#Middlebury #Movies
“CODA” (PG-13) – As a child of deaf adults (a CODA), 17-year-old Ruby has spent her whole life straddling the hearing and non-hearing worlds. When she realizes her dream is to go away to college to pursue her love of singing, her family doesn’t understand, since they can’t experience her talent. Encouraged by her choir teacher, Ruby attempts to gain her family’s support to leave home. Emilia Jones’ performance as Ruby is exceptionally touching and realistic. Marlee Matlin as her mother is charming, frustrating and funny all at once. Subtitles for lots of sign language, and totally worth the effort. (Apple TV+)
Scene from “100 Foot Wave” (HBO photo)
“100 Foot Wave” (TV-14) – Does it really require six episodes to cover one surfer’s quest to find and surf the world’s biggest wave? Not really, but it sure makes for fantastic footage that I would watch for six days if it was offered. In this docuseries, surfing legend Garrett McNamara attempts to tackle “the Everest of the ocean” by riding a 100-foot wave in the fishing village of Nazare, Portugal. The conflict of chasing this dream while confronting his own human capabilities provides drama set against an absolutely thrilling backdrop of the powerful natural force of the ocean. (HBO Max)
“The Owl House” (TV-Y7-FV) – Luz Noceda is an adventurous, imaginative teenage human who opens a portal to another world called the Boiling Isles. There she discovers a variety of unique and weird characters, dabbles in spellcasting and sorcery, and deals with existing in a land where humans are considered lesser beings. Luz is a multifaceted character, showing determination, intelligence and introspection, but also some occasional low self-esteem. Ultimately, though, she displays acceptance of her own quirkiness. The script is quite clever and witty, making this animated children’s series tolerable for adults, too. (Disney+)
In Case You Missed It
“Walk of Shame” (R) – To anyone who’s had a hot night out end up horribly wrong, this 2014 comedy is for you. Elizabeth Banks plays Meghan, a Los Angeles TV news anchor who finds herself in all the wrong neighborhoods in the wee hours of the morning after some hard partying. Alone, and with no phone or car, she has only her wits to get herself back across town to the news station in time for the evening broadcast … and the promise of a promotion. A hilarious series of close calls and the help of some unsavory characters lead to a ridiculously funny conclusion. (Netflix)
“The Skeleton Twins” (R) – Extramarital affairs, suicide attempts, sibling estrangement – this film has it all! Four actors typically known for their comedic work take on some seriously heavy topics, resulting in this 2014 Sundance Film Festival winner. Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Ty Burrell and Luke Wilson each play characters with intertwining personal issues to sort through. There’s a lot of blame tossed among them, but the lighthearted moments are “really” funny, as you would hope from these comedians. Wiig and Hader have amazing chemistry playing sister and brother, both with an incredible talent for laughing through life’s pain. (Amazon Prime Video)
© 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.
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