Movie #3626 ........................."Good Karma Hospital" (Season 1, Acorn)

 Movie #3626 "Good Karma Hospital" (Season 1, Acorn)  I don't usually watch medical shows because they make me nervous -- I am never comfortable in hospital settings,  but this show focuses more on the workers there --- it very rarely shows us bleeding or wounds or any operations -- and that's the way I like it --- they deal with problems but they aren't always physical.....we are in India, and so the patients are all of a different culture, and I am learning so much about that culture and their physical AND mental aches and pains.  The lead woman we enjoyed in "New Tricks" but she's not as friendly in this series --- but she still is knowledgeable.  The other lead woman is so much fun to watch --- a very good actress and she has such kind eyes, even when she exhibits anger -- she's the fish out of water, a pediatrician that is asked to do surgeries she has never done.  The other characters are fun to watch , too, since this is a character-driven rather than story-driven kind of show.  I'd give it a 4 out of 5, and starting to watch season 2 already.

"GOOD KARMA HOSPITAL"    2017-2023    45 minutes, 6 episodes    Acorn

Doctor Ruby Walker arrives in India looking for a job and a distraction from her heartbreaks.  She anticipates the sunshine and picture-perfect beaches, but not the realities of work at an under-resourced hospital .  

Creator:  Dan Sefton

Actors:  Amanda Redman, Darshan Jariwala, Amrita Acharia, James Krishna Floyd

Movie #3625 ........................."Shrinking" (Apple - Season 3)

Movie #3625 "Shrinking" (Season 3, Apple)  I just rewatched Season 1 and 2 this past weekend and noticed that it was worth rewatching because I missed so many jokes the first time around --- disclaimer:  the language is pretty raunchy, some situations are, too, but the writers have such a handle on the characters that it really is a joy to watch, and Season 3 was better than ever.  This time it centers around Alice going to college, and her dad prepping for it through the whole season.  Note:  Brett Goldstein (from Ted Lasso and a producer here) and Harrison Ford's partner aren't in this season much at all,   Ford did a lot of therapy within the family, but also  sought help from Michael J. Fox for his Parkinson's, which was a great add.  Gaby goes through a lot with following her dream and getting a steady boyfriend who is a nice add to the mix.  There's baby stuff galore with Brian and his partner getting "help" from Liz and her hubby.  And the young man with the food truck is "moving" on..... I'd give this season 4.5 - can't wait for this show to continue!!

"SHRINKING"     Season 3 - Apple        2025       11 episodes, each about 35 minutes

Jimmy is struggling to grieve the loss of his wife while being a dad, friend, and therapist.  He decides to try a new approach with everyone in his path:  unfiltered, brutal honesty.  Can he help himself by helping others?  Will it bring him back into the light

Creators:  Brett Goldstein, Bill Lawrence, Jason Siegel

Actors:  Jason Siegel, Jessica Williams, Harrison Ford, Michael Urie, Luke Tennie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller, Wendie Malick

      

MOVIE #3624 ........................."THE LAST THING HE TOLD YOU" (SEASON 2 ON APPLE)

 Movie #3624 "The Last Thing He Told You (Season 2, Apple)  After having read this book and watched Season 1 and enjoyed it, I did not expect a Season 2 -- since the book ended.  But the author decided to continue the story and so offered Season 2 along with her second book.  I don't know about the second book, but I can say that the direction the season went into was quite intriguing.  I thought it might get tiring to see the two women (stepmother and husband's daughter) continue to bond and move on the run from one place to another, but it didn't.  Paris was one of the places so that was fine with me, being one of my favorite places in the world.  The story went in a believable direction,  adding Judy Greer to it as the daughter of the bad guy chasing them,  allowing the daughter to mature, giving Garner's  husband much more acting time, introducing us to the grandmother, and spending a lot more time with the husband's dad, David Morse, one of my very favorite actors.  What  a wonderful job he does here, and for my money he should get an emmy nomination for it -- I was on the edge of my seat and couldn't wait for the last episode ---- and I do believe it won't come back this time, but who knows?  I'd give this season a 5.

"THE LAST THING HE SAID TO ME"       2025    8 episodes, about 50 mins each   Apple

 A woman forms an unexpected relationship with her 16-year-old stepdaughter while searching for the truth about why her husband has mysteriously disappeared. 

Creators:  Laura Dave (author) Josh Singer

Actors:  Jennifer Garner, Angourie Rice, David Morse, Judy Greer  

Movie #3623 ....,....................."The Roses" (Hulu/Prime Video))

 Movie #3623 "The Roses" (hulu/Prime Video)  this is a movie that is loosely based on the old classic film "War of the  Roses" with Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner - this time the competitors in the marriage are even better:  Olivia Coleman and Benedict Cumberbatch, and boy are they guide -- quick patter --- I could barely keep up the pace of their insinuations , accusations, smarmy cuts to each other --- and those poor kids of theirs.  The arguing and fighting go way beyond the believable, but it ws a fun watch --- if you can stomach all of the arguing.  I give it a 4 out of 5.

"The Roses"      2025     R    1 hour and 45 mins  (hulu, prime video) 

A tinderbox of competition and resentments underneath the facade of a picture-perfect couple is ignited when the husband's professional dreams come crashing down.

Director:  Jay Roach

Writers:  Warren Adler, Tony McNamara

Actors:  Olivia Colman, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kate McKinnon

Movie #3622 ........................"Nobody Wants This" - Season 2 (Netflix)

 Movie #3622 "Nobody Wants This"  - Season 2 (Newetflix)  I really really enjoyed the first season and this one had some episodes better than others, but all over I felt it was a bit repetitive.  It keeps pushing toward her  (Kristen Bell) thinking about converting to her boyfriend's Judaism, but it also focussed on the secondary characters even moreso in this season - especially. the sister, who thinks she has found her soulmate in her therapist.  The rabbi gets a job offer by Seth Rogen, but it seems to be too liberal of a group for the rabbi --- but he tries to stick with it because they are lenient about his girlfriend being a non-jew.  The ending is a lot like the ending of the first season, and that's why even though there were changes in a lot of areas during season 2, it seems to have moved very little with the same kind of ending as the first season.  Still, the scripts are funny for the most part, and the acting is strong.  I would give this season a 3.8.

"NOBODY WANTS THIS"    SEASON 2     2025      30 minutes , 10 episodes

An agnostic sex podcaster and a newly single rabbi fall in love, discovering if their relationship can survive their wildly different lives and meddling families.

Creator:  Erin Foster

Actors:  Kristen Bell, Adam Brody, Justine Lupe

Movie #3621 ........................."Ella McCay" (Hulu, Prime video)

 Movie #3621 "Ella McCay" (Hulu, Prime video)  I saw the trailer for this one, and it looked like fun, but it was not one I would recommend after watching it.  It was all over the place --- Up and down, dialogue full of starts and stops, everyone seemed to overact, pushing the movie which was annoying.  The one saving grace was Jamie Lee Curtis, who, as usual, did not disappoint.  I was disappointed with the script because the lead woman has so much talent that she deserves better.  There was a lot unsaid that needed to be said .  A weak 3 out of 5 from me.  Disappointing from James L. Brooks, a usually great director

"ELLA McCaY"    2025      PG-13      1 hr and 55 mins       Hulu/Prime Video

An idealistic young woman juggles her family and work life in a comedy about the people you love and how to survive them.  

Director:  James L. Brooks

Writer:  James L. Brooks

Actors:  Emma Mackey, Jamie Lee Curtis, Albert Brooks

Movie #3620 ........................."Project Hail Mary" (theatre)

 Movie #3620 "Project Hail Mary" (theatre)  This was a Wow movie for me!  From the opening to the closing, I sat in awe, fascinated by the story, by the acting, by the photography and the music.... I could write all day on this one, but I need to go to bed to catch a plane tomorrow, but I want to take a few minutes to tell you how much I enjoyed the film.  And it is right out of the gate for this year's offerings of films.,.... this is a movie that SHOULD BE REMEMBERED COME OSCAR TIME!  We need to keep mentioning it throughout the year because the oscars seem to be given to movies that open way at the end of the year.  I am so glad we didn't have to wait for this one.  The "fish out of water" character  fits Ryan Gosling so well in his portrayal of a h.s. science teacher who has made a discovery that turns out to be useful to Nasa.  I don't want to give too much away, but  it is science fiction in its approach, and it is slow in pacing at times (although kudos to the writers and directors who kept  trying to energetically keep our attention throughout with humor, dazzling photography, music, etc;)  and if I hear this  negative one more time!!!!!! okay, it runs loooooooong, but I honestly didn't notice that ---- and I don't remember hearing that about the Adrian Brody's  movie two years ago, and that was brutally long!  Putting those negatives aside, this is one you want to see ---- I know not everyone will like it as much as I did, but it sure is a think piece and has a theme that's so needed right now --- it's time to make friends, to extend a hand to others in peace and love --- and there's so much more to the story and theme, but I must end this now.  I'd give it 4.5, just because I think we could have been told a bit more at times. Otherwise, spot on!

"PROJECT HAIL MARY"    2026     PG-13    2 hours, 37 mins

A science teacher wakes up alone on a spaceship.  As his memory returns, he uncovers a mission to stop a mysterious substance killing Earth's sun and that an unexpected friendship may be the key.

Directors:  Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

Writers:  Drew Goddard, Andy Weir

Actors:  Ryan Gosling, Sandra Huller, James Ortiz (Rocky)