New movies this week: Watch ‘She Said,’ stream Netflix’s ‘Slumberland,’ skip ‘Disenchanted’
Thanksgiving menu in order for next week’s big day, there are plenty of cinematic snacks to watch at home or – if you need a break – at your local theater.
This weekend, Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan dig into Harvey Weinstein’s infamous history as a sexual predator in an investigative thriller, Ralph Fiennes plays an imperious chef in a culinary satire, Amy Adams returns for an “Enchanted” sequel and Mickey Mouse receives the Disney+ documentary treatment.
Here’s a guide to new movies that will satisfy every cinematic taste, plus some noteworthy theatrical films making their streaming and on-demand debuts:
Holiday movie preview:10 films you must see this season, from ‘Babylon’ to ‘Avatar 2’
If you love journalism movies: ‘She Said’
A pair of New York Times reporters (Mulligan and Kazan) partner for an exposé about Weinstein’s decades of sexual harassment in Hollywood, from finding a series of victims to convincing them to go on the record. The effective drama highlights modern-day reportage and wisely gives the women affected a chance to tell their truth.
Where to watch: In theaters
If you like takedowns of foodie culture and/or rich people: ‘The Menu’
The horror-tinged culinary satire stars Fiennes as a celebrity chef running a super-chic restaurant on a remote island. His latest guests (including Anya Taylor-Joy and John Leguizamo) are in for a killer multi-course meal. The movie’s not nearly as vicious as it should be, but boasts the tastiest-looking cheeseburger since “Pulp Fiction.”
Where to watch: In theaters
Ranked:All the best movies we saw at Toronto Film Festival (including ‘The Menu’
If you’re a parent who lived for ‘A Neverending Story’ as a kid: ‘Slumberland’
The vibrant fantasy features a throwback adventure vibe, an adorable plush pig and Jason Momoa as just a hoot. When her lighthouse keeper father (Kyle Chandler) is lost at sea, Nemo (Marlow Barkley) is sent to live in the city and escapes into a dream world where she teams with a horned fellow (Momoa, channeling his inner Beetlejuice) to see her dad one last time.
Where to watch: Netflix
If you’ve been itching for Amy Adams as a princess again: ‘Disenchanted’
Set 10 years after “Enchanted,” Giselle (Adams) and her family move from New York City to suburbia. Giselle’s not loving it and wishes for a fairy-tale life, which brings out a wicked side around her stepdaughter. The musical sequel’s missing the original’s magic, although Giselle and the local “queen” (Maya Rudolph) have a rousing evil-off.
Where to watch: Disney+
If you’re a ‘Christmas Story’ superfan: ‘A Christmas Story Christmas’
The sequel to the 1983 holiday comedy classic is a casserole of nostalgia that’s surprisingly appetizing. In 1973, Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) returns to his Indiana hometown after his father’s death to give his family the best Christmas ever – easier said than done, of course – in a sweetly subversive sequel with plenty of callbacks.
Where to watch: HBO Max
Ranked:The 20 best Christmas movies of all time
If you’re in the mood for holiday romance: ‘Christmas With You’
To keep her spot in the music industry, a pop star (Aimee Garcia) is in desperate need of a hit Christmas song. After seeing an online post from a fan (Deja Monique Cruz), the singer decides to meet her and finds renewed inspiration – plus a little spark – with the kid’s widowed dad (Freddie Prinze Jr.) in the unsurprising yuletide rom-com.
Where to watch:Netflix
If you need a dysfunctional family comedy: ‘The People We Hate at the Wedding’
Kristen Bell and Ben Platt play snide siblings who are invited to London, along with their put-upon mom (Allison Janney), for the wedding of their wealthy, estranged older half-sister (Cynthia Addai-Robinson). Everybody airs their emotional baggage in a decent flick filled with drunken punches, bad choices and British high jinks.
Where to watch:Amazon Prime Video
If your ride-or-die is Florence Pugh: ‘The Wonder’
In a more satisfying outing than “Don’t Worry Darling,” Pugh stars in the 19th-century psychological thriller as an English nurse called to an Irish village to observe an 11-year-old girl. The kid is said to have survived months without food, making sainthood a possibility. But the nurse slowly discovers the seriously dark truth of the situation.
Where to watch: Netflix
If you’re all about that iconic cartoon rodent: ‘Mickey: The Story of a Mouse’
The documentary features a comprehensive history of what’s arguably Walt Disney’s greatest hit, from Mickey Mouse’s animated debut in the 1920s to decades of ubiquity. There’s plenty of starry-eyed nostalgia, but the film doesn’t shy away from the Mouse’s uglier side, from racist imagery in old ‘toons to Mickey as a catch-all symbol for consumerism.
Where to watch: Disney+
If you grew up on ‘Blue’s Clues’ or have little ones yourself: ‘Blue’s Big City Adventure’
This musically cheerful 75-minute take on the puppy-powered preschool program is better than it has any right to be. Josh (Joshua Dela Cruz) travels to the Big Apple with his canine buddy Blue for a big Broadway audition. When they get lost, Josh has to find clues to the theater in a film filled with cameos (Alex Winter and Phillipa Soo) as well as old “Blue’s” friends.
Where to watch: Paramount+
Also on streaming
- The horror hit “Smile,” starring Sosie Bacon as a doctor relentlessly haunted by a dark presence, is now available to watch on Paramount+ as well as Apple TV, Vudu, Amazon and Google Play.
- The musical drama “Tar,” featuring Cate Blanchett as a famous orchestra conductor, is streaming on Apple TV and other on-demand platforms.
- Also on demand is “Moonage Daydream,” a new documentary about glam-rock icon David Bowie.