What to Watch in the Theater:
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (PG13) is in theaters now. This documentary about Fred Rogers and the programming he created for children really hits home, whether you were in his audience or not. His programs were simple, thoughtful entertainment. He brought important messages to kids, in a kind and gentle way, so they could easily absorb them. “Inspiring” and “impactful” are the best words to describe this film. Missing that beautiful day in the neighborhood, we could really use a little Mr. Rogers in our lives right now.
Our rating: 5 out of 5
Hereditary (R) is in theaters now. This horror film starts out as a drama about a family living through tragedies, and escalates into a nightmare full of confusion and terror. It’s a bit long and a little slow to build, but that gives us a chance to examine the characters and their relationships. For a long time, we’re left guessing what strange entity the family is dealing with – paranormal, demonic? There’s some disturbing and confusing stuff early on, then a return to the slow build. Once the strange plot reaches its final act, the story goes completely off the rails.
Our rating: 4 out of 5
What to Watch at Home (Or Not):
Set It Up (TV14) is a Netflix original. This is a romcom about two personal assistants that plot to get their bosses together romantically, so they can have more free time. It’s a fun, somewhat realistic story, with (mostly) likable characters with good chemistry. Although it was a bit predictable, we enjoying the journey. Note: Although rated TV14 there is some seriously adult language and a lot of references to adult situations. Parents may not be comfortable watching with teens.
Our rating: 3.67 out of 5
The Equalizer (R) is on DVD. We wanted to watch the original, which is based on a TV series, before the sequel comes out next month. Denzel Washington is Robert McCall, a man with a low key life working in a home improvement center. He decides to help a girl who’s in trouble, and gets himself in deep with the Russian mob. It’s clear he has a mysterious past, which provides him with the skills he needs for this situation. There’s a serious good samaritan vibe here, as Bob does good (sometimes very violently) to help those who have no one else to help them. Despite the blood and body count, we look forward to the sequel.
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
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