‘Am I OK?’ is full of good stuff

May 31, 2024

The idea of “finding yourself” has a long history of being the purview of the young, generally those just entering adulthood. Moving from adolescence into the next phase of your life triggers some introspection. But sometimes, our upbringing or  fears about what might be discovered if we dig too deep can cause us to avoid that self-searching until later in life.   That is the theme of the film “Am I OK?” from co-directors Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne, airing June 6 on Max.  Lucy (Dakota Johnson) and her best friend, Jane (Sonoya Mizuno), have their very ...

‘Furiosa’ is fine, but lacks power of its predecessor

May 25, 2024

“Mad Max: Fury Road” has been one of my favorite action movies of all time. The incredible visuals, the spectacular performances, the sheer scale — everything works together to make it one of the must-watch films of the past decade. Because of my admiration for the first film, George Miller’s “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” has been among my most anticipated films of 2024. And while “Furiosa” delivers on so many fronts, I still left feeling underwhelmed. The film opens on Young Furiosa (Alyla Browne) as she is gathering fruit in her bucolic homeland, The Green Place. When ...

‘Pandemonium’ is a mostly tight take on ‘Paradise Lost’

May 24, 2024

Adaptations in film are ubiquitous, but what is less common is a film built on a piece of classical literature. One of the most famous films in that genre is “O Brother Where Art Thou,” which borrowed heavily from Homer’s “The Odyssey.” And now, coming to Arrow streaming service next week, Quarxx will give us his take on John Milton’s “Paradise Lost” with the new French horror film “Pandemonium.”   The film opens with Nathan (Hugo Dillon) and Daniel (Arben Bajarktaraj) standing at the side of a brutal car accident. As the moments tick by, we understand ...

‘IF’ is a wild card that plays well

May 18, 2024

I have always been the serious one. I gravitate toward people who love play, but my natural tendencies lean toward cynicism and somberness. Imaginative play has never been something that I excel at, so I have a slightly complicated relationship with media that puts that at the center. I want to love it, but it’s not always easy for me to get on board. So I had some trepidation about John Krasinski’s newest film, “IF.”  Bea (Cailey Fleming) loses her mother at a young age, forcing her to grow up too fast. When her Dad (John Krasinski) returns to the same hospital for ...

Feel free to be a no-show to wedding comedy ‘Mother of the Bride

May 17, 2024

When my kids were younger, we would regularly watch the Nickelodeon show, “iCarly.” It was a relatively silly show about three friends who ran their own web show. I don’t think the phrase “influencer” was popularized yet, but Carly, Sam and Freddy were some of the original influencers. Of course, I’m old enough to remember when Brooke Shields was the “It Girl” as well, so I was interested to see how that might play in “Mother of the Bride” from director Mark Waters, currently streaming on Netflix.  Emma (Miranda Cosgrove) is a brand ambassador who was just ...

Global sensation Blippi to rock out at WVU Canady Creative Arts Center Sept. 30.

May 17, 2024

Blippi: Join the Band Tour! is making a stop at the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center for one show at 6 p.m.  Sept. 30.  Tickets are on sale at the Arts & Entertainment Box Office in the WVU Canady Creative Arts Center lobby and online at ticketmaster.com. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at 304-293-SHOW (304-293-7469).   This brand-new production features musicians playing live onstage and promises vivacious, energetic and educational antics.    Blippi will be joined onstage by Meekah, their singing and dancing buddies and live musicians. ...