Figuring Out Where ‘Buddy’ Belongs

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The Buddy crew doing their thing (CREDIT: Roadside Attractions and Saban Films)

Starring: Delaney Quinn, Keegan-Michael Key, Cristin Milioti, Tristan Broders, Madison Skyy Polan, Caleb Williams, Luke Speakman, Tory Jacqui Malone, Topher Grace, Clint Howard, Seamus Flynn, Bryson JonSteele, Phuong Kubacki, Bennie Taylor, Conner Stumm, Patton Oswalt, Michael Shannon, Jimmica Collins, Devon Hawkes Ludlow, Eric Bauza, Rachel Appelbaum

Director: Casper Kelly

Running Time: 96 Minutes

Rating: R

Release Date: August 28, 2026 (Theaters)

I generally wouldn’t like to be trapped in a children’s TV show, such as the orange unicorn one in Buddy. Even a less murderous option doesn’t sound all that appealing. The major exception is of course when I’m dreaming. Then it’s the perfect situation. So it makes sense that I tend to love it when a movie’s setting suddenly switches to a different plane of reality, as there is a rather dream-like quality to that transition. I bring this up because an instance of that transition happens in Buddy, as the TV universe lurches to the “real world,” and we’re left to wonder how it’s all connected. Hopefully this means that I’ll start having dreams about Buddy in the not-too-distant future!

Grade: 333 Talking Mailboxes out of 555 Talking Backpacks

This Is a ‘Palm Springs’ Review… This Is a ‘Palm Springs’ Review… This Is a ‘Palm Springs’ Review…

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Palm Springs (CREDIT: NEON/Hulu)

Starring: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, Meredith Hagner, Camila Mendes, Tyler Hoechlin, J.K. Simmons, Peter Gallagher, Dale Dickey

Director: Max Barbakow

Running Time: 90 Minutes

Rating: R

Release Date: July 10, 2020 (Hulu and Drive-In Theaters)

Time loop movies are surprisingly robust. You might think Groundhog Day has perfected the formula, but then all these newbies arrive in its wake, and they’re all, at the very least, not half bad. Case in point: the pretty dang good Palm Springs, which finds Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti stuck at a wedding. So I have decided to review Palm Springs by comparing it to all the other Groundhog Day-style time loop movies I’ve seen:

Palm Springs isn’t as transcendent as Groundhog Day, but it has a deeper conversation with eternity.
Palm Springs doesn’t have the sinister undertones of Source Code, although there is a random appearance from a certain extinct species that makes me think that maybe you could theorize about something like that lurking beneath the surface.
Palm Springs is more rooted in theoretical science than sci-fi when compared to Edge of Tomorrow, though it doesn’t flaunt it.
Palm Springs is a whole heck of a lot more fun than Before I Fall.
Palm Springs doesn’t have as much time for death montages as Happy Death Day. But both of them have plenty of time for fun and are thus the most kindred of spirits within this subgenre. The former takes place at a wedding and the latter at a college, and college friends are often invited to weddings, after all.
Palm Springs is not a sequel, unlike Happy Death Day 2 U. Perhaps one day Palm Springs will get a sequel, though I doubt it. But if it ever does, I’ll watch it.

I give Palm Springs 4 out of 4 out of 4 out of 4 out of 4 out of 4 Dinosaurs

Entertainment To-Do List: Week of 7/10/20

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BRAVE NEW WORLD (CREDIT: Steve Schofield/Peacock)

Every week, I list all the upcoming (or recently released) movies, TV shows, albums, podcasts, etc. that I believe are worth checking out.

Movies
Greyhound (Streaming on Apple TV+) – Tom Hanks joins the Navy.
The Old Guard (Streaming on Netflix) – Starring Charlize Theron and directed by Love & Basketball‘s Gina Prince-Bythewood!
Palm Springs (Streaming on Hulu) – Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti relive a wedding reception over and over again.

TV
Brave New World Series Premiere (July 15 on Peacock)
30 Rock Upfront Special (July 16 on NBC)

Music
-My Morning Jacket, The Waterfall II