What to watch this weekend: Pixar's 'Turning Red,' Ryan Reynolds in 'The Adam Project'
Do you prefer original Pixar flicks or familiar 1980s throwbacks?
This weekend, you can have both – and from the comfort of your couch! A new animated coming-of-age comedy all about female puberty hits Disney+ while Ryan Reynolds goes back in time to meet his tween self in an old-school Netflix sci-fi action adventure that appeals to fans of "E.T." and "Back to the Future." And if those don't thrill you, former Disney Channel favorite Zac Efron feels the heat (and gets one heck of a sunburn) in a post-apocalyptic drama.
Here's a guide to new movies that'll satisfy every cinematic taste, plus some noteworthy theatrical films making their debut on streaming services and on-demand platforms:
Review: Pixar's 'Turning Red' tackles female puberty like no other Disney film dares
If you grew up watching 'Teen Wolf' and now have kids: 'Turning Red'
Believe it or not, Pixar's latest effort audaciously tackles periods and body-changing issues with a beastly metaphor – and it totally works. Precocious Chinese Canadian teen Mei (voiced by Rosalie Chiang) wakes up one morning and discovers she suddenly turns into a giant red panda when she gets overly excited in a cleverly crafted tale about adolescence, undying love for early 2000s boy bands and living up to your parents' expectations.
Where to watch: Disney+
If you dig all things Spielbergian: 'The Adam Project'
"Free Guy" collaborators Reynolds and director Shawn Levy reteam for this Steven Spielberg-esque, Reagan-era greatest-hits package. Reynolds plays a time-traveling pilot from 2050 who crash-lands in 2022 and teams with his snarky 12-year-old self (Walker Scobell) to fix the future. The visual effects are a mixed bag and the science stuff will hurt your brain, but the supporting cast (including Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Garner) is top-notch and Reynolds and Scobell are at least fun to watch bickering and riffing off each other.
Where to watch: Netflix
If you want to see Zac Efron descend into madness for 90 minutes: 'Gold'
Efron's chiseled mug transforms into a frightening canvas of blisters and burns in this harrowing survival thriller, a greed-fueled combo of "Cast Away" and "Mad Max." Efron and Anthony Hayes (who also directs) play unnamed drifters who discover a huge gold nugget in a sandy futuristic wasteland. Hayes' character goes to get an excavator and Efron impresses as the guy who stays behind, enduring the brutal sun, hungry wild dogs and a mysterious stranger (Susie Porter) as he quickly loses his sense of reality.
Where to watch: In theaters
If you could use one seriously scary trip: 'Offseason'
A highlight out of last year's South by Southwest festival, the horror film stars Jocelin Donahue as Marie, who receives a mysterious letter about her mother's grave being desecrated on the remote island where she was buried. Marie travels to the island as its very strange inhabitants are closing the whole place down for the season, and she discovers the monstrous truth about her mom's connection to this freaky locale.
Where to watch: In theaters and on Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon
If you love a thoughtful sci-fi thriller: 'Outsiders'
Skylan Brooks ("Empire") plays a Black teenager on the run after he witnesses a weird, otherworldly occurrence leading to the sudden disappearance of a classmate (Clark Backo). He investigates past "abductions" in the very white town, meets a helpful stranger (Bill Engvall) and runs afoul of an antagonistic lawman (Shane West) in an intriguing film that doesn't do enough with its social commentary or supernatural premise.
Where to watch: In theaters and on Apple TV
If you're an OG 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' fan: 'The Exorcism of God'
Joseph Marcell (aka Geoffrey Butler in the '90s sitcom staple) plays the world's foremost exorcist in the horror film, which takes a decidedly soapy approach to a demonic trope. Father Peter (Will Beinbrink) is an American priest working in Mexico who is called to a women's prison to help a possessed girl. He brings along an old friend (Marcell), though the mission forces Peter to face a dark secret he's harbored for 18 years about a botched exorcism and its sinful aftermath.
Where to watch: In theaters and on Apple TV, Vudu, Google Play
Also on streaming
- The Golden Globe-nominated musical adaptation "Cyrano," starring Peter Dinklage as the romantic title character and Haley Bennett as his muse Roxanne, is now available on Apple TV and other on-demand platforms.
- Part rom-com and part family drama, "India Sweets and Spices" is streaming on Hulu and stars Sophia Ali as a college student with an activist streak who returns home to visit her conservative Indian family.