Here’s a fun trivia fact - the term “summer blockbuster” didn’t exist until the release of “Jaws” in 1975. Since that year, movie enthusiasts have anxiously awaited summer movie releases. COVID-19 certainly has had an impact on this tradition, but that’s not to say there are not movies to be excited about this summer. So this month, I’m starting with the movies that I believe deserve your time and money in the theaters.

“The Little Mermaid” My husband loved the original and was excited to see this one as it reminds him of our No. 2 daughter, Sally. While Ursula would definitely be scary for young children, I think 9- or 10-year-olds and older will enjoy this movie. We thoroughly enjoyed singing along with our oldest daughter, who happens to be 31 and remembers the original fondly.

“Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3” This is truly one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while. This movie is basically a story of self-sacrifice and loving a “chosen” family. I laughed and cried throughout this film. You can see this without seeing the first two, but I would recommend reading a summary.

“Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” Forget that awful “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” debacle. This is like the energy and writing of the earliest Indian Jones. Phoebe Walker-Bridge is excellent as Harrison Ford’s goddaughter, and characters you love from previous films make appearances. Side note: My adult children who had never seen the original were bored, so if you haven’t seen the original, take time to stream it.

The movie you can skip is “Android City.” I really love some of director’s Wes Anderson’s films, especially “Moonrise Kingdom,” but this is a pretentious, no-story mess.

I CANNOT wait for “Barbie.” This movie is directed by Greta Gerwig, whose version of “Little Women” is the best. I grew up with every Barbie accessory and could play Barbies for hours with my friends. I’ll update you next month!

There are several recent theatrical releases now available to stream. Max has “Evil Dead Rise” (skip!); Peacock has “Polite Society” (charming) and “Book Club - The Next Chapter” (if you liked the first one you will enjoy this one); and Prime has “Jesus Revolution” that I reviewed a few months ago. It’s a film worth watching.

Streaming Services this Month

Netflix

• “Black Mirror” I’ve had to wait FOUR years for more episodes. This series gets its name from a turned-off phone or tablet - it becomes a “black mirror.” Charlie Brooker is the English creator and you should google his interview on CBS Saturday Morning. This show is about technology gone amuck. Some episodes are creepy, some are scary and some are downright mind-blowing! This is not for everyone, but I love it so much.
• “Take Care of Maya” This documentary really hit home for me as I have a friend being accused of Munchausen by proxy. This documentary made me want to go into legal defense work.
• “Missing” This theatrically released movie is thrilling. A mother goes missing and her daughter uses technology and a friend to track her down. A fun Friday night view!
• “Break-Point” This sports docuseries focuses on up and coming tennis players during four Grand Slam tournaments. This is so well done you don’t even need to love tennis to enjoy this series.
• “Red Rose” This series reminded me of “Black Mirror” so I loved it. It’s about an app some high school seniors download, and all kinds of trouble begins. Again, technology run amuck is scary and timely!

Hulu

• “The Split” This is a great summer binge. I recommended this fabulous BBC series when it first came out. It was a show we could watch as a couple, which is hard to find for us!

John and I are currently still streaming “Brothers and Sisters” and “Blue Bloods” (John’s fav).

Prime Video

• “Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets” Honestly, this was the most horrifying docuseries I’ve watched. This is the story of not only Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar but also Bill Gothard, famous for his Institute in Basic Life Principles. This four-part series exposes what the Duggar’s knew about their son committing sexual abuse on his own sisters, what Bill Gothard was actually teaching and how The Learning Channel encouraged the cover-up. I could not stop thinking about this series. If you watch it, please message me on Instagram @merriles. A warning: If you or someone you love has been sexually abused, especially in church, this may be very triggering. Along this same vein, listen to the podcast “Scamanda.” It’s a true story of Amanda C. Reilly who scammed her church and people nationwide by faking cancer.
• “Jack Ryan” The final season of this action packed series goes out with a bang. John Krasinski is almost perfect in the lead role.
• “The Summer I Turned Pretty” (season two)

I loved the first season and I cannot wait for season two.

Max (formerly HBOMax)

• “The Curios Case of Natalia Grace” This is a crazy documentary about an adult who poses as a child and is adopted by an American couple.
• Another adult recommendation you can binge this summer is “Succession.” I know I raved about it last month, and it’s still just as fantastic. Again, adults only.

Apple TV

• “Hijack”  The fabulous Idris Elba stars in this gripping drama about a hijacked plane. It’s an “are they bad or are they good” rollercoaster ride.
• “Ted Lasso” I have several friends who have not watched this series due to adult language and themes. I can appreciate this, yet every single character illustrates a story of redemption and the power of forgiveness. It will forever be my favorite comedy.
• “Silo” My oldest daughter and I are obsessed with this science fiction series. Even if you think you hate science fiction, you should give this a try.

When I write to you next month, I will have seen “Barbie!” Until then pass the popcorn …

Needing cathartic viewing after a whirlwind of events and emotions, I easily found good-to-great options on both the big screen and the small screen this month.

Theatres offered three movies that I found entertaining and moving in very different ways. If you are anywhere near my age, you most likely read “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” by Judy Blume. I read it so often I had two copies. The movie starring Rachel McAdams, Kathy Bates and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret, is simply magical for those of us who grew up loving this precious book. The newest “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Big George Foreman” were also thoroughly entertaining and stirring emotionally.

Before I break down the streaming services, I want to tell you my top five streaming offerings I watched. The first is “Ted Lasso.” This is the final season, and the 11th episode of this season, called “Mom City,” shows what true forgiveness looks like. Minus the language, this series on Apple TV is my favorite comedic series ever.

More favs were on Max (formerly HBOMax). “Succession,” the series based on the Rupert Murdoch family, is very adult viewing. I found it simply fascinating and highly addictive. The final episode of the series is literally a modern day “Macbeth.” The other series I loved was “Band of Brothers.” This is the story of “E” Easy Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, from their training to D-Day. It gave me an entirely new appreciation for those who serve.

My last two favorites were on Hulu. I pride myself on always figuring out the ending of any mystery book or movie, and the Jessica Biel-produced “Cruel Summer” had me guessing the entire time. I was totally shocked at the ending. I started the old series “Brothers and Sisters” starring Sally Field and Calista Flockhart. A dear friend recommended it because she thought I would find the story of an addict brother cathartic. I did. It helped me to see the many family dynamics played out, and it helped me have compassion for a few people in my own family.

So now for the other streaming options:

HBO Max

• “Bama Rush” While this was hailed as “revolutionary,” I did not find it to be so. Maybe it was because I was raised in the South and had gone through rush at a big SEC school, but I thought the documentarian made the documentary more about herself and exaggerated her being “in danger.” It is fascinating but I didn’t think it lived up to the hype.
• “Love and Death” A few months ago Jessica Biel released a mini series called “Candy” on Hulu, which follows the true story of Candy Montgomery, who allegedly killed her neighbor Betty Gore with an axe. This mini series starring Elizabeth Olsen and Jesse Plemons is superior. It is riveting!

Amazon Prime

• “80 for Brady” The Jane Fonda-led comedy is now available to stream, and it is sweet and funny if you need a good smile.
• “There’s Something Wrong with the Children” This is a movie for thriller/horror fans. It starts off with a bang and leaves you guessing. Not an A-plus movie by any means, but if it’s a rainy afternoon and you want a scare, this will fit the bill.

Netflix
Well, this was the month Netflix came out with its new password sharing policy. I honestly think it will backfire as Max, Apple and Peacock continue to offer quality original material.

The only thing I watched on Netflix was “Firefly Lane.” It was the final season, and, as someone needing a good cry, this was a great choice for me.

Apple+
Another excellent original series is “Silo.” It is a science fiction piece based on society being forced to live underground. It’s a brilliant story that has so much to say about Covid-19, our current alienation from people who disagree with us, and other hot topics.

Several people have asked if I could choose a few movies and streaming series to watch this summer so here is my list:

1. “Friday Night Lights” It will always be No 1. Coach and Tammy Taylor will forever be my favorite TV couple. (Hulu)
2. “Gilmore Girls” It’s a must and a great way to encourage mother/daughter bonding. (Netflix)
3. “Ted Lasso” See  the above notes. (Apple TV+)
4. “About Time” How do our families shape us and what’s really important and not important in families? I LOVE THIS MOVIE. (Hulu or Prime)
5. “Lars and The Real Girl” This is one of my two all-time favorite movies. Please note it does NOT go down a dark road in the beginning! I’ve had a friend suggest pastors and others in counseling roles watch this movie. Ryan Gosling is amazingly perfect. (Apple TV+ or Prime)
6. “Schitt’s Creek” It’s just a sweet laugh fest. (Hulu or Prime)

I’m getting excited about “Barbie” and “The Little Mermaid,” so I’ll keep you posted!

Until next time, enjoy catching up on some of my favorites and keep passing the popcorn …
P.S. If you have Peacock, you can watch a lot of NBC options anywhere you have a smart phone or tablet!

Before streaming became more popular than network television, March and April were great months for TV because advertisers looked at ratings in a method commonly called “sweeps.” With the exception of “The Good Doctor,” “Law & Order,” and “Law & Order: SVU,” I don’t watch any network television, and I usually stream those shows the next day so I don’t have to watch commercials.

Truthfully, I quit watching more shows than I finished this month. I do not know what executive at Netflix decided nudity and heavy sexual content is acceptable. It may be one of the reasons that Netflix is losing money faster than any other streaming service.

In March, I lost my mother. In April, my brother (a man who struggled with addiction all his life) was found dead under suspicious circumstances in a hotel room. After this, I wanted to watch what I call “grief comfort viewing.” I re-watched “Terms of Endearment,” “Beautiful Boy” and “Ordinary People.” During this painful time, I discovered the one new show that I LOVED and NEEDED was “Tiny Beautiful Things” on Hulu. I adore the actress Kathryn Hahn, and she shines in the role of Claire, a woman whose life is falling apart, and she can’t seem to put any good decisions into action. The language is very adult, but I needed an emotional exploration of complex mother/daughter relationships. It’s one of the best things I’ve watched this month. Again, very adult-themed. Hulu also gave us the full first season of “Alaska Daily” starring the excellent Hillary Swank as a reporter out to solve a crime and save a small newspaper. I also enjoyed the movie “Collide,” which weaves four stories together in a surprising way.
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Before I address the other streaming services, I thought it would be helpful to share the shows I stopped watching. Up first is “Beef” on Netflix. I have friends who loved this show, but the sexual content and language just made me throw into the towel. “Yellowjackets” on Showtime was one of my favorite shows last year but the second season? NO THANK YOU. “Significant Other” is a thriller on several streaming services but I had to opt out! On to other streamers now …

HBOMAX

• “Succession” In its fourth and final season, this is the mind-blowing series based on the Rupert Murdoch family. Very adult oriented, it is the best-written and best-acted show out there in my opinion. If language is your line in the sand, this is not your cup of tea.
• “Love and Death” Elizabeth Olsen shines as a suburban housewife who rocks her small Texas church and neighborhood by her decision to have an affair. This is a true story. It’s INSANE. (Let me just say that someone buys an axe.)

NETFLIX

• “Beef” This show started with a bang and loved it but soon ran away screaming.
• “Love is Blind” Can people spend time together without seeing each other and fall in love sight unseen? I LOVED this show! It’s not great cinematic viewing but so entertaining
• “The Glory” (season 2) If I haven’t sold you on this season in last month’s edition, I don’t know what to say. This is a dubbed Korean TV show that follows a bullied teenager as she educates herself and seeks revenge. I love justice/revenge stories, which probably says something about my deep psychosis.
• “Leanne Morgan: I’m Every Woman” I saved the BEST for last. Leanne is hysterical and does not say one swear word. I have rewatched parts of this comedy special many times. DO NOT MISS THIS.

In Theaters
“Air” This Ben Affleck - and Matt Damon-led true story of the creation of the Air Jordan sneakers is fabulous. It’s true, it’s fascinating, it’s uplifting. Go. Seriously. Go. (Adults only due to language.)

“Evil Dead Rise” Seriously, come to a dead stop if you’re considering this horror movie. Yes, pun intended. It’s so awful. I saw it with a young couple I didn’t know. At one point he looked back and said, “Ma’am,” this is horrible, right?” Yep. Enough said.

“Are you There, God? It’s Me, Margaret” Grab your daughters, your girlfriends and go NOW. By the time you read this, this precious film based on the book anyone my age read at least 10 times growing up may be on streaming services. If you loved the book, you will not be disappointed in this adaptation. This was the happiest theatrical experience I’ve had in a long time, and I got to experience with my oldest daughter (who’s 31), and she loved it as well.

I’m hoping late spring or summer will offer us fare that makes us want to go to the theater together. Until then, pass the popcorn please ….

If you missed The Oscars, here’s the condensed version: the champagne carpet got dirty and washed the stars out (they all looked a weird color); “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once” and “All Quiet on the Western Front” won essentially everything; everyone agreed Tom Cruise saved the movie industry with “Top Gun: Maverick.” Almost all nominated films are streaming. Most are almost three hours long, so you may want to view in several sections.

The Lookout Mountain Club hosted such a fun Red Carpet and Oscar viewing party. My fearless “fact checker” Mary Evans and I had the best time. I’m crossing my fingers that LMC does that again next year, and I hope many of you will join Mary and me.

I loved the acceptance speech by Ke Huy Quan from “Everything, Everywhere, All at Once.” Quan was a child actor who left the business and returned right before this movie. I also loved Jamie Lee Curtis’s speech because she thanked all the fans (me!) of horror movies who stayed with her films all those years.

I saw three films in theaters this month. “Champions” stars Woody Harrelson as a fired college coach who is assigned community service; he must coach a Special Olympics basketball team. (If you’ve never attended a Special Olympics event, you should). It’s a sweet, endearing story.

I’ve been a Rocky fan since the original film. My daddy took me to the one theater in Montgomery and he wept. I had never seen him cry. I was hooked. I’ve never missed a Rocky sequel, so of course I LOVED “Creed 3.” Like all Rocky movies, there is a great redemption and forgiveness storyline. Another franchise I’ve never missed a sequel from is the “Scream” series, but unless you’re a major fan of the series, just stream it later.

It is always interesting to me which streaming service has the best content. In March, I’d say it was a tie between Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

Amazon

• “Daisy Jones and The Six” This series is based on the Taylor Jenkins Reid novel that I read in one day. I loved both the book and this series so much I cannot find the adjectives to express my utter fandom. Yes, there is drug use, addiction, and some adult content, so you are warned. I had not cried after my mother’s death as I shed many tears four years ago, but the final episode of this series had me weeping. It was cathartic, and I was reminded I am not alone in parts of my story. Elvis’s granddaughter Riley Keough stars as Daisy, and Sam Claflin (made famous by “Hunger Games” series) stars as Billy Dunne. They are perfection.
• The next two shows I watched were a bit heavy, so I added a comedy show after each - a practice I highly recommend. I call it the “comedy chaser.”
• “Alice Darling” This film stars Anna Kendrick as a smart woman in an abusive relationship. Her friends read the red flags and encourage her to leave her boyfriend. This is such a good lesson in watching out for our loved ones and being willing to step in when necessary. My “comedy chaser” after this was my favorite comedian Nate Berghatze (a Tennessee man!) in his “Hello World” special. Not a single swear word!
• “Jared from Subway: Catching a Monster” This three-part docuseries covers the rise to fame of Jared Fogle, the man who famously lost 150 pounds while eating at Subway. He started a program to “educate kids on healthy eating” while he was actually a sexual predator.

Apple TV

• “Ted Lasso” Season three is up and running! How I wish I could convince the editors and writers to remove some of the language because it is the sweetest show.
• “Dear Edward” Based on the fabulous novel, this series follows the sole survivor of a plane crash. Eleven-year-old Eddie moves in with his aunt and uncle who he barely knows to start life over as Edward. The team behind “Friday Night Lights” (best TV show ever - I’ll never stop saying that) produced this one, and yes, Connie Britton is a lead, as is Taylor Schilling from “Orange is the New Black.” I love this series, which may have a season two.
• “Truth Be Told” Please watch this season of this spectacular show. It’s in season three now but you do not need to watch the first two seasons. This season podcast investigator Poppy (uber talented Octavia Spencer) tackles sex trafficking. Everyone has probably heard the statistic that the United States is the country with the most trafficking. Called “Romeo Trafficking,” young girls are lured in by someone who becomes their boyfriend and overwhelms them with gifts and attention and ultimately gets them to a party where they are passed around and taken away by someone else. This is an important season, and I would even recommend watching it with your older teens.

Netflix

• “The Best Beer Run Ever” Based on a true story starring Zac Efron and Russell Crowe, Chickie Donahue (Efron) decides to transport beer to all his friends who are fighting in Vietnam. I was scared this was going to be an anti-American story, but it is a story of love, sacrifice for country and finding your story.
• My next two loves only apply to my fellow thriller/horror fans. “The Glory” is the story of a horrifically bullied high schooler who plots revenge on her tormentors. The other thriller I liked was “The Strays.” This film has seriously the most surprising ending I have ever seen. It’s the story of a mother whose life begins to unravel as her past catches up to her.

Paramount

• “The Visitor” This is another thriller about a couple that moves into the wife’s childhood home and discovers her husband is mysteriously in paintings that are decades old.

Hulu

• “Alaska Daily” You can now stream the entire first season of this superb newspaper mystery solving show. The superb cast is led by Hilary Swank.
• “Accused” This series follows a different case each week. If you’re a courtroom drama fan, this is for you.
• “Ritual Killer” This thriller stars Morgan Freeman as a detective about to retire when he is handed a case of murders being committed using a black magic known as muti.
• “Lullaby” This is a straight up, old school horror movie by the “Annabelle” team. A set of new parents accidentally open an evil spirit in their home through an ancient lullaby.
• “Boston Strangler” This is an excellent film chronicling the women who would not stop investigating the Boston Strangler even though women were not allowed often in investigative reporting. Kiera Knightly and Carrie Coon are superb.

And because I had four surgeries in 10 months, each recovery gets a pass on a “pure trash but can’t look away” show. This last one was “Southern Charm Savannah.”
Until next month, pass the popcorn please …

By the time you read this, the Oscars will have aired. In 1990, Billy Crystal opened the ceremony with a beloved musical number that included the title of this article. So, every year I watch that video on YouTube and sing that song.

Last month, I reviewed most of the movies nominated. The condensed version of my reviews were in the “skip it” category: “The Banshees of Insherin;” “Tár;” “Triangle of Sadness;” and “The Whale.”

The “yes, see it” list included: “The Fabelmans;” “Maverick: Top Gun;” “All Quiet on the Western Front;” “Elvis;” and “Everything, Everywhere All at Once.” All of these films are available to stream.

I rented “To Leslie” because of all the controversy surrounding the best actress nomination for lead actress Andrea Riseborough (I still don’t understand the campaigning rules). This was a hard movie for me as it’s about an addict, and my brother is an addict. I think Andrea earned that Oscar nomination. It’s a well done movie; just know it can be very triggering for those of us with addicts in our lives.

In theaters this month, I saw “80 for Brady.” I am not a Tom Brady fan, but I love true stories. I love movies about healthy female friendships, and with Lily Tomlin, Sally Fields, Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno starring? It was a no brainer for me. If felt good to laugh, cry and just experience a movie in a group setting.

I also saw “Knock at the Cabin.” I’m a huge fan of the director M. Night Shyamalan (“The Sixth Sense”). This was not his best work, but I took a bunch of 20-something-year olds to see this film and they were all entertained. It is a thriller about the end of the world, but it didn’t work in my opinion.

The final movie I saw in theaters was “Jesus Revolution.” My oldest daughter asked my husband and me to go with her. It’s the true story of the Jesus movement in the ’70s in California. Kelsey Grammer does a good job of portraying Chuck Smith, the man who ultimately started Calvary Chapel. I appreciated that the three pastors were not portrayed as perfect. It’s definitely a movie families can see together.
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Still recovering from major foot surgery gave me time for lots of streaming, so here are the things I watched. I will say it again, HBO and Apple are killing it.


HBO

• “The Last of Us” I didn’t think I would like this series. It is based on the video game that changed the world of video games by creating characters with actual stories you care about. I haven’t finished this series as of this deadline, but so far I’m all in.

Apple

• “Dear Edward” Based on the bestselling novel by the same name, this one was brought to life by the brilliant writers and directors of “Friday Night Lights” (best TV show ever FYI). Connie Britton and Taylor Schilling give excellent performances. I loved the book, and I think the series is doing a great job of staying true to the book.
• “Sharper” This was my favorite movie of the month. It’s a twisty, turny who-is-good and who-is-bad starring Julianne Moore and Sebastian Stan. It had me guessing to last minute.
• “Shrinking” This comedy stars Harrison Ford and Jason Segel. It’s hysterical, but be warned the language is very adult.
• “Servant” The creepy M.Night Shyamalan series is coming to an end. Unless you really enjoy horror, you can skip this.

Netflix
Basically Netflix provided my just senseless binge material for lying on your back with your foot elevated. Watch “Black Summer” for your zombie fix, and season three of “Love is Blind” and  “Bling Empire” for your “surely this doesn’t exist” fix. The one very pleasant surprise was the Reese Witherspoon and Ashton Kutcher romantic comedy “Your Place or Mine?” Great date night movie! Also, the documentary “Pamela, A Love Story” by Pamela Anderson’s son was very moving.


Hulu

• “The Sacrament” A brother goes to find his sister who he is convinced has joined a cult. What he finds is even more terrifying. I loved it, but I do love a well done scary movie.
• “Stolen Youth -The Cult at Sarah Lawrence” is a true cult story. This documentary is absolutely SHOCKING. And how an Ivy League school let this happen on its campus is horrifying.
• “Accused” This anthology series covers a different legal dilemma. It’s so good and makes you think.

     
Well, next month we will have Oscar winners, and I’ll have lots of opinions. Pas the popcorn please …