The following are capsule reviews of theatrical movies available now for streaming or scheduled for broadcast on network or cable television during the week of March 10, as well as notes on TV programming for the same week. Televised films may or may not be edited for language, nudity, violence and sexual situations while the programs listed have not been reviewed and therefore are not necessarily recommended by OSV News.
Streaming Now
“Everything Everywhere All at Once” (2022; Netflix)
Surreal fantasy in which a harried Chinese American laundromat owner (Michelle Yeoh) discovers that there are innumerable parallel universes, each of which contains a different version of herself. Traveling among these worlds under the guidance of an iteration of her sweet-natured husband (Ke Huy Quan), she battles a cosmic villain who takes the shape of her grown daughter (Stephanie Hsu). As the protagonist uses her wild experiences to work through her feelings about her spouse and her offspring as well as her sense of unfulfilled potential, co-writers and directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert blend comedy and drama while promoting mostly sound values. Yet their narrative outlook is more in line with the absurdist stripe of existentialist philosophy than Christian faith and the inclusion of a duo of lesbian relationships makes the film inappropriate for young people. Much violence, some of it gory, mature themes, including homosexuality, strong sexual imagery, a same-sex kiss, about a dozen mild oaths, several uses each of rough and crude language. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
“Father Stu” (2022; Hulu)
Hard-edged yet deeply moving dramatization of the life of Stuart Long (Mark Wahlberg). With the continuance of his somewhat successful boxing career rendered too dangerous by a medical condition, he moves to Los Angeles and tries to reinvent himself as a Hollywood star, winding up instead as a directionless supermarket clerk. But things begin to turn around for him when he falls at first sight for a devout CCD teacher (Teresa Ruiz). To please her, he goes through the motions of becoming Catholic, his conversion only becoming real after a near-death experience that also sets him on an unlikely path toward the priesthood, much to the consternation of his emotionally abusive father (Mel Gibson) and caring but unbelieving mother (Jacki Weaver). A tribute to a future cleric who showed dogged determination and grit in the face of a series of seemingly insurmountable obstacles, writer-director Rosalind Ross’ profile also showcases his unconventional but effective approach to preaching the Gospel. Grown viewers will easily get past the earthy language with which the script is filled to appreciate the film’s faith-inspiring core. But the persistent vulgarity, while justified in context, may prove more problematic for younger movie fans who might otherwise benefit from this portrait of a vocation. Some physical violence, a bloody accident, offscreen premarital sexual activity, about a half-dozen uses of profanity, several milder oaths, pervasive rough and crude language. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.
“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” (2023; Amazon Prime)
In rebooting a decades-old franchise via CGI animation, director and co-writer Jeff Rowe has the titular testudines (voices of Nicolas Cantu, Shamon Brown Jr., Micah Abbey and Brady Noon) take a meditative turn. Though consistently warned to avoid humans by their adoptive father and mentor (voice of Jackie Chan), a giant rat, they’ve begun to have regrets about their isolated, seemingly anti-social lifestyle. So they befriend a high schooler and budding journalist (voice of Ayo Edeberi) who wants to write about them. But the quartet’s journey of self-discovery is interrupted by the arrival of villains (the most prominent voiced by Ice Cube) bent on world domination. The mayhem promised by the subtitle then ensues. As scripted in collaboration with Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg, Benji Samit and Dan Hernandez, the movie, the foursome’s seventh big-screen outing, contains little to make parents uncomfortable, a touch of seemingly requisite gross-out humor aside. And, amid all the chaos, the screenplay encourages respect for education, social interaction and the wisdom of older characters. The proceedings are, however, too tumultuous for small fry. Intense action sequences, a restrained scene of torture, a couple of mild oaths, vomiting played for laughs. The OSV News classification is A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
Looking Ahead
Sunday, March 10, 7-10:30 p.m. EDT (ABC) “The Oscars.” Live broadcast of the 96th Academy Awards ceremony, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood (TV-14/D/L/V – parents strongly cautioned; intensely suggestive dialogue, strong coarse language, intense violence).
Sunday, March 10, 10-11 p.m. EDT (EWTN) “New York State Eucharistic Congress.” Featured speakers at this October 2023 event in Auriesville included author and professor Peter Kreeft (TV-G – general audience).
Tuesday, March 12, 10-11 p.m. EDT (PBS) “Lethal Restraint.” This episode of the series “Frontline” focuses on a variety of police tactics for restraining suspects.
Saturday, March 16, 9:45-11:38 p.m. EDT (HBO) “Get Smart” (2008). Good-natured update of the 1960s TV series with secret agent Maxwell Smart (a perfectly cast Steve Carell), alternately bungling and clever, and his partner, Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway), dispatched to Russia by their chief (Alan Arkin) to battle the evil KAOS crime syndicate boss (Terence Stamp). Director Peter Segal deftly balances action, comedy and sentiment, with quite a few pearly moments. But though the action sequences are never gory or the comedy gross or mean-spirited, the elements listed below are arguably still strong enough to preclude younger teens. Much comic action violence including killings, brief rear-male nudity, light sexual references and innuendo, some crude language and crass expressions, a vulgar gesture. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating was PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.
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