Wondering what to do with your upcoming free time? Good thing we have some suggestions for what you should be watching, playing, reading, listening to, etc.
Ben’s Movie Pick: The Mitchells vs. the Machines – Man, it’s been quite some time since a movie had me laughing so loudly and entertained me so thoroughly. It appears that Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse wasn’t just a fluke for Sony Pictures Animation; the studio’s newest film has a gorgeous, energetic art style that works wonders for the physical gags, and the entire voice cast knocks it out of the park. The story doesn’t really do anything that hasn’t been seen in countless other road trip/family comedies, and it sags just a tad in the middle, but The Mitchells vs. the Machines‘ heart is definitely in the right place as it hits all the right notes. This is well worth your time if you’re even the slightest bit curious about it or want to watch something with the whole family.
Oh, and Monchi might be one of the best dogs I’ve seen in any movie. Seriously, he’s a comedic gold mine.
Ben’s TV Pick: M.O.D.O.K. – This Hulu supervillain sitcom centers around Marvel’s Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing as he tries to both regain control of his superscience company and rebuild his relationship with his family, and it’s constantly entertaining throughout its ten-episode run. The stop motion animation helps M.O.D.O.K stand out from other animated superhero fare, and Patton Oswalt shines in the titular role, giving the big-brained baddie a slightly sympathetic side while never letting you forget that he isn’t an overall good guy. His family is equally great, with his wife (Lucifer’s Aimee Garcia) and children (Ben Schwartz and Melissa Fumero of Parks and Rec and Brooklyn Nine-Nine fame respectively) each being integral to selling some of the show’s biggest laughs. M.O.D.O.K. also features a slew of guest/recurring characters from Marvel’s lore, and the majority of them are portrayed by other well-known actors like Jon Hamm, Alan Tudyk, and Whoopi Goldberg. I had a great time with this super dysfunctional family, and after the incredibly ballsy decision it makes in the finale, I’m extremely excited to see where M.O.D.O.K. goes in season two.
Ben’s TV Pick: Warrior – Based on an original concept from the legendary Bruce Lee, Warrior is set in the late 1800’s and follows the exploits of rival Chinese gangs, policemen, and politicians stationed in San Francisco, a place that is less than welcoming to its immigrant population. The excellent main cast is spread throughout the factions, and the show blends hard-hitting martial arts action and political intrigue with its awesome, spaghetti western vibe. It’s juggling a lot of different pieces, and does so quite well. Warrior takes a few episodes to really get going, but it’s super engrossing once it does. The vast majority of it is great, and episode 2×09 “Enter the Dragon,” is one of the best TV episodes I’ve seen in years. I binged through the first two seasons pretty quickly, and now I’m eagerly awaiting the third.
So what do you think about these picks? What content did we miss over the past two weeks while we were spending time with these? Be sure to leave a comment below letting us know about everything (both current and simply new to you) you’ve been consuming lately!
And while you’re here, be sure to check some of the site’s other recent content:
- A Middle of the Row: The Podcast episode flashing back to 2001’s Mulholland Drive.
Middle of the Row 