By Robert Scucci
| Updated 1 hour ago

Every single time I stream something with Jesse Eisenberg in it, I have to remind myself that I have free will, and that I can just watch all of his movies in some sort of sensible order. Zombieland (2009) is a modern classic horror comedy, The End of the Tour (2015) is a gut-wrenching yet hilarious biopic about David Foster Wallace that any serious reader should watch at some point in their life, and The Double (2013) doubles as an intense psychological thriller with a perfectly twisted sense of humor. I can keep listing titles, but you get the point. The man’s an actor’s actor through and through.

Had I known that Jesse Eisenberg starred in 2015’s American Ultra, an extremely violent action comedy about a comic book-drawing stoner who doesn’t know he’s a CIA sleeper agent until properly activated, resulting in a hilarious series of escalations that ultimately level an entire town with heavy artillery and a bunch of hapless shadow government goons, I would have watched it years ago.

The only thing I can do with my life now, outside of living in a constant state of regret for missing out on such a fun movie for over a decade, is spread the good word and recommend American Ultra to anybody who may have missed it.

A Sleeper Agent Living In A Sleepy Town

When we first meet Mike Howell (Jesse Eisenberg) in American Ultra, he’s a total mess. He’s the kind of stoner who needs to stay constantly lit in order to function like a regular contributing member of society, but we soon learn that this isn’t entirely his fault. He works as a convenience store clerk and comes home to his long-term girlfriend, Phoebe (Kristen Stewart). Phoebe is beyond patient with him, especially because he suffers from horrible panic attacks whenever he tries to leave town, often ruining their planned vacations.

As it turns out, Mike has been programmed not to leave his small town of Liman, West Virginia because he’s a sleeper agent in his hibernation phase, and people are actively keeping tabs on him. He’s the last known surviving member of the “Wiseman” Ultra Program (inspired by MKUltra), run by CIA Agent Victoria Lasseter (Connie Britton), who shows up at his work to activate him after learning that her rival, Adrian Yates (Topher Grace), plans to kill him using his own similarly trained “Toughguy” agents that he believes are superior.

Once Victoria rattles off the activation phrase, “Chariot Progressive, listen. Mandelbrot set is in motion. Echo Choir has been breached. We are fielding the ball,” Mike initially thinks it’s some obscure song lyric and goes back to work without a second thought. But when he’s later assaulted by two Toughguys outside, his very particular skill set (read: the ability to effortlessly kill scores of people) comes rushing back to him. The problem is that he’s still the same Mike he’s always been, only now he suddenly has no idea what he’s actually capable of.

After narrowly escaping two of Yates’ goons, Laugher (Walton Goggins) and Crane (Monique Ganderton), and regrouping with Phoebe, Mike slowly starts learning what’s really at stake. At the same time, he realizes he barely remembers anything about his life before settling down with Phoebe, who may know far more about his situation than she initially lets on.

Pineapple Express Meets John Wick 

American Ultra takes the stoner humor from Pineapple Express, rolls it up nice and tight, and then lights up John Wick-style the second Mike is activated. Jesse Eisenberg’s portrayal of Mike is so much fun to watch because he’s horrified by what he’s capable of, but also weirdly curious about how deep the conspiracy involving him, Lasseter, and Yates actually goes. Is he really the last of his kind? And can he take out the supposedly more sophisticated generation of sleeper agents designed to eliminate him?

At the same time, he’s just trying to keep his girlfriend safe, even though she’s surprisingly chill about the whole ordeal, which adds another layer of suspicion and tension to his already paranoid mental state. At the end of the day, though, American Ultra has a shockingly simple premise that lets you sit back and watch everybody start blasting when it matters most. It’s Jesse Eisenberg taking what he learned from Zombieland and applying it to a covert ops conspiracy where he’s an unwilling participant.

There’s no real moral dilemma here, or anything that requires deep thought. You just need to appreciate this one for what it is and enjoy the ride.

As of this writing, American Ultra is streaming for free on Tubi.

By TeeJay Small
| Published 1 hour ago

If you spend a lot of time trolling Hulu for the best binge-worthy TV shows like I do, you’ve probably found your fair share of duds. Some shows don’t have the writing chops to really make you laugh, some lack a cast talented enough to have staying power, and some are just victims of early cancellation before they can hit their stride. Luckily, I won’t need to look for a new show for a while, because I’ve got five seasons of Abbott Elementary that I can watch over and over again until I die.

I’m not trying to oversell it when I say Abbott Elementary might just be the funniest show on TV. On paper, it doesn’t seem like the kind of thing I’d vibe with, but after taking a chance on the ABC sitcom, I’m completely hooked. I first became aware of the show last year when they collaborated with It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia to produce a pair of hilarious crossover specials. Having grown up loving Always Sunny, I tuned in just for the gang, and stayed for the off-the-walls antics of the teachers and students at Willard R. Abbott Elementary School.

Overqualified And Underappreciated

In case you haven’t seen it, Abbott Elementary is a series created by former Buzzfeed contributor Quinta Brunson. Brunson stars as a newly-minted elementary school teacher named Janine Teagues, working in the heart of a deeply underfunded Philadelphia school system. Through the lens of a mockumentary film crew, we meet an ensemble of wacky characters, including the self-centered principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James), the wise and jaded kindergarten teacher Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph), and the straight-laced and overqualified Gregory Eddie, played by Tyler James Williams of Everybody Hates Chris fame.

Each episode highlights the struggles that teachers face, from bussing strikes, to budget cuts, to the occasional ringworm outbreak. Brunson created the show as a love letter to some of her own teachers from the Philly school system, and worked extra hard behind the scenes to ensure that the series handles topical issues with care. The heart of Abbott Elementary is best exemplified by the middle school teacher Jacob Hill (Chris Perfetti), who is constantly trying to ensure that his students have access to clubs and resources that simply aren’t in the budget. Though he’s obnoxious, overbearing, and unspeakably corny, Jacob always goes above and beyond for his students.

Family-Friendly Humor With Bite

Personally, my favorite characters are Principal Coleman and Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter). The former is a character that feels like it was written using my exact likeness before race and gender swapping for the purpose of being legally distinct, while the latter feels like every one of my scheming, Italian aunts from back in Boston. Melissa is a die-hard Philly sports fanatic, an avid gambler, and a top-tier teacher when it comes to showing her kids how to hustle against the system. With endless obstacles in their path, the Abbott crew somehow manage to give their students the best education possible, and take the time to address systemic issues with a surprising level of care.

Though the characters on Abbott Elementary are extremely well realized, the thing that makes this show so special is its nonstop humor. I’m usually a fan of raunchy comedies and foul-mouthed performers (a la Always Sunny) so I was shocked at how many laughs this family-friendly workplace comedy could draw out of me. Pound for pound, I’d say I laugh out loud harder and more often watching Abbott Elementary than I do with any other movie, show, or web series. Every line out of Ava’s mouth is a work of art, and Mr. Eddie’s straight-man glances to the camera are like Jim from The Office on steroids.

If you haven’t had the chance to check this one out yet, be sure to catch Abbott Elementary on Hulu today. For those unsure about giving it a spin, I’d say start with episodes like “Attack Ad,” “Read-A-Thon,” or “Smoking.” Pretty much every episode of this show is a guaranteed banger, but those are some of the episodes that stand out as ruinously funny.

By Steven Nelson
| Published 1 hour ago

In a world bursting with dystopian tales, 2017’s What Happened to Monday manages to offer a fresh, thrilling spin, catching viewers in a web of suspense, emotion, and intricate plotting. It went under-watched and underappreciated at the time of its release, but we can correct that now.

It’s streaming on Netflix, and this gripping sci-fi film poses the question: In a future where overpopulation leads to a strict one-child policy, what happens when you have seven identical sisters living in secret? 

If you’re in the mood for a pulse-pounding ride that merges mystery with futuristic paranoia, then What Happened to Monday is one to add to your watchlist. And if you are a parent handling multiple kids at home, don’t worry, this will make your own living situation seem peaceful by comparison.

Seven Days Of Settman Sisters

In the not-so-far-off future depicted in What Happened to Monday, overpopulation isn’t just a looming issue, but rather a critical crisis. The world’s governments, in a desperate attempt to control the situation, implement a strict one-child policy. The Child Allocation Bureau ensures this policy is followed ruthlessly, taking away any additional children from families and putting them in cryosleep, with the promise that they’ll be awakened in a better, less crowded future. It’s into this world that the Settman sisters, seven identical siblings, are born.

Now, how do you hide seven sisters in a one-child society? Ingeniously named after each day of the week, the sisters rotate, stepping outside on the day they’re named after, and all impersonating the same identity: Karen Settman. Indoors, they’re Sunday through Saturday (hence, What Happened to Monday), each with her own personality and quirks. Outdoors, they maintain a collective facade, sharing experiences and memories with one another to keep their secret intact.

But the system, as meticulous as it is, starts to crumble when Monday doesn’t return home after her designated day out. Panic ensues among the remaining sisters. Has she been discovered? Did she run away? Or is there a more sinister reason behind her disappearance? The ensuing search pulls the sisters into a whirlwind of danger, conspiracy, and revelations as they race against time, not just to find Monday, but to ensure their own survival.

Noomi Rapace Kills In What Happened To Monday

The film’s stellar cast elevates this intriguing premise. Noomi Rapace takes on a challenging feat, portraying all seven distinct sisters, each with her own nuances and depth. Glenn Close, as the unwavering head of the Child Allocation Bureau, is the embodiment of the hard decisions and sacrifices made in the name of the greater good. Willem Dafoe also makes his mark as the Settman grandfather, the architect of the sisters’ intricate hide-and-seek life.

What Happened to Monday isn’t just another dystopian tale. It’s a story of sisterhood, survival, and the lengths to which one will go to preserve family.

The film generated a potpourri of reactions from critics upon its release. It was lauded for its intriguing premise and the tour de force performance by Noomi Rapace. Playing seven distinct characters in a single film is no easy feat, and Rapace’s portrayal was often spotlighted as the movie’s shining strength.

However, critics also had their reservations. Some felt that the movie, while ambitious, occasionally stumbled in its narrative execution. There were concerns that the film veered into formulaic territory, occasionally becoming predictable or borrowing tropes from other dystopian tales. Some critiques pointed towards the character depth, feeling that despite Rapace’s commendable effort, not all sisters received equal and adequate characterization.

On the flip side, the film’s pacing, action sequences, and visual aesthetics were often praised. The tension-laden plot kept many viewers at the edge of their seats, even if it sometimes sacrificed deeper thematic exploration for thrills.

Fertile Ground For A Sequel

If What Happened to Monday were to be granted a sequel, it could take multiple intriguing directions. Here’s one way to envision it:

Building on the first movie’s exploration of a world strangled by overpopulation, the sequel could venture beyond the Settman sisters’ story. The aftermath of the events of the first film has shaken the foundations of the Child Allocation Bureau. People across the world are now aware of the dark secrets of cryosleep and the fate of “extra” children. This revelation could trigger widespread unrest, with communities and families demanding transparency, accountability, and change.

The remaining Settman sisters could be at the heart of this revolution, becoming symbols of resistance against the oppressive one-child policy. They could join or even lead a movement seeking to challenge and overthrow the system. Along the way, they might uncover even deeper secrets about the Bureau and the global elite’s real intentions behind the policy.

What Happened to Monday garnered a mixed-to-positive reception, securing a 62 percent critical score against a slightly more favorable 67 percent Popcornmeter score on Rotten Tomatoes. While it might not have been hailed universally as a classic in the sci-fi dystopian genre, it was recognized for its ambition, Rapace’s commendable performance, and its fresh take on a future grappling with overpopulation.

For many viewers, especially those fond of suspenseful, high-stakes cinema, What Happened to Monday became a must-watch, and is available to steam on Netflix.