How’s that for clickbait?
Happy Sunday, Streamers. No doubt you’re all laying low today after the double whammy of St. Patrick’s Day and the beginning of March Madness, or maybe you’re a 31-year-old content junkie like me and neither of those things mean anything to you (but hey, how about those Oscars next week?!).
Either way, I’m back with the goods so you can sail through the next week with a dish of grade-A certified, grass-fed content (which happens to have a strong feminist bent so… Happy Women’s History Month!)
Know a strong woman (or man!), who could use a generous helping? Be sure to pass a plate below.
Now let’s get to it.
Minx
What It’s About: This comedy follows an earnest young feminist in 1970s Los Angeles who joins forces with a porn mag king to create the first erotic magazine for women.
Why You Should Watch: For jokes that poke fun at both porn and feminism, and of course, lots of nudity.
Will sleaze-glamour-‘70s-content ever get old? Not yet at least. Minx carries the proud torch forward, although this time more focused on the funnier aspects of the decade than the darker corners portrayed in movies like Boogie Nights or Goodfellas. Underneath all the laughs, flesh, and polyester in Minx is a warm-hearted center, embodied by the budding friendship between Ophelia Lovibond’s Joyce, a Gloria Steinem-wannabe, and Jake Johnson’s all-around mensch/porn-producer Doug (seriously, I’ve never seen a smut king portrayed so kindly on film). Speaking of smut, I know I’ve joked about this before, but male full-frontal continues to be having a moment on TV, and Minx puts all previous dick-pictions to shame with a lengthy sequence in the pilot that truly shows more varieties of penises than I have ever seen or knew existed. Give this a watch if you’re looking for some lighter fun, or to rest your eyes on a first-of-its-kind manspread montage.
Who’s In It, and Where You Probably Know Them From:
Jake Johnson - Most famously as Nick Miller on New Girl (favorite quote of the internet below), but also in movies like No Strings Attached, Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse, Jurassic World, 21 Jump Street, Safety Not Guaranteed, Drinking Buddies, and Neighbors.
Ophelia Lovibond - Took me a second but she’s the woman who leaves Ashton Kutchner for his dad in No Strings Attached, as well as that part in Guardians of the Galaxy where they introduce all the Infinity Stones. She was also in the long-running US version of Sherlock, Elementary.
Jessica Lowe - Most recently Season 2 of The Righteous Gemstones, but you might also recognize her voice from Bob’s Burgers.
Michael Angarano - Young Will in Almost Famous, Sid in Lords of Dogtown, and who can forget Sky High?
Lennon Parham - Probably Veep, but also bit parts in comedies like Parks and Rec, How I Met Your Mother, Horrible Bosses 2, and Documentary Now!
Who Made It, and What Else Have They Done:
Created by Ellen Rapoport, who hasn’t done a ton outside of The Jamie Kennedy Experiment and Clifford the Big Red Dog (…?) It’s also exec produced by Jake Johnson, which makes a lot of sense.
Where You Can Watch: HBOMax
Turning Red
What It’s About: This animated family film tells the story of Mei Lee, a 13-year-old geeky girl struggling with puberty, pleasing her overbearing mother, and the fact that whenever she gets too excited… she turns into a giant red panda.
Why You Should Watch: For the most bizarre take on Pixar’s made-for-kids-but-also-adults formula yet
Pixar’s delivered some of the best animated movies of the last thirty years, but lately some of them have felt a little underwhelming (looking at you Luca and Onward). Thankfully with Turning Red they’ve delivered one of their best (and truly weirdest) movies in years, somehow managing to successfully mix the city of Toronto, Chinese mysticism, early ‘00’s boy bands, and menstruation, all in a G-rated family movie. Without giving too much away, the climax simultaneously gives Godzilla vibes while also making you tear up in the distinct way only Pixar knows how. As a cherry on top, Finneas (yes that one), and Ludwig Goransson (who is dare I say our next John Williams?), each instill the movie with throwback-boy-band-bops and a score you’ll have stuck in your head for the next week. Check this one out if you have a daughter, or are just interested to see how Pixar managed to successfully pull this strange combo out of the hat.
Who’s In It, and Where You Probably Know Them From:
Sandra Oh - Most recently Killing Eve, most famously as Dr. Christina Yang on Grey’s Anatomy, and also Sideways.
Finneas O’Connell - As Grammy-award winning singer-songwriter/producer/brother of Billie Eilish.
James Hong - Being the go-to Asian actor for crime serials and sitcoms on TV since the 1950s, James has appeared at least once on pretty much every notable show that has ever been (I started to write it all out but it was overwhelming). For me though, he’s most recognizable as the host in “The Chinese Restaurant” episode of Seinfeld.
Who Made It, and What Else Have They Done:
This was written and directed by Domee Shi, who started out as an intern at Pixar, and worked her way up to a director. Her first and only other directing credit is for short Bao.
Where You Can Watch: Disney+