Good morning and welcome to another edition of Fitzie’s Film and TV reviews, where your hoddler-in-chief reviews some things he’s recently seen at home and in the cinema.
Rose Matafeo On and On and On and On: I’ll admit I’m about four months into a Taskmaster kick, and I’m eagerly awaiting Series 19. Rose Matafeo’s latest standup special is a hilarious watch as the Kiwi comedian turns a 16,000-word note into a solid two-hour set focusing on her relationships.
5 out of 5 Fitzies
James Acaster Hecklers Welcome: On the contrary, this one didn’t do it for me. I love James Acaster and enjoyed his previous specials. The reviews were mixed for this too, but I read that some of his shows on this tour – where he encourages heckling – are pretty insane.
So I think this particular standup just chose a bad night, and from the cutaways to some of his other shows I wondered what I missed. I love the premise and most of the jokes, but it didn’t quite deliver this time.
2.5 out of 5 Fitzies
Fly Me To The Moon: A solid rom-com parodying the moon landing conspiracy. It’s an easy watch starring Scarlet Johansson and Channing Tatum. And it’s pretty fun to look at too.
3.0 out of 5 Fitzies
Squid Game 2: Series 2 of Squid Game feels largely incomplete. Series 3 is coming out later this year, but we have to judge S2 as it stands. It’s a pretty slow start, the ending doesn’t deliver and almost every single character feels less fleshed out than in the first series.
The best thing this one has going for it is we don’t have to see anyone performing ungodly acts on cookies.
2.5 out of 5 Fitzies
Cunk on Life: Philomena Cunk is back at it! Part of this review is my fault, because I thought it was a series as opposed to a film (or parody on a doc). There are some truly great jokes in here and terrific one-liners, but it gets pretty tedious about halfway through.
2.5 out of 5 Fitzies
My Old Ass: A unique coming-of-age story where Aubrey Plaza plays the much older version of her younger self, except that both of them are real and exist in real time. It’s got a lovely message on how to experience life and its mysteries.
3.0 out of 5 Fitzies
The Iron Claw: This tragic film follows the Von Erich family, particularly Kevin Von Erich (played by Zach Efron). Three of the brothers are absolutely ripped, but their muscles are portrayed less as something to objectify and more as a grotesque sacrifice that they make to help fulfil their father’s dreams.
Anyone familiar with the Von Erich family knows how this ends, which is largely in tragedy. But the film does a delicate job in getting us there.
4.5 out of 5 Fitzies
Saturday Night: An easy-to-watch film on the birth of Saturday Night Live that further mythologises its creater Lorne Michaels. Like SNL, it’s a chaotic piece that runs at 1 hour and 50 minutes.
While Lorne Michaels is seen carrying the shoulders of this troupe, it’s the Chevy Chase and John Beluschi who steal the spotlight (of course they do). Just wish we got a bit more Beluschi, but maybe that’s the point.
3.0 out of 5 Fitzies
Fitzie’s track of the day: Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright, by Bob Dylan
And now for your links:
Alasdair Gold’s talking points from Tottenham’s defeat to Arsenal
Jay Harris ($$): “Ange Postecoglou, form that ‘can’t be accepted by anyone’ and where it leaves the Tottenham coach”
Dan KP: “Ange Postecoglou position precarious with Spurs season hanging on cups”
Telegraph: “Ange Postecoglou’s record is indefensible – his job should be at risk”
The Guardian: “In Ange we trust? Why Spurs should risk potential failure and back Postecoglou”
BBC: “Kick It Out questions Fifa and Conmebol over Fernandez video”
