Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on horizon

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 July 27, 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

“Creed II” (2018; Amazon Prime)

Viewers will know what to expect from this extension of the “Rocky” franchise long before they buy a ticket. Yet the tried and true, against-the-odds formula still works somehow. Early on in this chapter of the saga, the boxer of the title (Michael B. Jordan), with the help of his hard-driving trainer (Sylvester Stallone), becomes world heavyweight champion. He also proposes to his live-in girlfriend (Tessa Thompson), a singer who suffers from hearing loss. But the rise of a rival (Florian Munteanu) he feels compelled to take on sets up an emotionally fraught match since the up-and-comer is the son of the Russian fighter (Dolph Lundgren) whose blows killed the champ’s dad in 1985’s “Rocky IV.” Working from a script Stallone co-wrote with Juel Taylor, director Steven Caple Jr. handles themes of disability, family estrangement and good sportsmanship with dexterity and manages to instill suspense into this sequel to 2015’s “Creed,” the seventh successor to Stallone’s 1976 original. Possibly acceptable for mature teens. Some intense physical violence, premarital cohabitation, about a dozen crude and at least one crass term. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

“Home Alone” (1990; Hulu)

A large family takes off for Christmas in Paris accidentally leaving behind their timid 8-year-old (Macaulay Culkin) who becomes resourceful in defending the house against a persistent pair of bungling burglars (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern). The laughter waxes and wanes in director Chris Columbus’ contrived comedy, but the pace is peppy and the family message heartwarming. Minor violence and robbery 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. (The sequels “Home Alone 2: Lost In New York” (1992) and “Home Alone 3” (1997) are also streaming)

“17 Again” (2009; Netflix)

Pleasant, though unremarkable romantic comedy about a dissatisfied middle-aged man (Matthew Perry) who gets his wish to be a high-school student (Zac Efron) again and, with the help of his lifelong best friend (Thomas Lennon), uses the opportunity to guide his teenage son (Sterling Knight) and daughter (Michelle Trachtenberg) and to revive his failing relationship with his wife (Leslie Mann). Director Burr Steers’ formulaic star vehicle sees its protagonist standing up for the underdog and promoting sexual restraint but thematic elements make it best for mature teens and up. Premarital sexual situations, some sexual humor and references, about a dozen crass terms, at least one use of profanity. The OSV News classification is A-III — adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 — parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Looking Ahead

Sunday, July 27, 12:15-2 p.m. EDT (TCM) “Easy Living” (1937). Pleasing screwball comedy about a secretary (Jean Arthur) whose chance meeting with a financier (Edward Arnold) over an errant fur coat leads to a wild variety of misunderstandings about their relationship, one of which happens to cause a stock market panic. Written by Preston Sturges and directed by Mitchell Leisen, the laughs are guaranteed by a solid cast including Luis Alberni as a desperate hotel owner and Ray Milland as an addled automat attendant who turns out to be the financier’s son. Mild romantic situations. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-II — adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association.

Sunday, July 27, 8:33-11 p.m. EDT (ABC) “Father of the Bride” (1991). Trite remake of the 1950 Spencer Tracy-Elizabeth Taylor charmer, this time has father Steve Martin battling the emotional loss of daughter Kimberly Williams while wife Diane Keaton tries to cushion the financial drain of a big wedding. A hilarious scene early on is outweighed by mawkish sentimentality in director Charles Shyer’s drawn-out comedy. Fleeting sexual innuendo. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-II — adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association rating was PG — parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

Tuesday, July 29, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. EDT (EWTN) “Jubilee of Youth.” Live broadcast from St. Peter’s Square of the Welcome Mass for pilgrims for the Jubilee of Youth sponsored by the Diocese of Rome (TV-G — general audience).

Tuesday, July 29, 10-11:30 p.m. EDT (PBS) “Remaking The Middle East: Israel Vs. Iran.” This episode of the series “Frontline” looks at how Israel ended up fighting wars in Gaza and Iran, as well as the U.S. role in the conflicts.

Wednesday, July 30, 10 p.m.-midnight EDT (TCM) “Black Orpheus” (1959). Vibrant intercultural feast updating the Greek myth to Rio de Janeiro, where trolley driver Orpheus (Breno Mello) accidentally kills his beloved Eurydice (Marpessa Dawn) while trying to protect her from a stalker costumed as Death and, after a religious cult fails to revive her, he sets out with her body for burial until another fatal accident intervenes. Directed by Marcel Camus, the appealing leads are supported by a spirited cast who play out the mythic tragedy amidst the gaiety of Rio’s Carnival with its colorful parades of dancing bands, backed by a haunting music score and spectacular views of Rio’s picturesque locales. Subtitles. Stylized violence, sexual situations and innuendo. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-III — adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association

Saturday, Aug. 2, 12:30-4 p.m. EDT (AMC) “American Gangster” (2007). Gritty, chaotically filmed 1970s New York true life story about a scrupulously honest if womanizing cop (Russell Crowe) investigating a notorious drug kingpin (Denzel Washington) who’s shipping heroin from Thailand to the States in Vietnam War soldiers’ body bags, all the while posing as an upstanding family man. Director Ridley Scott, working from Steven Zaillian’s fact-based script, captures the tumultuous era’s spirit and skillfully counterbalances the prosperous criminal with the struggling hero. But the squalid milieu and strong violence will not be to everyone’s taste, despite a moderately redemptive ending. Pervasive rough language and profanity, racial epithets, upper female nudity, adultery, a graphic sexual encounter without nudity, violence, murder, suicide, brief torture and drug dealing. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association rating was R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Saturday, Aug. 2, 8-9:55 p.m. EDT (Cinemax) “Traitor” (2008). Astute espionage thriller centered on a deeply religious, Sudanese-born Muslim American (Don Cheadle) who once served as a U.S. special operations officer in Afghanistan, but whom two FBI agents (Guy Pearce and Neal McDonough) now suspect of terrorism, in part because of his ties to a Yemeni jihadist (Said Taghmaoui). Writer-director Jeffrey Nachmanoff’s engaging study of conflicting loyalties and identities probes significant moral problems about the use of violence as its protagonist struggles to sort through his competing allegiances. Moderate action violence, one use of the F-word and some crude language. 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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