‘Prey’
Dan Trachtenberg (“The Boys,” “10 Cloverfield Lane”) reboots the “Predator” series with this origin story of sorts in which the dreadlock-adorned alien ever on intergalactic safari arrives on Earth some 300 years ago, looking to take the head of the toughest warrior around. In the 1987 original set in the modern-day jungles of South America, that was Arnold Schwarzenegger; here, it’s a Comanche teen named Naru (Amber Midthunder), a young woman who already has enough hills to surmount to earn the mantle of warrior – male bullies and a hulking grizzly – before dealing with the cloaked extraterrestrial with far superior weapon tech. The FX and cinematography of the pristine New World impress as the film checks the boxes of the franchise as well as lending a voice to the Native American experience. It employs a near-all native cast. There’s even French fur trappers in the mix, whose colonial interests are even more nefarious than the space hunter’s blood sport objective. On Hulu starting Friday.
‘The Whole Lot’
Connor Rickman’s lo-fi family drama takes place at the Utah ranch of a patriarch who has died, for the most estranged from his children Della (Sarah McLoney) and Jamie (Aaron Kramer). The two are also estranged from each other, but reunite at the ranch with Della’s hubby Eli (Blake Webb) to execute the will and divvy up the “lot” of classic cars dad has amassed. In metes we get that big, burly Jamie has had a drug habit and been written out of the will, though he can have a consolation car or two. Della, the executor of the will, holds the reins; sour grapes, dark secrets and reveals take center stage. Turns out Jamie has a violent streak, something Eli has experienced, and Eli’s been making financial deal Della’s not been in on. The performances range from acceptable (Webb as the callow hubby) to good (Kramer as the bullying brother) to excellent (McLoney as the jittery, conflicted Della).The characters aren’t necessarily people you want to spend much time with, even onscreen. One could easily see this as a stage play, but it feels full-bodied due to the camerawork and gorgeous shots of mood-matching, winter-kissed Utah – something even more impressive when you learn that Rickman allegedly did this all for like $15,000 and in five days. (Assume that’s without post-production.) On Amazon Prime Video and other services.
‘The Bob’s Burgers Movie’
“Bob’s Burgers,” that Fox family series overshadowed by “The Simpsons” that you may or may not be aware of, gets its big-screen due. Can’t say I was an avid watcher of the series – not because it lacked, but because I lacked time – but I was pleased to make its acquaintance. It’s shaggier and more intimate than “The Simpsons” and reminds me some of the old “King of the Hill” show. What to know? Bob (H. Jon Benjamin) runs a small restaurant in an unremarkable part of the city next to a funeral home and across the street from a fancy Italian eatery run by his nemesis. His wife Linda (John Roberts) is an energetic optimist to offset Bob’s gloomy, it’s-gonna-end-badly fears. Then there’s their three children: socially awkward and newly lovelorn teen Tina (Dan Mintz); reclusive, creative Gene (Eugene Mirman); and the youngest, fierce firecracker Louise (Kristen Schaal), who still wears her preschool rabbit-ear hat. Just don’t call her “baby.” The setup has the burger joint on the financial brink and a banker who couldn’t give two hoots, a giant sinkhole that appears out front, Tina’s desires to get close to a boy at school, an eccentric landlord (Kevin Kline) who might be an ally, and mopey best customer Teddy (Larry Murphy), who keeps coming up with ways to save Bob’s. The cast often break into song, it’s all whimsical and spritely and a fun representation of the familial struggles we all go though. On HBO Max.