TV & Movies/Reviews

Kevin Can F*** Himself

Where: AMC; streaming on AMC+
What: TV series, 8 episodes, 45 mins.
When: Sundays, 9 pm EST
Genre: Dark comedy
Why you should watch: This male-dominated schleppy sitcom meets female-driven crime drama is eerie, entertaining and unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.

Black Widow

Where: Disney+ VOD
What: Film, 133 mins.
When: Now
Genre: Super heroes
Why you should watch: Fists and fun are flying in this origin story for Natasha Romanov, Marvel’s Black Widow. Natasha is expertly played by Scarlett Johansson with the right combination of real drama and a few winks to the audience. There’s a human scale to this movie, even in the fight scenes, that’s more akin to James Bond films than the epic, skyscraper-smashing smackdowns of the Avenger flicks.

Creation Stories

Where: VOD
What: Film, 105 mins.
When: July 20
Genre: Bio-drama
Why you should watch: A brooding look at the rags to riches to rehab story—and quasi-redemption—of bombastic Scottish music mogul Alan McGee. His company, Creation Records, ruled the 90s, introducing the world to bands such as Oasis and The Jesus and Mary Chain. Reliable actor Ewen Bremner, in almost every shot, is convincing as the manic music man, and you can almost feel the sticky floors in the early club scenes.

Hacks

Where: Crave
What: TV series, 10 episodes
When: Now
Genre: Dramedy
Why you should watch: It’s the Gen Z vs boomer comedy showdown we’ve been waiting for, as Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), an aging, 70-something, Joan Rivers-esque Vegas comedian, is forced to hire 25-year-old Ava Daniels (Hannah Einbinder), a comedy writer whose on-the-rise career has been derailed by a not-so-funny tweet. Initially the two share only mutual contempt, fuelling great generation- gap comedy, but strong writing and fantastic casting take it somewhere deeper.

The Exchange

Where: Theatres and VOD
What: Film, 93 mins
When: July 30
Genre: Teen comedy
Why you should watch: Lonely and longing in smalltown western Canada in 1986, the film’s teenaged anti-hero determines that bringing a suave French exchange student to live with him will unblock his thwarted existence. It doesn’t quite work out, and laugh-out-loud hilarity ensues in a charming movie powered by strong leads: with Ed Oxenbould as the nerdy local, and Avan Jogia as the rough-edged and horny exchange student.

Red Chef Revival

Where: CBC Gem
What: Season 1, 6 episodes, 20 mins.
Genre: Cooking show
Why you should watch: Uncovering the rich history of Indigenous cuisine that settler colonialism attempted to suppress, three top Indigenous chefs visit a handful of communities in Canada to learn how to cook their signature dishes. They prepare everything from cougar to beaver tail, and even harvest rare zhylem syrup as they discover more about their people’s stories.

Gossip Girl

Where: Crave
What: TV series, 10 episodes, 60 mins.
When: July 8, new episodes added Thursdays
Genre: Drama
Why you should watch: Since there’s no replacing Blake Lively or Leighton Meester as Manhattan’s favourite frenemies, GG picks up with a new generation of elite trust-fund brats exploring how much social media and the city has changed since the original series wrapped. With OG narrator Kristen Bell back and fashion darling Tavi Gevinson in the cast, GG promises seduction and scandal.

Luca

Where: Disney+
What: Film, 96 min.
When: Now
Genre: Animation
Why you should watch: Disney’s Luca is a genuinely heartwarming coming-of-age adventure brought to life by an all-star cast, and packs a meaningful message. However, the film’s crowning jewel is its visuals: Pixar’s world-class animation is put to full use crafting underwater worlds, eye-popping Italian scenery and food so delectable you’ll want to lick your screen.

Summer of Soul

Where: Theatres and Disney+
What: Film, 117 mins.
When: Now
Genre: Music documentary
Why you should watch: This spectacular music doc chronicles “Black Woodstock,” a celebration of Black pride and culture held in a Harlem park in 1969, the same summer as that “other” fest. Questlove, in his directorial debut, has resurrected amazing performance footage, ignored for 50 years. He also powerfully contextualizes the event in ways that resonate today. Questlove speaks here.

Shrill

Where: Crave
What: Series, 3 seasons, 30 mins.
When: Now
Genre: Comedy
Why you should watch: Based on Lindy West’s book of the same name, Shrill has broken boundaries and raised the bar throughout its run— and its third and final season is no different. Aidy Bryant is at her best throughout, and as the last season deals with issues like fatphobia, racism, white feminism and empowerment with intelligence and laugh-out-loud humour, it’s a finale not to be missed.

Vicious Fun

Where: Shudder, horror streaming platform
What: Film, 101 mins.
When: Now
Genre: Horror comedy
Why you should watch: Canadian slasher flick Vicious Fun perfectly lives up to its title – it’s both vicious and fun. The film follows Joel, an awkward horror magazine writer, who traps himself with a support group for mass murderers. Forced to blend in or become their next victim, Joel befriends an assassin and the two dramatically (and comedically) fight to stay alive.