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Getting George Clooney in a movie is usually a solid deal. Same with Brad Pitt.
Them together? in the same flick? Come on now, that’s one heck of a BOGO steal. The “Ocean’s Eleven” partners are back on the same screen – and streaming, to boot! – with the Apple TV+ action comedy “Wolfs,” one of our new viewing recommendations as we put September to bed. Those needing a good Netflix binge have the rom-com show “Nobody Wants This,” starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody. And yes, that title is terrible. But this one’s much better: “My Old Ass” is a coming-of-age dramedy that brings together Aubrey Plaza and Maisy Stella. (Remember the little girl from the ABC country soap “Nashville”? That’s her!)
Now on to the good stuff:
“Wolfs” (streaming now on Apple TV+) casts Clooney and Pitt as rival "fixers" hired to clean up the same job, two old dogs who aren’t into learning new tricks. (Fun fact: I met Clooney’s pooch once over Zoom during the pandemic. It was awesome.) While stylish and cool, the film hits a lot of the usual buddy-comedy tropes but its two leads are just a joy to watch together, bantering and staring each other down as their characters go from frenemies to partners as their night goes gradually awry. (Peep my ★★★ review.)
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There are actually a bunch of good options when it comes to streaming new movies, so many I put together a guide for your weekend-watching pleasure. Theatrical releases like “Civil War” and “Challengers” – two of the best films of the year, I might add – would be good to catch up on if you haven’t had the chance yet, but check out original movies, too, like the heartwarming Will Ferrell documentary “Will & Harper” and the “Rosemary’s Baby” prequel “Apartment 7A.”
Remember how I said a week ago that “The Penguin” was the best new show of the year? Well, “Nobody Wants This” (streaming now on Netflix) is an absolute delight right on the Batman villain’s heels. Bell stars as the host of a saucy podcast who falls for a recently single rabbi (Brody), which leads to issues for both as an agnostic woman and a very Jewish guy getting together, but the show also explores in a surprisingly meaningful way how much our past relationships influence and inform our new ones. TV critic Kelly Lawler is also a fan, calling the show "absolutely scrumptious" and the two leads "electric and sexy" in her ★★★½ star review.
My colleague Erin Jensen interviewed Bell and Brody about how "Nobody Wants This" is all about opposites attracting. Bell likes the series so much because "it actually does present so many of the problems that arise when someone isn't your ‘perfect match’ and you have to actually question is this worth fighting for?”
Whether you’re young or old, you’re bound to connect in some way with the engaging (and cleverly named) “My Old Ass” (in theaters now). Stella plays a Canadian girl who trips on mushrooms with her friends when she turns 18, and her wild trip includes meeting her 39-year-old self (Plaza). Their convos, first in person and later via text and phone, help them both work out things emotionally, especially key for the teen navigating issues of sexuality, family ties and what her future might hold during her last summer at home.
I talked with writer/director Megan Park about the universality of the film’s premise. Her aim was to speak to people “no matter what phase of life you're in, whether you're 18 and you're moving away from home, or you're 14 and you're just imagining what that's going to feel like, or you're 70 and you're looking back at all your grown kids and grandkids.” (And if you’ve never seen Park’s feature debut “The Fallout,” an excellent and super-timely school shooting drama starring Jenna Ortega, get on that as well.)
Got thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, compliments or maybe even some recs for me? Email [email protected] and follow me on the socials: I'm @briantruitt on Twitter (not calling it X!), Instagram and Threads.
