Need some distraction? Well, home entertainment delivers bigly this week!
The AbFab gals are back for one last crazy hurrah in Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, while a home invasion goes bloodily awry in twisted horror-thriller Don’t Breathe.
We also have a queer teenage love triangle in Italian drama One Kiss, while a pair of childhood friends with benefits reconnect as adults in Esteros (above).
Let’s get to those trailers, details and your comments!
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Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie
($39.99 Blu-ray, $29.99 DVD; 20th Century Fox)
Patsy and Edina are back in their first – and, according to star Jennifer Saunders, their last – motion picture. As shallow and debauched as ever, this time Edina scrambles for a new PR gig and, in an attempt to land Kate Moss, accidentally pushes her into the Thames and a watery death. Cue (more) zany antics! All the hallmarks from the series are back – botox! smoking! obsession over aging! – while it’s a treat to see characters like Bubbles again in full-tilt bonkers mode, plus celeb cameos to boot. The wealth of extras include deleted scenes, outtakes, featurettes, and a set visit with Dame Edna.
https://youtu.be/jIFWWIO5wHE
($21.99 DVD; Breaking Glass Pictures)
In this Argentinean import, a pair of adolescent boys, Matais and Jeronimo, share their summers together and eventually a sexual coming-of-age. However, just as things start to get serious, Matais is forced to move away with his family. Cut to a decade later, and Matais returns with a girlfriend in tow and reunited with Jeronimo, now openly gay. What will happen now? A lyrical and beautifully shot rom-dram indeed, and of course you’re in for some handsome Argentinean eye candy to boot. Extras include interviews.
https://youtu.be/Tg9avYV3FPs
($24.99 DVD; TLA)
The writer of gorgeous Tilda Swinton film I Am Love, Ivan Controneo is director of this artful drama centered on a trio of Northern Italy teenage outsiders – openly gay Lorenzo, bullied aspiring athlete Antonio, and Blu, a girl regarded as town slut. Drawn together, these friends do suffer their own challenge when Antonio starts feeling something new for Lorenzo… With its complex characters and tonal shifts, this makes for a nice coming-of-age double feature with Perks Of Being A Wallflower!
($34.99 Blu-ray, $30.99 DVD; Sony)
The home invasion flick gets a nasty, gory twist in this tale of three ill-advised, young thieves who target a blind man’s home for robbery. Once inside, they discover the guy has, shall we say, special skills, and the hunters become the hunted – money aside, will they even escape with their lives? Directed by the Evil Dead remake’s Fede Alvarez, there’s a juicy little twist, pulse-pounding tension, and truly cringe-inducing horrors within this one! Extras include deleted scenes, commentary, and five featurettes.
ALSO OUT:
The BFG
Pete’s Dragon
Baked In Brooklyn
The Wild Life
House Of Lies: The Final Season
ProfessorMoriarty
Don’t purchase “One Kiss” on Amazon Video unless you speak Italian. The subtitles are missing on the streaming content that Amazon offers. This is not noted on their website. What’s especially deceptive is that the trailer does have English subtitles, so one is lead to assume that the subtitles are also available on the entire movie. They are not.
ProfessorMoriarty
Oh, and PS, “Esteros” was only OK. Lush cinematography, and the two adult male leads are definitely attractive and have palpable chemistry, but the dialogue is clumsy and frustrating. It gives way nothing to tell you that these to come back together after 10 years apart and barely say two words about what happened and how they feel now. It’s all elliptical conversation and longing stares. At one point during the movie, I actually yelled “TELL HIM HOW YOU FEEL!” at the screen. I know the language of filmmaking says that you show, not tell, but there is such a thing as swinging the pendulum too far to the other limit.