16 | Resurrected Weekly Roundup #5
In this issue: Friday Night Plan, Sex Education (S4), Only Murders in the Building (S3), and Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
We’re not going to address the elephant in the room, we’re not gonna— Okay. Yes, it’s been months since I’ve visited your inbox. More on that below.
But first, let me do a review!
(Also, hi)
Friday Night Plan
Genre: Coming-Of-Age
Language: Hindi, English
Gist: When their mother takes off on a business trip, two bickering brothers unite to secretly attend the hottest party of the year before she returns.
Review: A charming film with Babil Khan as an amiable, and sometimes naive hero who decides to give in to one night of unadulterated fun while his mom is out - standing up to his bullies, going to a party, getting cosy with the girl of his dreams, and the works. B-plot has most of the midnight shenanigans orchestrated by his much more outgoing, delinquent younger brother who has agendas of his own.
But with the PG-13 setting, whatever conflict we see on-screen (be it with the brothers’ disagreements with each other or the obstacles they come across) is resolved with a very Disney-like ending, which to some (like me) is welcomed, while to others is unrealistic.
SYWT? It’s cute enough to give it a go!
Sex Education (S4)
Genre: Comedy Drama
Language: English
Gist: Having to move from Moordale Secondary to the unconventional, modern Cavendish College comes with problems of its own. And for Otis, that would be competing with another teen sex therapist on campus.
Review: Where is the Sex Education we knew and loved? Perhaps it overstayed its visit because the attempt that S4 makes with drawing the curtains falls quite flat — edged all along, but does not come any close to finishing.
Through the new school, we are introduced to new characters and their spicy drama. But that is hardly something that holds the audience’s attention in a show’s final season. So what we really want to know is what happens to our main characters? Do they get the ending they deserve?
Let’s face it, the whole Maeve and Otis going around the bush for 4 seasons is nothing but tiring. Adam, Aimee, and Ruby’s are the only storylines I enjoyed, while the others were neither here, nor there.
SYWT? If you’ve watched three seasons so far, you’re bound to watch S4 for that one last hurrah.
Only Murders in the Building (S3)
Genre: Crime, Comedy
Language: English
Gist: There’s no worse omen than your lead actor dying mid-performance on the opening night of your comeback Broadway theatrical. Now the podcast trio must once again uncover why.
Review: S3 did pull out the big guns with actors like Meryl Streep, Paul Rudd and Ashley Park joining the star cast. While third time’s a charm does not ring true for this series, I think the audience themselves have gotten comfortable with the show, so much so that S3 doesn’t have to be revolutionary for it to be a good watch. We had our fun twists, turns, suspects and red herrings, sprinkled with Mabel’s sweaters, and Charles and Oliver fumbling over anything to do with the last decade.
There’s one bit where the trio fall into some serious danger, and that’s the shot of adrenaline I like chasing when I watch crime dramas. S3 could’ve used a bit more of that rush, but it’s enjoyable enough as is.
In true OMITB fashion, the season does end with another murder in the building. By this time, we all saw that coming.
SYWT? Why not?
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
Genre: Coming-Of-Age
Language: English
Gist: When her family moves from the city to the suburbs, 11-year-old Margaret navigates new friends, feelings, and the beginning of adolescence through her intersessions with God.
Review: To start by saying that I liked this movie better than the book is a big deal. While the book placed a magnifying glass over what every prepubescent girl goes through as they begin to dip their toes into womanhood, the film expanded on these themes by focusing on Margaret’s mother and grandmother too (which was absent in the novel). A nice three-generational comparison!
I loved how the film took me back to when I was 12-13, my little kid brain discovering what bras, periods and crushes really meant with the burdens of womanhood buddled neatly with a bow on the top. Sweet and timeless, Margaret’s prayers (especially the frustrated ones) echo the thoughts we’ve all had growing up. This movie definitely comforted me and I hope it provides some refuge to all the growing girls watching this.
SYWT? Yup!
In anticipation of Easter, I have decided to try and come back from the dead, Jesus-style. What was a little shocking to me as well was that I penned down a draft of this issue back in October! So here we are, fresh off the press.
New, fresher reviews will be incoming. And… perhaps a life update? Let’s see. In the meantime, let me know what you’ve been watching so far in 2024.
Before I go:
My friends and I started yet another newsletter!
If you’d like to read the previous issues, here’s a link to SYWT’s archive.
Looking for any title in particular? Cue the database — This has the list of movies/TV shows covered so far with ratings and links to the newsletters they were reviewed in.
What’s stuck in my head:
See you soon,
sal.