Weekend Releases: Should You Leave the House?
Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown are megachurch power couple overcoming scandal in Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.
It’s Labor Day Weekend. Chances are, you’ve got plans.
Whether you’re deviling eggs for a BBQ or squeezing in a beach trip, holiday weekends tend to be jam-packed with activities. So with that in mind, is it worth your time to pencil in a movie? Let’s take a look at the options and see if you should trek to the multiplex or just stay home and stream.
Burial
At the close of World War II, a group of Russian soldiers is assigned to deliver the remains of Hitler to Stalin, as confirmation of his death. The operation is top secret and their journey through Germany to the Western Front is laden with peril. The soldiers encounter German Werewolf partisans, still loyal to the Nazis and hoping to keep Hitler’s remains, and must decide whether their mission is worth their lives.
Part of IFC Midnight’s slate of fall thrillers, this tense film is likely not playing in a theater near you. But the limited release shouldn’t hold you back if you’re interested – Burial will be available starting September 2 on VOD. History buffs or people who really like Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton makes an appearance) would do well to stay home and stream it.
Gigi & Nate
Quadriplegic Nate Gibson (Charlie Rowe) can’t shake his depression. His mother (Marcia Gay Harden) attempts to reach Nate by getting him a service animal. But instead of a dog, she gets him a service capuchin monkey named Gigi. It’s unorthodox, to be sure, and the monkey isn’t actually trained. But through the power of love and some heartwarming antics, Gigi becomes the perfect companion for Nate.
Based on a true story movies like this are basically a Buyer Be Ware situation. You can look at the trailer and pretty much guess the whole plot and quality of the filmmaking. This is the type of feel-good movie that you watch on a rainy Sunday when you’re doing chores. As it’s currently sitting at 0% on Rotten Tomatoes, I wouldn’t seek it out in theaters. Hulu just signed a deal with Roadside Attractions to stream their movies after a theatrical release, so if you’re dead set on monkey antics, I’d wait a few weeks and check Hulu.
Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul.
After a scandal forces power couple Trinitie Childs and Lee-Curtis Childs (Regina Hall and Sterling K. Brown) to temporarily shutter their Southern Baptist megachurch, the duo must find a way to build their congregation back up. A satire on the commodification of religion and the lengths pastors and prayer leaders go to in order to maintain their fortunes, Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. should be a hilarious romp. Think of it as a cross between The Righteous Gemstones and a Christopher Guest film. Both Hall and Brown are brilliant performers – Hall especially deserves more recognition – and anything they’re in is at least worth a look. If you’ve ever been a member of a megachurch, or railed against their existence, the satire will probably hit a little harder.
Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul. is available on Peacock or in theaters this weekend. If you’re a fan of Hall or Brown, this might be worth a theater trip, but I doubt you’ll lose much if you stay home and stream.
Ivy + Bean
Gregarious Bean (Madison Skye Validum) finds a magical friendship when she meets quiet Ivy (Keslee Blalock). Together, the duo dabble in witchcraft, ballet, and exorcism while causing mild chaos in their neighborhood. Based on the children’s books by Annie Barrows, Netflix is releasing three Ivy + Bean movies this weekend. Running around one hour a piece and featuring a plethora of celebrity cameos, this is the perfect stay-in and stream option for families that just need a short break during the day.
If your family enjoys the Barrows books, or you’re looking for an hour of screen time for younger kids, this is the perfect streaming solution for the weekend.
Spider-Man: No Way Home
No, you didn’t just fall into a time paradox, this is the same movie that was released December 17, 2021. In case you’re one of the 13 people who didn’t see it, the Marvel fan service smorgasbord is available again in theaters. The film follows Peter Parker (Tom Holland) after he accidentally rips a hole in the multiverse with some help from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch). The results? Two more Peter Parkers show up, as do their arch villains. Can the triumvirate of Peters right the world?
If the pandemic kept you from seeing this on the big screen in 2021, Marvel and Sony will gladly accept your $12 ($18, if you want to see it in the loud BTX theaters) now. But if you’ve already seen the movie, I feel compelled to tell you it’s currently streaming on Starz, where at $9/month, a subscription is still cheaper than going to the theater again.
Final Ruling: It’s Labor Day Weekend, put your feet up and stay in with a streaming service.
