Together Together & more recommendations
It’s a Labor Day Weekend edition of Seen & Heard! I’ve been working on another writing project for most of the summer months, so I haven't sent out a newsletter in a bit. If you’ve been endlessly scrolling through Netflix waiting for a movie suggestion, watching old TV show re-runs on repeat (I’ll never judge!) or wondering if I decided to cut my hair after my last newsletter, I’m sorry for leaving you in the lurch! I’m back to wrap up the summer months with a bunch of recommendations as we head into jean jacket season. And yes, I did get my hair cut.
Together Together: Written and directed by Nikole Beckwith, Together Together tells the story of Matt and Anna, who are not at all romantically involved. Anna is a surrogate for Matt's baby and these two meet, get to know each other and develop a beautiful friendship under unusual circumstances. If you thought Ed Helms was only a bit-driven comedy actor, get ready to be pleasantly surprised at the way he handles drama. If you've never heard of Patti Harrison, get ready to become obsessed. Together Together is funny and awkward and charming. This isn't a movie that spells out exactly what the characters are thinking or wraps things up in a bow but it certainly leaves you with plenty to think about.
Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga: If you missed the boat on this Will Ferrell/Rachel McAdams comedy last summer, it's not too late to hop onboard! Co-written by Ferrell, this goofy, goofy movie tells the story of two best friends who dream of competing in the Eurovision Song Contest. When they make it into the competition due to a mysterious accident, more chaos follows! The acting talents of Ferrell, McAdams and Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) are on full display. These actors create ridiculous, yet grounded, performances that make Eurovision Song Contest one to remember.
Never Have I Ever: The second season of Mindy Kaling's high school comedy series returns with more laughs, more romance and more complications. Maitreyi Ramakrishnan plays the always scheming, overachieving Devi. Does she make better choices in season two? She flies too close to the sun and starts secretly dating Ben and Paxton in the first episode... so no. Thanks to Ramakrishnan's charm, it's still fun watching Devi navigate boyfriends, grief, new friendships and her mother's romantic life. The second season is stronger than the first and will leave you wishing you could start watching season three right away.
Only Murders in the Building: The intrigue of Only Murders in the Building's cast is likely what's made it the most watched comedy premiere in Hulu history. Although I'm struggling to name any another Hulu comedy, which might speak to a larger programming problem on the streaming service. Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez star in this dark comedy series, which pokes fun at the true crime podcast phenomenon. The first episode starts out a little clunky, but once it reaches the 30-minute mark, you'll be hooked by the show's many mysteries.
The Other Two: After a two-and-a-half year wait, The Other Two's second season finally premiered on HBO Max. The comedy series follows siblings Cary and Brooke as they try and figure out their lives, while watching their younger brother and now their mother dabble with fame. With new episodes dropping weekly, it's hard to share a full impression yet... but the first installment shows plenty of promise for what's ahead!
