falling for the fall guy
This Week's Reviews: 'The Fall Guy,' 'I Saw The TV Glow' And 'Baby Reindeer' Are All Winners
There's so much stuff that came out on TV and in theaters in the past week — from a romantic sports drama to a new "Sonic" spin-off — that we need to dive into it immediately.
Here are some new shows you can start this weekend, or movies you can check out in a cinema near you.
'The Fall Guy' (out May 3, in theaters everywhere)
The movie is the very kind of empty star vehicle it's mocking.
[Noah Berlatsky, Everything is Horrible]
From Blunt to Gosling and drama to action and romance, "The Fall Guy" has it all.
[Allison Rose, FlickDirect]
This is a movie that shoots first and asks questions never, its smarmy script so full of holes and its aesthetic instincts so cocky that you cannot help but feel pummeled instead of charmed.
[Barry Hertz, Globe and Mail]
"The Fall Guy" is a ridiculously good time and exactly why we go to the movies for entertainment.
[Joey Magidson, Awards Radar]
Consensus: Seems like a fun enough time, just don't expect anything to blow your mind, besides Gosling's abs.
'I Saw the TV Glow' (out May 3, in select theaters)
An exhilarating, poignant and poetic emotional journey.
[Avi Offer, NYC Movie Guru]
This is, quite literally, one of the best movies I've ever seen in my entire life.
[Kelly McClure, Salon]
"I Saw the TV Glow" is a masterclass in queer storytelling whose genre ethos elevate it to new heights.
[Chad Collins, Dread Central]
"I Saw the TV Glow" is a melancholic dedication to a generation raised by surreal television unrealities and suburban decay.
[Matt Donato, Daily Dead]
Consensus: Do we all need to run out and see this thing? Looks like it's a must watch.
'Challengers' (out now, in theaters everywhere)
Even for non-tennis enthusiasts, this absorbing and thrilling drama will keep viewers engaged throughout.
[Abhishek Srivastava, The Times of India]
It's sexy as hell. The threesome ignites the screen with their combustible chemistry.
[Sara Michelle Fetters, MovieFreak]
For all the razzmatazz, it's the more intimate stuff that really works.
Guadagnino does for tennis what "Call Me by Your Name" did for peaches.
[Tom Shone, Sunday Times]
Consensus: This movie kicks ass and everyone should see it. I did, the soundtrack is an all-timer and Zendaya is a superstar.
'Knuckles' (out now, streaming on Paramount+)
Ludicrous, hilarious and actually rather moving.
[Leila Latif, Guardian]
It's delightful work, and over the course of "Knuckles's" six episodes, I cackled repeatedly.
[Justin Harrison, The Spool]
Lacking Carrey to help carry the load, "Knuckles," spun out of that game-to-screen universe, isn't just bad, but a next-level degree of bad, starting with the puzzling question of for whom this six-episode Paramount+ series was made.
[Brian Lowry, CNN]
"Knuckles" can't manage to be funny enough to endure 30-minute episodes. Luckily, the heartfelt sentiment of the animated show is effective.
[Ferdosa Abdi, Screen Rant]
Consensus: if you have children in the house, or are a gigantic nerd, then you've probably already started watching this.
'Baby Reindeer' (out now, streaming on Netflix)
"Baby Reindeer" feels disturbingly real.
[Korey Coleman, Double Toasted]
This series balances being deeply unsettling and being darkly humorous. "Baby Reindeer" is foreboding and fascinating.
[Ty'Kira Smalls, Common Sense Media]
The whole series is remarkable, half confessional and half thriller.
[Dustin Rowles, Pajiba]
There's nothing really like this series, and its unique story makes it vital to the television landscape.
[Therese Lacson, Collider]
Consensus: This is the most popular thing on Netflix right now, so if you're not on the bandwagon yet, you better hop on for a devastating ride.
ICYMI: Here are some films similar to "Baby Reindeer" that we recommend.
'Rebel Moon: Part Two — The Scargiver' (out now, streaming on Netflix)
Turn away from your screens. Go for a walk. Start your own wheat-threshing collective. Anything but suffer through this.
[David Fear, Rolling Stone]
This space opera sequel doesn't quite capture the worldbuilding magic of its predecessor.
[Kyle Logan, Chicago Reader]
These movies haven't given anyone any reason to possibly look forward to what might come next.
"Seven Samurai," one of this film's unequivocal inspirations, had three hours to endear us to the seven village defenders... "Rebel Moon" had four hours, and I still can't confidently name three of the warriors.
[Ryan Oquiza, Rappler]
Zack Snyder is the Golden Corral of directors. The food might not taste very good, but like a buffet, you get everything.
[Korey Coleman, Double Toasted]
Consensus: Seems really bad.
[Image: Universal Pictures]
