Mid-Season Television

Just as networks are dumping the Autumn clunkers (say bye-bye to "Almost Family") my DVR is getting full again with new series.  It is the usual mix of "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly".

The Good:

"Miracle Workers:  Dark Ages" is even funnier than the very unusual first season.  Changing up the premise entirely (the first season was based on a book where a bored God decides to do in Earth unless a bunch of heavenly office nerds can get two humans to find true love) this historical setting allows for scathing satire of modern-day issues.  Playing a self-involved Prince and a Shit Shoveller, respectively, Daniel Radcliffe and Geraldine Viswanathan make the humor work by treating the ridiculous lines with utmost seriousness.  Their "all in" dedication makes the show hugely engaging.  Steve Buscemi goes from God to hapless but well-meaning Dad, and does so with aplomb.

"911 Lone Star" takes the over-the-top style of the original show and totally makes it work with a different focus, themes and cast.  Big stars here for some real diversity and some of the best work I've seen Rob Lowe do since "West Wing".  The only negative is Liv Tyler, whose whispery line delivery seems odd at best.  She seems out of her depth and dumping the character would be a plus.

"Dispatches from Elsewhere" is a kooky, weird and sometimes inexplicable mini-series which will be enjoyed by fans of "Mr. Robot", "Falling Water" and "Legion".  Is it a test, a game, a government conspiracy?  Who knows?  With a healthy dose of anti-capitalism there is an overarching message of hippy-style love, called the "divine oneness" in this offbeat cinematic adventure.  The essence is that we aren't them and us, we are "we", humans who innately and intimately understand the trials and tribulations of each individual.  With a stellar cast and highly creative filmmaking, it's a definite keeper.

"Motherland:  Fort Salem" has a film-like quality to it.  In "Divergent" meets "Charmed" this dark show envisions a militarized America, run by the female descendants of the Salem witches.  Even better than it sounds the characters are layered, the story complex, the world well envisioned.  My only qualm is that we are, as a nation, struggling with the idea of female leadership.  Depicting women leaders as vicious and possibly corrupt pretty much plays into that stereotype.  That being said the performances transcend any messaging.

"Council of Dads".  "A Million Little Things" meets "This is Us" in a tear-jerker slice of life show.  A blended family provides a good amount of diversity and a strong cast helps viewers connect.  The gut-punching first episode will have you reaching for the tissues but it is likely to lighten up a bit in coming weeks, along with strumming a few more heartstrings.  A nice option as the regular shows begin to wind down for the season.

"Almost Paradise".  Those mourning the death of "Hawaii 5-0" will love this frothy replacement which stars yummy Christian Kane in a typical role of scary spy guy who can kill you with a finger but has a mushy soft heart.  Arthur Arcuna and shapely Samantha Richelle are solid and round out a cast of actual Filipinos (the series is filmed in the Philippines).  100% enjoyable with very tolerable drama.

"The Baker and the Beauty".  SO much better than expected.  What could be a forgettable girly popcorn show is actually something with depth.  There are beautiful people, sure, but they are age appropriate.  Nothing is black and white -- fame has real advantages as well as a darker side.  The aforementioned baker isn't just some poor shlump, he is part of a strong Cuban American family who have built a successful business.  We see the sparkly part of Miami but the working side, too.  The premiere successfully had me engaged and intrigued by the multifaceted supporting characters as well as the palpable spark between the leads.  Worth a watch, and not just summer escapism.

The ???:  

"Party of Five".  This one took a while to get into as the first handful of episodes were so emotionally dark.  By episode four or five they found the beginning of a balance, adding in the trials and tribulations of everyday life.  One character also disappeared suddenly (Amanda Acuri as a possible love interest for older brother Emilio), but was quickly replaced.  The immigration theme is powerful and makes for a great contemporary twist.  If they can continue growing the bonds between the siblings and mixing it up with ups and downs, I'm in.

"Everything's Gonna Be Okay" is a quirky, weird comedy from Australians Josh Thomas and Vivienne Walshe, who also star.  It's funny in the same way as "Better Things" is funny.  Not so much with the ha-ha but more wry irony about the challenges of life.  Lauded for casting an actual person with Autism as a person with Autism I tried to get over the fact that the actor is much older than the character she plays.  What hooked me, however, was a first sexual experience scene which was more realistic than anything I've ever seen on film.  It was followed by a frank discussion of what consent means for those who are labeled as "special needs".  The show is, quite frankly, very, very odd.  But it can grow on you.

"Broke" is a pretty standard sitcom but is a good bit stronger than "Carol's Second Act".  Starring two of my favorite actors (Pauley Perrette and Jamie Camil) I'm willing to hang in there a bit to see if the stupid/pat jokes make way to something more real.  I don't necessarily need guffaws with sitcoms but I do need them to step out of the cookie-cutter flat jokes and create connections.  The Chuck Lorre shows are good examples of sitcoms which hit on feelings rather than rely on tired gags.  Ms. Perrette, the actor playing her son, Mr. Camil and a "butler" played by Izzy Diaz are all showing the ability to transcend the simplistic and familiar plots.  Jamie Camil, in particular, always plays an over-the-top character but still manages to exude caring and warmth.  It's like you could meet him in real life -- and like him.  The biggest problem at the moment is Natasha Leggero's character, the sister of Ms. Perrette.  She's strident and fake and irritating, speaking in a faux accent most of the time.  The saving grace is that in each episode thus far there is a fight between the sisters.  Out of that comes honest conversation, and from that there is hope that this show can improve.

"68 Whiskey".  In the first five minutes I was ready to dump this show, billed as a "modern day MASH".  Opening scene was a too-skinny blonde having sex in a trailer with a soldier (who is not her boyfriend) followed by a boxing match.  Not my thing.  But producers Brian Grazer and Ron Howard have some real creds, so I hung in there.  There are things I like and things I don't.  As the characters are rounding out I'm connecting to the story developments more but still feel they could cool it with the sexualization of the female characters.  It's also hard watching lead character Roback fail, week after week, in his money-making schemes.  It's like "Two Broke Girls" meets "This is Us" or a much sadder version of Klinger or Johnny Gage.  The whole thing is a bit dark, so I don't know if I will hang in there, but for now I'm keeping it.

Less intriguing is "Awkwafina is Nora From Queens".  Although I like Awkwafina I'm struggling with the rude/crude nature of the comedy here, which often focuses on cringe-worthy things like vaginal farts.  Maybe I'm just too old.  Seems like every other comedy these days is about Millennials who smoke too much pot and can't get it together to move out of their parent's house.  All I can think is "grow up already".  Outside of seeing BD Wong in a very untypical role, I might have to call this show "one and done."

The Ugly:  

I'm not loving "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist".  While the ensemble cast does a good job dancing and singing to a wide variety of tunes and the overall concept is cool, the lead actress is just unlikeable.  I'm not sure if she is written that way but I'm having a hard time dealing with what seems to be a near-constant whine.  Similar to "I Ship It" in structure the casting is generally odd, as most of the lead actors (Peter Gallagher, Lauren Graham, Mary Steenburgen) are not known as singers.  Their acting is great but the singing sometimes seems strained.  Alex Newell is a standout as the best friend but it's hard to count on a supporting player to bring heart to the project.  This one is in my "We'll see" column.

I tolerated "Katy Keene" for three episodes before saying no.  Too much saccharine and as shallow as the comic it is based on.  Stick to "The Bold Type" -- a very similar plot with much deeper storylines.

"Moana"

This was a great film to watch after having visited Hawaii last fall.  There was more detailed Polynesian mythological history than I found on the islands and a lot of views of the terrific natural features which are so breathtaking.  The water depicted in this animated film is particularly beautiful -- alive and reflective, the bright clear colors you can find in many of the Hawaiian beaches.  The story is compelling and lead character Moana is a tremendously strong young woman whose determination is admirable.  The music is fairly secondary.  Unoffensive but forgettable I was surprised to see Lin Manuel-Miranda wrote some of the tunes.  Honestly the story was powerful enough to survive without the soundtrack.  Auli'i Cravahlo's voicing of the main character is outstanding.  It is as if her infectious positivity inhabits the illustrated character.  Like all Disney movies there are life-affirming themes woven in.  The one about the dangers of isolationism struck me as particularly pertinent at this point in time.  It's a lovely, well-paced film with interesting characters and somewhat predictable plot twists.  Definitely worth a watch although my experience of swimming with Manta Rays in Maui definitely enhanced my appreciation for the whole thing.  Mahalo!

"Onward"

Yeah, I'm watching a lot of films.  As I attempt to see everything of interest on Disney+ I viewed "Onward" last night.  Between "Up" and "Frozen" Disney has perfected a kind of formula which includes complicated sibling relationships and pathos mixed with laugh-out-loud humor.  It works, beautifully, and creates stories which aren't pat and clean but messy and real.  This film, about an awkward boy turning 16 who misses the father he never knew, will make you cry as well as put a smile on your face.  The messages are clear -- believe in yourself and love those around you.  They give you more than you might ever realize.  There is subtle humor here, too, about how we have a tendency to settle, to deny the greater parts of ourselves.  Cloaked in a world of magical creatures who have become ordinary this film is a bit of a clarion call to push past our comfort levels and become the best version of ourselves.  An absolutely fun, inspiring movie. 

"Frozen II"

People slammed this film for no other reason than it wasn't the first film.  Well, of course it isn't.  That being said, I kind of loved it.  Totally held my attention and kept me involved.  There are different themes and no break-out song but there is thoughtfulness here, including the idea that the characters, and the viewers, are growing up and changing.  The romance is again checked by the sisterhood bond, resulting in a nice balance of interchanges between the characters.  Yes, there are some political themes but they aren't overt and don't supersede the basic humanity of the film.  Absolutely worthwhile, just don't expect a repeat of the first film.  Personally I'm thrilled that it (literally) explores new territory.  Will I watch it again?  Of course.  Right up there with the "Shrek" series, which brings a smile to my face every time.

"Funny Lady"

Hadn't seen this film since my youth (a very, very long time ago).  I remember liking it a lot less than "Funny Girl", which also wasn't my favorite film of the Barbra Streisand oeuvre, but couldn't remember details.  I was an incredible fan of the very petite, incredibly talented woman and saw every film she ever made.  Both films are about Fanny Brice, with Streisand playing the comedienne who got her big break in the Ziegfeld Follies.  The first film was a masterpiece, the songs indelible.  The chemistry between Babs and Omar Sharif absolutely burns up the screen.  If the ending was not what I would have liked it is only because this is a biopic.  Real life rarely ends in Happily Ever After.  The sequel was ... well ... like so many sequels of uber-popular films, ill-advised.  Madame Streisand is given a number of songs to show off those singular vocal chords but none are in any way memorable.  Just to remind you how much better the music in the first film was the earlier tunes are often played as instrumental background throughout scenes.  Odd that they made the choice to actively remind folks that the first film was just better.  New love interest James Caan doesn't carry enough spark to light a single candle, a fact that the Brice character acknowledges when she makes it clear that this is the man she settles for.  The whole thing is a muddle to highlight big stage numbers rather than individual stories.  The only good thing I would say here is that I didn't appreciate the sensibilities of the older Brice character when I was younger.  Seeing it now I like the strength of a mature Fanny, a woman who knows who she is and what she wants.  She is a woman who has the strength to cut and run, to stand on her own.  There is something very modern about her.  That's pretty much it, though.  Basically a film to have on in the background while you finish a puzzle or do some housecleaning (day 24 of the lockdown ...)

"Stargirl"

I found this on Disney+ and thought it was the "Stargirl" series upcoming on the CW in May.  It is actually a new movie based on the Stargirl book by Jerry Spinelli.  When the book came out, some 20 years ago, it was an instant classic which remains popular to this day.  A familiar tale of school bullying, Stargirl puts a spin on things by introducing a lead character with real "something".  She is intriguing, creative, and unique, particularly to interested guy Leo.  I hadn't read the book in over a decade so I knew there were some changes in the film but had to look online for details.  As suspected, the brutality of the bullying is harsher in the book than in the film, where Stargirl is accepted a tad more readily than one would expect.  The ending is also changed although in this case I would say that the film ending works very well.  Mostly, it's just a touching, simple film which will pull at your heartstrings.  All characters, from the leads to the smallest of supporting actors, deliver terrific performances.  The messages are clear but don't hit you over the head.  It's a worthwhile way to spend a few hours.

"Young Cassidy"

One of the movie channels dove deep into the past, showing this 1965 film for St. Patrick's Day.  Based on the Sean O'Casey book Mirror in My House it featured some of the biggest actors of the time.  Australian Rod Taylor is compelling as the eponymous lead and nails the Irish accent.  You can almost excuse him for being a bit too old for the role.  Unfortunately much of the supporting cast doesn't live up to his performance but they don't seem to be given much of a chance.  The writing is abrupt and hackneyed, a poor vehicle for someone like Maggie Smith who is trapped in a cardboard cutout of woman rather than provided with a fully realized person to portray.  Julie Christie's accent is barely there and not good, while other accents are so thick as to make the dialog unintelligible.  Many of the others come off as bad caricatures, like the offensive "paddies" portrayed in comedy clubs of the early 20th century.  All-in-all my Irish roots demanded that I watch this but I wouldn't recommend it for the uninitiated.  Better off reading some of O'Casey's actual work, which has a poetry that is utterly missing in this low-budget flick.