What to watch: Fantastic fore
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Who’s your Mr. Fantastic?
There’s Pedro Pascal, who is in pretty much everything these days and is literally Mr. Fantastic in the latest Marvel superhero jam “The Fantastic Four: First Steps.” There’s also Adam Sandler, aka Opera Man, the Sandman, Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore: The comedian returns as the latter in the Netflix sequel “Happy Gilmore 2.” So, yeah, it’s a big movie weekend, but if you’re sticking closer to home, make sure you binge Netflix’s hottest new drama “Untamed.” (If we are sticking with that fantastic theme here, Eric Bana once was a Hulk.)
Programming note: I am at San Diego Comic-Con, which is probably why I’m in hero mode. Stay tuned to the home team for the biggest movie and TV news out of the event, and check back on Monday for a special Comic-Con Watch Party wrap-up. (Same Bat-time, same Bat-email.)
Now on to the good stuff:
See Marvel’s latest superhero team in ‘The Fantastic Four: First Steps’
If you’re a Watch Party regular, chances are high you’re somewhat familiar with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But even if you’re a newcomer 37 movies in, “The Fantastic Four: First Steps” is the most welcoming entry in forever. And like the Thing says, it's truly clobberin' time. In a retrofuturistic alternate 1960s to our own, Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn and Ebon Moss-Bachrach are a tight-knit supergroup bursting with character who have to stave off a planet-consuming menace. (Peep my ★★★ review.)
I Zoomed with the main foursome about the film’s themes of family and fame, and because the Fantastic Four are A-list public figures in their world, Kirby explained how she shared videos of The Beatles at the height of Beatlemania for inspiration. “This idea of a global phenomenon that's been thrust upon you, that was always a useful comparison,” she says. That’s not all the FF we’ve got, folks. There’s also a video interview where the pregnant Kirby talks about her childbirth scene in the movie, a sneak peek at the film’s fantastic foes (including Julia Garner’s rad Silver Surfer), plus updates to our Marvel movie ranking and franchise viewing order.
Hit the links again with Adam Sandler in ‘Happy Gilmore 2’
Adam Sandler’s fans have been waiting for a new “Happy Gilmore” for three decades, and it’s finally here, with an endless parade of celebrity cameos including Bad Bunny, Travis Kelce and Eminem. The best “Happy” trio still is the 1996 film’s original cast, and I chatted with Chris McDonald about returning Shooter McGavin’s finger guns, Julie Bowen about one of her favorite scenes in the sequel, and Sandler about putting Happy’s hockey jersey back on. “I got a different size,” he says with a chuckle. “The hockey jersey went from a medium to a something. There were a couple Xs in there.”
A new “Gilmore” is one of several films new to streaming this week, including the video-game adaptation “Until Dawn” and Wes Anderson’s “The Phoenician Scheme.”
Stream the scenic Netflix thriller ‘Untamed’ with Eric Bana
While watching movies constantly is sort of my brand, I do binge the occasional TV series. Currently, that’s the Netflix thriller “Untamed,” featuring Eric Bana as an abrasive special agent at Yosemite National Park investigating the fatal fall of a mysterious young woman. The guy uses a motor vehicle sometimes but mainly sticks with traveling via horseback, and during a visit to our New York studio, Bana told my pal Ralphie Aversa he had been interested in taking his equine co-star back to the actor's home in Australia. “I’m not even sure if he was for sale, but I looked into it. I was going to smuggle him.”
If you’re looking for more shows to watch, our TV critic Kelly Lawler has a roundup of new stuff premiering this week including Netflix's "The Hunting Wives" and Hulu's "Washington Black."
Even more goodness to check out!
- Living legend Martin Short is hosting his first TV game show and wants "Match Game" to "feel like a party at someone's house."
- Ethan Slater, aka Munchkin dude Boq Woodsman, says the upcoming "Wicked: For Good" movie is going to be "epic."
- "Sorry, Baby" star/filmmaker Eva Victor discusses turning the healing process of trauma into a must-see comedy.
- Judge Judy is a Chatty Cathy, talking at length in a new interview about her show "Justice on Trial," the Menendez brothers, speeding tickets, that old "Judge Judy" robe and the key to a lasting marriage.
- Feeling like all your streaming services are draining your bank account? Embrace commercials!
- And for all my fellow little Hulkamaniacs from back in the day: If you're pouring one out for Hulk Hogan, check out our list of the pro wrestling icon's biggest movie roles. (I mean, it was all downhill from "Rocky III" but still.)
Got thoughts, questions, ideas, concerns, compliments or maybe even some recs for me? Email btruitt@usatoday.com and follow me on the socials: I'm @briantruitt on Bluesky, Instagram and Threads.