Taking a Break from the News by Watching the News- but does “Last Week Tonight” Count?
Acutely funny and always well-intentioned, Last Week Tonight has a lot of heart for a satirical-news program.

Twelve-year-old Anya discovers a mysterious stranger in her secret hideout after another quarrel with her mother. A stranger who has settled in an abandoned house next door reveals to the girl a fantastic world that was hidden in the routine of summer cottage life. However, not everyone is ready to understand her friendship with an adult man, who obviously has something to hide. Anya is also shocked and disappointed when it turns out that she is not the only one — the mysterious stranger also communicates with her friend Amaranta, also gives her gifts and tells stories. They are angry at him and at each other. The stranger is both their main secret and a bone of contention.
Acutely funny and always well-intentioned, Last Week Tonight has a lot of heart for a satirical-news program.
While the film didn’t hit me as emotionally as I wanted it to, I still enjoyed it. I simply wish there was a little more, particularly with the world building.
Netflix’s new rom-com, Voicemails for Isabelle (dir. Leah McKendrick), isn’t just heartwarming, funny, and an achievement in female directing - it’s also an instant classic. Following 20-something aspiring baker Jill (Zoey Deutch), Voicemails for Isabelle tells a story of grief, self-discovery, and fateful connections. Ever since her beloved sister Izzy’s (Ciara Bravo) death, Jill has been leaving her hilarious, extremely TMI voicemails about her chaotic love life and miserable day job as a prep cook. Little does she know that a handsome and unsatisfied real estate agent in her hometown has inherited the number and practically fallen in love with her by listening to her stories.
With so many binge-worthy TV shows floating around and new ones constantly being released, I have compiled a list of some more recent TV shows that rank high on the diversity scale for both the cast and crew.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman will be happiest if she marries a man with a good fortune, similar upbringing, matching attractiveness levels, and compatible politics.
As this critic continues to look back at some of this Summer's films I have taken in, I would be remiss if I didn't mention one of the most overall unsettling trends in Hollywood over the last several years.....sequels, reboots, and remakes. Look, I am all for seeing more than one film for certain originals that made a splash, ie: "Jurassic Park", "Pirates of the Caribbean", "Transformers", etc.