USA TODAY International Edition
Dip into week’s streaming offerings
Theaters are still closed, but new streaming movies are coming to entertain you and your family during socially distanced times.
This Memorial Day weekend, a Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae romantic action comedy hits Netflix, and legendary R& B singer Mary J. Blige takes on monsters in a horror flick.
And if that’s not enough to get you online and watching movies, the Chattanooga Film Festival is going virtual this year: Beginning Friday, film fans at home can check out four days of sci- fi, horror, documentary and various genre cinema, a host of panels and appearances from the likes of Ice- T, Alex Winter ( of “Bill and Ted” fame) and Gwar.
Here’s a rundown of new movies hitting streaming this Friday for every cinematic taste:
If you like buddy comedies with famous faces: ‘ The Lovebirds’
Moved from theatrical to streaming thanks to COVID- 19, somewhat action- y romantic comedy “The Lovebirds” casts Nanjiani (“The Big Sick”) and Rae (“Insecure”) as a New Orleans couple on the rocks and in the midst of a breakup when their car is jacked by a mysterious assailant and used for vehicular homicide, forcing the pair on the run to solve the mystery. Although each is insanely likable, the results of the Nanjiani/ Rae pairing are scattershot in terms of melding the individual lovestruck and screwball vibes. There are some fun moments, though, as the pair run into an “Eyes Wide Shut”- ish weirdo group and realize their feelings for each other along the way.
Where to watch: Netflix
If you’re intrigued by famous singers tackling dark forces: ‘ Body Cam’
Don’t look now, but Blige is becoming a player in the horror/ sci- fi space with Netflix’s “The Umbrella,” VH1’ s “Scream” show and now this nicely freaky cop thriller. Blige stars as an officer back on the streets after the death of her son and an unfortunate incident involving a citizen. She’s partnered with a rookie ( Nat Wolff) when a cop is murdered in gruesome fashion and something very strange is up with the body cam that captured the scene. What seems at first an ordinary law- and- order drama explores some interesting themes involving revenge and police
brutality, tweaks a found- footage model in cool ways, and is plenty bloody for horror fans needing a fix.
Where to watch: iTunes, Vudu, Fandango Now
If you love Brits and ‘ Pitch Perfect’ movies equally: ‘ Military Wives’
A fitting dramedy for Memorial Day directed by Peter Cattaneo (“The Full Monty”), “Military Wives” stars Kristin Scott Thomas and Sharon Horgan as key players in a group of British women who form a choir when their partners are deployed to Afghanistan. Although Thomas and Horgan’s characters clash as the singers’ leaders – one’s mindset is classical, the other’s is rock ’ n’ roll – the choir quickly goes from complete disarray to total harmony on the road to Royal Albert Hall for a big concert finale. It’s pretty formulaic overall, yet does wonders for caring about the personalities once they’re belting out Tears for Fears and Cyndi Lauper tunes.
Where to watch: Hulu, iTunes, virtual cinemas
If you’re down for a gripping true story: ‘ The Painter and the Thief’
The moving and definitely strangerthan- fiction documentary focuses on Czech artist Barbora Kysilkova and Norwegian junkie Karl- Bertil Nordland, who with another man steals two of Kysilkova’s favorite pieces from an Oslo gallery. Instead of anger, Kysilkova is filled with curiosity: Nordland tells her he nabbed the paintings because they were “beautiful,” and they spark an unexpectedly close friendship. It’s a fascinating tale of empathy and forgiveness, but also inspiration, as both explain for director Benjamin Ree their pasts and act as support systems for each other.
Where to watch: Hulu, iTunes, virtual cinemas
If you’re down for ( another) gripping true story: ‘ Kate Nash: Underestimate the Girl’
Those who adore Nash as the sassy
English wrestler Britannica on Netflix’s “GLOW” owe it to themselves to check out the documentary that chronicles the singer’s path from teenage pop wunderkind to financially strapped musician to crowdsourcing success story. With concert footage sprinkled throughout and her lyrics graphically represented on screen to help tell her narrative, Nash weathers betrayal and misogyny in the music business that almost derail her career before it even gets started. But she bounces back with the help of her girl- gang band and an unbreakable artistic spirit.
Where to watch: Alamo On Demand
If you’re yearning for something twisty: ‘ Inheritance’
This sinister thriller stars Lily Collins as a New York district attorney whose wealthy father ( Patrick Warburton) dies suddenly. Instead of a ton of money, she finds her real inheritance: The deep, dark family secret that Dad has had his former partner ( Simon Pegg) locked up in an underground bunker for 30 years. It’s a pretty crazy concept that doesn’t really pay off until the end. The drama piles on the soapy intrigue a bit thick, but Collins and especially Pegg at least are watchable locking horns as all the mysteries unravel.
Where to watch: iTunes, Vudu, Fandango Now
If you like to imagine vacationing with famous pals: ‘ The Trip to Greece’
The fourth and final chapter in Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon’s “The Trip” movies is probably best enjoyed when you’ve seen the other jaunts through England, Italy and Spain and/ or are stircrazy about staying at home. If you’re not familiar, the British comedians play fictional versions of themselves who take in fine dining, landmarks and witty conversation on their trips. The new one has them following Odysseus’ path home from “The Odyssey” – but with a lot more “Harry Potter” references. The travelogue is fleetingly funny, as Coogan often plays straight man to Brydon’s goofy antics, and features an oddly sober side thanks to a concerning subplot.
Where to watch: iTunes, Vudu, Fandango Now