Movie theaters are clearing a path for “F9,” the latest entry in the “Fast and Furious” franchise. Wise decision.
But if you’re looking for something other than that hot-roddin’ hit, here are alternatives that include some that debuted at the recent Tribeca Film Festival, one that’s streaming via the Frameline film festival, and a horror/comedy that works on both counts. There’s even a rom-com that’s not your average rom-com on Netflix. Read on.
“Werewolves Within”: This bloody hilarious genre mashup from director Josh Ruben and screenwriter Mishna Wolff pulls off an impressive feat, nailing both the comedic and horror aspects with energy and smarts to spare. The “Knives Out-”like setup centers on fidgety forest ranger Finn (a letter-perfect Sam Richardson) who discovers that something’s askew in the snowy small town of Beaverfield, a haven for kooks who don’t act very neighborly. The town is bitterly divided over a controversial pipeline proposal that fuels backstabbing and blood-shedding. When a snowstorm strands a few neighbors at a town inn, tempers flare and the body count piles up. Things get gory, but all is done with tongue planted in cheek, a la classics such as “Shaun of the Dead.” With a dream cast and a shrewd commentary on our fractious times, “Werewolves Within” is delightful, one the best surprises of 2021. What’s even more shocking is it’s based on a video game. Details: 3½ stars; in theaters June 25, available on demand July 2.
“Vicious Fun”: This Shudder original has a killer premise about an unwitting horror film critic entering the lair of a serial killer support group. Too bad the screenplay doesn’t always deliver on the promise. There are fine touches and a jovial lead performance from Evan Marsh, but some of the jokes fall flat. Details: 2½ stars; streaming June 29 on Shudder.
“Fathom ”: If inspirational, gorgeous-to-gawk-at nature documentaries are your go-tos, soak up the visual splendor of Drew Xanthopoulos’ cerebral documentary. He and his crew tag along with two scientists — Dr. Ellen Garland and Dr. Michelle Fournet — as they try to talk to the mammals, so to speak, by focusing on the language and the community structure of humpback whales. “Fathom” shows these two off-the-charts-brilliant scientists encountering setbacks and triumphs as they move their discovery needle forward. Xanthopoulos does a masterful job of emphasizing the many sonic and scenic wonders of our natural world. Details: 3 stars; starts streaming June 25 on AppleTV+, and opens on that date at Smith Rafael Film Center in San Rafael. (Hint: it’s worth a trip there to see this film on a big screen.)
“Good on Paper”: What’s most refreshing about comedian Iliza Shlesinger’s “mostly true” screenplay is that it refuses to cave in to rom-com rules. Instead, “Good on Paper ” achieves what the best stand-up acts aspire to: making you laugh even when things get uncomfortable. Shlesinger plays Andrea Singer, a bitter but funny stand-up comic whose worst enemy is her knack for falling pray to her insecurities and outbursts. When Andrea stumbles upon nerdy Dennis (Ryan Hansen), a big talker who seems almost too nice and ludicrously rich to be true, a friendship develops and evolves into romance. But Dennis has issues — major ones — the kind Andrea can shrug off but that her feisty chum Margot (scene stealer Margaret Cho) can’t. In her directorial debut, comedian Kimmy Gatewood handles the brittle material well, but it is the screenplay and the actors who make it a squirmingly good comedy. Details: 3 stars; available June 23 on Netflix.
“False Positive”: It’s not so surprising to find out that this disturbing psychological thriller — which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival — is associated with A24, the bold studio that gave us “The Witch,” “The Lighthouse,” “Midsommar” and “Hereditary.” Director John Lee’s “Rosemary’s Baby”-ish feminist nightmare can’t match the aforementioned releases, but it comes close. Ilana Glazer, who cowrote the screenplay with Lee, plays Lucy, who — along with dapper hubby Adrian (Justin Theroux) — are consulting with a celebrity fertility doctor (Pierce Brosnan) who’s a mentor to Adrian. Red flags pop up the instant Lucy and Adrian step into the sterile office where the assistants look like backup dancers from Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love” video. Once Lucy gets the welcome news that she’s pregnant, she suspects the doc is up to no good. “Positive” gets progressively horrific and, at times, nauseatingly so. While it does a fine job of taking on the patriarchy in the medical profession, it stumbles by making Lucy an unreliable character. Regardless, you won’t be able to shake this one off. Details: 3 stars; available June 25 on Hulu.
“LFG”: The offensive arguments against paying professional female athletes the same rate at their male counterparts makes for a shout-back-at-the-screen experience in Andrea Nix Fine and Sean Fine’s excellent documentary that’s guaranteed to get your dander up. “LFG” pitches audiences into the square-off between the U.S. women’s national soccer team and the U.S. Soccer Federation. And while “LFG” might be viewed as one-sided — the federation refused to participate in the film — it unequivocally crushes any counter arguments that come its way. What makes “LFG” so compelling are the testimonials and back stories of team members Megan Rapinoe, Jessica McDonald, Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O’Hara and others. “LFG” is an inspiring story about taking a stand and not backing down in order to help future generations. Details: 3½ stars; available June 24 on HBO Max.
“Lady Boss: The Jackie Collins Story”: With her striking mane of hair and her lioness fashion sense, the late best-selling author always appeared in public as if she were a heroine of one of her books.. But what drove the tireless Collins, little sister of Joan? Laura Fairrie provides us with some juicy and poignant tidbits about the enigmatic mom and entrepreneur from sources who knew Collins best — daughters, sister, brother, agents and friends — and roots through her telling diaries. Collins dished the dirt on Hollywood better than other authors but didn’t reveal much about herself in the process, creating an image the world both adored and then vilified at points in her career. The documentary, which also had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, is just as gripping as one of Collins’ “Lucky” Santangelo books. Details: 3 stars; airs 9 p.m. June 27 on CNN.
“Dear Tenant”: Frameline — San Francisco’s annual LGBTQ film festival — wraps up this weekend, and if you’re looking for a satisfying tearjerker with well-developed characters and an affecting storyline, stream filmmaker Cheng Yu-chieh’s award winner. Just don’t assume it’s a tightly focused narrative about gay adoption. The multi-tiered narrative branches out to trickier emotional terrain as a gay man becomes a parent for his dead lover’s cute son. As the sincere “new dad,” a piano teacher who also cares for his former lover’s ill grandmother, Mo Tzu-yi gives a quietly devastating performance. “Dear Tenant” is eloquent, elegant and meaningful storytelling, and the final scene is marvelous. Details: 3½ stars, available to stream through June 27 via Frameline, www.frameline.org/festival.
Contact Randy Myers at soitsrandy@gmail.com.
