From Étoile to The Legend of Ochi, Should You Add These To Your Watchlist?
From struggling ballet companies to a visually stunning fantasy adventure, should you add these to your watchlist?
Étoile
From the minds of Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino comes Étoile. The show finds two world-renowned ballet companies in New York and Paris swapping their most talented stars in an attempt to save their struggling theaters.
Lou de Laâge is the stand out of Étoile, delivering a layered performance as the difficult ballerina Cheyenne with a heart of gold. She is complex, yet still easy to root for, especially as she champions underrated talent around her. Despite a clear passion for the world of ballet, Étoile is overstuffed with not enough direction in its storyline and too many characters making up the ensemble. It gives you whiplash as both the Paris and New York companies vie for our attention, ultimately leaving the show struggling to find a clear focal point.
Étoile hits Prime Video on April 24.
Not Just A Goof
The cult classic A Goofy Movie turns 30 this year, taking the goofy character of, well, Goofy and giving him some major heart. What starts as a resistant road trip turns into a relatable and emotional father-son journey towards reconnection, while introducing us to the most iconic pop star of all time: Powerline.
The new documentary Not Just A Goof takes viewers behind-the-scenes of the making of the film, exploring the highs, lows, and surprising cultural impact its had decades later. The film really shines as it showcases never-before-seen footage and highlights its heartfelt influence on fans, especially within the Black community. It stumbles a bit when directors Eric Kimelton and Christopher Ninness try to insert themselves into the narrative, but gets back on track when they focus on the film’s legacy.
Both Not Just A Goof and A Goofy Movie are streaming on Disney+.
The Legend of Ochi
Taught to fear the mysterious creatures lurking in the woods, young Yuri (Helena Zengel) has always believed the ochi were dangerous in The Legend of Ochi. But when a baby ochi is left behind in an attack, she risks everything on an adventure to reunite it with its family.
In his feature film debut, writer-director Isaiah Saxon delivers a visual marvel with The Legend of Ochi that calls to mind old-school fantasy adventures from Amblin, Jim Henson, and Studio Ghibli. Saxon’s commitment to putting puppetry and cinematic craftsmanship at the forefront is impressive. Unfortunately, the film falters when it comes to story, world building, and character development. We don’t learn much about the ochi and Yuri’s journey has false starts and stops as the focus shifts to her underdeveloped relationship with her own family. The actors feel like they’re in different movies, with Willem Dafoe giving an over-the-top eccentric performance and Finn Wolfhard not getting a chance to show much of anything. Despite its enchanting world, The Legend of Ochi struggles to connect on a deeper level.
The Legend of Ochi is playing in theaters.
