Kiwi entertainer Rose Matafeo may have struck gold with her TV rom-com Starstruck, but she has shared her fears of contributing to a genre she has mixed thoughts about.
24.07.2023 - 11:15 / variety.com
Catherine Bray Sitcom star Ellie Kemper (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “The Office”) gets the chance to subvert her usually chipper screen persona in “Happiness for Beginners,” writer-director Vicky Wright’s third feature and — following 2020’s Leslie Bibb starrer “The Lost Husband” — her second adaptation of a Katherine Center novel. Kemper plays dour divorcee Helen, who as the film opens is about to head off on a group hiking vacation, in the hope that it might snap her out of her post-split blues. Unbeknownst to Helen, her brother’s hunky doctor friend Jake (Luke Grimes) has booked himself onto the same trip, for reasons that are crystal-clear to the audience from the moment an exasperated Helen tells him, “God, you’re so annoying!”
We can tell immediately that we are operating under the jurisdiction of romantic comedy rules from the fact that Helen does not find Jake appearing unannounced on her trip — with only a thinly sketched excuse for this wild coincidence — to be stalker-ish red flag behaviour. Pretty much everything in “Happiness for Beginners” is very polite: A raunchier romance, after all, might have opted for a booze cruise or trip to Las Vegas in place of hiking the Appalachian trail. Rom-com rules also mean that the rag-tag ensemble of hikers, brought together by nothing more than their collective impulse to get back to nature, provides an opportunity for Wright’s screenplay to serveup some comfortably familiar stock characters. There’s the gay best friend, Hugh (Nico Santos, “Crazy Rich Asians”), wispy space cadet Kaylee (Gus Birney), dude-bro Mason (Esteban Benito), type-A nightmare Beckett (Ben Cook), and so on. Away from the hiking trail, there’s also room for a radiant Blythe Danner as Helen’s
Kiwi entertainer Rose Matafeo may have struck gold with her TV rom-com Starstruck, but she has shared her fears of contributing to a genre she has mixed thoughts about.
Vanna White won't be on some upcoming episodes of. ET has learned that the series' longtime hostess missed a day of taping the syndicated series because she was sick.White's missed day of work came during «Teachers Week.» Since educators had already arrived in Los Angeles to tape the game show — and with the academic school year fast approaching — it was not feasible to reschedule filming on that particular day.In White's absence, the show kept with the theme of the week, with California Teacher of the Year Bridgette Donald-Blue graciously agreeing to fill in for the five episodes the TV personality missed.
has been popular for literal centuries for this reason—it's not only a physical exercise but a spiritual one. Through yoga, you can explore your limits and discover new dimensions within yourself.We know that starting any new discipline always has its challenges, but don't worry because there are so many easy ways to start the process. And to help you on that journey, we've gathered seven asanas—that is, physical positions used during a hatha yoga practice—that can unlock your potential and allow you to elevate both your spirit and your body.
Anna Tingley If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission. “Red, White and Royal Blue,” the hotly anticipated queer rom-com based off Casey McQuiston’s best-selling romance novel, is finally here. The film arrives on Prime Video on Friday, Aug.
Things are reportedly heating up between Shakira and her alleged new beau Jimmy Butler.
Peter Debruge Chief Film Critic The “prince of England’s hearts” falls for the American president’s son (or is it the other way around?) in “Red, White & Royal Blue,” an effervescent gay rom-com that might be easily dismissed as a mere trifle, were it not for the still-historic novelty of its existence. Arriving less than a year after “Bros,” director Matthew López’s Amazon-backed, R-rated lark goes even further to normalize queer romance on-screen, taking a classic “chick flick” premise — the kind once reserved for Mandy Moore and Amanda Bynes movies, à la “Chasing Liberty” or “What a Girl Wants” — and recasting it with dudes.
Marta Balaga You can approach old classics just like new films, argued participants during Locarno’s Heritage Monday panel. “I talked to an exhibitor in Paris and they don’t consider repertory cinema to be different from contemporary cinema. They are collapsing both models into one and it’s very interesting,” said K.J.
Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host who was ousted by the network this spring, took aim at colleagues of his former employer for not stepping up to defend the free-speech rights of Alex Jones. On the latest episode of his show on X (formerly Twitter), Carlson hosted Tristan Tate, who along with his brother Andrew Tate was arrested in March 2023 by Romanian authorities.
Lisa Vanderpump‘s husband is facing a major legal battle from the landlords of the now-shuttered Pump!
One in seven people aged 65 and over are turning to loans and credit cards to make ends meet during the cost of living crisis, according to a recent survey by Independent Age. The charity said its research suggests many people over State Pension age are struggling alone and racking up debt as costs escalate.
linen is key to looking and feeling good all summer long. From vacation-ready button downs to polo shirts for the office, we've rounded up the best linen shirts for men.
Ellie Kemper has unbreakable bonds with many of her costars.
There’s always that moment, that special moment, when an actor of some note first appears onscreen in any one movie or show. From the moment their presence becomes known, they instantly turn on an uber-signature persona that is unique to the individual.
Paramount+ has unveiled the first trailer and key art “Love in Tapei”, the new rom-com based on the New York Times’ best-selling novel Loveboat, Taipei by Abigail Hing Wen.
You might be surprised, but there are numerous stars banned from talk shows, and hosts have been naming names!
Dennis Harvey Film Critic Watching Nicolas Cage add another notch to his belt of gonzo performances can be a movie’s main attraction. But it shouldn’t be all it has to offer — there ought to be some “there” there. Falling short in that regard is “Sympathy for the Devil,” a hazily familiar black comedy-cum-thriller with the star as a mystery man who carjacks Joel Kinnaman for a wild night’s ride. Not wild enough, however, as Yuval Adler’s film seems to reprise elements from more distinctive road movies without settling on a consistent tone or persuasive narrative to call its own. Essentially a two-hander, Luke Paradise’s screenplay provides its leads with plenty of opportunity for histrionics; only a credible context and conviction are lacking. RLJE Films opens this just-passable diversion in limited U.S. theaters this Friday, July 28.
Follow OK! on Threads here: https://www.threads.net/@ok_mag Spencer Matthews and Vogue Williams have marked their daughter Gigi's third birthday with some sweet Instagram posts. Former Made in Chelsea star Spencer, 34, shared some photos of his young daughter, which he captioned: "Happy birthday Gigi bear [bear emoji]" TV presenter and podcast host Vogue, 37, also posted an adorable photo of her daughter, writing: "Happy 3rd birthday to my kind, beautiful, funny and amazing girl Gigibear… a bestie for life [three heart emojis]" Fans of the couple were quick to comment, sending their own birthday messages to Gigi, with one writing: "We love Gigi - happy birthday!! [heart emoji]" "Ah Gigi shares the same birthday as my son Henley.
Michael Lohan is singing sweet words about his daughter and new mom, Lindsay Lohan.
linen is key to looking and feeling good all summer long. From vacation-ready button downs to polo shirts for the office, we've rounded up the best linen shirts for men. You can mix these practical pieces with shorts and sandals after a swim or denim on a balmy evening.Naturally lightweight and cooling, linen is one of our favorite fabrics for summer thanks to its ability to bring a breeziness to your outfits. Made from flaxseed fibers, the naturally-derived fabric offers superior breathability by allowing for better air circulation than synthetic fabrics such as polyester.
Phillip Schofield's oldest daughter, Molly, celebrates her 30th birthday as sweet tributes pour in from friends and younger sister, Ruby.