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Dakota Johnson-Pedro Pascal rom-com 'Materialists' now on VOD

Dakota Johnson-Pedro Pascal rom-com 'Materialists' now on VOD

UPI3 days ago
1 of 5 | Dakota Johnson, seen at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, stars in "Materialists." File Photo by Rune Hellestad/UPI | License Photo
July 22 (UPI) -- A24 announced Tuesday that Materialists is now available to rent or buy on video-on-demand retailers. The price is $19.99 to rent and $24.99 to own.
Retailers include Apple TV+, Fandango at Home, Prime Video, Google Play, YouTube and cable or satellite providers. The film opened June 13 in theaters.
Dakota Johnson plays a matchmaker who falls for the brother (Pedro Pascal) of one of her clients. A love triangle forms when her ex-boyfriend (Chris Evans) returns into her life and they reconnect.
UPI praised writer/director Celine Song's film in its review, highlighting her poignant take on the contradictions of turning love into a for-profit service. The focus on matchmaking also challenged some of the conventions of Hollywood love stories.
Materialists will be on Blu-ray in September. The Blu-ray is available for pre-order.
A24 also sells Materialists merchandise including a hat for the fictional Adore matchmaking service, silver heart ring, T-shirt and vinyl soundtrack.
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New movies to watch this weekend: See 'The Fantastic Four' in theaters, rent 'Materialists,' stream 'Happy Gilmore 2' on Netflix and more
New movies to watch this weekend: See 'The Fantastic Four' in theaters, rent 'Materialists,' stream 'Happy Gilmore 2' on Netflix and more

Yahoo

time3 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

New movies to watch this weekend: See 'The Fantastic Four' in theaters, rent 'Materialists,' stream 'Happy Gilmore 2' on Netflix and more

"The Fantastic Four: First Steps" shows that "Superman" was the start of a new trend. Hello, Yahoo readers! My name is Brett Arnold, film critic and longtime Yahoo editor, and I'm back with another edition of Trust Me, I Watch Everything. This week, there are a handful of movies coming to streaming services you're likely already paying for, including Wes Anderson's latest, an indie gem about baseball and a fun self-aware horror flick. The biggest new release is The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the latest attempt at making the Marvel characters pop onscreen with a buzzy new A-list cast, including Pedro Pascal. If you're looking for more Pascal, make it a double feature: His rom-dram Materialists is available to rent. Read on for more, because there's something here for everyone! What to watch in theaters Movies newly available to rent or buy Movies newly available on streaming services you may already have 🎥What to watch in theaters My recommendation: The Fantastic Four: First Steps Why you should watch it: The Fantastic Four: First Steps proves that James Gunn's Superman wasn't a one-off and instead was the start of an emerging trend of superhero movies. Both are comic book flicks that are meant to be introduction films, as well as reboots featuring iconic characters we've already seen onscreen before. They both purposefully avoid harping much on a character's origin story. The Fantastic Four: First Steps depicts it very quickly up top, whereas Superman throws you right into the action. Both rely on the audience knowing who these people are and what they do without getting bogged down by lore. That being said, each movie is meant to emulate the experience of reading a comic book, picking up an issue and getting caught up in that one arc without having to worry about its place in the larger universe. The best thing about The Fantastic Four: First Steps is that it doesn't adhere to the Marvel house style and has a unique look that's decidedly its own: a retro-futuristic take on the 1960s that feels as indebted to The Jetsons as it does the comic books its based on. Superman opened with Clark Kent having already been Superman for three years, and First Steps similarly opens with our heroes celebrating four years as America's superhero protectors. The public knows who they are and appreciates their efforts to keep them safe. But Marvel's First Family is soon forced to balance their roles as heroes and the strength of their family bond while defending Earth from a ravenous space god called Galactus (Ralph Ineson) and his Herald, Silver Surfer (Julia Garner). Sue Storm (Vanessa Kirby) is pregnant with the child of Reed Richards (Pedro Pascal), and the movie explores how Reed tries to 'babyproof the world,' as a character in the film puts it, and protect their kid from real and specific dangers — in this case, Galactus. The film is at its best when its leaning into either the silliness or the scale of the sci-fi comic book world these characters inhabit, like when we get a glimpse of villain Mole Man (Paul Walter Hauser, a highlight) and his underground world of Subterranea, or when the plot turns to the idea of teleporting entire planets in order to save lives. The foreboding Galactus, who is the size of a skyscraper and more menacing than any villain I can think of in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is an undeniable selling point. Maybe it's just my love for science fiction showing, but a bad guy that's just the Death Star incarnate, destroying planets as if they were nothing, is scary, strong stuff. If I have a major complaint, it's that the Fantastic Four's powers are never really utilized in a way that feels specific to each character. It's all just generic superhero zipping around and shooting forceful beams out of their hands. The wildly specific skillsets all feel incidental here, rather than expertly written and woven into the narrative or the action. The Bear's Ebon Moss-Bacharach is terrific as the voice of the Thing, but the character feels like he has little to do here, and the entirely CGI creation of his being pales in comparison to the onscreen depiction 20 years ago, when Michael Chiklis was transformed into the character with extensive makeup. Joseph Quinn is fun as Johnny Storm, but he too just flies around while on fire. The Fantastic Four: First Steps may be the third attempt at bringing these classic comic book characters (the fourth, actually, if you count the hastily-made-to-keep-the-rights unreleased 1994 version) but it's undeniably the most successful of that very cursed bunch. The speed-run character development is a barrier at first, but by the end, I was worn down and accepted that this is what comic book movies are now, nearly 20 years after Iron Man changed everything for the genre. On paper, I love the idea of skipping the origin story, but after Superman and The Fantastic Four: First Steps, I just think more work needs to be done setting up these worlds if I'm expected to buy in. For those unfamiliar with the characters, who have never seen a Fantastic Four movie or read one of their comic books, I do wonder if the experience is meaningfully different. What other critics are saying: Most agree that Marvel finally got it right this time. William Bibbiani at The Wrap says it's first-rate, writing, "whatever its drawbacks, feels like a real Fantastic Four movie, and that's no small achievement." The Associated Press's Jake Coyle agrees that the villains steal the show and calls it "a very solid comic book movie." How to watch: The Fantastic Four: First Steps is in theaters nationwide July 25. Get tickets 🤔 But that's not all! This ridiculously bonkers horror movie starring Pete Davidson and directed by The Purge mastermind James DeMonaco was shot in early 2022 and is only now sneaking into theaters. Davidson plays a troubled man who starts working at a retirement home and realizes its residents and caretakers harbor sinister secrets. It's unpredictable in a fun way, even if it feels like you're watching a different movie in the final 10 minutes. Get tickets. : A derivative found-footage horror vehicle for Kris Collins, aka KallMeKris, a Canadian TikToker who has a massive following on the social media platform. It's ripping off The Blair Witch Project for most of the runtime, until it gets to the third act and imitates a different popular horror movie. It doesn't amount to much, sadly. Get tickets. 💸Movies newly available to rent or buy My recommendation: Why you should watch it: You can get a double helping of Pedro Pascal this weekend, if you're into that sort of thing, as the controversial Materialists is now watchable from your couch. As I wrote when it debuted in theaters, it disappoints in comparison to Past Lives, writer-director Celine Song's debut film, and the script ultimately lets down the actors, even if the performances are all very good. What other critics are saying: There are strong opinions on both sides here. Stephanie Zacharek at Time writes that it's "more bittersweet than sweet, which is what makes it so wonderful, in a wistful, elusive way." The Daily Beast's Nick Schager dubs it a disappointing letdown, calling it "the cinematic equivalent of a sugary soda gone terribly flat." How to watch: Materialists is now available to rent or buy on Amazon, Apple TV and other VOD platforms. Rent or buy 'Materialists' ➕ Bonus recommendation Why you should watch it: The always-great Danielle Deadwyler stars in this postapocalyptic thriller about a Black family of Canadian farmers descended from American Civil War migrants defending their homestead against cannibals trying to seize their resources. Its specific approach to the apocalypse, that it's about food scarcity and the importance of farms in that future, makes it stand out from plenty of similar fare, as does the terrific and dynamic gunplay that unexpectedly takes up the latter half. The focus on family is also very effective. Much better than you'd expect from this sort of low-budget affair. What other critics are saying: Most agree it's worth your time! Rolling Stone's David Fear writes, "She's not better than the movie. Deadwyler just makes the movie better by every choice she's making as an actor." Amy Nicholson at the Los Angeles Times agrees, writing that "there's not one false beat in Deadwyler's performance." How to watch: 40 Acres is now available to rent or buy on Amazon, Apple TV and other VOD platforms. Rent or buy '40 Acres' 🤔 But that's not all! : This is a horror movie about a serial killer whose method of killing is feeding his victims to sharks. I wish I didn't have to tell you that because the opening scene is such a shocking introduction, but the trailer gives it away immediately. It's still absolutely worth watching, if that sounds like your kind of thing. Rent or buy. Disney's live-action remake became the first and only movie to gross $1 billion this year, and now you can help it make more money by paying to rent it! As per usual with these things, it's not as nice to look at as the animated original, but it gets the job done. Rent or buy. 📺Movies newly available on streaming services you may have My recommendation: Why you should watch it: My colleague Kelsey Weekman was lucky enough to catch it early, and her review is below! What I at first thought was a depressingly obvious cash grab involving one of Adam Sandler's most beloved characters turned out to be a shockingly sweet (and still very funny) follow-up about the lengths even the biggest weirdos will go to for family. Nearly 30 years after the original came out, I wasn't sure how many more times they could turn hitting a golf ball so hard it makes rocket launcher noises into an effective gag, but thanks to some new characters who kept it true to the Sandler ethos (loud, ridiculous, playfully violent), it felt like a truly fresh franchise installment rather than a ham-handed appeal to nostalgia. But trust me, there are still plenty of nods to the original. Bad Bunny, aka Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, steals the show. What other critics are saying: There aren't any other reviews as of publication time. You'll have to trust Kelsey on this one! How to watch: Happy Gilmore 2 is now streaming on Netflix. Stream 'Happy Gilmore 2' ➕ Bonus recommendation: Why you should watch it: Sometimes, all you need is a cheap but satisfying B-movie about a creature on an island killing people in increasingly gory ways. Bonus points if the creature just so happens to be a guy in a suit. This World War II-set throwback is as inspired by the films of Jack Arnold (specifically Creature From the Black Lagoon) as it is Predator, and it delivers on the promise. The story about two guys from opposite sides of the war forced to band together against a greater threat works quite well! What other critics are saying: There aren't many reviews for this one yet, so you'll have to take my word for it. If you're into low-budget stuff buoyed by great practical FX work and better-than-average performances, check it out. How to watch: Monster Island is now streaming on Shudder. Stream 'Monster Island' 🤔 But that's not all! The latest film from Wes Anderson is a decidedly silly one. Imagine the usual Andersonian look and feel, now with cartoonish violence, and a terrific performance from Benicio Del Toro at its center. I wrote more about it here. Now streaming on Peacock. This quietly profound indie about a baseball team playing their last-ever game functions as a metaphor about life and the eventual bitter end of the things we love. How can you not be romantic about baseball?! I wrote more here. Now streaming on Mubi. This horror flick based on a popular video game leans more Cabin in the Woods send-up than earnest horror, and fans of the genre will enjoy the way it plays with conventions. Now streaming on Netflix. Steve Coogan is sensational in this cute movie inspired by the true story of a disillusioned Englishman who went to work in a school in Argentina in 1976 and how his life is transformed when he befriends a penguin. Streaming on Netflix July 26. This A24 movie starring Jenna Ortega and Paul Rudd is a high-concept fantastical comedy that eventually turns into goofy horror. I found it insufferable, but, hey, it's on HBO Max now, so you're not paying for streaming on HBO Max. That's all for this week — we'll see you next Friday at the movies!

Derby, Belmont winner Sovereignty has to prove it again in Jim Dandy
Derby, Belmont winner Sovereignty has to prove it again in Jim Dandy

UPI

time5 minutes ago

  • UPI

Derby, Belmont winner Sovereignty has to prove it again in Jim Dandy

1 of 3 | Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty returns to the races as the favorite in Saturday's Jim Dandy at Saratoga. File Photo by Mark Abraham/UPI | License Photo July 25 (UPI) -- Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes winner Sovereignty takes on some old rivals again Saturday in the Jim Dandy at Springfield and will have to continue proving himself to maintain his top spot among American 3-year-olds. Saturday's Grade I Bing Crosby at Del Mar is a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Sprint and looks pretty ripe for the picking. On the global scene, Saturday's King George at Ascot offers a guaranteed slot in the Breeders' Cup Turf with two-time winner of that race, Rebel's Romance, looking like a long shot. And we're off like a sure thing ... Classic Sovereignty clearly leads the 3-year-old division after winning the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. But in what's turned out to be a tough and competitive season, he's going to have to prove it again in Saturday's $500,000 Grade II Jim Dandy at Saratoga. Just a week after his chief rival, Journalism, stayed in the mix with a victory in the Grade I Haskell at Monmouth Park, Sovereignty takes on another familiar foe, Baeza, in the Jim Dandy. Baeza returns from California after finishing third in the Belmont and third in the Kentucky Derby. Before that, he was second to Journalism in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby. But wait. There's more. Also in the tidy, five-horse field is Sandman. He won the Grade I Arkansas Derby, but then finished seventh at Churchill Downs and third in the Preakness. Mo Plex enters the Saratoga heat off victories in the Bay Shore at Aqueduct and the Grade III Ohio Derby at Thistledown and has not been worse than third in eight career starts. And Hill Road, third in the 2024 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, won the Grade III Peter Pan before finishing fifth in the Belmont. Trainer Bill Mott said early in the week Sovereignty is "doing good" but, as always, needs things to go his way in the race. "We hope he has a good race and has a little luck. Anything can happen," Mott said. "They've got to go around there and it's not over until those blinking lights say 'official.' They've got to hang those numbers up and say official." Mo Plex's trainer, Jeremiah Englehart, said he was impressed with his colt's effort in Ohio, but noted, "Now he has this test of taking on the top 3-year-olds in the game." Important as it is, in the great arc of the 3-year-old season the Jim Dandy is "merely" the local prep for the $1.25 million Grade 1 Travers on Aug. 23 -- a.k.a. the "Midsummer Derby." And speaking of the Travers, Chancer McPatrick, winner of last year's Grade I Champagne Stakes and second in the Tampa Bay Derby in March, outfinished So Sandy by a head in Thursday's $135,000 Curlin Stakes at Saratoga. The race was restricted to 3-year-olds who had not won a graded stakes race this year. Even so, trainer Chad Brown said it proved his colt likes a fast Saratoga track -- he's 3-for-3 in those conditions -- and indicated the Travers is not out of the question for him. "Surely, our dream would be to try to get him out to a mile and a quarter and hope for dry weather on Travers Day if he's a horse for course," Brown said. The weekend slate for older Classic division horses is rife with other Triple Crown performers. Nysos is the 3-5 favorite on the morning line for Saturday's $300,000 Grade II San Diego Handicap at Del Mar. The 4-year-old Nyquist colt, knocked off the 2024 Triple Crown races by injury, comes off a win in the Grade III Triple Bend at Santa Anita. Speaking of 2024 Triple Crown candidates, Hades won the Grade III Holy Bull back in February 2024 and was fifth in the Florida Derby. After wandering in the wilderness since, he's back at Gulfstream for Friday's $70,000 Tackleberry Handicap, facing another Triple Crown refugee, Catalytic. These are some contentious races and industry insider Jude Feld has some interesting takes on some of the main heats. Check out his tips and thoughts at Distaff Running Away, Fondly and Paris Lily are stacked atop the morning line in a field of seven to contest Saturday's $250,000 Grade III Monmouth Oaks. Saturday's $150,000 Grade III Trillium on the Woodbine all-weather has six, featuring Caitlinhergrtness. The winner of last year's King's Plate looks for a bounce back from an eighth-place finish in the Grade II Nassau. Sprint Saturday's $400,000 Grade I Bing Crosby at Del Mar, a "Win and You're In" for the Breeders' Cup Sprint, looks like a midsummer peach orchard (you pick 'em). Well and almost evenly regarded on the morning line are Hejaz, World Record, Dr. Venkman, Mbagnick, Roll On Big Joe and Crazy Mason. Macho Music is the 2-1 morning-line pick in a field of eight for Friday's $200,000 Grade II Amsterdam for 3-year-olds at Saratoga. The Florida-bred won the Grade II Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on Derby Day, but then faded from the lead to finish in a dead heat for seventh in the Grade I Woody Stephens going 7 furlongs on June 7. This one is 6 1/2 furlongs. Turf The eight-horse field for Sunday's $250,000 Grade II Eddie Read at Del Mar looks pretty familiar, with many of the usual suspects signed on. Among them are Balnikhov and Gold Phoenxi from the Phil D'Amato barn, George Papaprodromu's Cabo Spirit and Balladeer and stalwarts Stay Hot, Atitlan, Formidable Man and Dicey Mo Chara. Filly & Mare Turf The first three from the July 3 Wild Applause Stakes -- Classic Q, Play With Fire and Lavender Disaster -- line up again for Saturday's $175,000 Grade III Lake George for 3-year-old fillies at Saratoga. Nine 3-year-old fillies are entered for Saturday's $150,000 (Canadian) Ontario Colleen at Woodbine with a case to be made for many of them. Sunday's $250,000 Grade II Glens Falls at Saratoga is another competitive heat, with six of the eight in the main field held at single-digit odds on the morning line. Around the world, around the clock England Saturday's Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot shapes up as a proper heavyweight match, which is only appropriate for a Breeders' Cup "Win and You're In" event. Confirmations include Calandagan from France, Coronation Cup winner Jan Brueghel, top filly Kalpana and Godolphin's all-world Rebel's Romance, whose resume already includes two wins in the Breeders' Cup Turf. Calandagan ended a string of four consecutive Group 1 seconds with a victory in the Grand Prix de Paris in his last start. The runner-up streak included the Coronation Cup, so the Gleneagles gelding has 1/2 length to find vis-a-vis Jan Brueghel, a 4-year-old Galileo colt who is joined by Coolmore stablemate and likely rabbit Continuous. Rebel's Romance should be at a square price even though Godolphin's 7-year-old globetrotter won the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup and the Group 2 Hardwicke in his last two starts, handily defeating Al Riffa in the latter. Age would be the issue against what trainer Charlie Appleby describes as "some young legs." Andrew Balding brings Pretty Polly runner-up Kalpana for the King George.

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