Loving these Streaming Releases

May 23, 2020

The Lovebirds

Some major movies hit streaming services this week, with Fantastic Mr. Fox debuting on Disney+, and Rocketman coming out on multiple services. I highly recommend both. There is also some original fair and some smaller releases that likely slipped beneath most people’s radar. Of these, The Lovebirds is the film I’m looking forward to the most. It was supposed to be a wide release in April, but it was one of the films affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, and was picked up by Netflix.

Movies and Specials:

Ben Platt: Live From Radio City Music Hall - Reviews
Netflix
A concert by actor, singer, songwriter Ben Platt to cap off the tour for his first studio album. There’s only one review on Rotten Tomatoes, but it is positive, so it should please fans of his music.

Come to Daddy - Reviews
Amazon Prime
This film earned excellent reviews, but it is the wrong genre for limited release and it missed the Mendoza Line. Granted, it missed the Mendoza Line by under $1. It deserves to be seen by more and if you have Amazon Prime, you can watch it for free.

Fantastic Mr. Fox - Reviews
Disney+
Wes Anderson’s animated adventure arrives on Disney+ for Memorial Day weekend. While a massive hit with critics, this film probably didn’t reach the audience it deserved when it came out in 2009. It seems like the sort of high-quality family-friendly movie that should be a good fit for Disney+, and a holiday weekend seems like a good time to release it.

Hannah Gadsby: Douglas - No Reviews
Netflix
Hannah Gadsby’s follow-up to Nanette, which earn near universal praise. This stand-up special has a lot to live up to, but even if it is only half as good, it will be worth checking out.

The Lovebirds - Reviews
Netflix
I’ve been looking forward to seeing this film since I first saw the trailer. Unfortunately, its reviews are merely good and not great. I still want to see it, in part because I’m a fan of both Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani, but I’m keeping my expectations in check.

Ready or Not - Reviews
HBO Now
Fox Searchlight had a minor success with this film in theaters in the late Summer last year, but it perhaps didn’t live up to its reviews, and was arguably eclipsed by November’s Knives Out. It’s still a star-making movie for Samara Weaving, and well worth checking out, particularly if you have a subscription to HBO Now.

Rocketman - Reviews
Amazon Prime - Hulu
The Oscar-winning Elton John biopic starring Taron Egerton arrives on Amazon Prime and Hulu, after lucrative runs in theaters and the home market. Most people who are interested in this movie have probably already seen it, but now might be your chance to see it for free if you haven’t already, or see it again if you enjoyed it the first time.

TV Shows:

The Big Fib: Season One - No Reviews
Disney+
A game show in which two adults claim to be experts on a subject and a kid has to determine which one is lying. I’m not a fan of the genre, but it could entertain kids.

Blood & Water: Season One - Reviews
Netflix
A South African TV series about a high school student who transfers to a new school because she thinks one of the students there is her long lost sister who was kidnapped many years ago. There are not a lot of reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, but they are mostly positive. Also, it is great to watch shows from other countries and it’s not like anyone will will traveling soon.

Selling Sunset: Season Two - Reviews
Netflix
A reality TV show about luxury real estate. I hate reality TV and given the state of the economy right now, I can’t imagine spending time watching wealthy people buy property.

Trailer Park Boys: The Animated Series: Season Two - Reviews
Netflix
The live-action original Trailer Park Boys series is excellent. This animated continuation is a major step back, but still good enough for fans of the show. If you haven’t seen the show before, then this is not a good place to start.

Filed under: Home Market Releases, Streaming Releases, The Lovebirds, Come to Daddy, Ben Platt: Live From Radio City Music Hall, Wes Anderson, Ben Platt, Kumail Nanjiani, Taron Egerton, Samara Weaving, Issa Rae