Fresh kicks and a fresh take on a classic
With so many different streaming platforms and cable offerings to navigate, choosing what to watch has never been harder. To make things easier, here are our best tune-in tips for the week ahead.
TUESDAY Our Father
This new Netflix doc explores the story of a woman and her at-home DNA test. The results lead the protagonist to the discovery of multiple half-siblings and a shocking scheme involving donor sperm and a popular fertility doctor.
Netflix
Operation Mincemeat
Two British intelligence officers plan to trick the Nazis and alter the course of the Second World War in this new Netflix film. The true story is based on a scheme that helped turn the tide of the conflict in favour of the Allied forces in Europe. Colin Firth stars.
Netflix
THURSDAY Savage Beauty
A classic story of revenge, this African series revolves around a model named Zinhle Manzini (played by Rosemary Zimu), who is announced as the new face of a beauty brand. When Zinhle is invited by the company’s owners to live in their mansion, we quickly learn that the model has a secret plan of revenge in mind and a runway right to it.
Netflix
FRIDAY The Kids in the Hall
The pick of the week is an obvious choice this time around. Classic Canadian sketch comedy series “The Kids in the Hall” was aired from 1988 to ’95 and featured Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney and Scott Thompson as most of the characters. Nearly 30 years later, the original group is back with eight all-new episodes.
Prime Video
Sneakerella
One of the biggest surprises in Disney Plus’s new lineup is this delightful reimagining of the classic “Cinderella” fairy tale. Set in the street-sneaker subculture of New York City, this music-driven movie is the story of El (Chosen Jacobs), an aspiring shoe designer who works as a stock boy in a store owned by his late mother. Forced to hide his penchant and passion for decorating shoes from his evil stepfather and his mean stepbrothers, everything changes for El when he meets Kira King (Lexi Underwood), the daughter of a shoe tycoon. The result is a nostalgic throwback with a new spin that is the perfect weekend watch with the kids.
Disney Plus
Shoresy
If the sign of a Canadian series making it is a spinoff, “Letterkenny” has officially made it. “Shoresy” features the beloved character from the original series as he joins the Sudbury Bulldogs of the Northern Ontario Senior Hockey Organization (NOSHO). Two episodes launch the six-episode season with subsequent episodes released every Friday.
Crave
The Lincoln Lawyer
This Netflix retelling of the Michael Connelly legal thriller is the second adaptation of the book. The first was a 2011 feature film that starred Matthew McConaughey. In the series, the title role of Mickey Haller is played by Manuel GarciaRulfo (“Goliath”) while Neve Campbell (“Scream”) takes over the role of Maggie, Mickey’s ex-wife and the deputy district attorney.
The series is the brainchild of David E. Kelley (“Big Little Lies”) so it is certainly worth a try.
Netflix
The Essex Serpent
Starring Claire Danes and Tom Hiddleston, this new drama series is adapted from Sarah Perry’s bestselling novel. It follows new widow Cora (Danes), who relocates from London to Aldwinter in Essex, leaving her abusive marriage behind. That’s where we learn about a local superstition about a mythical creature known as the Essex Serpent.
Apple TV Plus
Trigger Point
This British drama series sees experienced bomb disposal officer Lana Washington (Vicky McClure of “Line of Duty”) attempt to figure out who is responsible for a terrorist attack. As the bombings intensify, a group calling themselves “the Crusaders” appear to be the ones to blame. Lana learns that someone close to her could have ties to the group.
CBC Gem
The Matrix Resurrections
It’s really astounding how quickly movies are being released on streaming. First there was “The Batman” and now the fourth movie in “The Matrix” quadrology will be available to watch from the comfort of your own home. The new film reunites Keanu Reeves and CarrieAnne Moss as Neo and Trinity but is notably missing Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus.