FRIDAY FAMILY FILM NIGHT

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE (2026), from director Travis Knight, from a script by Chris Butler, Aaron Nee, Adam Nee and Dave Callaham.   A young Prince Adam (Nicholas Galitzine) finds himself stranded on Earth for fifteen years after being separated from his home planet of Eternia and his magical Sword of Power during a brutal attack.  When he finally recovers...

In which Kid 2 joins me in reviewing THE SHEEP DETECTIVES (2026), director Kyle Balda's mystery comedy, from a script by Craig Mazin and based on Leonie Swann's novel, "Three Bags Full".   A lonely shepherd named George (Hugh Jackman) spends his evenings reading murder mysteries to his flock, unaware that his woolly companions have become highly intelligent students of the genre....

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing BEGINNERS (2010), a  romantic drama from writer/director, Mike Mills.   A graphic artist named Oliver (Ewan McGregor) struggles to process his complex emotions following the death of his mother and the subsequent, life-altering confession from his elderly father, Hal (Christopher Plummer), that he is gay.  As Oliver navigates his grief and learns to embrac...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing BUT I'M A CHEERLEADER (1999), a satirical romantic comedy from writers Brian Peterson and Jamie Babbit, the film is directed by Jamie Babbit. A bubbly high school cheerleader named Megan Bloomfield (Natasha Lyonne) finds her life turned upside down when her parents and friends stage an intervention to send her to a conversion therapy camp....

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing THEY WILL KILL YOU (2026), an action-horror-comedy from writers Kirill Sokolov and Alex Litvak, the film is directed by Kirill Sokolov.   An ex-convict named Asia Reaves (Zazie Beetz) takes a housekeeping job at a prestigious, mysterious New York City high-rise called "The Virgil" while searching for her estranged younger sister.  She soon discov...

In which Kid 1 joins me in reviewing I LOVE BOOSTERS (2026), an  absurdist crime comedy from writer/director Boots Riley.  A struggling aspiring designer named Corvette (Keke Palmer) leads a crew of shoplifters known as "The Velvet Gang" who steal high-end fashion to redistribute it to their community at a discount.  Their radical "fashion-forward philanthropy" escalates into a...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing CAUGHT STEALING (2025), from a screenplay by Charlie Huston, the film is directed by Darren Aronofsky.   A former baseball prodigy turned bartender named Hank Thompson (Austin Butler) finds his quiet life in 1998 New York City upended when he agrees to pet-sit for his eccentric neighbor.  Unbeknownst to him, the favor pulls him into the crosshairs of sever...

In which the Mister and Kid 1 join me in reviewing MARTY SUPREME(2025), from a screenplay from Josh Safdie and Ronald Bronstein, the film is directed by Josh Safdie.   An ambitious and cocky shoe salesman named Marty Mauser (Timothée Chalamet) navigates the gritty, high-stakes world of competitive table tennis in 1950s New York City.  Driven by a desperate, relentless obsession to be recognized as...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing ELEANOR THE GREAT (2025), with screenplay credits to Tory Kamen, the film is  Scarlett Johansson’s directorial debut.   A sharp-witted 94-year-old woman named Eleanor Morgenstein (June Squibb) struggles to rebuild her life in New York City following the death of her longtime best friend.  Desperate for connection and a sense of purpose, she accidentally st...

In which Kid 2 joins me in reviewing BACKROOMS (2026), a supernatural horror feature debut from director Kane Parsons, from a script by Will Soodik and based on Kane Parsons's series.   A struggling furniture store owner named Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor) discovers a mysterious, glowing doorway in his showroom that leads him into an infinite, unsettling dimension of yellow-hued, empty rooms.  When...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing EXIT 8 (2025), with screenplay credits to Kentaro Hirase and Genki Kawamura and based off Kotake Create's video game, the film is directed by Genki Kawamura.  A man named "The Lost Man" (Kazunari Ninomiya) finds himself inexplicably trapped in an endless, sterile subway corridor that loops back on itself whenever he makes a mistake.  To escap...

In which Kid 1 joins me in reviewing OBSESSION (2025), a  supernatural horror feature debut from writer/director Curry Barker.   A shy music store employee named Bear (Michael Johnston) impulsively uses a cursed "One Wish Willow" trinket to make his longtime crush, Nikki (Inde Navarrette), fall in love with him.  While his wish initially appears to grant him the romantic life he has alwa...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing KILL (2023), from screenwriters Ayesha Syed and Nikhil Nagesh Bhat, the film is directed by Nikhil Nagesh Bhat.   An elite army commando named Amrit (Lakshya) boards a New Delhi-bound train hoping to reunite with his secret love, Tulika (Tanya Maniktala), and prevent her from entering an arranged marriage.  His mission takes a harrowing turn when a ruthles...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing CRAZY RICH ASIANS (2018), from screenwriters Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim, from the best selling novel by Kevin Kwan, the film is directed by Jon M. Chu.  Native New Yorker Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) accompanies her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), to his best friend's wedding in Singapore, only to discover that he comes from...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing THE RAMEN GIRL (2008), from writer Becca Topol, the film is directed by Robert Allan Ackerman.  A young American woman named Abby (Brittany Murphy) finds herself suddenly stranded and directionless in Tokyo after her boyfriend abruptly abandons her.  Seeking comfort in a local noodle shop on a rainy night, she is so deeply moved by the food tha...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing UPTOWN GIRLS (2003), from writers Julie Margaret Hogben, Mo Ogrodnik and Lisa Davidowitz from a story by Allison Jacobs, the film is directed by Boaz Yakin.  A carefree Manhattan socialite named Molly Gunn (Brittany Murphy) loses her entire rock-star inheritance to an embezzling business manager, forcing her to find employment for the very firs...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing ROOM FOR ONE MORE (1952), from writers Jack Rose and Melville Shavelson and from Anna Perrot Rose's book, the film is directed by Norman Taurog.   The Roses, Poppy and Anna (Cary Grant and Betsy Drake), decide to open their busy household to foster children who have struggled to find a place in the world.  They first welcome a defensive, troubled teena...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing EIGHTH GRADE (2018), from writer/director Bo Burnham.  An introverted teenager named Kayla (Elsie Fisher) navigates the final, agonizing week of middle school while filming upbeat self-help YouTube videos that mask her profound real-world social anxiety.  As she pushes herself into uncomfortable social situations—from high-stakes pool parties to daunting h...

In which the Mister and Monsters join me in reviewing SHE'S ALL THAT (1999), from a screenplay by R. Lee Fleming Jr., the film is directed by Robert Iscove.  High school golden boy Zack Siler (Freddie Prinze Jr.) accepts a bet from his friends that he can transform any "plain" girl into the school’s prom queen in just six weeks.  He selects Laney Boggs (Rachael Leigh Cook), an introv...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN (2003), from a screenplay by Audrey Wells and based on the book by Frances Mayes, the film is directed by Audrey Wells.  A recently divorced San Francisco writer named Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) impulsively buys a crumbling, centuries-old villa in Italy during a group tour meant to help her heal.  As she navigates the grueling process...

In which the Monsters join me in reviewing YOU, ME & TUSCANY (2026), from a screenplay by Ryan Engle and Kristin Engle, the film is directed by Kat Coiro.   An aspiring chef named Anna (Halle Bailey) impulsively travels to the Italian countryside to honor her late mother’s culinary dreams, only to find herself squatting in an empty villa after local hotels are fully booked.  When she is caught...

In which Kid 2 joins me in reviewing THE SUPER MARIO GALAXY MOVIE (2026), from a screenplay by Matthew Fogel, the film is directed by Aaron Horvarth and Michael Jelenic and co-director credits to Pierre Leduc and Fabien Polack.   Mario (Chris Pratt), Luigi (Charlie Day), and their new companion Yoshi (Donald Glover) embark on an intergalactic odyssey to rescue the cosmic Princess Rosalina (Brie La...

In which Kid 1 joins me in reviewing PILLION (2026), from a screenplay by Harry Lighton and Adam Mars-Jones, the film is directed by Adam Mars-Jones.  A shy parking ticket officer and barbershop quartet singer named Colin (Harry Melling) finds his mundane life upended when he meets Ray (Alexander Skarsgård), a charismatic and imposing gay biker.  Colin is quickly drawn into a complex and unconvent...

In which the Mister and Monsters review GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES (1988), from the novel by Akiyuki Nosaka.   In writer/director Isao Takahata’s haunting 1988 Studio Ghibli masterpiece, a teenage boy named Seita and his younger sister, Setsuko, are left to fend for themselves in the final months of World War II after their home is destroyed by firebombing.  To escape the cruelty of their surroundings...

In which the Mister joins me in reviewing MADE IN ENGLAND: THE FILMS OF POWELL AND PRESSBURGER (2024) from director David Hinton and narrated by Martin Scorsese.  We actually watched this film in 2025 on Turner Classic Movies. This 2024 documentary provides an intimate, first-person look at the revolutionary creative partnership between British director Michael Powell and Hungarian writer Emeric P...