Netflix Series NO GOOD DEED-Not Great but Good Enough

The new Netflix Series, NO GOOD DEED, is a dark comedy loaded with stars and interwoven storylines. Ray Roman and Lisa Kudrow star as Paul and Lydia Morgan, a married couple at the apex of this knots laden drama that draws us into the mystery of how their son was killed and their role in its coverup. The loaded opening show introduces us to a mixed bag of noisy neighbors and lookie-loos coming through the Morgan's handsome home just put on the market. Across the street are neighbors Margo (Linda Cardellini) a conniving, sex-pot and her husband JD (Luke Wilson) an out of work soap opera star. The next door neighbor, Phyllis (the incomparable Linda Lavin) the bossy know-it-all (who may just know it all). The Morgan's gay, "non-stereotyped" realtor is a riot as the ingratiating, irritating wheeler dealer. Two other couples vying for the Morgan's dream home are a lesbian power couple, a district attorney and a physician both driven with their own clandestine mission and a newly married couple who are still new to each other and expecting a baby with a meddling, overbearing mother-in-law in tow. Denis Leary plays Paul's brother just released from prison who's somehow complicit in the implicit cover-up of his son's slaying who holds some blackmailing cards. I'm not saying this entire house of cards makes for must-see TV, but it does have its share of salacious sexual dalliances, relationship tribulations, nefarious dealings and clever cliffhangers which are sufficient to keep you tuned in for the next thirty minute episode. Who will own the Morgan's beloved family home? Who's zoomin who? And, who knows what about the fatal shot that took out Paul and Lydia's troubled son. (By the way, what has kept the Morgan's older daughter away for three years?) I'm hooked enough to come back for another showing.  

WICKED Part I-Smoke and Mirrors Lacking Heart

The highly anticipated (and overly hyped) film adaption of the Broadway smash hit, WICKED is a long and winding let down. Having seen and loved the original cast starring Idina Menzel and Kristin Kenoweth my expectations may have been over the rainbow but even so, the movie was all razzle dazzle and sorely missing a heart. What the film does have is a shining talent in the lead role of the wicked witch, Elphaba, Cynthia Erivo, the Tony, Grammy, Golden Globe Award winner and two time Oscar nominee. Erivc's heavenly singing voice kept the overburdened and underwhelming film aloft. Arianna Grande wasn't bad as the good witch Glinda. She did an admirable job with her sweet soprano singing voice and comely appeal. However, Grande's stature in the film was made diminutive by Erivo's gargantuan talents despite both women sharing the same petite 5'1" stature. I'm surprised Grande didn't turn green with envy. The intense kaleidoscope cinematography became blindingly distracting and the perpetual large choreographed numbers morphed into one another feels sluggish and redundant. Jeff Goldblum as the Wizard of OZ and Michelle Yeah as Madame Morrible were electrifying except when called on to sing or dance as needed. But, my main quibble with this ambitious and amiable film is the same lament as the Tin Man's, it lacked a heart to the story. The budding empathy of Glinda and the anguish of Elphaba felt hollow. The persecution of the talking animals did not resonate in the film as it did on stage. Peter Dinkledge as the anthropomorphic professor was resplendent and hopefully Part II will reignite his role. Casting Menzel and Chenowith in the film was fun but contributed to the film being seen as a pale comparison. Still, the astronomical cost difference between its Broadway show and movie ticket makes WICKED: Part I much more accessible. Before you're off to see the witches on the big screen, and for those who have a brain, remember the strength of a well-told story must always be at its core. Anyhow, that's how I like them apples. But, if you care to see Erivo defying the weight of this overly stuffed film adaptation, you won't be disappointed. I feel the movie lacks any real emotional power. I advise you not to pay attention to all the fanfare behind the curtain. Soon, WICKED Part I will be released to home viewing and there's no place like home for the place to be to see it. 

BLINK-Family's Year of World Travel Prior to Childrens' Looming Blindness

The family/travel doc. focuses on a Canadian family who learn three of their four adolescent children have inherited a genetic disorder that affects their corneas leading to blindness. This devastating news is met with pragmatism by the parents. "What's hardest for parents is letting go. That is what parents do throughout their children's lives. There's nothing that can be done. There's no treatment, no cure." The best advice the mom, the key spokesperson received, "was to give them as much visual references to store in their memories." Taking this to heart, the couple decided to travel the globe for a year with their children and "fill their visual memory with as much beautiful things as we can." Mia is the oldest at 11 with 3 younger brothers, Laurent, 4, being the youngest. Only the eldest son will maintain his vision. Before departing, the family compiled a "bucket list" of what they wanted to experience. The couple explained how they could afford such a journey on their budgeted $200/day. However, the film was produced by National Geographic which mitigated the integrity of its imposed frugality and explains its breathtaking cinematography. My only other nitpick would be the intermittent scoring that detoured from a natural family travel log. Nevertheless, the essence is the family unit which remained a tight knit group who cared for one another. The boys continuously tussled with each other. "They're a pack of wild wolves," the mother lovingly described them. The animated maps and drawings crisscrossing the globe added the right, light touch. The selected list designations were delightful, each member was granted a few choices. Laurent received his chance to "drink juice while riding a camel." "See a sunrise on a mountain. Make friends in other countries." Dad got the family on an extended hike in the Himalayas with its wonders and hardships. One harrowing night, the family spent in a swaying gondola during a storm. "We're all together, we'll be fine," the mom reassured them. The family bonds grew stronger and individual growths are noted. One son when asked how he changed said, "I know I've changed but it's hard to explain what's changed. Knowing their sights were shrinking,  the film was tinged in melancholy, "The first to go was the stars. Darkness renders them totally blind." Mia said, "I feel as though I'm in a void. I need to be touching something to reduce my fears." In the Amazon forest the parents join the pre-dawn ritual of sharing dreams which are given credence. With an interpreter, the mom shares her dream of her son being burned. A tribe woman empathized saying, "I know, my father is ill. What can you do but accept it." Overall, this is a wondrous, travel log of a close clan providing one another memories of the world to cherish while proffering love and security within the home. The film inspired me to compile a bucket list while feeling grateful for the beauty found in every sunrise and sunset.  

SUPER/MAN: The Christopher Reeve Story

Sometimes it seems as if some people are bestowed with more gifts than one person should be allowed. It appeared that Christopher Reeve, the handsome movie star who rose to stardom as Superman on the big screen would fall into that category. Tragically, Reeve took a near fatal fall from his horse that left him a quadriplegic; dependent on machines, medical staff and loved ones to care for him to stay alive. Reeve's charmed life became one that nobody would envy. Nonetheless, watching the doc. SUPER/MAN is a sobering and uplifting experience that stirs us to appreciate what we have and empathize more with others. This is not a preachy or overly sentimental film. Rather, it's a thoughtful and honest look at Reeve's life from childhood, through stardom, his marriages/families, his accident in 1995 until his death in 2005. It doesn't sugarcoat his accident and its aftermath. Though not told in a linear fashion, we get a sense of knowing Reeves personally. We gain an admiration for his gusto for life, decency and dedication for family and friends. Reeves ended his relationship with the mother of his two older children shortly after his rise to celebrity. He takes ownership of their breakup. One of the takeaways is the strong bond Reeves maintains with all three of his children and the close relationship the siblings have with one another. Will Reeves, Christopher's son from his marriage to Dana, says, "There's no half siblings. We are siblings." The older brother moved in to help care for both Will and his father. The interviews from Reeve's celebrity friends, Glenn Close, Jeff Daniels, Whoopi, Susan Sarandon and others are noteworthy. Snippets from his career on film and stage are spread thinly throughout. It might've been interesting to delve more into his acting career that was eclipsed by his role as Superman. His love for the craft of acting was noted. When asked about working with Brando, Reeve said, "It's a shame when an actor just phones his part in." The close friendship between Reeve's and Robin William, best friends since their Juilliard days are heartwarming. Williams referred to Reeves as "my brother." Close said, "If Reeve's were still alive, no doubt Robin would still be here." This doc. is also a tribute to the love story between Reeve and his wife Dana who sadly passed less than a year after from lung cancer despite never having smoked. When Reeves was contemplating being left to die Dana told him, "If that's what you want, but you're still you and I love you." Most importantly, Reeve's courage is acknowledged along with the impact he made as a formidable advocate for the disabled. His first major public appearance in 1996 at the Oscars was groundbreaking. Reeve's superpower to improve lives by advancing research funding for spinal injuries and improving the quality of lives for others with disabilities will remain his legacy.  

BETWEEN the TEMPLES with Jason Scwhartzman and Carol Kane

BETWEEN the SHEETS (BTS) is a Jewish comedy/drama by independent filmmaker Nathan Silver. It slides in somewhere between the movies "Harold and Maude" and the Cohn brother's "A Serious Man".  It centers around the burgeoning relationship between a temple's cantor, Ben Gottlieb (Jason Schwartzman) and a much older woman, Carla Kessler (Carol Kane) who wants to become a Bat Mitzvah. As in "Harold and Maude" there is a connection forged between two eccentric loners with the woman significantly older than the man. Ben has been battling depression for a year since the death of his wife and lost his ability to sing. Carla is a widow and retired music teacher seeking to grasp her misaligned Jewish identity. As in "Serious Man", the film takes a darkly comic look at Jewish lives centered around the Rabbi and congregants of the same Synagogue. Schwartzman has perfected the slow, melancholy that makes him annoying and affecting. Ben's a cantor who's lost his singing voice while trying to find his footing under the benevolent guidance of the Rabbi. He's currently living in the basement of his domineering mother's home where she lives with her lesbian partner. Of course, it doesn't hurt that his mother is a major donor to the synagogue. The Rabbi is also flexible when dealing with possible donors likely to contribute generously which pile on to the satirical dry humor of the film  The Rabbi contends "We're all free to love whom we love." He also practices putting in his office into the shofar and dispenses wisdom to Ben as he caddies for him. The scenes of Jewish teens in the synagogue and flashbacks to the young Ben Gottlieb were delightful and  earnest. There's an ambling feeling to the film.  You're not sure where the film is headed which serves to launch the movie in a haphazard manner keeping you intrigued to learn what will happen to Ben and Carla and perhaps, between them. There's also the feeling of having unscripted dialogue similar to "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Some scenarios are especially memorable as in the Shabbat dinner with Ben, Carla, the Rabbi and his family and Ben's family. Also, unforgettable was the dinner with Ben and Carla with her family. Shots of the congregation during Friday night service showed a dwindling, older population with a spattering of required younger members that rang true as did many other seemingly innocuous scenes that cleverly portrayed or parodied Jewish assimilation. There was a poignant scene in which Ben sought enlightenment from a Priest regarding beliefs in the afterlife. BTS has the fabric to become a cult film like "Harold and Maude" thanks to a lot of the genius and droll humor the Cohns brought to "A Serious Man." This film is fitted into the Jewish comedy/drama genre where Jewish stereotypes are aired with some parts faring better than others. You don't have to be Jewish to enjoy BTS. You do need an open mind for this independent film. You'll be blessed with a quirky comedy stuffed with an exceptional cast.

PILOBOLUS RE:CREATION-Miscreant Dance Performance at LBT

The word Pilobolus is a phototropic fungus stemming from the Greek word meaning "hat thrower." The spores of the fungus are cast out up to 45 mph and adhere to wherever they land. The word dance refers to rhythmic movement to music typically following a set sequence of steps.  The Pilobolus Dance Company plays very unconventionally with the term "dance".  The program tells us. Pilobolus is a rebellious dance company and informs us that the Artistic Dir. Matt Kent joined Pilobolus in 1996 without any formal dance training. Art begs to be radical, provocative, inspiring and oftentimes, aesthetically pleasing. Dance is an art form that combines movement and musicality within a choreographed framework. Modern dance brings new paradigms to choreographic works. The Pilobolus program at Luther Burbank last evening "recreated" dance to become more of a theatrical performance not unlike buskers panhandling on public corners. Calling the performers dancers is more of an appendage as I would describe the troupe as theatrical performers aligned with mime than dance. The discordant synthesized music for the works set a mood that was eerie and pulsating without supporting the movements. The absurdist piece "Walklyndon" was sophomoric and slapstick. "Rushes" included a shadow silhouette on screen that was geared towards pre-teens. I have seen Pilobolus Dance Theater for the second time and the last time. 

Colman Domingo Stars in Netflix's Crime Thriller THE MADNESS

Netflix's new crime thriller stars Colman Domingo in THE MADNESS, a tense thriller that is exasperating with twists and plot holes that make the parts better than the whole. Domingo Colman is gripping as Munci Daniels, a CNN host and media pundit. The first explosive episode will put Daniels into a harrowing chase for his life after coming upon the grisly murder of his unknown neighbor in the Pochonos. Daniels is adept behind a news desk as well as in hand-to-hand combat with unknown assailants. He proves to be a resourceful sleuth investigating the murder he reported to police. When Daniels and the officers return to the scene of the crime, there's nothing amiss except Daniels' story. Daniels didn't fill the officers in on his fatal stabbing of one of the masked assailants with his pocket pen. And somehow Daniels is able to pick up solid clues that lead him to the identity of the man he saw in hacked in pieces when the police came up empty. When he returns to his snazzy Philadelphia apartment, he notices the lock on his patio door is broken and a family photo turned awry. The officers who take this report from Daniels with his slick attorney present, are skeptical of any crime as nothing is reported stolen. Daniels is contacted by an FBI agent Franco (John Ortiz) who informs him that the man Daniels found dead is a key figure in a far-right group and has been on his radar. Daniels fears life and that of his estranged wife and pot-smoking son are in grave danger and convinces them to abscond with him. The set up for the series is tense and full of suspense but it's also full of holes and red herrings. If you suspend cynicism with some cracks in the veneer of credibility and push aside the dry family drama, you'll be in for a chilling exploit that will keep your blood boiling. Domingo and Ortiz are first rate and strike the right balance of stealth, cunning and skepticism. Set aside any quibbles with questionable tactics and you'll be taken for a fierce and compelling mystery that uncovers the inside agendas of Antifa activists and their equally troubling counterparts. Furthermore, we see the troubling racism that Daniels must contend with in gaining credibility from law enforcement. It's not clear who Daniels to trust, who's out to harm who and as the plot thickens you'll be swamped in intrigue. 

Jim Gaffigan: The SKINNY Comedy Special on Hulu

That's right Jim Gaffigan is looking good. Don't believe me, he'll tell you or you can check him out on his new HULU comedy special "Jim Gaffigan The SKINNY". No, he doesn't have cancer and no, he isn't on Ozempic. It's another drug and it's worked wonders for his physique but Jim will tell you, "It's not sustainable."  Jim's new dapper look covers the same old Gaffigan where he covers similar, non-incendiary topics like raising his five kids with his unflappable wife of 20 years and their dog. He's a clean comic with an affable appeal.  Jim delivers with zeal material that is aimed at being relatable. While he won't offend, in the end there's not a whole lot to chew on and spit out. If the family is looking for something diverting that's not divisive or infuriating, this is a safe bet. If you're expecting laugh out loud guffaws generated by Gaffigan, you'll come up lean. There's nothing wrong with a comic who doesn't rely on mean. But, then there's nothing to really get excited about. Perhaps, you may want to tune into his next special to see if Gaffigan gets fat again. 

GOODRICH-with Michael Keaton/Mila Kunis-Good Acting Poor Script

GOODRICH now screening on AppleTV is a film about a self-absorbed wealthy, white guy, Andy Goodrich (Michael Keaton) who owns an art gallery which bears his name and sells contemporary art is not a movie to get invested in except for the excellent performances of Keaton and Mila Kunis. Kunis plays his pregnant daughter Grace from his first marriage. The script is a collage of an LA story of a divorced dad whose not all bad but doesn't really have a clue of what he needs to do to connect with his wife, daughter and nine year old twins with his second wife. There's a dash of Kramer v. Kramer as the dad who doesn't realize what it means to be present for his kids or his wife until he's forced to deal, after his wife leaves, leaving him in charge. The movie opens with Andy getting awoken by a call from his wife while in bed. He thought she was asleep next to him. She tells him she's left and signed into a rehab facility to deal with her prescription addiction. He's totally taken aback although Grace and the nanny are not surprised.  Being left with his two young kids at home whom he's ill equipped to manage, Andy turns to Grace to help cover for him. Grace not only has her hands full being married, eight months pregnant and her own work, she's built up a lot of resentment for having gotten shafted from him as an absent father in her life. Kunis and Keaton are great at playing off of each other as the daughter relegated to the back burner and benevolent dad trying to be successful but too often MIA. But hey, Andy has a big heart and the best intentions even though he keeps breaking his word. Still, you can't really hate the guy nor can you recommend him for father of the year.  Neither can you detest this film or highly recommend it.  What makes it worth watching is the entire cast and seeing how ingratiating Andy can be. Somehow he's still loved by those who know him, including his ex-wife (Andi McDowell) and his business partner (Kevin Pollack) whose small roles add just the right tones. His young twins and the nanny are also colorful. There's just the right strokes of humor and angst.  You end up rooting for this blustering bloke despite his poor decision making and unreliability. Keaton as Andy can still pull out the charm and light up a room. All told, the script is awash in Hollywood undertones of a loving apology from a wealthy, self-consumed husband and dad who regrets the neglect to his family but knows he's still welcome back in the fold. 

A MAN on the INSIDE-Ted Danson as a Senior Sleuth is Divine

A MAN on the INSIDE is a delightful Netflix series that the whole family will gobble up easily and still want more servings. There are so many reasons to relish this touching comedy served up in a light mystery. Firstly, Ted Danson continues to prove himself as a bankable leading man that continues to get better with age.  Danson stars as Charles, a widowed septuagenarian living in San Francisco with too much time on his hands. His loving daughter, Emily (Mary Ellis) challenges her father to engage in something outside the house. He accepts her challenge and lands a job he applied for from a personal ad  as a spy in a senior residential center. Only an insider living in the senior center would be able to track down an expensive necklace reported stolen inside the senior center. Charles nabbed the job because the other senior applicants had no knowledge whatsoever of cell phones or technology. As a former professor of engineering and feeling cocky, his new boss tries to take him down a few pegs. His boss Julie (Lilah Estrada ) informs him he was hired because he was the "best candidate from a poor group of applicants." There's little that shakes Charles' confidence or affability.  Therein lies the lion share of humor and goodwill generated by this clever and disarming series. The relationship between Julie and her elder protege Charles, willing to learn new tricks, is hilarious as she reigns in her frustrations and metes out earnest praise as he ingratiates himself into the senior community making helpful breaks in the case. The mystery of the missing jewelry aside (it gets tied up in the final episode) it's easy to fall hard for enjoyable series which is about friendships, family and forging new relationships. This is a gentle comedy with a happy hour everyday starting at 3PM.  The residents in the house include a marvelous Sally Struthers whose on again/off again paramour refers to Charles as his "sexual rival." Charles becomes close with Calbert and the two spend an idyllic day in San Francisco. Charles acts as guide and the two serve up a love letter to SF and friendships at any age. Of course, Charles moved in under false pretenses. The director sensed something awry with Charles and Julie posing as his daughter which makes for a fun double conundrum. Despite trying to uncover a culprit, and getting punched in the nose by his "sexual rival," there's no villain or anything to suspect that would raise an alarm other than the passage of time. Is this a show for everyone where everything seems fine and hunky dory? Some may find this light fare or geared to the early bird special diner. Personally, I think it's much finer.  I look forward to an indicated season two for Charles'' and Julie's next caper.