Anyone who knows me well knows there are a handful of fun things that are most important to me. In no particular order, they are: squirrels, Transformer toys, movies and LEGO®. Within the last few years, my LEGO collection has grown significantly. My fianceé and I love to have LEGO weekends when we go buy a few LEGO sets, relax and put them together. So, obviously, we are super excited about “LEGO Masters” Season 2! On this competition TV show on FOX, LEGO builders create amazing designs from scratch according to different weekly themes. I wish I had their ability; I have a hard enough time following the printed directions! On the show, two-person teams go head-to-head, with infinite possibilities and an unlimited supply of LEGO bricks. Throughout the competition, host Will Arnett and expert judges encourage the amateur builders, introduce incredible challenges and put the creations to the test. The teams who impress the judges the most progress to the next round. In the finale, the top teams face off for a cash prize, the ultimate LEGO trophy and the grand title of LEGO Master. This season has two teams from Michigan! How cool is that?
“LEGO Masters” gets an easy 5 out of 5 Squirrels.
On my “upcoming” list in last month’s column, one movie I was really looking forward to was “The Tomorrow War,” an American military sci-fi action film directed by Chris McKay and starring Chris Pratt and J. K. Simmons. The story centers around a mix of present-day soldiers and civilians sent into the future to save humanity from annihilation. During a soccer game, a group of humans emerge from a wormhole to inform the world that in the future, humanity is dead. The time travelers have a plan to stop the catastrophe, but they need soldiers to help fight in the war. The world replies with an international army draft to fill the future’s ranks.
This movie has a lot going on, and I won’t lie, it can get somewhat confusing. But overall, I will say that it’s a fun watch – I mean, wormholes, time travel, plot twists and J. K. Simmons – what else do you want or need? (By the way, if you haven’t seen “Whiplash” yet starring Simmons, go watch it.)
I give “The Tomorrow War” 3 out of 5 Squirrels.
My final recommendation for this month is a movie that has been on my list for a while. I enjoy movies based on true stories, such as this one, and I finally decided to give it a watch. And, let me tell you, “Blue Miracle” hooked me right away. In it, Papa Omar (played by Jimmy Gonzales) and his wife are surrogate parents to more than a dozen orphans. They live together in a meager dwelling, dubbed Casa Hogar, and bills are piling up. In an attempt to save their home, Papa Omar and the kids team up with washed-up and boozy boat captain Wade (played by Dennis Quaid) for a chance to win a lucrative fishing competition. You will have to watch “Blue Miracle” on Netflix to find out if they succeed. (Dennis Quaid’s performance alone makes this movie worth it.)
I give “Blue Miracle” 3 out of 5 Squirrels.
Let us know what YOU are watching!