From Nimona to I’m A Virgo, Should You Add These To Your Watchlist?
From tight-knit families to outsiders looking for their place in the world, are these shows and movies worth your time? Pop Culture Planet’s Kristen Maldonado reveals all.
Huesera: The Bone Woman
Natalia Solián stars as Valeria in Huesera: The Bone Woman about a pregnant women who finds herself threatened by occult forces. The film starts off strong with body horror and contortions that are straight up creepy, but the film never goes further.
What could be a compelling story of motherhood, different life paths, sexuality, and postpartum depression ends up going nowhere. We don’t know why Valeria is being haunted and there are long stretches of time where nothing spooky appears. It doesn’t live up to it’s potential.
Huesera: The Bone Woman is streaming on Shudder.
I’m A Virgo
An unconventional political satire of a superhero show, Boots Riley takes big risks in his new coming-of-age show I’m A Virgo. Jharrel Jerome plays the 13-foot-tall Cootie who has lived a life of isolation and finally gets a chance to explore love, friendship, and community. Unfortunately this also means coming face to face with the realities of institutional racism through the lens of his idol The Hero. Not every moment lands, but it’s definitely a unique and creative venture in storytelling.
Brett Gray, Kara Young, Allius Barnes, Olivia Washington, Mike Epps, Carmen Ejogo, and Walton Goggins also star.
I’m A Virgo is streaming on Prime Video.
Nimona
Based on the award-winning graphic novel by ND Stevenson comes Nimona. We follow Ballister Boldheart (Riz Ahmed), a former knight for the Institution who is accused of murdering Queen Valerin. As he hides out and attempts to clear his name, he meets Nimona (Chloë Grace Moretz), a shapeshifting teen who wants to be his evil sidekick. Is she really on his side or the enemy he’s trained against his whole life?
What Nimona delivers is a thrilling and heartwarming tale of rejection, being villainized for being different, and finding your community. With a dynamic and inclusive voice cast and a hilarious script, this rebellious and punk rock film is a must watch.
Nimona is streaming on Netflix.
No Hard Feelings
Jennifer Lawrence produces and stars in No Hard Feelings alongside Broadway’s Andrew Barth Feldman. On the brink of losing her home, Maddie finds an intriguing job listing: helicopter parents looking for someone to bring their introverted 19-year-old son out of his shell before college.
The relationship between Maddie and Percy feels forced as her attempts to get his attention are so aggressive and manic that it doesn’t make sense why he would be interested in her. The film attempts to balance raunchy comedy with a heartfelt coming-of-age story, but ultimately doesn’t do anything special.
No Hard Feelings is playing in theaters.
Primo
Based on the life of creator Shea Serrano comes the new Amazon FreeVee show Primo. The wholesome family sitcom centers around Rafa (Ignacio Diaz-Silverio), a Mexican-American teen balancing college aspirations, crushes, and a home life anchored by his single mom and five uncles. Christina Vidal is so relatable as Rafa’s mom and immediately had me sold, while his uncles take on various Tio archetypes that everyone can relate to. It fits in perfectly with groundbreaking Latino shows of our youth like The Brothers Garcia, giving off a sweet nostalgia that you could watch 20+ episodes of. Authentic, feel good, and silly, Primo is about to be your new favorite comfort show.
Carlos Santos, Henri Esteve, Johnny Rey Diaz, Jonathan Medina, Efraín Villa, Stakiah Washington, Martin Martinez, and Nigel Siwabessy also star.
Primo is streaming on Amazon FreeVee.
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken
Turning Red meets Luca in the new Dreamworks animated film Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken. Lana Condor voices the sweet, but awkward, Ruby, who feels invisible in her seaside town. When she disobeys her overprotective mom (Toni Collette) and gets into the water, she discovers that she’s a direct descendant of the warrior Kraken queens that have sworn to protect the world from power-hungry mermaids. Is she ready to embrace who she really is?
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is a sweet coming-of-age story full of energy and imaginative visuals about accepting yourself — tentacles and all. It’s got a very underrated cast featuring Lana Condor, Toni Collette, Annie Murphy, Colman Domingo, Jane Fonda, Sam Richardson, Liza Koshy, Will Forte, Jaboukie Young-White, Ramona Young, and Eduardo Franco. It’s fun for the whole family, but you can probably wait for it to hit streaming platforms.
Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken is playing in theaters.
