“Senna”, “Little Secret”, perfect for holiday escapes

Looking for some fun and cozy entertainment this long holiday weekend?

There are of course plenty of live holiday shows and concerts. Here are some fun options to watch at home.

Here is our summary.

“Senna”: The addictive six-part Netflix series about the late Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna is coming along, driven by a star turn from lead actor Gabriel Leone. Not only is he a real eye-catcher for the three-time Formula 1 sensation, but he also conveys the full charisma of a principled competitive athlete and revered hero. It’s a heartbreaking performance. Showrunner Vicente Amorim describes what made Senna – who tragically died in an accident in Italy at the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994 at the age of 34 – an icon who inspired children and teenagers alike. He also highlights the racism and snobbery Senna faced as he grew from a rowdy go-kart racer to a celebrated Formula One star. The racing scenes are frightening and nerve-wracking, as are the earlier go-kart sequences. The same goes for his deep connection with his supportive parents (Marco Rica and Susana Ribeiro) as well as his rivalry with racing driver Alain Prost (Matt Mella). However, “Senna” does less well when it chronicles his love affairs, including with the Brazilian television presenter Xuxa (Pâmela Tomé), which seems superficial and not very revealing. Another milestone along the way is the fictional creation of a journalist (Kayla Scodelario), which appears again and again and serves as a narrative shorthand for Senna’s sports career and the way the media has portrayed him. Fortunately, Leone’s magnetic performance makes up for many of these concerns and brings the series satisfactorily over the finish line. Details: 3 out of 4 stars; will be released on Netflix on November 29th.

“Our little secret”: After a botched attempt to spice up the holidays with the tame stripper-themed “The Merry Gentlemen,” Netflix returns the favor with “Our Little Secret,” a lovers-to-friends-to-lovers Christmas wizard starring Lindsay Lohan and Ian Harding and the always welcome Kristin Chenoweth.

Director Stephen Herek’s cheeky story sticks to the seasonal entertainment formula, but also sprinkles in a touch of humor and elicits exuberant performances from all of the cast. In it, embittered former lovebirds meet at a family Christmas gathering and – due to extenuating circumstances – decide to act like strangers. Of course, a series of mishaps ensue, including an accidental ingestion of THC gummies, which leads to a stoned recitation of a Kool and the Gang song at the children’s mass, which leads to a romantic resolution. I never saw that coming, did I? The screenplay by Hailey DeDominics and brisk direction by Herek (“Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure”) make “Our Little Secret” one of the better holiday treats to drop from the chimney this year.

Details: 3 stars; now available on Netflix.

“Banned”: If packing up the kids to watch Moana just isn’t working this weekend, director Vicky Jenson’s animated fantasy is a welcome alternative and is sure to entertain everyone in the family. The “Shrek” director’s latest film draws heavily on an ancient fantasy tale – the dreaded curse – and leaves a 15-year-old princess (voiced by Rachel Zegler) to banish a spell that has transformed her parents (Javier). Bardem and Nicole Kidman) in Monster. And she must finish the job quickly before she is crowned ruler of Lumbria. However, what seems like a memorized story takes a big dramatic, emotional turn that is refreshing and unique. West Side Story’s Zegler utilizes her amazing vocal range in a playbook of quality songs from Alan Menken and Glenn Slater. The characters she explores are colorful and silly, including two hilarious oracles (Tituss Burgess and Nathan Lane), and the animation is a feast for the eyes. Great for watching after a Thanksgiving feast. Details: Details: 3 stars; Now available on Netflix.

“Nutcracker”: A self-centered city workaholic (Ben Stiller) who owns a flashy yellow sports car inherits unexpected chaos when his estranged sister and her husband are killed and their four boys are orphaned. With an urgent deadline looming in Chicago, Mike (Stiller) wants to unload all of his uncle’s duties as quickly as possible, but he realizes it won’t happen overnight when he visits their chaotic home, a working farm in Iowa where there is a… There are snakes in the toilet and pigs running around. A social worker (Linda Cardellini, given far too little to do) tries to help uptight Mike find foster care options, but the process never works. David Gordon Green’s amusing time-waster never warms the heart as much as it should, but it’s still an undemanding film that benefits from the presence of Stiller and Cardellini. Details: 2½ stars; arrives November 29th on Hulu.

“Pimpinero: Blood and Oil”: Andrés Baiz’s suspenseful drama is full of surprises, including a hairpin turn in the narrative towards the middle of the film. Set on a turbulent stretch of the Colombia-Venezuela border in 2010, the captivating eye-opener revolves around gas smugglers and always feels real and raw. It also creates a convincing love story about two people who find themselves in desperate times: Juan (Alejandro Speitzer), the youngest brother of a gas smuggling clan, and Diana (Laura Osma). It also gives us a villain to hate in the form of the power-mad Don Carmelo (David Noreña), who resorts to heinous acts to line his pockets. Pimpinero: Blood and Oil had me captivated throughout, and that’s partly due to Mateo Londono’s stirring cinematography. Details: 3 stars; Now available on Amazon Prime.

“Rita”: Guatemalan filmmaker Jayro Bustamante’s adult fairy tale shows the outrage at how girls and teenagers in Guatemala are exploited by men who are rarely brought to justice. It’s a difficult subject, but Bustamante tells it fantastically with a narrative reminiscent of the early works of Guillermo del Toro. The supernatural-infused drama is set in a rotten orphanage where 13-year-old Rita (Giuliana Santa Cruz, handling sophisticated material with the insight of a much older person) has just arrived after being admitted to the hospital. Once inside, she is beaten up by other girls, but later becomes part of the “Angels” group, girls who adorn themselves with wings and look for a way to escape the dark place. It’s twisted and angry and deserves to be Guatemala’s choice for next year’s Oscars. “Rita” serves as both a devastating indictment of a corrupt system and a showcase for a fearless filmmaker who continues to open the world’s eyes to the injustices being perpetrated. Details: 3½ stars; Available now on Shudder.

Contact Randy Myers at [email protected].

Originally published: November 27, 2024 at 11:00 am PST