New Releases for the week of Feb. 22 - 28
Big Hero 6
In a futuristic world where robots are very much a part of everyday life, a young boy named Hiro (Potter) creates microbots, revolutionary new nanorobots, and accepts an invitation to the prestigious school his older brother Tadashi (Henney) attends. Shortly after Tadashi is tragically killed in a building fire, Hiro accidentally activates Baymax (Adsit), an inflatable health-care robot that his late brother had designed. Baymax takes on the troubled boy as his patient, but the duo soon discovers that a nefarious villain has stolen Hiro's idea and is mass producing his new robots. Along with his brother's friends, Hiro and Baymax form a superhero team and set out to right past wrongs and learn the truth about the deadly fire.
Directors: Don Hall, Chris Williams. Stars: Scott Adsit, Ryan Potter, Daniel Henney, T.J. Miller, Jamie Chung, Damon Wayans Jr., James Cromwell. 2014. 102 min. Family.
Whiplash
Andrew (Teller) is a young jazz drummer who aspires to become as great as the legendary Buddy Rich. To this end, he joins a jazz band whose conductor (Simmons) is verbally abusive and is even known to throw chairs at his students when they disappoint him. Determined to succeed, Andrew makes some serious, life-altering decisions and focuses on his music. Through a series of events, Andrew is promoted to the band's main drummer, but with the conductor's abusive behaviour continuing, Andrew must decide if this path is the best one to bring him happiness.
Director: Damien Chazelle. Stars: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Paul Reiser, Melissa Benoist. 2014. 107 min. Drama.
Horrible Bosses 2
No longer tied to the bosses they rebelled against in the first film, Nick (Bateman), Dale (Day) and Kurt (Sudeikis) develop a plan to start their own business manufacturing shower heads. After their only investor double-crosses them and runs off with their inventory, the trio develop a plan to kidnap the investor's son, Rex (Pine), and hold him for ransom. After the plan begins to go horribly wrong, the trio must pull together to fix their severely misguided scheme.
Director: Sean Anders. Stars: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Spacey, Chris Pine, Jennifer Aniston, Christoph Waltz, Jonathan Banks. 2014. 108 min. Comedy.
The Walking Dead, on AMC
After withstanding an incredible storm that pushed Rick (Andrew Lincoln), Daryl (Norman Reedus) and the others to the brink, they meet someone who seems to be friendly in this new episode. The group, however, can't help but be suspicious of this stranger.
Street Outlaws, on Discovery Channel
When Big Chief gets a call out from the 316 area code, the gang faces off against others from Wichita, Kansas, including racers with names like Murder 56 and Superman. Also, Farmtruck and AZN spend some time in the haunted hearse.
Love, Lust or Run, on TLC
Join fashion guru Stacy London as she helps women tame their over-the-top looks in this new episode. After strangers rate the women's styles as "Love," "Lust" or "Run," Stacy strips the fashion criminals of their wild get-ups and gives them a make-under.
The Odd Couple, on CBS, CTV
Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon co-star as Oscar Madison and Felix Unger in an updated version of the TV classic. Affable slob Oscar and neat freak Felix move in together after their marriages fall apart, but Oscar soon fears he's made a mistake.
The Mentalist, on CBS, CTV
After seven seasons of twists and turns, Simon Baker ends his run as FBI consultant Patrick Jane in the first of two parts of this series finale. Jane and Agent Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney) are now partners in both their professional and personal lives.
19 Kids and Counting, on TLC
The Duggar family is back and this time the focus is on the life of newlyweds Jill and Derick in this season premiere. The couple recently said "I do" in front of more than 1,000 of their close friends and family and are now preparing to welcome their first child.
Stevie Wonder: Songs in the Key of Life - An All-Star Grammy Salute, on CBS, City TV
Music superstars pay tribute to the life and career of the 25-time Grammy Award winner in this two-hour special. Performers include Coldplay’s Chris Martin, singer/ songwriter Janelle Monáe, country music legend Willie Nelson, pop artist Ed Sheeran and R&B darling Usher.
New Releases for the week of Feb. 15-21
Birdman
Decades after playing the superhero "Birdman" in a series of blockbuster movies, Riggan Thompson (Keaton) is a washed-up shadow of his former self and is even hearing voices of the Birdman. Desperate to revive and reinvent his stagnant career, he concocts a plan to write, direct and star in a Broadway adaptation of a Raymond Carver short story. After recruiting his best friend to produce and his girlfriend to star in the production, at first it appears that his plan may succeed. However, his own insecurities, personal issues and mental instability soon become an issue on stage, and even lead to murder.
Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Stars: Michael Keaton, Emma Stone, Zach Galifianakis, Naomi Watts, Edward Norton. 2014. 119 min. Comedy.
The Theory of Everything
Perhaps the most famous and acclaimed physicist in the world, this is the story of how Stephen Hawking came by that distinction -- and of the woman who fell in love with him and stood by his side during some of the most difficult moments of their young lives. When Hawking (Redmayne), a promising young astrophysics student, meets Jane (Jones), a beautiful literature student, at a party, sparks fly between them and the two are soon madly in love. However, even as his love life and career as a scientist begin to take off, a nightmarish medical diagnosis threatens to bring a premature end to everything he's ever wanted in life.
Director: James Marsh. Stars: Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, Tom Prior, Sophie Perry, David Thewlis. 2014. 123 min. Drama.
Dumb and Dumber To
Twenty years after the events of "Dumb and Dumber" (1995), idiotic buffoons and best friends Lloyd (Carrey) and Harry (Daniels) reunite and set out to find a compatible donor kidney for Harry. Together, they track down the daughter (Melvin) that Harry fathered decades earlier. Unfortunately for the pair, their sudden appearance in the middle of an ongoing family drama could have deadly consequences that even someone with more than half a brain wouldn't be able to survive.
Directors: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly. Stars: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Rachel Melvin, Rob Riggle, Laurie Holden, Steve Tom, Don Lake. 2014. 109 min. Comedy.
America's Funniest Home Videos, on ABC
Host Tom Bergeron welcomes celebrities to watch the best clips from the show's history in this special 25th anniversary celebration. Stars Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross help present the top videos before the studio audience votes for the winner.
