Month: December 2020

If you are looking for a new Christmas movie for your yearly watch list, this is the flick for you! This is more than a Christmas movie, it’s a magical delight that oozes colour and brilliance and heart throughout. So gather the family and immerse yourself in the spectacular world of Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey.

The story centers around an inventive toymaker, Jeronicus Jangle (Justin Cornwell/Forest Whitaker), who dreams of creating a truly revolutionary toy but needs one elusive element to make it all come together. When the missing piece finally arrives, and the toy comes to life, Jeronicus celebrates his coming success while his jealous apprentice, Gustafson (Miles Barrow/Keegan-Michael Key) conspires with the toy to steal Jeronicus’ notebook of ideas to strike out on their own.

In short order, Gustafson rises to fame on the back of Jeronicus’ inventions with his side-kick, Don Juan Diego (voiced by Ricky Martin), the toy Jeronicus brought to life. Meanwhile, Jeronicus loses his inspiration allows his once vibrant toyshop to become a dark and uninspiring pawnshop. After the death of his wife, Jeronicus sends his daughter, Jessica (Diaana BabnicovaAnika Noni Rose) away to spare her from his grief and despair.

Years later, Jessica sends her daughter, Journey (Madalen Mills) to stay with her father for a bit just before Christmas. While Jeronicus is grouchy and distant to begin with, his granddaughter’s creative mind and delightful demeanor soon turn things around and reignites his own creativity that sets him on a new path to reconciliation and inspiration.

The story is cute, a bit forced and rushed at times, but still a truly solid effort. But it is the music, dancing, sets and costumes that take this from a Christmas flick to a holiday spectacular. And don’t even get me started on the ridiculously talented cast! (I’m looking at you, Phylicia Rashad!)

John Legend signed on early as one of the producers and a song contributor, with Phillip Lawrence also contributing to the soundtrack and John Debney as composer. The songs are catchy and memorable but Jingle Jangle really comes alive with each musical number which features full cast dance numbers. If there’s something about this flick that reminds you of The Greatest Showman, it’s for good reason. Famed choreographer Ashley Wallen unleashed his skills all over this film and his contemporary style adds whimsy to this reimagined Dickensian aesthetic.

The costumes and sets are full of brilliant colours and textures that add an element of fantasy and eccentricity to the characters and feel of the film. Costume designer, Michael Wilkinson, intentionally crafted an image of “Afro-Victorian” style with his choices of contrasting patterns and vibrant colours while still maintaining an a modern appeal that reflects the diversity of the cast.

All of these elements come together to create a visually memorable spectacular that fills the screen with all of the magic, fantasy and hope of the season.

From the people who brought us The Lorax and Despicable Me comes an all-new adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ Christmas Classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Like its predecessors before, this film is full of humour, touching moments and captivating animation. All of that and a wonderful soundtrack, to boot!

In this rendition, young Cindy Lou Who is worried about her overworked mother as Christmas approaches. A chance encounter with a hungry Grinch, the cranky creature who lives atop Mount Crumpet, leaves Cindy Lou determined to talk with Santa Claus, face-to-face, about her mother. When she realizes that a trip to the North Pole is out of the question, she devices a plan with her friends to capture Santa.

 But instead, of Santa, she catches the Grinch in disguise.

Despite being touched by the girl’s concern for her mother, the Grinch moves forward with his plan to ruin Christmas for the Whos. It is only after he steals Christmas, and sees that love and kindness still abounds in Whoville, that the Grinch allows his ice-cold heart to melt.

While this adaptation follows the theme of the original story, the animation and songs make it less intense than earlier films on the same subject and therefore more suitable for younger children. Don’t let this friendlier looking Grinch fool you though, he is still the same old grouch with goofy insults and prickly demeanour. Adults will love this adaptation, too, for its humour and creativity.

This is the third adaptation of Dr. Seuss’ story and final Seuss adaptation to be made while his widow, Audrey Geisel, was still alive. She is credited as an executive producer on the film. Danny Elfman created the original score and collaborated with Tyler, the Creator on several original songs for the soundtrack. There were also several heavy hitters lined up as voice actors for this flick.  

Benedict Cumberbatch gives his Americanized voice to the Grinch while Pharrell Williams acts as Narrator. Angela Landsbury, Rashida Jones and Cameron Seeley all lends their talents to the cast as well. The Pentatonix also make a vocal appearance in this adaptation as the Who Carolers.

All in all, this is a delightful reimagining of the 1957 Dr. Seuss book, How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Its full of sweetness, heart warming moments and laugh-out-loud gags. It’s creative and done with excellence and makes for a wonderful family movie night watch … with kids of all ages!

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee is exactly what it claims to be, a show featuring comedians going for a drive and chatting over coffee. Hosted by stand-up comedian and the brain behind Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld, the show is full of dry humour, hilarious reminiscing and odd musings over everyday themes.

Seinfeld has tapped into his many friendships and his love for classic cars to put together a really enjoyable show. The episodes are only about 15 to 20 minutes long so for this non-Seinfeld fan, it’s a nice little break from the heavier content I usually enjoy.

Each episode opens with an in-depth description of the car for the episode. Seinfeld goes into detail about the motor, the make and the era when each car was built. And while I am not a car person at all – I describe my vehicle as a blue family-mobile when it is, in fact black but that is a whole other issue – I can appreciate the fascination Seinfeld has with the intricacies and history of each ride.

One interesting element of the car segment is Seinfeld chooses each car for the episode with interviewee in mind. It is fascinating to see how Seinfeld’s choices reflect of his relationship and perception of the person in the passenger seat. For instance, when interviewing Jim Carey Seinfeld chose a quirky 1976 Lamborghini with surprisingly artistic line and for his chat with Last Week Tonight host John Oliver Seinfeld showed up in a very British, impractical but fun, 1959 Triumph.

The conversations transcend the cars though to include some very telling and wonderful moments of connection that reveals the friendship and personality of both Seinfeld and who he is interviewing. One unexpected delight of this series is how thoughtful Seinfeld is in planning these coffee dates. In his episode with actress Sarah Jessica Parker they visit a retro diner that evokes a flood of childhood memories for Parker that are just delightful to listen to and with Seinfeld’s time with late night host, Jimmy Fallon, he takes Fallon out in his boat just for the pure joy of the experience.

There are six collections available and each one has a different theme and feel but each as delightful as the next. Whether Seinfeld is sitting with the current crop of late night hosts or the queens of comedy or the old guard of Hollywood, he is able to swing from the ridiculous to the poignant and back again without missing a beat. He offers encouragement and camaraderie, and occasionally commiseration, with each of his guests in such an authentic and unassuming way. In the end, even this Seinfeld non-fan finds him surprisingly charming and delightfully intriguing.

There are a ton of episodes of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee so it makes an excellent pick for a coffee break watch or a night of light-hearted binge watching. Well done, Seinfeld. This one’s a winner.

Holidate is chock full of unexpected goodness and laughs.

I’m not one to watch a lot of comedies. I often find them contrived and forced but when this flick began trending on Netflix I decided to give it a go and I am so glad I did. I laughed – out loud – more times than I can count. Instead of denying the pitfalls of this genre the female lead calls them all out early in the film and then falls for every single one of them throughout the film. Brilliantly hilarious!

I feared this would be another Hallmark-esque Christmas film but within the first few minutes that concern was put to bed. Sure there is a single girl with a family pressuring her to find Mr. Right and there is a single guy who is so over clingy girls and complicated relationships. And sure, they find each other in a crowded department store but it’s not true love on a snowy Christmas eve. Instead, it’s a deal made to be each other’s plus one for every holiday for the foreseeable future. They are each other’s Holidate.

There are some genuinely entertaining moments like at the New Year’s Eve party where Jackson (Luke Bracey) encourages Sloane (Emma Roberts) to reenact a Dirty Dancing move on the dance floor. Or when they pair up again for the Fourth of July and there is a firework incident that lands the two of them in the emergency room where they spend their wait time sharing a joint.

The thing that works so well in this flick is the raw honesty that is the foundation of Sloane and Jackson’s relationship. There is no pretense or romance, just two people saving each other from obligation and embarrassment during the holidays. The dialogue isn’t forced and the chemistry between Bracey and Roberts is effortless. This is just a funny, funny movie.

Because it is a Christmas movie, after all, there is a bit of holiday cliché tossed in here and there but its okay, it works in a really cheesy and wonderful way. There’s a married and tired older sister, a raunchy aunt, a meddling mother and a best friend who more than plays the field. Each one does their job without taking away from the leads. My only complaint is that Jessica Capshaw, who plays the older sister, is not given enough to work with and her magnetic charm is way under used in this story.

Holidate is a delightful holiday watch and will, most definitely, be added to my holiday movie night watch list. It is so very funny, charming and a great date night choice.

War. Intrigue. Love. Action. Conspiracy. And time travel. All against the dramatic landscape of the Scottish Highlands. This is Outlander. All of this and so much more.

In 1991, Diana Gabaldon’s first novel in what would become a ten book series was published. It was a historical, time-traveling romance that defied a genre that went on to win the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award for Best Romance of 1991. It has sold more than 25 million copies so it is no wonder that this novel, set in Scotland but written by a writer who had never been to Scotland herself, has gone on to become a wildly popular series.

The story revolves around Claire Beauchamp, a post World War II nurse, who finds herself in 1740s Scotland at the beginning of the Jacobite rising. In order to survive, she aligns herself with Clan Mackenzie and becomes a medicine woman of sorts. Using her knowledge of 1940s medicine and relying on her keen interest in botany, Claire carves out a life for herself in her new century while trying to find her way back to her own era. Instead, she finds herself married to outlaw Highlander, Jamie Fraser and together they walk the fine line between survival and rebellion.

The story is a compelling read. Gabaldon’s writing still is descriptive yet accessible and the way she could weave uncommon history through an action/romance story is brilliant. But with her original novel topping out at more than 300, 000 words it is almost unfathomable how the story could be reduced to a script and maintain the integrity of the plot. Almost unfathomable but not impossible. After a few false starts, over two decades, Gabaldon eventually persuaded Ronald D.Moore to give development of this series a go. And he knocked it out of the park!

Right from the opening notes of Bear McCreary’s beautiful opening theme a tone of mystery and timelessness is set. The narrative and styling of the series is warm and intimate as the story is predominantly told from Claire’s perspective. It’s hard not to be drawn into the story with the combination of wide, sweeping landscape shots of the highlands and tight, artistic close-ups of characters, décor and costumes. This creates a consistent sense of tension and familiarity throughout the series.

In the end though, it is the masterful casting that brings life to this series. Sam Heughan (James Fraser) and Caitriona Balfe (Claire Beauchamp) light the screen on fire from the first. Their chemistry is the stuff of legends and it keeps fans coming back for more. Tobias Menzies plays a double role as Claire’s 1940s husband, historian Frank Randall and his notorious ancestor “Black Jack” Randall. He lives out each role with equal parts sincerity and menacing coldness that leaves the viewer torn between feeling deep compassion for Frank while loathing Black Jack.

Gabaldon has written eight out of the scheduled ten books and five have now been brought to screen (four now available of Netflix). The hardships, scheming,  striving and surviving pull the story forward effortlessly through each season. Claire’s modern sensibilities are an interesting contrast to her ancient times that brings an underlying conflict to the series that shifts and changes as Jamie and Claire face the new challenges that time and culture introduce.

This is the best kind of binge-worthy series as each time rewatch a new theme or detail is revealed and with each new season the characters become more dear and more familiar yet they continue to surprise. The four season currently available on Neflix take us from the early stages of the Jacobite rising, through the Battle of Culloden to the shores of the New World where a whole new conflict is brewing. Hunker down and binge on these delicious season while we wait out the Droughtlander until season five arrives.

In this second installment of Christmas Chronicles we are reunited with the grooviest Santa in the business and his fleet of quirky elves. Kurt Russell dons the red leather coat one more time to save Christmas with the Misses and its just as wonderfully campy as the first go round.

In the first Christmas Chronicles Kurt Russell breaks stereotypes with his Claus redefined approach to this iconic holiday figure. This one is a little cranky, a little bit rock and roll and has a strict no ho-ho-ho policy. Despite all of that he infuses a grieving family with holiday joy and gets every packaged delivered on time.

This time around its not just Christmas that is at risk, it’s the whole of the North Pole. A disgruntled former elf, Belsnickel (Julian Dennison), is looking for a way to get even with Santa and he found his in with a homesick Kate (Darby Camp). With a little bit of trickery and magic, Belsnickel transports Kate to the North Pole and uses her status as a True Believer to enter the protective bubble of the Pole himself. Once there he wreaks havoc on Santa’s Village with the help of his menacing old friend, the Yule Cat. Now it’s Santa who needs Kate’s help to save Christmas.

Sequels are inevitably compared to the original and often judged more harshly. While this sequel may not be an immediate holiday classic, in the end, it’s a perfectly respectable Christmas treat for the whole family. The plots winds and wanders a bit more than the original but all that winding and wandering gives space for some touching back story and some very cool sleigh chases. The film’s blend of live action and animation is a creative choice that works and lends flexibility to the range of antics the elves get into during one particular segment when they all run amok during the climax of the movie.

Christmas Chronicles 2 is just fun. Its got just the right amount of Christmas cheese with a hefty dash of sentiment and a holiday musical number that gets a whole airport grooving. Kurt Russell really is the coolest Santa around with his silver fox hair and beard combo and his old west swagger. His straight talking, no nonsense demeanor only enhances his mischievous moments and makes his magical Santa moments just that much more special. And, of course there can be no other misses for him but the endearing Goldie Hawn. Hawn lights up the screen with her trademark warmth and sense of fun. She is the perfect misses to his mister.

Be sure to add Christmas Chronicles 2 to your Christmas viewing list. You won’t be sorry!

The long-awaited fourth season of The Crown has finally arrived and with it comes all the pomp, circumstance and controversy one would expect.

Season 4 picks up in 1979 with the election of Margaret Thatcher (Gillian Anderson), the first female prime minister of Britain, troubles with the IRA and the introduction of Prince Charles (Josh O’Connor) to Diana Spencer (Emma Corrin). All members of the royal household get their moment during this season as we see the queen (Olivia Coleman) forced into uncommon self-reflection while balancing the needs of the state with the needs of her family.

This season also dives headfirst into the complicated relationship of Charles, Diana and Camilla Parker Bowes (Emerald Fennell). The mood shifts rapidly from the charming first meeting between Charles and Diana to the emotional roller coaster that was their tour of Australia to the heartbreak of Diana feeling isolated and rejected by Charles who favoured his long-time love, Camilla. This became a divisive time in Britain’s history and judging by the reception this season has received in the UK, not enough time has passed to reopen these old wounds.

As the story unfolds from episode to episode, the line between history and fiction becomes blurred and Charles, more than anyone, pays the price. The creator of The Crown, Peter Morgan has done extensive research for this drama but admits that he has taken creative license, at times, to propel the story. It is these creative deviations from actual history that has brought heavy criticism of Morgan and fresh backlash for Charles.

The politics aside, season 4 brought all the glamour and complications of the 80s to life. While the country faced record unemployment rates and wide-spread civil unrest, Diana entered the public eye with her playful elegance and eye for fashion. The recreations of some of Diana’s most iconic looks was spot on, including her opulent wedding gown and the Bruce Oldfield blue ruffle gown. Costume designer, Amy Roberts, surely did her homework for this season.

The costuming was not the only compelling part of this season. While the entire cast did a brilliant job of portraying the complicated royal household there were a few stand out performances. Olivia Coleman is delightful and engaging very nearly every time she’s onscreen, no matter the role, and her interpretation of Queen Elizabeth is no exception. She brings a tenderness and a simple determination of character to the Queen that is both endearing and revealing. Helena Bonham Carter brings depth, honesty and humanity to Princess Margaret that stirs compassion and respect for the sister of the monarch. Lastly, Gillian Anderson’s portrayal of Margaret Thatcher was pure gold.

It took me nearly a week to process this season. I remember this era of Charles and Diana and I had a lot of feelings about them as their story unfolded in real time. This season brought all those feelings to the surface and then some. Remembering that this is a fictionalized telling of history, season 4 of The Crown does not disappoint. And now we wait for season 5.

Nothing makes me happier than finding a truly binge-worthy series and when that series is set against a Christmas backdrop it is just bliss! This Netflix original series, Dash & Lily is a holiday delight!

Adapted from the first book David Levithan and Rachel Cohn’s series, Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares, the story follows the friendship that develops between two strangers as they anonymously exchange dares. The two challenge each other’s biases against and for Christmas while divulging their hopes, fears and family complexities all through the safety of the red notebook they stash around a New York neighborhood for each other.

Austin Abrams as Dash and Midori Francis as Lily are a charming pairing. Their chemistry keeps cliché at bay as they each fulfill their opposing roles as bored, cynical rich boy and quirky, bookish, Asian girl. Francis brings an authenticity to optimistic Lily that could have been easily missed in the stereotypical female lead of movies in this genre. Abrams at times lacks energy but overall he delivers a likeable Dash the audience roots for in the end.

Supporting cast member, James Saito as Lily’s grandfather and Jodi Long as Lily’s godmother are wonderful in their roles. Both seasoned actors add humour and heart to the story and their scenes with Lily are among my favourite in the series. Dante Brown as Dash’s best friend Boomer is another cast member who makes the most of his time on screen. He is funny and enthusiastic and delivers it all with excellent comedic timing.

Because this adaptation was made into a series rather than a movie, the story has time to unfold and grow at a pace that is unrushed thus avoiding the formulaic pitfalls that so many holiday rom-coms can fall into. Each episode reveals another layer to the main characters’ personal stories that fuel their individual desires to remain as anonymous as possible but with each dare they grow closer to each other emotionally and occasionally physically.

One of my favourite things about this story is how both characters are challenged to examine their unrealistic expectations. While these moments of reckoning are unlikely to change the world, as a mom of teens, I appreciate this little dose of ‘mom wisdom’ that is delivered to the main characters through trusted friends. It adds a little something to mull over without being preachy or condescending.

This series is exactly and sweet and charming as you would expect a teen Christmas romance to be. It’s the perfect binge-watch to escape into during this second half of 2020. Set in pre-COVID New York city, this city is the third lead character with its sparkling lights and iconic city vibe overflowing from every exterior shot.

Move over, Sherlock! There’s a new Holmes on the scene!

Netflix has outdone themselves with this original movie based on Nancy Springer’s series of Young Adult fiction books. This series focusses on the younger sister of Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes. After their mother’s disappearance the elder Holmes children return to their family home; one to settle their little sister in a boarding school and the other to work out the mystery of their mother’s disappearance.

As imagined, young Miss Homes has no intention of entering a boarding school to fast-track her path to becoming a ‘proper’ lady and desirable marriage material. She gives her brothers the slip after discovering a series of clues and aids her mother left behind for her. As Enola sets of to find her mother she stumbles into another mystery and this one is life or death for a young viscount.

The story is interesting and well-paced but what makes this flick magic is the casting. Millie Bobbie Brown fills the screen to overflowing. She has a natural ability to win the audience and bring them into her confidence with a wink and a nod. She absolutely nails the physical components of the role while fully embodying the essence of Holmes.

The supporting cast of this film isn’t too shabby either. Helena Bonham Carter does her thing and makes her moments on screen as Eudora Holmes memorable. Henry Cavill (Sherlock) and Sam Calflin (Mycroft) are excellent as the Holmes brothers, each bringing nuance and yet the familiar tone the fans of Conan Doyle’s creation have come to expect.  Rounding out the lead cast, newcomer, Louis Partridge goes toe -to-toe with Brown on screen and more than holds his own.

Brown did more than star in this film, she played an active role in bringing the book to screen as a producer. The teen reportedly became interested in the Enola Holmes stories when she read the books with her sister. As the book was being adapted by writer, Jack Thorne, Brown worked collaboratively with him to leave room for improvisation and key moment when Enola would break the fourth wall. Initially, this story was meant for a theatrical release but because of COVID-19 a deal was struck with Netflix for a small screen release.

While Enola Holmes was met with favourable reviews from critics not everyone is pleased with the film or the books it is based on. The estate of Conan Doyle is suing for copyright infringement but that hasn’t deterred the production team from exploring the possibility of filming a sequel in the near future.

The combination of a strong story, a brilliant cast and just the right amount of unconventional film making makes this a must-see flick for family night. So, gather your people and settle in for the new Holmes on the block!

I remember first seeing Pharrell Williams on The Voice and thinking that he was too pure, too good to be on a show that competitive. He elevated that show for sure but in this Netflix docu-series he ascends to the next level. In collaboration with his uncle, Bishop Ezekiel Williams, he sets out to assemble the best gospel singers from his hometown and surrounding area. The goal is to inspire and uplift people with a true gospel message of love, hope and acceptance.

Bishop Williams recruits gospel legend Miss Peggy Britt as a vocal coach, Patrick Riddick as choir director and Larry George as music director. This team, along with Pharrell Williams, auditions more than 300 people in search of 75 singers to fill out their choir. Some judges are looking for singers with potential, others are looking for semi-professionals while others are in it for a good voice with a great heart. While each judge is coming in with their own ideas and expectations, they are each hoping to find a unicorn, the singer that has it all.

The first couple of episodes are full of auditions with back stories interspersed. Bishop Williams’ dream is to build a choir of singers from diverse backgrounds, with individual stories that cross race and culture lines. It is clear from the start that this idea resonates with the community of Hampton Roads, Virginia. Each person who enters the audition room is more talented than the next. And each person has their own story and motivation for auditioning for the choir.

There were some early stand outs like Danlie Cuenca, a knock-out soprano originally from The Philippines and Elana Rose Lapetina, a fifteen-year-old Broadway style singer with 50% hearing. Other singers, like Marcus Robertson, a recovering alcoholic with a disability, had great stories but lacked the confidence to exhibit stage presence. With each story told viewers are drawn into the hope and anxiety of the audition process.

As the final 75 are chosen, we watch as the choir prepares for their debut performance in under two weeks. Singers are challenged to push past their limitations and embrace the call to worship. The judges invest time to coach and encourage individual singers while many, many unicorns are revealed. Episode after episode tugs on the viewers heartstrings and leaves us shedding a tear or two as singers give themselves over to the process and find joy, acceptance and confidence as they embrace the gospel of hope.

It is the faith-based element of this series that is so touching. While not every singer believes the same, they all are drawn into the beauty and the joy of the songs they sing and the community they build along the way. And more than once choir practice is overtaken by the choirs need to just sing and celebrate and worship together.

This series is so full of goodness and joy. It is exactly what the world needs just now. It’s more than a distraction from the pressures and the tensions in the world, it is medicine to the soul to hear people in the fear and hope and uncertainty come together to use their God-given gifts to uplift and inspire others. These people, these songs, this series is a gift. Enjoy!