Couch Theater – February 23, 2023

#MiddleburyCT #Movies

“The Peanut Butter Falcon” (PG-13) – Although this film released in theaters back in 2019, it was considered a “sleeper hit,” garnering more success in the years to come. Starring Shia LaBeouf and Dakota Johnson, this heartwarming indie film is now out on streaming platforms, which might help give it an even bigger reach. In the film, a young man with Down syndrome named Zak has dreams of becoming a professional wrestler, so he escapes from his assisted living facility to go chase his dreams. On the way, he meets Tyler (LaBeouf), who supports his venture and they begin to travel by water to Zak’s dream wrestling school in North Carolina. But Zak’s caretaker, Eleanor (Johnson), is close behind them to find Zak and return him back to the facility. (Paramount+)

“Smile” (R) – One of last year’s biggest horror successes releases on streaming Feb. 21! “Smile” stars Sosie Bacon as Dr. Rose Cotter, a therapist at a psych ward. In a meeting with student Laura Weaver, Laura informs Rose that she saw her professor die by suicide and, since then, has been terrorized by people smiling at her, telling her she will die soon. Laura then commits suicide in front of Rose, who later sees another patient smiling and telling her that she also will die soon. Rose assumes Laura’s curse has been passed onto her, and she takes any means necessary to figure out how to break the curse in time. Who would ever think that a movie about smiling would be so creepy? (Prime Video)

From left, David Harbour, Anthony Mackie and Jahi Winston star in “We Have A Ghost.” (Courtesy of Netflix)

“We Have a Ghost” (PG-13) – This comedy-horror movie, based on a short story by Geoff Manaugh, premieres Feb. 24, and it’s a goofy, spooky watch for the whole family. David Harbour (“Stranger Things” and “Black Widow”) stars as a ghost named Ernest, who haunts a home called “The House of Death.” A family of four moves into the home and the youngest son, Kevin, shortly thereafter has his first encounter with Ernest. But Ernest really isn’t as scary as all the town gossip claims and he can’t even speak. Kevin befriends him and begins a YouTube channel featuring Ernest, making them an internet sensation. Kevin’s friendship with Ernest prompts him to wonder how Ernest’s death truly came to be, so he dives deeper to uncover the truth. (Netflix)

“Liaison” (NR) – Eva Green (“Casino Royale”) and Vincent Cassel (“Black Swan” and the “Ocean’s” franchise) star in this new British-French series premiering Feb. 24. Green plays a secret agent tasked with finding out who’s behind dangerous cyberattacks taking place in the U.K. Her team tracks the main suspect, who happens to be her ex-lover, Gabriel Delage (played by Cassel). Upon secretly meeting with him, Gabriel provides her with information about the attack and agrees to work alongside her. Their past relationship is full of many secrets that inevitably crop up later and blur lines as she tries to complete her mission. (AppleTV+)
© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.