movie paid directly on disneyplus.com or on supported platforms. Once Premier Access has been unlocked, subscribers can enjoy a cinematic experience at home through the Disney+ app on a wide range of mobile and connected TV devices, including gaming consoles, streaming media players, and smart TVs.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 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 Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.
Paramount has just released the classic musical My Fair Lady on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital. 4K makes a big difference. The colors are bright and brilliant and the sound is wonderful. Fans of this film will undoubtedly want to experience it in the beautiful 4K Ultra HD resolution.
The 1964 film stars Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison in this retelling of Pygmalion. Harrison reprises his Broadway role of Professor Henry Higgins and Hepburn plays Eliza Doolittle, a role that was originated by Julie Andrews on stage. Casting Hepburn displeased many theater fans since Andrews was nominated for a Tony for her performance in 1957. But Andrews was cast as Mary Poppins and ended up winning the Academy Award in 1965 and Hepburn was not even nominated. Harrison took home the statue for his performance and My Fair Lady won best film. This whole controversy put a dark cloud over the film, however it has stood the test of time and is a multi-generational hit!
The story of a flower girl who was turned into a lady of society is filled with memorable songs. The soundtrack for this film is a popular choice for musical fans.
Hepburn sang the songs during filming but was dubbed by a professional singer in the final release. There are many great bonus features on the Blu-ray disc. Viewers get to hear Hepburn singing a couple of the songs, and quite honestly she is pretty good. In the end the filmmakers decided to use a professional singer.
Another bonus looks at the making of the film, production tests and the Premieres in Britain and Los Angeles. A radio interview with Harrison is a delight. There are plenty of bonuses on this disc that will entertain fans of the film.
Even with the controversy about casting Eliza Doolittle, the movie is a sheer delight and even, dare I say, perfection. For viewers who never saw Julie Andrews on stage, the only Eliza they know is Audrey Hepburn, and she is adorable as the flower girl who manages to tame the crusty and curmudgeon professor. Softening Professor Higgins was not part of the plan, but as he changed her, she changed him. This is why the movie is endearing and charming.
The soundtrack by Lerner and Lowe includes songs that will stay with viewers long after the movie is over. “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “I’m Getting Married in the Morning,” “On the Street Where you Live,” “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face,” “The Rain in Spain,” “Just You Wait,” and more combine to make the music for this delightful film.
The 4K Ultra HD is the best way to relive this musical experience.
“My Fair Lady” is rated G for all audiences.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 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 Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.
The new Blu-ray + Digital Snoopy Collection includes four popular Peanuts movies: Race for You Life, Charlie Brown, A Boy Named Charlie Brown, Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown, and Snoopy Come Home. Alone, these films are fun for kids and adults, but put them together and you have hours of great family viewing.
Many people think of Woodstock as the place where a big concert occurred in the 1960s. But those of us who know better know that this is the name of the little yellow bird that befriends Snoopy. Little Woodstock made his on-screen debut in the 1972 movie Snoopy Come Home. All of the Peanuts gang appear in this animated film that has Snoopy leaving his comfy home at Charlie Brown’s house and heading off to see a little girl who is in the hospital. Having had a tiff with Charlie Brown, Snoopy defiantly takes off his collar so when he goes away, Charlie Brown and Linus figure out what is going on. Apparently, the little girl who sent the letter to Snoopy informing him she was in the hospital was Lila, his first owner. She wants Snoopy to move in with her. He is in a quandary. But things finally turn out all right for him and the rest of the gang. There are plenty of songs to go along with this adorable story.
Race for Your Life, Charlie Brown is a 1977 film has the gang all heading up to summer camp. It’s there they face some bullies and some character-building activities. This story is filled with some music and plenty of Peanuts antics as the gang navigate camp.
In the 1980 film Bon Voyage, Charlie Brown, when two French students come to their school, Charlie Brown and Linus along with Peppermint Patty and Marci are selected to go to France as exchange students. It’s a strange situation for the two boys, who are accompanied by Snoopy and Woodstock. They stay in a mysterious chateau, which seems abandoned but there is always food for them. In the meantime Peppermint Patty and Marci are put up in a farm where Marci is taken with a boy named Pierre. This is another fun little Peanuts film with all the heart and entertainment the little fellows can muster.
The final film in this collection is A Boy Named Charlie Brown. This 1969 film is filled with a variety of Peanuts activities: baseball, Snoopy’s fight with the Red Baron, school, and their personal relationships. The Peanuts gang has entertained many generations of readers and viewers and still brings a laugh, smile, and sometimes a tear to our eyes.
A bonus feature looks at the making of Bon Voyage Charlie Brown.
Too bad this wasn’t available during the Covid lockdown, but it is available now. This collection combines four of the most delightful Peanuts films.
The four films are each rated G. They are all family-friendly and wonderful for all ages. The Peanuts films are truly multi-generational: kids, parents, and grandparents who grew up with Charlie Brown and the rest of the gang.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 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 Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.
Athena is a 1954 musical romantic comedy from MGM, the studio that brought out some of the biggest musicals from the mid 1900s. Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds, Vic Damone, Edmund Purdom, and Louis Calhern star in this colorful and musical story of the seven Mulvain sisters. Physical fitness, healthy eating, exercise, numerology, and modern thinking combine to create this entertaining story.
Grandpa Ulysses Mulvain (Calhern) and Grandma Salome Mulvain (Evelyn Varden) run a health store and a fitness retreat. It’s not really a retreat in the normal sense of the word. It is a place that is off the grid, as we would say today. It is at the top of a hill without any phones or communication with the outside world. This enclave is the place where many of the competitors for the Mr. Universe competition train, eat, and thrive. These are true muscle men. The seven sisters (Athena, Minerva, Medea, Ceres, Niobe, Aphrodite, and Calliope) have been brought up here and live a carefree vegetarian and spiritual life.
Athena (Powell) is a numerologist and when she meets Adam Shaw (Purdom), an attorney and rising politician, she immediately falls for him. Plus, their numbers add up so she is convinced he is the man for her. There are no coincidences in life and she knows they were destined to meet. But he is engaged to a stuffy socialite. He is also a tightly wound man who rarely smiles.
Then Athena meets Johnny Nyle, a famous crooner in the mold of a young Sinatra. She immediately calculates his numbers and knows he is perfect for her sister Minerva (Reynolds).
Johnny immediately takes to Minerva and is intrigued by the Mulvain way of life. But Adam is resistant and thinks they are all a bunch of wackos.
Bringing these men into the Mulvain way of life is a challenge, but everyone on the hill knows it is their destiny. And who can argue with the stars?
While the girls and the muscle men work together to bring Johnny and Adam into the fold, plenty of cute and musical scenes bring the story together. Besides the music there is plenty of muscle flexing and acrobatics.
Bonus features include outtake musical and dance numbers with Damone, Purdum, Reynolds, and Powell.
Athena is not rated however it is suitable for all ages. It can be purchased from the Warner Archive website or other online outlets.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 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 Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.
Disney’s Raya and the Last Dragon is a pure delight. It is now available on Blu-ray and DVD as well as 4K. This story is entertaining for all ages as it is fun for kids as well as adults.
The main lesson in the film is that teamwork and trust go a long way in solving discourse. Raya’s father, Chief Benja, has a dream to unify the separated regions of the once-thriving land of Kumandra. Unfortunately, things do not go according to his plan and things get even worse than before. It is up to Raya to find Sisu, the last dragon, and get help in restoring peace to the people and all the lands.
Once Raya locates Sisu, their journey just begins. Along the way they interact with several interesting characters, including an adorable little baby named Noi, who is a conniving little thief, but an adorable one nonetheless. There are others who come to Raya’s aid, like a cute little street smart boy named Boun, and more, while she tries to retrieve a special item from each of the regions (Heart, Spine, Tail, Fang, and Talon), to unite them and get the magical power to vanquish the evil force and bring harmony back to the land.
The Blu-ray includes many bonus features. First of all, there is a new short titled Us Again. This enforces the thought that youth is a state of mind. There is no talking in this film but the characters are able to express their thoughts and feelings through expressions. Plus, there is plenty of dancing. As a matter of fact, the filmmakers use dancing as the force of the story.
Another bonus is called “Taste of Raya.” In the movie there are plenty of scenes involving food. The filmmakers and Kelly Marie Tran (the voice of Raya) virtually reminisce about making the movie while eating some of the food that is represented in the film. The papaya salad will make viewers want to run out and get some for themselves. It looks delicious. Anyway, the pandemic forced the filmmakers to move the production to their individual homes, but they managed to do so and create a wonderful new Disney movie. That is the focus of another bonus titled “Bringing it Home.” The process of making the film from hundreds of individual locations was a challenge however they did it!
The martial arts scenes were choreographed then animated and a bonus feature looks at this aspect. They made sure the fight scenes were correctly presented.
“We are Kumandra” is an interesting look at how the film represents the Southeast Asia countries. This is a diverse are of the world and the cultures as well as the scenery were diligently examined to embody this area. Like they do when setting a story in a specific location or area, the filmmakers and animators took research trips to the countries to correctly and honorably represent the region.
Over 450 people worked on this movie. The story behind making the film with all aspects of storyboarding is examined. This is a bonus that will definitely be interesting to viewers who love animation and filmmaking.
Outtakes and deleted scenes round out the bonus features.
Raya and the Last Dragon is yet another instant Disney classic. It is rated PG for some violence, action, and thematic elements.
There are plenty of products to enjoy as well. Go to the shopDisney.com website to check them out.
About the Author
Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 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 Los Angeles Press Club and the Television Critics Association and is accredited by the MPAA.
