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It was a solid week for new films, with some interesting offerings making their way to theaters and streaming. Below is my take on the new movies I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

100 Nights of Hero (Theaters)
Starring: Emma Corrin, Maika Monroe, and Nicholas Galitzine
Synopsis: This is the time of year where we get all kinds of stories offered in theaters. Among them are creative and daring pieces with strong casts. But not all of them find their way within the big swings they take. Such is the case with 100 Nights of Hero, a new IFC film that gets a limited release this Friday. It’s got a great cast and a unique hook. It has a quality look of a fairy tale brought to life. But, in the end, it doesn’t deliver on its premise. We’re whisked to an alternate world where women’s only role is to marry and produce heirs to please the local leaders. Into this was thrust Cherry (Monroe), a beautiful young woman who has fulfilled her role as a bride. But despite a good match with Jerome (Amir El-Masry), no heir has come. That’s put her in the crosshairs of the Birdmen who run things and Jerome’s family. But, as it turns out, it’s not all on Cherry. Jerome, though a dashing choice, seems little interested in his wife. But when an old friend, Manfred (Galitzine), arrives and questions Cherry’s virtue, Jerome defends her. He offers his friend 100 nights to prove him wrong, in which case he’d win the castle. As Jerome departs, Cherry is left alone with Manfred and the servants, including her loyal maid Hero (Corrin). Seeing the potential threat Manfred presents, Hero begins to weave an intricate story. As she does, time seems to fly at an uneven rate. Can she keep her narrative going long enough for Cherry to last 100 nights? This is an interesting take on a story and world-building. It comes from writer/director Julia Jackman, based on the book by Isabel Greenberg. It’s got a great look and a fun premise. The world-building really helps to land you in the story with these characters. There is also a great sense of humor. Corrin, Monroe, and Galitzine do a nice job of going back-and-forth, and adding humorous touches. That helps keep you invested in the story. I particularly liked Corrin in the role of Hero. She has some great line deliveries and some great moments. But while this starts out quirky and fun, the premise wears a bit thin as we move forward. That combined with a strange, and rushed-feeling third act, left me a bit underwhelmed by the finished product. Still, it has some fun moments and will likely be a fun watch for fans of the genre, especially when it lands on stream. 100 Nights of Hero is now in limited release.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for sexual material, some bloody images and language.
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five

Jay Kelly (Netflix)
Starring: George Clooney, Adam Sandler, and Laura Dern
Synopsis: When you get to the end of the road, it makes sense to reflect on where you’ve been. For Jay Kelly (Clooney), his memories are all tied to a career for which he sacrificed everything. But he can’t help but wonder if it was worth it as the end nears. This new film from writer/director Noah Baubach, Jay Kelly, is a pensive exploration. It drops on Netflix on Friday, and it figures to be a contender for the major year-end awards. It’s about a man starring at the end and wondering if it was worth it. We begin as Jay Kelly is wrapping up his latest film. He’s on a chaotic set. But he’s the master of bringing everything together to get that near-perfect shot. As the director wraps, it’s the end of his film and the beginning of a lot of questions. Jay Kelly has another film on deck shortly, but he’s feeling a little listless. His agent, Ron (Sandler), tries to be the voice of reason guiding Jay toward the future. But where Ron is driven and sees the plan, Jay Kelly has begun to question everything. When his mentor, and one of his first directors (Jim Broadbent), it throws him into more of a quandary, especially as he listens to his friend’s son talk about a life that prioritized his career over everything. That is further complicated when Jay runs across an old friend (Billy Crudup). Their difficult reconnection opens painful wounds and causes Jay to take stock of his life in a new way. All of it begins to shift his focus and perspective.  Despite mounting pressure to begin his new film, Jay decides to try and connect with his daughters (Riley Keough and Grace Edwards). That leads him to take an impromptu trip to Europe to connect in person with his youngest (Edwards), much to the chagrin of Ron, who wants to keep the Jay Kelly business on the tracks. This is an interesting film that provides an intriguing journey. It’s also interesting to see this film come out the same year as Sentimental Value, which approaches some similar subject matter. But this one, rather than being focused on the kids as much as the parent, is squarely focused on Jay Kelly. He begins to reflect on his life and career, but also sees that the way he did it might not have been the only way to do it. This film has an excellent supporting cast, including Patrick Wilson, Stacy Keach, Emily Mortimer, and Dern. But, mostly, it’s about Jay and his agent and friend, Ron. We see their parallel journeys and the ways they mirror and oppose one another. That leads to them coming together in a fascinating way in the third act. I enjoyed the flashback and the journey that Jay goes on in the film. Clooney is a gifted actor who can convey so much with his expressions and his mannerisms. He plies that well here. Some of his best work has been in these quieter, more introspective films. This isn’t my favorite of his performances all time, but it’s close. Particularly in the final sequence, which is beautiful and puts a great cap on this journey. Baumbach has delivered some interesting and powerful films for Netflix over the past decade. This is one of his best. It’s a beautiful and thoughtful journey that is well worth seeking out. It should be a player for Netflix this awards season. Jay Kelly is now streaming on Netflix.
Rating: Rated R for language
Verdict: Four stars out of five

Merrily We Roll Along (Theaters)
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff
Synopsis: There is a reason people have long been drawn to the theater. It tells unique and deeply emotional tales in a unique way. But not everyone has access to the best of the lights of New York City. So, in recent years, we’ve seen these productions captured for a wider national audience. That’s certainly the case with Merrily We Roll Along, the musical written by George Furth with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. It debuted in 1981 and has had a long run on the stage. While a theatrical version from Richard Linklater is in the works, those who want to see it in a theater won’t have to wait that long. There is a new version, filmed from the stage production, that is making its way to theaters this December. It opens on Friday, featuring Radcliffe and Groff in the lead roles. It’s sure to be a big hit with Broadway fans. The show spans decades and follows the relationship among three friends. There’s writer Charley Kringas (Radcliffe), song man Franklin Shepherd (Groff), and budding journalist Mary Flynn (Lindsay Mendez). They have all been connected for a long time, friends, colleagues, and more. It begins in 1977. Franklin is a big success, but his friendship and partnership with Charley has gone by the wayside. He’s hosting a big party, and while Mary is in attendance, it’s hard for her to see what Franklin has become. Then, over the process of the next two and a half hours, the story moves in reverse, as we see how we got to that point. By the time we end, we’re back in 1957. Franklin, Charley, and Mary are talented dreamers on the cusp of finding their way. It’s a novel way to tell a story. Doubtless that works a bit better on the stage, but it is still engaging on the big screen. This version of the stage production is filmed and directed by Maria Friedman, who works to capture the wonder of what’s happening on stage. I didn’t see it on stage, but I was taken with Radcliffe and Groff. Both are quite good in the show and have good chemistry in this dense, often emotional production. I thought Mendez did a nice job too, but the crux of the story feels like it’s focused on these two creative partners and friends. It’s heart-breaking, in a way, to see it play out in reverse. It makes for a happy final sequence that feels bittersweet. I enjoyed the production for what it is. It was fun to see the story play out on screen, but the drawback with these productions is you can’t totally capture a stage production on film. You can get close, but it doesn’t quite click like the real thing. If you’re a stage musical fan, this will be an early December treat. If not, this might not hold as much resonance for you owing to the transition. Merrily We Roll Along is now playing nationwide.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for drug use, some strong language, and smoking.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Oh. What. Fun. (Prime Video)
Starring: Michelle Pfeiffer, Dennis Leary, Felicity Jones, Dominic Sessa, and Chloe Grace Moretz
Synopsis: Every year we get new Christmas films. It’s a genre that ripe for plenty of content, and this year is no different. These films and stories often have varying quality. This new film, which debuted on Prime Video December 3, follows a mother (Pfeiffer) who is being pushed to her limit. Her favorite daytime host (Eva Longoria) has a contest to honor moms who go the extra mile for the holidays. As she prepares to host her family, Claire pushes her kids to submit her. She gets little help from her husband (Leary) and little enthusiasm from her three grown kids (Jones, Sessa, and Moretz) as they return with families, significant others, and plenty of issues. As things go from stressful to worse, Claire becomes fed up and decides to check out. Can her family win her back? This feels like a story we’ve seen before. In fact, some of the voice-overs and positions Claire has about the trappings of the holiday, and some of her madcap adventures, feel like broader comedies like Bad Moms. But this doesn’t rise to those heights in either the antics of in the humor. It’s fun, and it has a solid cast, but it’s mostly just OK. And it feels a bit long at times as it takes its time to get where it’s going. It’s fine but doesn’t feel like an instant classic. Still, if you want some Christmas fun, it’s right there to stream!
Rating: Rated PG-13 for some drug use, sexual material and strong language.
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five

Tapawingo (VOD)
Starring: Jon Heder, Billy Zane, and Gina Gershon
Synopsis: I still remember when Napoleon Dynamite was released in 2004. It introduced us to Heder as a performer, and his unique brand of comedy and mannerisms. He was a breakout star from that film and has continued to appear over the past 20 years. But during that time, he’s continued to deliver characters that feel an awful lot like Napoleon. That’s certainly true of his latest film, Tapawingo. It’s a small, off-beat comedy that debuts on streaming Tuesday.  The film follows Nate Skoog (Heder), an adult living at home with his mother (Amanda Bearse). He has a menial job and a best friend, Will Luna (Jay Pichardo), with whom he shares a variety of interests, including martial arts training. Soon, his life is thrown upside down as he ends up being asked to chauffer the boss’s son, Oswalt (Sawyer Williams). Nate makes a connection with Oswalt. He also connects with the woman Oswalt is tutoring, Gretchen (Kim Matula), who works at a local arcade. She takes a shine to Nate, too, and they begin a flirtation. But when Oswalt runs afoul of some local bullies, and Nate intercedes, he finds himself in the middle of a dispute. That puts him, his friends, his family, and his new relationship at risk. Will he step up and do right by Oswalt or withdraw from the conflict. This film had a long journey to viewers. It made a debut as a rough cut in late 2023 before getting more of a wide release over the past two years. Now, it’s set to be available on streaming platforms today. That will give more people a chance to find this off-beat comedy. It has a good cast. In addition to those mentioned, the film co-stars Zane, John Ratzenberger, and Gershon, among others. It also has an interesting look and pacing that add to the off-beat humor of the moment. The film is directed by Dylan K. Narang, who co-wrote the script with Brad DeMarea. It’s an interesting idea and turns out to be a sprawling, screwball epic. But at nearly two hours, it feels a bit long for the kind of story it wants to tell. This feels like it wants to be Napoleon Dynamite grown up. There’s the same vibe for Heder’s Nate, and his friendship with Will feels of a piece with that film, too. But it lacks some of the quirky charm. There are fun moments, but this feels a little more by-the-numbers. It’s a fine film but doesn’t feel overly compelling. If you’re a fan of Heder and looking for some off-beat comedy, this is worth a try. Tapawingo is now available on streaming platforms.
Rating: NA
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five