'My Oxford Year,' 'The Naked Gun' — TV and movie new releases to see or skip in Canada — streaming and in theatres

Yahoo

21 hours ago

Best and worst rated new releases of the week
Romance is core theme for a lot of this week's TV and movie new releases. From My Oxford Year on Netflix, starring Sofia Carson and Corey Mylchreest, to the theatrical release of The Naked Gun reboot with Liam Neeson and Pamela Anderson.
Meanwhile, more complicated relationship dynamics are explored in the new Netflix series Leanne, with comedian and actor Leanne Morgan playing a single 59-year-old woman, after her husband cheated on her. While Together, starring Alison Brie and Dave Franco, takes a romantic relationship to a truly bizarre place.
But while some new releases shine, others miss the mark to really make an impact.The Naked Gun — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Akiva Schaffer of Lonely Island fame gave us exactly what a reboot should be with The Naked Gun, starring Liam Neeson, Pamela Anderson and Danny Huston.
Simply put, it's just hysterical. It's a movie that was crafted for laughs, and that's exactly what you get. It's the kind of comedy that brings those uncontrollable laughs, and it feels so good to have that experience in the movie theatre.
Neeson and Anderson have both never been funnier, and their chemistry together is electric.
It's silly, goofy and absolutely outrageous at times, but incredibly memorable and sure to be one of the funniest films of the year.
Where to watch The Naked Gun: Now in theatres
Twisted Metal, Season 2 — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
As someone who wasn't a fan of the first season, Season 2 totally changed my mind about the Twisted Metal series.
With the season centred around Calypso's deadly tournament, and the quest to have a wish granted, the high-octane energy of the series really comes through. The show is at its best when it leans into the silly, with witty dialogue, but Season 2 diving much deeper into its characters is incredibly satisfying as well.
Especially when Anthony Mackie and Stephanie Beatriz, in particular, feel so locked into their characters, it feels good to watch something that's a bit unhinged.
But don't discount newcomer Saylor Bell Curda, who plays Mayhem, and really adds to this new energy you feel in the season, which makes it such a success.
It feels like someone just turned up the speed and the volume for Season 2 of Twisted Metal, and I loved being on the ride.
Where to watch Twisted Metal: Paramount+
Together — ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Gruesome, chilling and just bizarre, Michael Shanks takes the audience on a real journey in Together. Starring real life married couple Alison Brie and Dave Franco, the pair go all in on committed performances, making this horror film incredibly shocking, but in the most alluring way.
It's a horrific story about codependence shown through a series of moments that will make you squirm, or even feel queasy.
The film is more about how its told than the story itself, which can feel predictable, with some thematic points emphasized to feel repetitive. But I still had a great time watching this movie.
The way Shanks builds tension is so satisfying for the audience, really adding to those impactful moments that make you want to crawl out of your skin, and that's really what I want from a horror film.
Where to watch Together: Now in theatres
Leanne — ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Is Leanne predictable? Yes. Conventional? Absolutely. But Leanne Morgan bringing her Southern charm to the multi-camera sitcom format is so incredibly endearing.
The 59-year-old is known for her hysterical stand-up comedy, often telling stories about her family, and Leanne very much feels like a fictionalized extension of that.
Even if the traditional sitcom isn't something you normal gravitate to, we should all appreciate how well it's executed in Leanne, bringing in heavy hitters including Kristen Johnston, Ryan Stiles, Blake Clark and Celia Weston.
Some of the jokes land better than others, but this is ultimately a cast I want to keep watching together, with Morgan being a strong anchor for the show.
Where to watch Leanne: Netflix
My Oxford Year — ⭐️⭐️1/2
I don't expect a rom-com to necessary reinvent the genre. In fact, I actually enjoy the predictable formula we've come to know and love. But if you don't feel connected to the characters and their romance, that's when a rom-com just doesn't work.
While Sofia Carson has become Netflix's movie it girl, and Corey Mylchreest was fabulous is Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story, My Oxford Year has them jumping from one trope to another in a way that just doesn't service either of their characters, let alone this romantic couple.
Adapted from Julia Whelan's novel, Anna (Carson) has deferred her post-graduate job at Goldman Sachs in New York to study poetry at Oxford University, a dream she's had since she was a child. She meets the charming Jamie (Mylchreest), who ends up taking over teaching duties for her class, with a reputation for being a privileged playboy. While they, of course, start a casual romantic relationship, things take a turn when Anna finds out something Jamie has been keeping from her.
I won't spoil the details, but I'll say that while this twist is meant to lean on the film's "live life to the fullest" message, it's tackled in a way that doesn't feel genuine.
My Oxford Year just feels muted in moments that should be dynamic and emotional. The script introduces elements to the story that should be absolutely tragic, but treats its audience with kid gloves, never going the distance to commit to its own plot.
Where to watch My Oxford Year: Netflix