Bob Odenkirk is firmly in his “Liam Neeson phase”: a middle-aged man reluctantly forced to kick a lot of ass in order to protect what really matters.
Author: Chris Burlingame
The Christophers: A tale of fine art, forgery, and failchildren
Julian Sklar has followed the familiar trajectory from enfant terrible to full-blown crank. Once a renowned artist, he now spends most of his time not painting and recording Cameo-style videos—often for mothers urging their children to pursue art (in this economy?). Dressing is optional. There was also a regrettable stint as a judge on a reality show that makes Simon Cowell look like the Easter Bunny.
It’s a me, a new Super Mario Brothers movie
After leaving the theater for the latest Super Mario Brothers movie, I thought, “This movie is cool to look at, the animation is impressive, and the story is thin but harmless but it’s still a fun time. That’s basically what I said three years ago, the last time a Mario movie hit theaters and I feel the same way with this new movie.
Wuthering Heights in bad decline
Wuthering Heights is both the title of Emily Brontë’s only novel, published in 1847, and a new film by Emerald Fennell, out this week, which I will refer to as “Wuthering Heights.” One bears some resemblance to the other, but not too much, hence the quotation marks. It is like when there was once a Seattle rock band called “The Rolling Stones.”
Even Doubting Dennis thinks the 5th Avenue Theatre’s production of SPAMALOT is hysterical
Through this weekend, the Monty Python stage musical SPAMALOT can be seen at the 5th Avenue Theatre. It was uproariously funny. It is probably the funniest play I have ever seen, which includes The Book of Mormon and The Producers (my favorite musical that is not Chicago).
Chris’s Favorite Films of 2025
As the year winds to a close, we’re sharing lists of our favorite films we’ve seen (so far).
Elf: The Musical ushers in the most wonderful time of the year at the 5th Avenue Theatre
But the concept of a thirty-something Will Ferrell playing an, uhh, elf, too large and too human for the North Pole being left alone in New York with only a sweet tooth that requires bidaily dental visits and a snow globe in search of the father who doesn’t know he exists, and that father is Sonny Corleone, is basically too irresistible to fail.
Wicked: For Good magnificently concludes the saga, if it must
Wicked: For Good picks up where Wicked left off. Elphaba is fleeing the wrath of the Wizard (Jeff Goldblum), whom she angered by calling out his impotence, and she’s being chased by flying monkeys. She isn’t safe anywhere in Oz. Meanwhile, during her exile, the Wizard and Madame Morrible continue their malevolent schemes and promote Glinda as the “good” counterpart to the “bad” Elphaba. They literally brand her as “Glinda the Good,” plastering the slogan across banners throughout Oz.
Lonely? Need some more people at your birthday party? Have you tried renting Brendan Fraser?
Several years ago, I first learned about the Japanese phenomenon of “renting” family members. For anyone willing to pay several thousand yen, it’s possible to rent a surrogate to fill an emotional (and physical) vacancy: someone to attend birthday parties, go shopping, or even get slapped by the wife of an unfaithful husband. People are lonely, and these companies exist to fill that void.
Tessa Thompson glows as Hedda, the rest of the movie confuses and underwhelms
Nia DaCosta’s update of Henrik Ibsen’s classic 1891 play Hedda Gabler is such a frustrating watch I found myself making excuses to finish watching it, including watching 29 innings of two World Series games and a Seahawks drubbing of the lowly Washington Commanders. It wasn’t bad, per se, just frustrating because it could’ve been so much better.