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It was a quieter week at the theaters and on streaming, but we still got a great new black comedy. I also looked at a couple releases left over from President’s Day weekend. 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.

Goat (Theaters)
Starring: Caleb McLaughlin and Gabrielle Union
Synopsis: We all have dreams. Often, it takes a lot of work and a lot of patience to realize those dreams. But if you stay locked in, you’re ready to take advantage when the opportunity arises. That’s certainly a thought that’s at the heart of the new animated film Goat, which is now playing nationwide. The film is a sports movie of sorts. It’s set in a world populated by animals where the biggest sport is Roar Ball, a take off on basketball. The film comes from producer Stephen Curry, who voices a character in the film, and is focused on a young goat that dreams of starring on the court. But he’s deemed too small, and his dream dismissed—by everyone but him. We begin with a young Will as his mother (Jennifer Hudson) takes him to see his favorite team, The Thorns, in person. His favorite player is Jett Fillmore (Union), the league’s biggest star. He’s enraptured with what he sees and knows in his heart one day he’ll play with Jett for the Thorns. Flash-forward 10 years and Will (McLaughlin) is still working hard every day to hone his game. But he’s often dismissed due to his small size. The league is for bigger, stronger creatures. So, Will, whose mother has passed, works delivering food for a local diner, waiting for his chance. His finances aren’t what he hopes and he’s teetering on the edge of seeing his dream slip away. When a flashy league star, Mane Attraction (Aaron Pierre), is battling all comers on a local court, Will risks his rent money for a shot at glory. He puts on a good show before ultimately coming up short. Out of a house, he’s ready to set his dream aside. But footage of him taking Mane Attraction to the limit goes viral, leading the owner of the Thorns (Jenifer Lewis) to give him a contract as a marketing stunt. His addition to the roster doesn’t sit well with a veteran Jett, who is trying to capture her first title before her career ends. Can Will and his steely optimism defrost Jett enough to get her to let him help guide the Thorns to the top? We have seen a lot of different takes on sports movies. Goat falls into some familiar sports movie tropes about young players, crusty veterans, a miserable owner, and trying to win the title against all odds. The twist here is the kind of characters, the world, and the format. All that works in its favor to make it feel like something a little fresh and different. The film moves along at a good pace. I liked the story, and I liked the look of how the whole thing comes together. It’s visually fun, especially with the unique courts and the way they put the Roar Ball sequences together. I had a lot of fun watching it all play out, even if the story is somewhat predictable. The film also has an amazing cast. In addition to Union and McLaughlin, who are a lot of fun, we get David Harbour, Curry, Ayesha Curry, Nick Croll, Nicola Coughlin, and Patton Oswalt, among others. It’s a loaded group that all seems to be having fun with the story. Goat is the first big, animated film of 2026, and it should be a hit with audiences of all ages. It’s a fun story with a strong look and a decent message about never giving up on your dreams and learning to lean on your teammates. It’s worth checking out.
Rating: Rated PG for some rude humor and brief mild language.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

How to Make a Killing (Theaters)
Starring: Glen Powell and Margaret Qualley
Synopsis: Family can be tough, especially if you’re not close. But when there is money involved, things can be downright vicious. That’s certainly the case with the new black comedy How to Make a Killing, which debuts Friday. The film comes from writer/director John Patton Ford, who previously helmed Emily the Criminal. This is another tale of crime, but with a decidedly different tone. This one is based on the 1949 British film Kind Hearts and Coronets but adds its own updated flair. It’s likely to be a fun time for fans of the genre. The film focuses on Becket Redfellow (Powell). He’s had a tough life. His mother was an heiress in line for billions of dollars in family fortune. But when she got pregnant at 18, she was offered a choice by her father (Ed Harris)—get rid of the baby or keep it and make it on her own. She chose her son, meaning she and Beckett were cut off. Even when she got sick, there was no help from her extended family. Now an adult and still trying to make it, Beckett knows he’s still in the line of inheritance, but that possibility seems remote. A connection with an old classmate, Julia (Qualley), sparks something in Beckett. That spark combined with a dire job situation has him looking up his estranged family. He’s not looking for a connection, but to improve his place in the line of inheritance. Along the way, he finds love with Ruth (Jessica Henwick) and stumbles into a comfortable life. But when Julia re-emerges, it all becomes threatened. Can Beckett find happiness? Will he follow through on his mission? What will it all mean? As with the original film, this one starts with the lead in prison, sharing his story. In this case, it’s to a priest. That gives you the idea you know where the story is going, but there are still plenty of twists along the way. And the charm of Powell helps make this work. I enjoyed Ford’s last film. I thought the drama—which featured Aubrey Plaza—was a solid crime film. So, I was excited to see what he’d do with this follow-up. The film doesn’t disappoint, though it feels like something more akin to a Coen Brothers crime drama than his first film. But when it hits, it’s like gold. There is a strong cast here. Henwick, Harris, Bill Camp, Zach Woods, and Topher Grace are all part of the ensemble. And as Beckett introduces us to his relatives and shares the stories, it is a lot of fun. Many of the members of his family are quite over-the-top in the best way. So, too, are the lengths he goes to on his mission to work toward the right life his mother wanted for him. But the ace of the film is Qualley. She has an incredible ability to deliver in these kind of black comedy roles, something we’ve seen before. She lights up the screen whenever she appears and is probably the most fun aspect of an enjoyable film. I liked How to Make a Killing. It was a really fun ride that had some good twists and added plenty of comedy to a darker story. It’s a fun ride that’s worth taking.
Rating: Rated R for language and some violence/bloody images.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie (theaters)
Starring: Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol
Synopsis: In comedy, when you find the right bit, it can last forever. For Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol, that’s been Nirvana the Band. The duo have been living in that space for two decades, culminating the journey with an epic feature-length film. Back in 2007, the Duo formed Nirvana the Band, a duo hoping to get to play a show at the Toronto location the Rivoli. They had a web series through 2009 that chronicled their adventures in trying to get a show at the location. The success of that web series led to something bigger. From 2017 to 2018, it became Nirvana the Band the Show on Viceland. There, they continued the mockumentary series and the adventures trying to secure a show at the Rivoli. Now, it comes to the big screen. It’s been seven years since the series ended, but people’s enthusiasm for Matt, Jay, and their endless schemes hasn’t waned. Whether you’re a fan of the series (and web series), or coming to it for the first time, Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie is a heck of a ride. In the film, Matt and Jay are still trying to secure a show at the Rivoli. It’s been an ongoing effort for 17 years, and though they’ve never tried calling the venue, they keep trying to will it into existence. That’s led to some rough going as it’s consumed most of their focus over the years. And yet, they won’t give up. At the outset, Matt hatches his latest plan. It involves skydiving into the Skydome from the CN Tower. While it’s a solidish plan, things don’t play out quite as expected. That leads Matt to dream even bigger. Meanwhile, Jay begins to have reservations about staying committed to the bit. He lines up his own solo gig. At the same time, Matt works on turning their RV into a time machine. He thinks it’s a failure, but when Jay heads to his show the next day, not realizing Matt has passed out in the RV, they learn it’s not. Quickly, they find themselves in 2008, with a chance to change the future forever. This film, much like many films that serve as a bookend to a popular series, will likely play best with fans. Those who’ve followed the duo and their antics for the past 17 years will be right at home here. But if you go into cold, like me, you can still have fun because the story is easy enough to follow. It’s all about these two guys, who as you might expect have great chemistry. They wrote the film together, with Matt serving as the director, too. This is their vision, their partnership, and the fun is evident on screen. It’s a wild journey and a wild story—likely bigger than anything they’ve attempted on web or TV episodes. That befits the film environment. It also pays a huge tribute to Back to the Future—or rips it off depending on how you view it. But it’s all in good fun. It’s a wild ride with some fun beats, some emotional beats, and a crazy journey. You might not always understand what’s happening, but you’ll never be bored. Comedy is often tough to nail, especially in the mockumentary format. But this film does a nice job of building the premise and following it through in some of the wildest ways possible. It’s worth checking out, even if you aren’t familiar with the series, if you’re looking for some laughs.
Rating: Rated R for language and brief violence.
Verdict: Three stars out of five