TV Week in Review: "Toy Story that Time Forgot", "Peter Pan Live!", and More

TV Week in Review

Let's take a look at this past week in television.

MONDAY:

"State of Affairs" (NBC) - Despite being billed as combination action/political thriller, this new drama couldn't be more of a bore. The poorly-written show revolves around a CIA analyst who briefs the President on pressing issues. Even solid performances from Katharine Heigl and Alfre Woodard could not get me to care about these one-dimensional characters. The question on most viewer's minds by the end of Monday's episode: When does "The Blacklist" return?"

TUESDAY:

"Toy Story that Time Forgot" (ABC) - This new special comes after the success of "Toy Story of Terror", a genius Halloween special that aired last year. Woody, Buzz, and the gang are back in this new half hour, which revolves around a mysterious group of new toys. The half hour is packed with the mix of humor and heart that we all have come to expect from the Pixar franchise. The only shortcoming is that 22 minutes isn't nearly long enough to do justice to the story they lay out. But it's more than enough to keep fans happy until "Toy Story 4".

WEDNESDAY:

"Hot in Cleveland" (TVLand) - This delightful season six episode follows Joy, Bob (guest star Dave Foley), and Victoria scoping out a cheating husband, while Elka and Melanie participate in a "Password"-like bar competition. The humor is as sharp and meta as ever, the cast is stocked with pros, so why is this show getting cancelled?

THURSDAY:

"Peter Pan Live!" (NBC) - In this follow up to "The Sound of Music Live", Allison Williams plays the boy who never grew up, and Christopher Walken plays Captain Hook. The production value has tremendously improved since NBC's live musical telecast last year (which I very much enjoyed). Williams was surprisingly great, bringing her own spin to the character previously played by Mary Martin, Sandy Duncan, and Cathy Rigby. Walken's performance was ... bizarre, although his dancing was pretty good for man in his seventies. The supporting cast was smartly once again filled with Broadway vets like Christian Borle, and the always excellent Kelli O'Hara. Taylor Louderman makes for an impressive Wendy, Minnie Driver pops up at the end as adult Wendy, and a dog does an incredible job as Nana. I, for one, am looking forward more many more live musicals for the whole family to enjoy.

FRIDAY:

"How Murray Saved Christmas" (NBC) - This was a strange and borderline offensive animated special, featuring the voices of Jerry Stiller, Sean Hayes, and Jason Alexander. Never heard of it? Not surprised. I wish I could get that hour of my life back.

Comments

Aubrey Plaza and Elizabeth Olsen are Excellent in Timely Comedy "Ingrid Goes West": Review

Film Review: Ingrid Goes West I was worried based on the trailers and marketing for Ingrid Goes West that it was going to be a cautionary tale about the perils of social media. One of those condescending 'lessons' about how much better the world would be if we still used rotary phones and things like that. You know, stuff like this . Thankfully, Ingrid Goes West is not that, it's not even about social media despite being set in the Instagram Age. Written by Matt Spicer and David Branson Smith and directed by Spicer, the movie is about Ingrid (Aubrey Plaza), who has recently been released from a mental hospital and following the death of her mother decides to reinvent herself in Los Angeles, inspired by the Instagram feed of a seemingly perfect influencer named Taylor Sloane (Elizabeth Olsen). Using clues from her Instagram, Ingrid tracks Taylor down and befriends her. Yes, Instagram plays a large part in the story, but it's one that could be (and has been) told i...

Drew Barrymore Gives Two Great Performances in Misguided Comedy "The Stand In": Review

Drew Barrymore fans haven't exactly been starved for content lately. Her cheery, fully unhinged new daytime talk show has provided a host of gif-able moments. But, it is significant that The Stand In , out now on VOD, is the first feature film she has appeared in 5 years (since the underrated Miss You Already ). And I wish I could report that her return to the big screen (well, not big at the moment, but you know what I mean) is a triumph, but The Stand In is a deeply flawed movie, in spite of a game and spirited lead actress. Barrymore has a dual role in the film, a satire of celebrity culture. She plays Candy Black, an ex-movie star whose career was derailed by a volatile on-set tirade, and Paula, Candy's wacky stand in. The plot kicks in when Candy has Paula swap places with her ahead of her court-mandated rehab stay, and Paula takes a liking to the limelight and plots to steal Candy's life. Those are the basics, it's actually a lot more complicated than that, whic...

New "Twin Peaks" is a Puzzling and Maddening Experience: Review

TV Review: "Twin Peaks: The Return" Disclaimer: This review contains major spoilers for the original Twin Peaks and minor spoilers for Twin Peaks: The Return. The original Twin Peaks , created by Mark Frost and David Lynch, is one of the most beloved and iconic television series of all time, despite only running for 30 episodes on ABC in 1990 and 1991. Heavily influenced by daytime soap operas, it featured several hallmarks of that genre: a sleepy town, an ensemble of wacky characters, an ongoing mystery, and the illicit and adulterous underside of the facade of a wholesome American small town. Of course it was also more that, and as the series went on it became more of a supernatural exploration of good and evil, but the soapy trappings gave the series a shape and a structure. The highly anticipated revival miniseries, now airing on Showtime, eschews shape and structure altogether in favor a more puzzling, maddening creation.

ChannelTim

Search This Blog