It's the time of year when I get to start a new list, and this year, the eleventh consecutive year that I've done it, I think it might be time for a slight alteration. I'm trying to figure out how to include the series that I watch religiously as well, but I'm not yet sure how that will work. So, this year's post will be a work in progress and likely won't include all the television viewing that I do, but I will try to include the big ones and all the movies that I choose to sit through.
I've been pretty good about cataloging all the movies I watched starting in 2009 and continued through 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
Happy viewing!
Always Be My Maybe
(Netflix)
I've wanted to watch this one for months, and a night where it was just me, the 13-year-old, and my mother-in-law hanging out seemed like the perfect occasion. It was funny and cute and just what we needed for a distraction from the holidays chaos. I adore Ali Wong, and I have to admit that it was a little disconcerting to see her so NOT profane. There were a few moments when her hyper-articulated style of speaking during stand-up sets came out, and I think I enjoyed those the most.
Elf
(DVD)
It's that time of year again! We were happy to share this holiday season's viewing with good friends and their 8-year-old kid, all of whom had never seen this modern classic. While there was a bit of trouble suspending disbelief for some of us, a good time was had by all, I think. Even with this flick's few problematic moments, I still adore it and don't feel like my December is complete until it's been viewed. Smiling's my favorite!
Knives Out
(theater)
When I first saw the trailer for this flick, I just knew I needed to see it in the theater. A group of friends (ten of us total) had a murder mystery party earlier this year, and I had hoped that we could all go together, but it ended up just being four of us. But hot damn if we didn't laugh enough for ten folks. I loved everything about this-- the wacky characters, a terrible accent, the posh set, the twists and turns, all of it. I can't recommend this one highly enough. It's just perfect fun.
Schitt's Creek
(Seasons 1-5, Netflix)
What started off as a 'I just need something to have on in the background while I fold laundry' quickly became my very favorite show of the year. These characters have dug their way into my heart (some more deeply than others...), and I am actually quite sad to have to say goodbye to them (after waiting a while to watch the final season, since Pop isn't a channel in our lowest level tier!!) David Rose is a delight, and the scene with him and Stevie talking about his 'wine' preferences was the best thing ever made for television. I showed it to the kids, I posted it on the FB, and I watched it again and again because its message is so fucking perfect and David hits all of his best facial expressions in one scene. I cannot recommend this series strongly enough!!
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
(DVD)
It's official, all the kids in our family have now seen this ridiculous holiday classic. And, even better, we now own this DVD, and a mini-pop figure of Clark Griswold now adorns my desk. While the 13-year-old wasn't entirely enthused by this one-- something like not being able to suspend her disbelief-- the 12-year-old thought it was hilarious. I'm with them, because this will never not make me laughs, spots and all.
Lobby Baby
(Netflix)
This was sweet and funny, and even with a few drops of the f-bomb, a fitting comedy special to watch with one's visiting father-in-law. Meyers lands jokes on dating, marriage, and parenthood, so of course, Hubby and I were repeatedly chuckling with knowing glances at each other. Nothing groundbreaking in terms of stand-up, but an enjoyable 61 minutes of laughter.
Atypical
(Season Two, Netflix)
If I'm remembering correctly, I'm pretty sure that I was repeatedly annoyed by season one of this show, but for some reason, this second season did not. The characters seemed less one-dimensional than I remember them, and I quite enjoyed the story line of Sam starting college. I honestly don't know how this show has been received by autistic audiences. My hope is that they're actively engaged with the community in an attempt to portray one character with autism in a realistic light.
Living with Yourself
(Season One, Netflix)
My only complaint about this fascinating exploration of personality and relationships? A season with only 8 half-hour episodes is just entirely too short! I loved Paul Rudd's performances here, completely changing his body language, posture, facial expressions, tone of voice, and basically everything about his performance, between the two Miles' that he plays. This was darkly entertaining, and even quite thought-provoking when the concepts of the show are applied to one's own real life. Usually, Paul Rudd can do no wrong in my opinion, but damn if this wasn't the best I've ever seen him.
Welcome to Marwen
(On Demand)
The use of music in this film was fantastic-- songs would start whose first lines were perfectly in tune with the scene, often reaffirming what the audience may be thinking in that moment. But, I'm not sure I could say much more positive about this one. I fell asleep a couple times for brief periods, so I didn't miss much, but it still felt like the flick was about four hours long. I just don't think much was done well here, unfortunately.
13 Reasons Why
(Season 3, Netflix)
Well, that was 13 episodes that I'm not sure I needed. Maybe I'm too old for this show, but I got annoyed frequently during this season, by both the format of the storytelling and my own inability to stop watching. So, it was definitely intriguing and was quite useful at making an hour flight's time pass by quickly, but I'm not sure that I was pleased the show continued. Will there be a season 4, too? Can these poor kids salvage some of their high school years to simply have some quiet time?
Pineapple Express
(Netflix)
We had some pals over and watched this outside on the patio's outdoor movie set up. It was ridiculous and hilarious and so freaking over the top. We all loved it. So much uncontrollable giggling and raucous exclamations of surprise at the sudden and intense violent outbursts. We had a blast.
The Handmaid's Tale
(Season 3, Hulu)
This season irked me so much at about the halfway mark that I had to force myself to watch episodes, and eventually I stopped for a couple months. When I returned to it, I had four more episodes to watch to close out the season. I watched those four episodes over the course of three days, while thinking about them most of the time in between. Yes, it got good again, or the ways that they ignored the rules of the world that had been built in this show were easier for me to take as the action increased and there was finally some forward momentum. I don't know how much more I can take of hope being raised only to be completely dashed. At least now, June got 100+ children out of the hell that would be growing up in Gilead. I guess I should say 100+ female-appearing children. And in this world, that matters a whole helluva lot. I seriously cannot wait to see what comes next. June has gone from caring about getting herself out to expanding her reach and becoming a Harriet Tubman-like figure in a whole different world of imprisonment. I know that's likely not the best comparison to make in a show that hasn't done much to address race in the world of Gilead, so I simply mean the comparison in a logistical way. Even with what it lacks, this remains a show that terrifies me and makes me examine the daily headlines through an even more fearful lens.
Speechless
(Season 3, TV)
We finally got around to watching the season finale that's been sitting on the DVR since April. I quite enjoy this show for both the representation of a character with a physical disability and for the incredible family depiction-- a wacky family that's used to challenges who love each other above all, even if they're all a little rough around the edges. I'm glad this one is still going!
Jane the Virgin
(Season 5, TV)
Oh, Jane, how will I miss you. I've absolutely loved this show since the very first episode, and while I had no previous experience with telenovelas, I immediately loved the cheeky way this show both poked fun at them and was 100% the embodiment of one all at the same time. The finale was hard to watch through the pouring of my tears. All the happy endings. All the love- romantic, familial, and friendship. And the narrator!!! How did I not figure that one out ahead of time?!? (I had the right name, just the wrong generation!) I am sad that the run is over, but I'm glad that I was along for the ride. I'll try not to cry anymore about missing these characters. Inhala. Exhala.
Modern Family
(Season 10, TV)
It's hard to believe that this show has been on for ten years. It really doesn't feel that long, but when you look at where the kids are all in their lives, it certainly makes sense! I've sometimes been critical of this show, but I'm always impressed at how masterfully it brings multiple plot lines together in wacky and surprising ways. Next season will be its last, and that feels about right.
Veronica Mars
(Season 4, Hulu)
Oh, Veronica, you are a mess. A lovable mess, that is. This revival season, five years after the movie, which came ten years after the first season premiered, was a little bit of the old and some of the new. VM herself has grown up in some ways, and is stilted in others. Other characters, specifically Logan, have seriously grown up, physically and emotionally, and that made for a very different lens through which to view our beloved title character. The mystery this season is solid, with leads and misleads, and almost every time I thought I was ahead of the game, I got humbled by a surprise reveal. The ending was NOT my favorite, but I get the reasoning, and I do hope that means that a season 5 will be coming!
National Lampoon's European Vacation
(DVD, Athens Uncorked!)
So. Damn. Ridiculous. How old was I when I first saw this? Maybe 12? And I watched it with my parents?!? I have no idea how many times I've seen it since, but when my pal decided to play this for a movie night at his bar, my favorite establishment in town, I knew I'd be there. We laughed and we cringed, and two of my friends opted to sit outside and chat about halfway through, but I loved every single minute.
Superstore
(Season 4, TV)
We're slowly making our way through the DVR of this past season's shows, and we finished up the latest season of this often ridiculous, usually solidly funny sitcom. I wasn't really feeling this show when it first came out, but it has definitely grown on me. This season mixed some serious topics with their usual outlandish fare, and the season finale certainly ended with a much more serious tone and theme. I'm looking forward to seeing where it takes the show in the fall.
Veronica Mars
(Hulu)
A movie of my favorite sassy private investigator's exploits was released 10 years after the first of three seasons of the tv show, and it was the natural next thing to watch. Oh, what a blast it was. Goofy, poking fun of itself, and just super fun to watch. There was, of course, a Rob Thomas (the musician) joke, as well as a reference to what was expected to be done with season four before the show was canceled. (Max telling VM that he could have sworn she went into the FBI, only to have VM respond with, "Another life, maybe" seriously cracked me up.) I ate up every minute of this flick, even as I watched it in bits and pieces throughout an eventful afternoon at home. Next up in ten days? The NEW season four!
Veronica Mars
(Season 2 & 3, Hulu)
I watched the first season of this ridiculously addictive show thanks to an Amazon gift card from friends back in the fall when I was couch-bound after my hysterectomy, and I was immediately hooked. But, S2 and S3 were only available for purchase at that point. To save a little cash, I waited until July for them to be released on Hulu, in preparation for Hulu's release of a special S4 later this month. I found myself a bit confused here and there by the many crimes that revolve around VM's life, but it's safe to say that I'm more than a bit obsessed with this series. Before the new S4 comes out, I'll be watching the movie that was released ten years after the first season. I truly can't get enough of VM!
Moulin Rouge
(DVD)
And this was our second movie of the night, and it was a freaking blast singing along with other friends who clearly love it as much as I do. I laughed more than was probably appropriate for a tragic love story, but the atmosphere we had going was much too cheerful to be brought down by a little consumption. This is another movie that I've watched a bazillion times, so it worked wonderfully to be with a group of friends who might chat here and there and just enjoy the night.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
(DVD)
The first of a double-showing in our inaugural outdoor movie series, this one was as funny as ever. I've lost count of how many times I've watched this, but it never ceases to make me laugh uproariously. Some of our friends who came to watch with us had never seen it, and watching them crack up over it was as fun as the flick itself.
Tag
(HBO)
Yeah, this was silly and goofy and apparently based on a true story. Who would have thought that a bunch of middle-aged guys with money could carry on a ridiculous game for decades? Yeah. Props for giving one of the characters more melanin than all of the real-life guys combined. This was perfect viewing for a lazy afternoon when it was too hot to be outdoors. We laughed. We gasped. We didn't pay for this specifically. Perfect.
I Feel Pretty
(HBO)
I tried not to get sucked into the critical reviews and the twitterverse's take on this flick and just judge it for myself. Myself, an overweight, middle-aged woman who has struggled to accept her own appearance for what I can only estimate has been about thirty years, ever since I was a pre-teen. First off, I was mostly entertained by this movie, but I already adore Amy Schumer, so I'm easy to please in that aspect. And ultimately, while I had some issues with the messaging in the end, I was happy to just take this at face value and enjoy the idea of self-acceptance regardless of what others think. I wasn't in the mood for a deep think piece, so I stuck with the basics on this one and ended up having a good movie viewing time.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
(Season 6, TV)
Oh, this show is ridiculous and I couldn't love it more. (Title of my sex tape?!) It's the perfect amount of silliness and I'm always happy to sit and watch an episode or two on the DVR. Since I watched the first five seasons online in binge mode, it's been different having to wait between episodes for a while, which led to me having some stockpile on the DVR or waiting a couple weeks to actually finish the season. But, I think it's exactly the show that I'll be happy re-watching when I need a pick-me-up, like Parks and Recreation.
The Dead Don't Die
(theater)
I really didn't know what to expect from this flick, but it wasn't this. This is slow. Like r e a l l l l l l l y slow. It's meta; out of nowhere, a character will say something that makes it apparent that they are aware of being in a movie, and it's suddenly jarring, but in a way that makes you laugh because it's so absurd. Absurd is actually just the right word, because something absurd can be immensely enjoyed or ridiculed beyond belief. This fell more on the side of enjoyment for me, even when I was confused AF.
(Season 15, TV)
Seriously. I've been with GA since the beginning, which means this show has been in my life for longer than TWO of my three children. I can't stop watching, no matter how much I've been annoyed by the show in the past, because I can't not know what's happening to these characters who have been in my world for so long. This season was quite enjoyable, actually, and even with a couple cliffhangers in the finale, I'm looking forward to its return. But, I can't say that I don't wonder how much longer this will go on. Apparently, it's already been renewed for seasons 16 AND 17, so perhaps this show will never end?!
(theater)
This musical fantasy was delightfully fun, considering it's a terribly sad tale for much of the flick. But, Elton John's biggest hits are here and Taron Egerton does an amazing job portraying such a larger-than-life figure, especially in his lowest moments. Yes, I've read a couple articles today about fact-checking the film, but I'm happy to take away that this was "based on real life" rather than being an exactly accurate depiction. My only question is: Did EJ really get new prescription glasses that frequently?! Not just his stage glasses that were outrageous and costume, but in just about every scene, dude had a different pair of everyday frames, even before he was successful. Were frames not expensive back then?!
(Season 2, Netflix)
Now, I can't say that I always get all the references in this series, but after two seasons, I'm a big fan. I enjoyed this season more than the first, actually, especially in the character development of Mars Blackmon. Sure, I'm biased because of my adoration of Anthony Ramos, but this character became much more complex this season-- more than the funny, weirdly-sexy man-child from season one. Nola Darling is still exasperating at times, but her artistic exploration this season was fascinating to watch, right through to the very last scene.
(Showtime)
This was funny enough to be a background movie for me tonight while I worked on pulling together the upcoming round of HP Trivia we host at our friend's bar. I laughed here and there-- sometimes loudly, in shock at what was suddenly on my TV-- and the cast was a bunch of people that I quite enjoy on screen, so overall this was a win in that I was entertained, and a win in that I did not spend money on a theater ticket to see it.
Wanda Sykes: Not Normal
(Netflix)
Politics? Check. Marriage and parenting? Check. Getting older and menopause? Check. This special ticks all the boxes. Sykes is as hilarious as always, with her perfect timing and comfortable stage presence, using her body and facial expressions subtly but oh-so-effectively. I laughed out loud as I folded laundry in the laundromat this morning watching this, hoping that the old woman a few tables down couldn't hear the delightful cursing but not caring about my own outbursts of laughter. So freaking good.
Beautiful Boy
(Netflix)
Well, if you're a parent and you're interested in watching a horror film, here you go. This film is devastating. Devastating. This was a parent's nightmare-- watching your child go through addiction and all the dangers that come with it, without being able to do a damn thing to make it better. The film uses sudden flashbacks in a way that keeps you inside the father's head the whole time, which really affected me. Even after finishing the movie, I'm still in a bad head space, filled with fear about loss of control and being able to make sure my kids are safe. It didn't help that I learned some bad news about my own parenting experience a few hours after finishing this film.
Kim's Convenience
(Season 3, Netflix)
Oh, this show cracks me up. I've come to really like these characters, and they never cease to make me laugh. We have watched all three seasons with the kids, and though there have been a couple scenes that have made us wonder if that's the best decision, it's been wonderful 99% of the time. I'm a big fan of the diversity of the characters and the fact that their various cultural practices are just a natural part of the show. All together, this is a fantastic sitcom.
Shameless
(Season 9, Showtime)
Finally, we're caught up! I have a love/hate relationship with this show. I love the uniqueness of the characters, though I spend so much of a season hating the choices that they make. And that's the thing-- in early seasons, I felt more compassion, I think, for this family, and I took their 'choices' with more understanding, because they didn't have a whole lot of options. But, as the seasons have progressed, these characters have made some TERRIBLE FUCKING CHOICES when they did indeed have other options. Is it wrong of me to judge them? Or, maybe in better terms, to have hoped they'd be better at grown-up living by now to make choices that are beneficial for them and those for whom they're responsible? Ugh. I know I'll still watch coming seasons (when I can... this only came about because of the package we bought to have Game of Thrones!), but I reserve the right to shout at the TV.
Fleabag
(Seasons 1 & 2, Amazon Prime)
Okay, two seasons of this British comedy only amount to twelve half-hour episodes, which was definitely not enough for me, but that would be my only complaint. I adored the breaking of the fourth wall that the title character does frequently and in such brilliant ways. I loved how we learned more and more about her as the first season went on, and then even more (!!) in the second season. Flawed characters always appeal to me, and her internal struggles were fascinating. Some of the other characters were so truly awful that I loved to loathe them!
pen15
(Season 1, Hulu)
A friend had been encouraging me to watch this for a while, and after finishing a couple other shows, it was finally the right time. Damn if I didn't want to do anything but watch this show. Maybe, just maybe, instead of putting music on my phone in the shower, I put an episode of this on, once or twice. Whatever. It was hilarious, even if I wasn't in middle school in 2000, because some shit from adolescence is absolutely universal. These two actors/writers/producers KILL in this weirdo show. So good.
Hail Satan?
(theater)
Well, damn, this was hilarious and thoughtful. I don't know what I was expecting, but this hit all the right notes for me. There's still a court case pending on the main issue that this group, The Satanic Temple, has been fighting, that of the placement of religious monuments on government grounds. Interestingly enough, I could get behind about 99% of what this group stands for and does, most especially its Seven Tenets, which isn't something I would have ever expected to proclaim!
Game of Thrones
(Season 8, HBO)
Well, it's over, and it was a wild ride. Even if this final season wasn't exactly what I expected or predicted, and even if there are about a billion unanswered questions and failed predictions and prophecies, I still have to say that I enjoyed the ride. Might I have enjoyed it more if some characters got more impactful endings that matched their eight seasons of character development? Yes, most definitely, but I was entertained, kept on the edge of my seat again and again, and prone to loud, emotional outbursts that still didn't stop our friends from coming over to watch together. It's sad to think that these characters are now finished telling us more stories, especially for ones that we never got to hear the endings. (I'm looking at you Tyrion and the honeycomb and ass you brought into a brothel...)
Dead to Me
(Season 1, Netflix)
Well, I can honestly say that I saw some of this coming, but I did NOT see that coming. This was brilliant dark comedy that explores the weirdest friendship I've ever seen on screen. I loved every performance, even down to the occasional appearance of the gentle-speaking pastor and the "not more of this shit" detective. I couldn't stop watching and now I've got to wait whoever knows how long for the next season?!
Wine Country
(Netflix)
I'm 43 years old and I had had a couple glasses of wine. I adore many of the actors in this lineup. I was ready for an evening of laughter. And so, I laughed. For all of those reasons, I found this to be just what I wanted on a random Thursday evening with my husband and a couple friends with whom I've shared a Ladies' Weekend (a very scaled-down version of compared to theirs!). I'm ignoring the critics (one article I skimmed told me enough when I saw a picture of the very young author) who are calling this not funny, because I know ladies like this, and we've made jokes like this ("Things we say now"), and this is fucking funny because it hits real issues that we face. I laughed. I was happy.
The Hate U Give
(DVD)
I watched this with the almost-13-year-old who LOVED the book when she read it last year, and the 11-year-old was in the room kinda paying attention and kinda playing a video game. When things got intense, he was absolutely paying attention, and while it had more profanity and violence than things he's usually allowed to watch, I thought this was worth it for the meaning behind the film. I understood a bit of the criticisms of the film that I had read, specifically of a scene in which Starr's Uncle Carlos tries to explain a police officer's perspective. Other than that, I thought the film was damn spot on and powerful. I was surprised by a significant change in the ending, but I was thrilled to spot the author in a quick cameo-- I shouted, "That's Angie Thomas!" and scared the kids!
Every Day
(Hulu)
Well, I could say that was interesting, but honestly, it really wasn't. I think what the movie lacked most was the voice of A, which I had hoped to hear more from, but instead the focus truly was on Rhiannon. Much of the nuance of the book was lost in this adaptation, and I found myself just not as invested as I'd hoped to be. For an entirely unique underlying plot, this flick was bland AF.
(Season 4, TV)
There was a point in this show, somewhere in season 3, I believe, that I took this show off the DVR. I still loved the songs and the concept of the show, but something about Rebecca Bunch (and her pals) had just become too much. But then I kept reading about the show, and I wanted to know what I was missing out on, so back onto the DVR it went and I got all caught up again. This season, I fell back in love with the whole thing. Having just watched the finale and the live concert special, I can say that while I'm going to miss the whole wacky crew, I'm super pleased with the way this series wrapped itself up. I'm still hopeful that Rebecca and Greg will find themselves in a relationship at some point, but I love that it didn't happen as some kind of finish line.
Sleeping with Other People
(Netflix)
I started this while folding laundry and knew that I'd have to watch it in bits and pieces while doing weekend chores. This worked for a while, because I wasn't really feeling it in the beginning. I was a little bored, not really believing the characters as people who would have chemistry together let alone be at college at the same time what with their presumed age difference. Then I stopped for a while, and when I went back to it, I didn't want to stop watching. And, I may have gotten a little hot and bothered by the newly developed chemistry. It was overall a fun movie to watch, but be warned, you will see Adam Scott like he's never been seen before, and I'm still reeling!
The Public
(theater)
Well, there was a lot to like about this film, but sadly, there was also a lot that was a bit ridiculous. The heart of the film was admirable, and the showing that I went to was sponsored by our public library system, and after the film, the director of our county library system talked about the similarities between some of the happenings in the film and his experiences in the Columbus public library system. I appreciated the desire to show the relationship libraries, and other public spaces, have with the homeless population, especially in big cities, but I do wish the movie itself wasn't as clunky as it ended up being.
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
(theater)
YOU were crying! Okay, okay, it was me, and maybe even Hubby a little bit. This one was tender and sweet, and even though the teen and the almost-teen didn't want to see it, we had a blast with the 11-year-old, who loved it just as much as we did. I didn't remember many details about the previous two HTTYD movies, but it didn't matter, because this worked all on its own. While some toddlers were a bit put out by the action/adventure type of violence and suspense, this was perfect for our older kid-- an actual movie that was appropriate for a kid!
Dogma
(DVD)
I got it into my head that I needed to watch this movie immediately and thankfully, Hubby and a couple friends were up for joining me. This fall will mark the 20th anniversary since this flick's release! I can't remember for sure if we went to see this in the theater, but I imagine I would have, as everything about the trailer would have appealed to me upon first sight. Almost-twenty years later, and I'm still in absolute love with this film. While I wish the female lead had been differently cast with someone able to add some modulation in her voice and make expressions other than side eye-rolls, there's little else I'd want to change. Yes, there are long still shots of people having super-long conversations, but you know what? Kevin Smith's writing gets a pass for that. Yes, there's a giant shit monster and it's gross AF, but you know what? Kevin Smith's humor gets a pass for that. Ha! Yes, there were some plot holes and everyone took some liberties with Catholic dogma and such, but you know what? It's freaking Kevin Smith, and he can do what he wants because in the big picture, he brings gross humor and thoughtful reflection together with an (almost) all-star 1999 cast. And man, do I ever miss Alan Rickman. Some will always think of him as Severus Snape, but for me, he's Metatron forever.
Shrill
(Season 1, Hulu)
I went into this knowing a whole lot about Lindy West and her memoir Shrill, which I loved. I've long been a fan of West's writing, and I was excited when I heard there was a small-screen adaptation. I was sad to see that it was only six episodes, and I hope there will be more in the future. I enjoyed how this show called out many of the shared experiences, microaggressions, and tropes that fat people may know so well, and it opted to deliver it in the form of a smart and witty comedy that struck a good balance between serious and humorous. I loved Aidy Bryant's performance as an imperfect young woman trying to figure out how she wants to live her life. I'll be watching for news of a second season!
Nate Bargatze: The Tennessee Kid
(Netflix)
Hot damn, I was in tears during this special. As soon as I saw the name, I had a positive connotation in my head even though I couldn't remember right away what I had watched with Nate Bargatze in it before. Then it hit me-- his episode of The Standups on Netflix. OMG, that is fucking hilarious, and this one was even better. Watch this if you need a pick-me-up, because I guarantee that you'll laugh. Bargatze's deadpan, dry delivery is perfection, and his subject matter is all-over-the-place randomness. I adored this.
Amy Schumer: Growing
(Netflix)
I'm going to stay away from all reviews of this and just go with my gut-- I loved almost every damn minute of this stand-up special. I've long been a fan of Schumer and most of her work, but I think this might be my favorite thing yet. Because she talks about marriage and pregnancy? Probably, but I have loved her stuff before that was completely unrelatable to me, such as dating. (Yeah, it's been a super long time!) But, damn, she was killing me in this one. She even did a bit that I could say that she stole from me if I wanted to sound insane. But, if you knew me back when I was pregnant with my second child, you'll most likely have heard me complain about being on the same pregnancy schedule as Angelina Jolie-- could you have thought of anyone worse to be compared to during a pregnancy?? Schumer has Meghan Markle, so she gets me.
Coco
(Netflix)
Somehow, we hadn't gotten around to seeing this movie with the kids since it came out two years ago, but tonight we pulled it up to watch with dinner on the kids' last night of spring break. Wow, I'm so glad that we did, because this was such a pull-at-your-heartstrings kind of flick! I loved everything about it, and it made me feel incredibly sentimental. And miss my family. The kids liked it, too, even the almost-teen who scoffs at pretty much everything these days, so it was an all-around win!
Sex Education
(Season 1, Netflix)
Oh, I adored this show, and I'm thrilled that it's been renewed for a second season. Yes, there is a fair amount of suspension of disbelief that is required, but it's all about the characters-- the incredible, incredible characters. The protagonist (who we just watched as a little boy in Hugo!) is so endearing in his awkwardness and his honesty, and especially his frustration with his overstepping mother, who drove me crazy more often than I found her relatable. But my very favorite thing about this show (other than introducing me to the word 'inveigle') is the relationship between Eric and his parents, especially his father. His parents are imperfect, but they are trying to understand him and see beyond what they've always known. Eric's character development stole the show for me in the second half of the season, and I hope he gets even more screen time next season!
Captain Marvel
(theater)
I can't say that I know much at all about the whole Marvel world (which I do know should be called the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but that's only because of my kid!), but I have seen a handful of the movies, or at least parts of the movies and I think I have a basic understanding of most of the main characters. Or at least I thought I did. I went into this flick with zero understanding of who Captain Marvel / Carol Danvers / Vers was and as a result, I was confused as hell for much of the beginning half of the movie. But, I tried to just go with the flow and wait for the explanations that I needed, and they did come and I did get it and I was entertained. I loved that this female lead character was strong and ambitious and that the focus was on her fortitude and attitude in the face of being told she wasn't enough. There was no romantic focus for her character and her uniform wasn't overtly sexualized. WHAT THE WHAT?! Right?! It was refreshing and showed just how action-filled a flick could still be with a woman leading the way. I left the theater satisfied.
Hugo
(Amazon Prime)
I couldn't remember if I had seen this one before, but apparently I watched it with the oldest kid back in 2011 and loved it. Well, this time it was with the youngest kid, and I loved it all over again. It's really visually dazzling and the characters are delightful. I'm not sure how much I googled about the subject back when I first watched it, but this time I looked up info about Georges Méliès, the filmmaker at the center of the mystery, and I was surprised by how much historical accuracy was portrayed in the movie. What an incredible story and movie overall!
(Seasons 1-5, TV)
I'd heard from a few people that I should check this one out, and I honestly don't know why I hesitated. It may have been my not-very-informed impression of Andy Samberg as a goofball, and not in the best way possible. I knew that my oldest loved it, so I figured it was on the more juvenile side of sitcoms. But, dammit, I should have pressed play as soon as I knew it was done by Mike Schur, the sitcom genius behind The Good Place. So, I started watching this one from the beginning and finished five seasons more quickly than one should be proud of stating publicly. Here I am now, just about to catch up to season 6's current airing schedule, so I'll miss the ability to binge this one all day while I wash dishes, fold laundry, and cook dinner! It's hilarious and silly, with chemistry between the actors that is absolute perfection, no matter how they're paired up. So much damn fun.
The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
On a day of lots of emotions, this movie was a nice distraction for an hour and a half. There were enough celebrity voices and plays on words to bring more than a few chuckles, and the whole thing was fun and engaging. It wasn't at the magical level of the first movie, but it was entertaining enough, even with my current disillusionment with Chris Pratt and his crazy new Jesusy self. The kids laughed, and I was able to put other thoughts out of my mind for the time being, so it served its purpose today.
Love, Simon
(DVD)
Well, that was a fun movie and a pretty decent story, but I always have to wonder, why in the world change SO. MANY. THINGS. from the original source material? Most of the changes didn't matter to me to the story, except for one. Having Leah actually be interested in Simon instead of Nick changed the whole dynamic of their friendship, which did bother me. I was more invested in their long-term friendship and Leah's hurt feelings about Simon not coming out to her before he did to their newer friend, Abby. It was an entertaining enough movie, but if I had to choose one or the other, like 99.9% of the times before, I'd go with the book in a heartbeat.
Cirque Mechanics: 42 ft, a Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels
(Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium, Ohio University)
What a wonderful show to be playing when the grandparents are in town!! This was a delight for the whole family, with everyone gaping in awe at the amazing acrobatics, unbelievable feats of strength, and super fun showmanship. I couldn't help but appreciate how lucky our kids were to have experienced an introduction to the circus arts when we lived back in Maryland through the gem of a circus camp that was started in our old town by a former Ringling Bros. clown! So many exclamations were gasped through this whole show, and about 85% of them came from my daughter!
The Favourite
(theater)
Okay, my impression of what this movie was going to be based on the trailer that I had seen differed a bit from what it ended up being-- less humor than I expected, but what humor there was, was wholly dark. This was an Artsy film, with a purposeful upper-case A, and the only real ways that its Artsiness bothered me was with the incessant use of a fish-eye lens and some repetitive and loud sounds that went on much longer than necessary to set the ominous tone I think it was trying to convey. But, even with that said, I think I quite enjoyed this flick, because I certainly laughed and was drawn in by the characters even when their cruelty was merciless and their desire to gain and maintain a high station superseded all else. The performances by the three female leads, Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz, and Emma Stone, were outstanding and captivating. I'm glad my friend asked me join him to go see this one, because it definitely was not one that Hubby would have enjoyed.
Groundhog Day
(DVD)
I'm not sure the last time I watched this film, but we introduced it to the 11- and 12-year-olds tonight, and everyone was cracking up. I had already talked with them about the premise of the film, and I had said that it presents several suicide attempts in very comical manners, which obviously wouldn't be the case in real life. But, honestly? I was pleasantly surprised by how the main character's really poor behaviors made for quality conversation about how to actually pursue someone in a romantic relationship. And, it was Bill Murray, FFS. That guy is comedy brilliance personified. It turned into a perfect family movie night!
The Good Place
(Season 3, TV)
I have been hooked on this show since we finally checked it out on New Year's Eve a year ago. Then it was binge city for the first two seasons, and I even roped some pals into watching it along with me AND discussing it online! This is a hella ridiculously funny show, but it also might be the smartest sitcom I've ever seen. This makes me think and feel and then it hits me with a fart joke. It's brilliant and perfectly cast, and I would love it if it never, ever ended.
Finding Neverland
(Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium, Ohio University)
Thanks to a dear friend, we were offered three tickets to see this show as its tour went through our town. I took the 12-year-old and the 11-year-old, and I expected my older daughter to really love it, but I wasn't sure how my younger son would feel. Surprise! It was a total win with both of them, and it was exciting to watch the wonder on their faces at the magic that is live theater. It was a delightful show and I think they both enjoyed watching actors on stage who were their age or even younger. I quite liked it, even though I was completely unfamiliar with the story and the music prior to seeing it performed. I'm so grateful to my pal for taking us!
The House with a Clock in its Walls
(DVD)
I didn't know anything about this movie before Hubby brought it home from the Redbox, so I looked it up on the trusty Common Sense Media page. At first glance, everything seemed fine-- 11+ was a perfect rating since it was just the 11 year old who wanted to watch it. Then I began to read the parent reviews, which had me thinking that we were going to be up all night with a terrified child after our viewing. Yeah, I'm usually pretty conservative when it comes to media for my kids (the ONLY way I could ever be called conservative), but I don't know what those folks were freaking out about. It was fine, totally fine. There were a couple jump-scares, but the plot itself was fairly predictable, as our kid called stuff again and again, and the visuals were really mild. It was entertaining enough, and the tween felt like he watched a movie for big kids. And, no middle-of-the-night issues. Win, win.
Hamilton
(Centro de Bellas Artes Luis A. Ferré, San Juan, Puerto Rico)
How can I even describe the experience of seeing the most amazing show ever? Yeah, there are no words yet invented to convey just how incredible the entire experience was. From the opening notes, my body was covered in goosebumps, and I couldn't look at everything at once, no matter how hard I tried. And I tried. (See what I did there?) Yes, this was just perfection-- every part of it. I especially adored the performances of Julia K. Harriman (Eliza Hamilton) and Brandon Louis Armstrong (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison), and of course, a little-known actor named Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton, who totally remembered all the lines again! I couldn't help but bop around in my seat for every peppy number, although I tried really damn hard to only lip sync instead of sing along. I went through a significant amount of toilet paper to dry my sobbing tears, which I handily kept on the roll and just pulled up what I needed as I needed it. (What? There were no tissue boxes at the Airbnb! Improvise!) I bought a ton of merch and wanted even more, and I even had the grand pleasure of meeting Luis Miranda, Lin-Manuel's dad, before the show as he stood by the Tee Rico merchandise table. I proceeded to blab at him for a minute or two, but the video captured by my cousin shows him to have laughed and smiled, so perhaps it wasn't as terribly embarrassing as I fear. One of the best nights of my life. Ever. I was completely and wholly satisfied.
Bird Box
(Netflix)
Seriously, WTF did I just watch? I was a bit of a wreck during much of this flick, because apparently I am a massive wuss now. I remember that I used to watch scary movies, but this had me scrolling (and posting about my wussiness on) Facebook for distractions at times. But then... it was over. SPOILER ALERT: there's no actual resolution in the end, and there are enough holes in this movie to sink a boat in a river. (See what I did there?) For reals. If she's pounding on the door and the entity is all around her and the kids, calling to them and shit, how come the bird sanctuary inside isn't on high alert? How is it all serenity when they walk in? And how in the world would those grocery-store-purchased birds survive drowning in a cardboard box-- which defies laws about cardboard and water-- and then adapt to non-cage living? Had they been scavenging for bird food for five years? How long do those birds live in captivity? Dear lord, I've got nothing but questions, but it's also insanely windy outside right now and I've got to take my dogs out for their last pee of the night. Where's my damn blindfold?!
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