Your sweet fix: Netflix offers second helping of 'Sugar Rush Christmas'
A scene from "Sugar Rush Christmas"
From romantic comedies to Christmas-themed episodes, Netflix's holiday programming is sure to make your days merry and bright. And while there's been plenty of buzz surrounding original movies such as "Dolly Parton's Christmas on the Square" and "The Christmas Chronicles 2," the streaming service has also cooked up a little something for bakers and baking enthusiasts.
New Releases for the week of November 29 - December 5
Made in Italy
After getting divorced from his wife, Ruth (Kettle), Jack Foster (Richardson) wishes to secure the funds to purchase the London art gallery where he currently works but which will be sold by his in-laws following the divorce. Jack comes to the conclusion that, in order to buy his beloved gallery, he must sell the Italian villa, once owned by his late mother, which he co-owns with his estranged father, Robert (Neeson). Upon traveling to Italy, Jack and Robert find the estate in a state of disrepair far beyond what they had imagined. Required to get the home into a presentable condition, the father and son pair must finally work together and, in the process, resolve not only their feelings of grief over losing a wife and mother, but their feeling towards each other.
Director: James D'Arcy. Stars: Yolanda Kettle, Micheál Richardson, Souad Faress, Liam Neeson, Claire Dyson, Lindsay Duncan, Valeria Bilello, Helena Antonio, Marco Quaglia. 2020. 94 mins. Comedy.
The Rental
In order to celebrate a success at work, Charlie (Stevens) books an Airbnb listing to a gorgeous seaside home for a weekend getaway with his wife, Michelle (Brie), his business partner, Mina (Vand), and her boyfriend, his own brother Josh (Allen White). From the outset, the quartet's trip is plagued by uncomfortable moments and, upon meeting the remote property's crass caretaker, Taylor (Huss), the group is put on edge. After Mina finds a hidden camera in the shower, the friends vow to leave the rental property, but it might already be too late.
Director: Dave Franco. Stars: Dan Stevens, Alison Brie, Sheila Vand, Jeremy Allen White, Toby Huss, Anthony Molinari. 2020. 88 mins. Horror.
Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula
Four years after the onset of a zombie outbreak in South Korea, former marine captain Jung-Seok (Gang) and his brother-in-law Chul-min (Do-Yoon Kim) volunteer for a mission to retrieve $20 million hidden in an abandoned food truck on the quarantined peninsula. However, upon arriving in South Korea from Hong Kong, the pair soon discover that more waits for them on the infested peninsula than lethal, fast-moving zombies. "Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula" is a sequel to the 2016 film "Train to Busan."
Director: Sang-ho Yeon. Stars: Dong-Won Gang, Jung-hyun Lee, Re Lee, Hae-hyo Kwon, Min-Jae Kim, Gyo-hwan Koo, Do-Yoon Kim, Ye-Won Lee. 2020. 116 mins. Action.
Late Laughs for the week of November 29 - December 5, 2020
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Our democracy is like the Millennium Falcon. She ain't pretty, but remember when she passed the Voting Rights Act in 21 parsecs?
Wisconsin has become a COVID-19 hot spot but, with this win, Democrats across the country can breathe a little easier … except for the ones in Wisconsin 'cause, again, it's a COVID-19 hot spot.
Yes! We the people will not surrender! We the people will just doom scroll on Twitter until we freak out and stress eat all our kids' Halloween candy!
The Walking Dead: World Beyond, on AMC
Catch the final episodes of this series back-to-back. The divided group is left struggling to reunite, while others set their sights toward fighting for the greater good. Alexa Mansour, Annet Mahendru, Nico Tortorella and Hal Cumpston star.
The Call of the Wild, on HBO
In the 1890s, a big, gentle dog is stolen from his home and sent to the Yukon, where he is treated poorly and forced into difficult situations. He befriends an elderly frontiersman (Harrison Ford) on his adventures, but keep your tissues handy.
Q: Tell me about Jean-Philippe in "Hell's Kitchen." Is he an actor or actually a maître d'?
Jean-Philippe Susilovic is a professional maître d'hotel, and was so years before "Hell's Kitchen" premiered. The showbiz portion of his life happened by accident, though his career has been entwined with Ramsay's since the very beginning.
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, on NBC
Tune in for this 1966 animated special narrated by Boris Karloff which has stood the test of time. Sick and tired of the overly-jolly Whos' abundant love for Christmas, the holiday-hating Grinch decides to steal their cheer on Christmas Eve.
A '(Dark) Material' world: Pullman's trilogy continues on the small screen
Dafne Keen and Lucian Msamati in "His Dark Materials"
Join in on the adventure of a lifetime as the HBO adaptation of Philip Pullman's well-loved trilogy, "His Dark Materials," continues with an all-new episode airing Monday, Nov. 30. Now in its second season, the series started off strong and continues to impress fans who are all looking forward to the twists and turns to come.
Young Sheldon, on CBS
Iain Armitage returns as Sheldon Cooper in Season 4 of this hit comedy. When this season kicked off, Sheldon graduated high school at only 11 years old. Now, he struggles with understanding the social aspects of being in college. Zoe Perry also stars.
Q: Was "Father Dowling Mysteries" based on anything? Are there books?
There are books, and then there are other books. This could lead you down a deep literary rabbit hole.
"Father Dowling Mysteries," the feather-light mystery series starring Tom Bosley (of "Happy Days" fame) as a priest with a sideline in sleuthing, was based on a series of Father Dowling novels by American author Ralph McInerny.
However, mystery heads will note the character's similarities with another popular clergyman-turned-crime fighter, Father Brown.