It is time for another compilation of those movies/TV shows and series that entertained me in June. Numbering picks up from previous months and programs marked with an asterisk* are ones I had not seen previously. Everything is rated on a scale of one to five cans of tuna, and more is better!
80. The Story of Late Night* (2021, CNN) – I’m old enough to remember Steve Allen, Jack Parr and I certainly know Johnny Carson, the undisputed king of late-night TV. Carson and his competitors and then his successors made 11:30 PM the time when adults watched TV, as the hosts humorously expounded on the events of the day, poking fun of presidents and regular folks, chatted amiably with stars peddling their latest movies or music and relaxed us into sleep time. Today’s late-night stars, such as Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Steven Colbert, have tinkered with the formula, some (Colbert in particular) making the late-night format more acerbic. This six-part documentary series covers the birth of the genre through its middle ages through today, highlighting the fascinating competition between Jay Leno and David Letterman for the host position of “The Tonight Show,” the crown jewel of late night. Today a whole new wave of hosts reflects more of the diversity of the US and bring different points of view to their shows. I no longer regularly watch late night (I stopped when Jay Leno made fun of the OJ Simpson trial) but I recognize it as a unique form of comedy. I have never watched Colbert, Jon Stewart when he hosted “The Daily Show,” Chelsey Handler, Samantha Bee or Trevor Noah. Instead, I can catch clips of their best work online – which is the major change in the format. You no longer have to stay up late to watch late-night TV when you can get it any time of day on YouTube. But thanks for the memories of Johnny at his best with Bette Midler and animals from the San Diego Zoo, of Letterman and his Top 10 lists and James Corden with his hilarious Carpool Karaoke. 4 cans.
81. Hacks* (2021, HBO Max) – If you remember Jean Smart from her befuddled, funny and warm character Charlene from “Designing Women,” you will not be surprised by her well-honed comedy chops in his series about a fading comedian whose career is largely behind her. Debra has been performing in Vegas for years, using mostly the same act, resembling a cross between Joan Rivers and Debbie Reynolds. When the club owner decides to drop her weekend gig and relegate her to weekdays, she reluctantly agrees to partner with Ava (Hannah Einbinder, the real-life daughter of Saturday Night Live OG Larraine Newman), a bright, insecure writer to juice up her act with some material from this century. Deb is a rich, haughty woman who is accustomed to stardom and having her way even as her star starts to fade. This series takes advantage of the unconventional relationship between the established master and the newcomer as they work together to make things funny and relevant in 2021. I’m definitely planning to watch Season 2 next year. 3½ cans.
82. Beverly Hills Cop (1984, HBO) – The comedic genius of Eddie Murphy is on full display in this classic from early in his career. He plays Detroit-based cop Axel Foley, who heads to Beverly Hills to track down the killer of his old buddy. Foley is audacious, outrageous and very, very smart, as he works with and against the two cops (John Ashton and Judge Reinhold) assigned to keep an eye on him. He changes character on a dime and can outthink and outrage anyone who gets in his way. Aside from “Trading Places,” BHC is my favorite Eddie Murphy movie. Great ‘80s soundtrack, too. 4 cans.
83. The White House: The Inside Story* (2016, PBS Documentary Channel) – Did you know that it took 19 years to build the White House? That it burned down practically to the ground during the War of 1812? That President Harry Truman moved out for a few years to allow the complete renovation of the structure, which was about to fall down? This documentary tells it all, from construction to organization, from the people who lived there and tell what it was like being there as a child to many of the people behind the scenes. I have read several books about how the White House is run and I admit to some strange fascination with the details of the People’s House, as presidents have called it. If the subject interests you (and you have a subscription to PBS Documentaries), this one’s for you. 3½ cans.
84. Human: The World Within* (2021, Netflix) – This is a stunning six-part documentary about the functionality of the human body, told through beautiful animation and fascinating narration by doctors and scientists. If schools taught human anatomy this way, more students would become doctors and scientists. The individual episodes focus on the nervous system, the senses, food and other equally interesting subjects. The program also features people whose stories are very relevant to the subject, such as a singer who is deaf and a man who lost his arm below the elbow and whose prosthesis is set up to respond in the way a human arm would. The human body is amazing, and so is this series. 4 cans.
85. Fatherhood* (2021, Netflix) – Comedian Kevin Hart is Matt, a man very excited to become a first-time father with his beloved wife, Liz. But when Liz tragically dies soon after giving birth, Matt knows it is up to him to raise their daughter Maddy, a task even he doubts he is up to doing. His mother-in-law (Alfre Woodward) would love to get her hands on that baby girl, but Matt is determined to tackle the diapers and the complicated car seat and his daughter’s hair on his own. There are some laughs here, and the movie is good-hearted but not as good as Hart’s “The Upside.” Hart’s humor shines through at just the right time and he lends a real air of authenticity to a parent trying to balance work and life with fatherhood. 3½ cans.
86. The Circle* (2017, Netflix) – In a world where information provides us with countless conveniences, it can also be intrusive and dangerous, as one young employee of an information technology company called The Circle finds out first-hand. Emma Watson is Mae, a young employee who agrees to participate in an experiment the company is conducting for the good of humanity (or some such BS) by wearing a tiny camera and sharing her life online with millions of followers. The consequences affect her parents, an old friend and others in her personal circle, as the power of technology takes over every aspect of her life. Tom Hanks plays the founder of The Circle with a Steve Jobs air of mystery and imagination, and the employees are cult-like in their admiration of his genius. When Mae admitted that she had just three minutes to use the bathroom with her camera off, I almost checked out of the movie, which I don’t recommend but will say is a cautionary tale of a future that is not so far-fetched. 3 cans.
87. Parkland* (2013, Prime Video) – If you were around in 1963, you will never forget the chaos and tragedy surrounding the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who was shot in Dallas and transported to local Parkland Hospital. This movie is a dramatization of that terrible time, with attention focused on the Dallas Police, the Secret Service, the FBI and the staff at Parkland, whose doctors tried valiantly to save the President. The real people remain vivid in my mind – Lee Harvey Oswald, his scheming mother, his assassin, Jack Ruby, and Abe Zapruder, the man who captured the motorcade and the shot that killed Kennedy. There are swarms of men in dark suits and white shirts trying to figure out what was happening. I would rather have seen a documentary of the tragic events, but the acting was fine and the inclusion of real footage, including Walter Cronkite’s CBS news reports, made it more genuine. 3 cans.
88. The Answer Man* (2009, Prime Video) – This story is essentially a Hallmark-type movie with a cast upgrade. Jeff Daniels plays recalcitrant writer Arlen Faber, noted for his highly popular book “Me and God,” which positions him as having all of the answers to people’s problems. Not only doesn’t he have the answers, but he doesn’t want to hear their questions. He is reclusive and grumpy and avoids interacting with people as much as possible. But when he throws out his back, he literally crawls to the local chiropractor’s office, where Elizabeth (Lauren Graham, perfectly cast) works on his adjustments. Soon the cantankerous author is smitten, but he can’t help but express his disdain for almost everything – except her young, fatherless child. I don’t want to spoil the plot (and we’ve seen it before, trust me), but this pleasant movie more or less squanders the talent of its cast with its meager plot. 3½ cans.
89. Nothing in Common (1984, Movies Channel) – This movie doesn’t get much critical respect, but I love it. Tom Hanks is ad man David Basner, a fast-talking, creative guy working his way up in his agency and enjoying his youthful pursuits of good times and attractive women. When his parents (Jackie Gleason, who is terrific, and Eva Marie Saint) split up, David gets pulled in both directions and has to find a way to deal with his overbearing father Max, his demanding client (Sela Ward) and his life in general. His parents may have nothing in common anymore, but David and his womanizing father do, and when he recognizes that, will he change his ways? Can he care for both of his parents with the time and attention they deserve? This movie was aired as part of a Father’s Day marathon, and it fit into the lineup better than I thought. Bess Armstrong, an actress I have always found charming, is David’s first girlfriend, the only one his parents ever liked – and the only one he ever brought home. 4 cans.
90. Some Kind of Heaven* (2020, Hulu) – This may be the single most depressing movie I have ever seen that wasn’t about the Holocaust – and I have “The Yearling” on my DVR. It is about The Villages, the massive (130,000 people) adult community in Florida that is marketed as Disney for adults. Residents have every kind of club, activity and amenity you can imagine. They tool around on golf carts, dance the nights away while they listen to live music and generally seem like college kids on the first few days of the semester, before classes start. But the people featured here are lonely or alone. Barbara is a widow who can’t seem to meet anyone (male or female) to form a lasting friendship. Dennis is a freeloader who lives in his van on the outskirts of the community while he hustles for handouts and seeks a warm bed from a wealthy widow inside. Reggie and his wife have been married for 47 years, but his erratic behavior is taking a toll on his otherwise supportive wife. If you are old enough to live in The Villages and if you are not a natural joiner, do not watch this documentary. You will want to take a permanent dip in the pool or run your golf cart into a tree. 3 cans because it isn’t a BAD movie but it sure is not fun to watch.
91. In the Heights* (2021, HBO Max) – I haven’t seen this much exuberant dancing across the screen since the Sharks and Jets faced off at the gym or the staff at Kellerman’s showed us all about Dirty Dancing. This incredible pastiche of joy and love and Latin culture from the mind of Lin-Manuel Miranda bursts off the screen to tell the story of the people living in the Washington Heights, NY, neighborhood. It’s never easy, but the people here act like family. The plot is much less important than the feeling the story evokes and the dynamic performances by the entire cast, led by Anthony Ramos. This is one movie I wish I had seen in an actual theater instead of watching it on my 65” TV. 4 cans.
92. Good on Paper* (2021, Netflix) – Andrea Singer (Iliza Schlesinger) is a stand-up comedian not thrilled with her lot in life. She wants a steady gig and a steady guy, and when Dennis Kelly (Ryan Hansen) meets her at the airport, she’s not averse to becoming friends with the friendly Yalie who runs a hedge fund – or so he says. But he never has her over to his house, or his mother has cancer so they can’t go out, or he can’t play golf because he hurt his back – this guy has a million legitimate sounding excuses, except that Andrea’s BFF (Margaret Cho) isn’t buying it. At first the premise seems cute, but it gets sticky and when Dennis starts manipulating the vulnerable Andrea, she doesn't know how to handle the situation. The movie is billed as mostly based on a true story, and you want to yell at the screen for Andrea to wake up and see this guy for the con artist he is. Sometimes we see in others what we want to see and fail to see things in ourselves that we should. 3 cans.
93. Love, Sarah* (2020, Hulu) – BFFs Sarah and Isabella are about to open a bakery together in London when Sarah is killed in an accident. Isabella is left with all of the debts for the yet-to-open business and can’t get out of the contract. When Sarah’s daughter Clarissa decides she wants to drop out of her dance classes and partner with Isabella, there is still the money issue to be resolved, so she turns to her grandmother Mimi (Celia Imrie), who was estranged from Sarah for not supporting her in the first place. The three women team up with Sarah’s former boyfriend and cooking school mate Matthew to open their bakery and serve the community by finding out what kinds of goods are preferred by the diverse residents in the neighborhood. This movie was available for rent on Prime Video but free on Hulu, and I’m glad I didn’t spend money to see it. I anticipated a charming British movie with baked goods. Well, there were baked goods, but there wasn’t nearly enough charm. 3 cans.
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