The first home video releases are available today and 2017’s home options start off with a fizzle instead of a bang. Denial (currently #29 on MHT’s Top Movies of 2016) is joined by Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (currently #111) and Blair Witch (currently #119) and 4 other films that did not find the MHT radar in 2016. Here’s what to buy, rent, stream and skip for the week of January 3rd:
Denial —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: A Holocaust historian is sued for comments made about a Holocaust denier. Court room drama ensues.
Why Buy?
You love court room dramas. You’ve been looking for a more cerebral Holocaust film.
Why Rent?
Rachel Weisz is on your favorite performer list.
Why Stream?
You remember the preview but don’t remember it making it to theaters. Then again, you didn’t make much of an effort to see it so why would you go out of your way to see it now that you can watch it at home. So, streaming seems like a pretty damn good option for you.
Why Skip?
You don’t think this movie really exists.
MHT Verdict: Buy it!
An excellent supporting cast along with a very solid performance from Weisz as well as a rather compelling “based on a true” story makes this our first “Buy It!” of 2017. (It’s helped by a rather weak supporting lineup for this week.)
Ace the Case: Manhattan Mystery –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: Susan Sarandon needed some extra cash, apparently.
Why Buy?
You’re the ultimate Susan Sarandon fan… or a relative.
Why Rent?
The fact a family film gets slapped with a PG-13 rating makes this one intriguing enough.
Why Stream?
You have kids with bad taste.
Why Skip?
You’re as pissed as I am this isn’t a choose your own adventure.
MHT Verdict: Skip it!
Earlier this year, Sarandon delivered a surprisingly strong performance in The Meddler. Lightning doesn’t strike twice.
Blair Witch —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: It’s like the original because it’s based on a relative of one of the original Blair Witch investigators going out to look for their sister but really, really crappy.
Why Buy?
You’re THAT Blair Witch Project fan.
Why Rent?
You’re a Blair Witch Project fan.
Why Stream?
You’re feeling nostalgic and want to hate on Blair Witch like you did when the original came out.
Why Skip?
Seriously? You want me to believe someone went back in those woods? That dude was standing staring at the wall!
MHT Verdict: Stream it!
For purely nostalgic reasons only.
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: Some standard pre-teen fare.
Why Buy?
You have a kid or two ages 10-15.
Why Rent?
You like kid’s movies but weren’t willing to let anyone see you watching this in public.
Why Stream?
It’s 2017. Who rents?
Why Skip?
You don’t have kids. Heck, you don’t even like kids.
MHT Verdict: Stream it!
It’s not good but it has moments.
Mr. Pig –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: A pig farmer about to lose his farm needs to find a home for his beloved pig Howie and must enlist the help of his estranged daughter to do so.
Why Buy?
Danny Glover and Maya Rudolph.
Why Rent?
It was an official Sundance selection of 2016.
Why Stream?
Predator 2.
Why Skip?
Once you found out this wasn’t the live action version of the story of Pumbaa from The Lion King, you lost interest.
MHT Verdict: Rent it!
Danny Glover might be too old for Lethal Weapon movies but this is in his wheelhouse.
Natural Selection –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: There’s a thin line between love and hate. (but that movie title was already taken.)
Why Buy?
You lost a really weird bet that stated you had to buy the next movie featuring Anthony Michael Hall.
Why Rent?
Anthony Michael Hall from Sixteen Candles?
Why Stream?
… And The Breakfast Club!
Why Skip?
… And A Gnome Named Gnorm.
MHT Verdict: Skip it!
You should naturally select something else.
Operation Avalanche –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: Remember that conspiracy theory about the moon landing maybe not really happening?
Why Buy?
You’re a fake moon landing truther.
Why Rent?
The trailer looks interesting…
Why Stream?
But it is from the director of Into the Blue with Jessica Alba and Paul Walker.
Why Skip?
We landed on the moon. Knock this crap off!
MHT Verdict: Rent it!
The Rotten Tomatoes scores are strong enough to put this on the list of movies to see even though we’ve had an awful lot of options when it comes to movies about space in the past couple of years. Then again, this isn’t exactly about space.