What’s streaming now, from ‘Cocaine Bear’ to ‘Snoopy Presents’
Parents looking for fresh animated offerings should rejoice that Netflix has a new film from Stephen Chow, the actor and producer known for “Kung Fu Hustle” and “Shaolin Soccer,” in “The Monkey King” streaming now. Jimmy O. Yang of “Silicon Valley” and “Crazy Rich Asians” voices Monkey King, who is born from a stone with magical powers and a big ego and is on a quest for immortality. A young human girl (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) teams up with him to defeat dragons and demons. Other voice actors include Jo Koy, Bowen Yang, Stephanie Hsu and BD Wong. It’s loosely based on the 16th-century, Wu Cheng’en Ming dynasty novel “Journey to the West.”
Netflix also has “Depp v. Heard,” a new doc about the widely watched libel trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, that came out Wednesday from director Emma Cooper (“The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes”).
“Cocaine Bear” came to Prime Video on Tuesday. Very loosely based on a true story (and taken to wild heights), the non-stop action comedy from Elizabeth Banks stars Keri Russell, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Margo Martindale, Kristofer Hivju, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Alden Ehrenreich and the late Ray Liotta. AP’s Mark Kennedy was no fan in his zero star review but said that, at an efficient 95 minutes, it “snorts along.” Others were enchanted. “When the movie’s pitched, you hear the word ‘Cocaine,’ you’re like I’m not sure what to think of this,” producer Phil Lord told the AP. “Then when you hear the word ‘Bear,’ you’re like: I’m all in.”
Or if you want to settle in with a raunchy comedy, the Jennifer Lawrence vehicle “No Hard Feelings” came to video-on-demand on Tuesday. Lawrence plays a woman who answers a Craigslist ad posted by some concerned parents who want someone to “date” their awkward teenage son Percy (Andrew
Barth Feldman) before he heads to college. Lawrence’s pal Gene Stupnitsky wrote it for her to showcase her comedy prowess, which has so far been mostly relegated to her talk show appearances. Film Writer Jake Coyle wrote in his review that the movie “works better than it ought to” and that it gives Lawrence “plenty of room to showcase her talent at upending traditional ideas of Hollywood glamour. At every moment, she delights in undercutting her own sexiness; it’s not every A-lister who’s willing to film a beach brawl in the nude.”
— AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr New music to stream
Irish singer-songwriter Hozier’s third studio album, “Unreal Unearth,” came out Friday. The 16-track collection is loosely based on Dante’s “Nine Circles of Hell” and features the slinky “De Selby (Part 2),” “Unknown/Nth,” “All Things End,” “Eat Your Young” and “Francesca,” which builds to a thrilling, Phil Spector Wall of Sound-like climax. “I’m proud of this record and enjoyed watching it come to life over the past year,” Hozier wrote to fans. Also listen for Brandi Carlile on “Butchered Tongue.” (Columbia Records)
Take center stage with Broadway icon Idina Menzel, whose “Drama Queen” shows off her big, rich vocals. “I want everyone to move and sing with me and embrace their inner ‘Drama Queen,’” the Tony Award-winner told fans. The “Let It Go” singer worked alongside Nile Rodgers on “Paradise” and goes full disco on first single, “Move,” a celebration of the LGBTQIA+ community. “I’ll meet you on the dance floor or at the stage door or wherever you will have me. This album is for you.” — AP Entertainment Writer Mark Kennedy
New series to stream
A new “Peanut’s” special on Apple TV+ puts Marcie, the introverted, studious bestie of Peppermint Patty and the gang, in the spotlight with her first special. In “Snoopy Presents: One-of-aKind Marcie,” the character has lots of ideas to make her friend’s lives easier, but when those problem-solving abilities get her elected class president, the attention makes Marcie uncomfortable, and she becomes overwhelmed. “Oneof-a-Kind Marcie” debuted Friday.
Best-selling author Harlan Coben has had many of his books adapted for TV, but his latest offering, “Harlan Coben’s Shelter” for Prime Video, centers on a younger protagonist. Jaden Michael (“Colin in Black & White”) stars as Mickey Bolitar — the teen nephew of famed Coben character Miguel Bolitar. (Mickey has been the subject of YA books by Coben.) In this series, we meet Mickey when he is taken in by his aunt in New Jersey after his dad’s death. He quickly channels his own grief into obsessing over a local disappearance. We also see Mickey interact with colorful school classmates including Abby Corrigan, Adrian Greensmith, Sage Linder and Antonio Cipriano, doing his best Biff from “Back to the Future.” The series debuted Friday.
— Alicia Rancilio New video games to play
The nights are getting longer. School supplies are on sale. But you truly know summer’s ending when the latest edition of Madden comes out. What’s new in Madden NFL 24? Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is the cover model. Superstar mode, in which you guide one player’s career from draft pick to All-Pro, is back. Franchise mode has been revamped with upgraded training camp, trading and commissioner tools. And, as always, EA Sports is promising tighter control over throwing, catching, running and tackling, delivered with ever-more-realistic graphics. To get all this, you’ll need to buy the PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S or PC version; less feature-packed editions will still come out for the PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. The season began Friday.