Ice Age promises heroes will rise and save the day
“You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows,” but these days, a guide through the seemingly endless flurry of pop culture is just what we need.
With that in mind, here is what’s on the radar screen in TV, music and film for the coming week.
Movies
Big release on July 13: Ice Age: Continental Drift
Big picture: The promo promises that “When the world falls apart, history’s greatest heroes will keep it together.” No, a greedy Hollywood didn’t already film an Avengers sequel in a blatant cash grab; these heroes are animated and part of the Ice Age franchise (a warm and cuddly cash grab). In Continental Drift, the world literally tears apart and it’s up to Diego the sabretoothed tiger (Denis Leary), Sid the sloth (John Leguizamo) and Manny the woolly mammoth (Ray Romano) to stop it from sinking. It’s like Waterworld, only replace Kevin Costner’s mammoth ego with an actual mammoth!
Forecast: This 3-D adventure brings back the familiar furry crew, but it also adds some pop-star sizzle to the mix, with characters voiced by Nicki Minaj, Glee star Heather Morris and Canadian rapper Drake (Aubrey Graham).
Speaking of Drake, am I the only one who’d like to see him join his old castmates for Degrassi: Continental Drift? An end-of-theworld emergency may be just what the doctor ordered to help those teens ease up on the drug abuse and pregnancy.
TV
Big events: Political Animals (July 15, Bravo)
Big picture: This all
new, six- episode drama makes The Kennedys look like altar boys. Sigourney Weaver stars as former first lady Elaine Barrish, who is appointed the newly elected president’s secretary of state after losing to him in a viciously fought primary. The president (played by Heroes’ Adrian Pasdar) uses his secretary’s popularity to deflect unwanted attention on himself. … hmmmmmmm. … I wonder where the writers got THIS idea from?
Forecast: This political zoo is home to a lot of Hollywood talent. The cast includes Ellen Burstyn (Requiem for a Dream), Carla Gugino (Entourage) and Ciaran Hinds (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy) and the great Vanessa Redgrave.
Watching the ever-talented Weaver work her magic for six hours should be a delight for lovers of good TV.
As for real-world political animals, I’ve always thought Canada’s political parties should have inexplicable animal symbols like the U.S. Republicans (elephant) and Democrats (donkey). My picks: Liberals (pea- cock), NDP (jellyfish) and Conservatives (kitten or vulture).
Honourable Mention: The Real L Word (July 12, The Movie Network; Movie Central). Season 3 of the provocative reality series about New York and L.A. lesbians returns to bare it all. Watch these ladies balance work and play, and navigate love and love’s loss.
But this season adds some Cancon to mix. Members of the Toronto band Hunter Valentine are poised to become series’ regulars.
Music
Big releases on June 10: Dirty Projectors (Swing Lo Magellan)
Big picture: From Political Animals to an altogether different beast. David Longstreth, the architect behind this band, is one of music’s most original, creative minds (and often compared to Frank Zappa). But, as Gowan would put it, he’s a strange animal. Which makes it surprising — and oddly refreshing — that Swing Lo may be the eclectic Brooklyn group’s most accessible album yet. The influences here range from folk to swing, David Bowie to David Byrne, R&B to gospel.
The Projectors are still very much an experimental rock group — and certainly sing their own tune. But their notes are a little less sharp.
Forecast: If you were put off by their earlier efforts, the Dirty Projectors may finally have you swinging.