Kneel Before VOD: June 13th
Welcome to Kneel Before VOD, where the latest offerings on various video-on-demand platforms are highlighted for your streaming pleasure. With so many options these days from a range of different services, it can be daunting to select just one film without ending up making a list of a couple dozen. Below, find what we've selected as great entertainment choices to keep things simple.
Power Rangers (2017)
Prospects aren't too promising for a sequel to Power Rangers, which is a shame because the adaptation is actually pretty good. The reboot of the popular kids series sees five regular high schoolers given superhuman abilities and thrust into a battle with Rita Repulsa, a being who, if allowed to reach her full power, could destroy the world. Not being a fan, I had no hopes for Power Rangers, but I was surprised to come away enjoying it. (Check out Rob Trench's review of Power Rangers here)
T2 Trainspotting (2017)
It's been over twenty years since we first saw Renton and his dysfunctional drugged out friends. Their relationship continues with all of the original actors. Renton (Ewan McGregor) has returned to Edinburgh in an attempt to reconnect with his former friends and quickly gets pulled back into his old ways. The first film served as a darkly comedic, cautionary tale of drug usage, and the second film as a way to move on from that. (Check out Rob Trench's review of T2 Trainspotting here)
The Belko Experiment (2017)
A regular office building full of workers are forced into a fight for survival when the doors lock and the voice over the intercom orders them to kill their coworkers or they'll all die. James Gunn produced and wrote the screenplay for Wolf Creek director Greg McLean's dark and gory thriller. Social experiment horror flicks like The Killing Room and 13 Sins have quickly become one of the most interesting subgenres around, and I'm excited to see what Gunn will do in that space.
CHiPs (2017)
I have not seen CHiPs nor the show it's "based" on, and the reviews do not sound promising, but I still hold out hope that Dax Shepard made a competent R-rated action-comedy. I was a big fan of Shepard's last outing, Hit & Run. The surprisingly sweet 2012 comedy proved he's adept at creating exciting car chases with light comedy, which should serve him well adapting the 70s/80s show about California Highway Patrol officers. Underrated comedy actor Michael Peña stars along with Shepard with a screenplay written by Shepard.
Netflix: Trolls (2016)
Justin Timberlake, Anna Kendrick, and other huge stars lend their voices to this animated musical based off the Troll dolls license. The cutesy trolls are appropriately winning, and the story of the odd couple (the happiest troll in the world and the grumpiest) forced to work together to save their troll friends from creatures that want to eat them, works well enough. Chances are you've already heard the film's hit song, Can't Stop the Feeling, so use your reactions to that to gauge if you want to watch this.
Also Streaming: Orange is the New Black S5, Disturbing the Peace
Amazon Prime: Art of the Steal (2013)
I had no hopes for this nearly straight-to-video heist film when I blind bought it a few years ago, going on nothing but Kurt Russell and Matt Dillon's handsome mugs, but I can happily report that it is a delight. The two star as estranged brother con men who reunite to steal a priceless book, and they need the right team for the job, employing a who's who of "that guy from that one thing!" actors to help them pull it off. Don't expect it to reinvent the wheel, but the formulaic twists and turns should entertain.
Also Streaming: The Sweet Hereafter, Band of Robbers
HBO GO: The Accountant (2016)
Ben Affleck draws on his own experience to play a man with one too many F’s in his name, Christian Wolff. Wolff's an autistic man with a penchant for numbers, which works out for his job as an accountant for various criminal organizations. When he takes a job that messes with the wrong people, he has to fight his way out as the Feds close in. You could do a lot worse if you're in the mood for some action, but you could also do a lot better.
Also Streaming: Starring Adam West, Six by Sondheim, Shakespeare in Love
Hulu: Party Down Seasons 1 & 2
If you aren't among the fans out there clamoring for the Party Down movie to finally get made, then chances are you haven’t watched the show. All of your favorite comedy actors (Adam Scott, Lizzy Caplan, Ken Marino, Megan Mullally, Jane Lynch, Martin Starr, Ryan Hansen, and countless guest stars) give hilarious performances as fed up caterers working various eccentric parties. The Starz show was canceled way too soon and is one of the funniest in recent years.
Also Streaming: Girl Most Likely
