We honestly had no idea this was even a thing but we are glad to saw this! We loved Steven Soderbergh’s Magic Mike and steven-episode reality series FINDING MAGIC MIKE gives aspiring male dancers a chance to compete for a $100k prize and a chance to join the famed troupe.

Firstly, we love that in addition to amazing dancing, captured beautifully like a slick, gorgeous Music Video by Gareth Paul Cox, the Series really focuses on the storylines of our Contestants and their own personal growth journeys. Some have no experience as performers and just want to improve the chemistry of their relationships with their partners, some are failed Olympians, some are looking for a breakthrough into the Entertainment industry. There is a bit of diversity and inclusion in the storylines and we like the direction the Series goes. There is even a fire-throwing, bisexual Mormon competing and if that isn’t covering the spectrum, I don’t know what is!

The Series brings aboard some awesome Panelists like Nicole Scherzinger, Whitney Cummings, Robin Thede, Nikki Glaser and more. Serving as Mentor is Adam Rodriguez, who actually starred in the Magic Mike films, speaking to his own experience on the movies, knowing first-hand what to look for in these aspiring dancers. Choreographer Alison Faulk also serves as a Mentor and comes with a fun positivity that is infectious, as does Choreographer Luke Broadlick.

Some of these challenges the dancers are given are impossible including Aerial Dancing, a Shower Dance but these contestants are in it to win it and despite a spirit of competition, we see a bond of brotherhood among them. Be warned, FINDING MAGIC MIKE is tears, vomit, injury and a dash of egos. Where the final two land in terms of their progress is astonishing. We could not stop watching and quickly-zipped through these episodes and you won’t be disappointed, trust me!

FINDING MAGIC MIKE streams now on Crave Canada.

THE CHIPPENDALES were a groundbreaking male erotic dance troupe who brought-out droves of women to their racy shows from the ’80s to the ’90s. At their peak, they brought-in $35 million a year in ticket sales. Prime Video‘s four-part Docu-Series explores beneath the muscles and choreography, the drama behind the scenes that led to murder.

Writer and Director Jessica Vile recounts the history of this dance troupe, the brainchild of Steve Banerjee who was responsible for the business model behind its international success, taking it from a night at a club he owned, to a massive success, which eventually saw competing copycats emerge. We see the tensions that mounted between Banerjee and the charismatic partner Nick De Noia, who was the face of the brand who began taking the troupe on tour with his own direction.

Through first-hand accounts we get an intimate detailing of events from former dancers including Michael Rapp, who was the top dancer for the Chippendales at one point. We see how his fame affected his own personal life and relationship with his family, and such is the tone of the Series. While there are throngs of women having a wild time at these shows, seeping beneath the surface was a lot of jealousy, rage and unhappiness, which Vile seems to capture well.

As the Series progresses, the final episode promises great intensity, taking us into a play-by-play how Banerjee, on a cross-continental operation, finally gets captured by the FBI with the help of a witness who was involved in the conspiracy to murder De Noia. While some involved with the rise of the Chippendales saw one side of Banerjee, we get an intriguing portrait of a mysterious socio-path who would not go down in defeat at all costs.

A feature film is in-development about this story, so this is just a taste of more to come. You can see THE CURSE OF CHIPPENDALES December 24, 2021 only on Prime Video.

Jenny Slate and Charlie Day team-up on Rom-Com I WANT YOU BACK, coming soon to Prime Video.

Synopsis:

Peter (Charlie Day) and Emma (Jenny Slate) are total strangers, but when they meet, one thing instantly bonds them: they were both unexpectedly dumped by their respective partners, Anne (Gina Rodriguez) and Noah (Scott Eastwood), on the same weekend.  As the saying goes, “misery loves company,” but their commiseration turns into a mission when they see on social media that their exes have happily moved on to new romances, Anne with Logan (Manny Jacinto) and Noah with Ginny (Clark Backo).  

Terrified that, in their 30s, they have lost their shot at happily ever after and horrified at the prospect of having to start over, Peter and Emma hatch a desperate plot to win the loves of their lives back.  Each will do whatever it takes to put an end to their exes’ new relationships and send them running back to their arms. 

They’ve also created some funny Memes to get you pumped!

Prime Video release I WANT YOU BACK February 11, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Prime Video)

SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME swings into the #1 spot at the Box Office this weekend with a whopping $242 million from 4,336 theatres for Sony Pictures! It has the distinction of having the #2 best opening day for a Film of all time with $121.5 million in North America, only behind fellow MCU film Avengers: Endgame, which opened in 2019 with $157.4 million. This also sets a record for best opening ever in December for a movie! Critics had nothing but love, giving this 94% on the Tomatometer.

A distant second is Disney’s ENCANTO from 3,525 theatres with $6.6 million in its fourth weekend out, a total run of $81.6 million.

In third is GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE with $3.6 million for Sony Pictures, a five week run of $117.5 million.

Steven Spielberg’s WEST SIDE STORY lands in fourth with $3.4 million from 2,820 theatres for 20th Century Studios, a two week tally of $17.9 million for this Oscar contender.

NIGHTMARE ALLEY rounds-out our Top Five with $3.2 million from 2,145 theatres for Universal Pictures. Critics gave this Guillermo del Toro Thriller, made in Toronto, 80% on the Tomatometer.

Toronto’s own Keanu Reeves got an epic welcome home tonight as the Black Carpet was rolled-out at Scotiabank Theatre for the Canadian Premiere of THE MATRIX: RESURRECTIONS. This fourth installment of The Matrix Series directed by Lana Wachowski, takes place some 20 years after the events of The Matrix Revolutions and we find Neo (Reeves) living an ordinary life, only to cross paths with a woman who appears to be Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss). Joining a group of rebels, he must fight a new enemy and also find again his one true love, the “real” Trinity.

Reeves is in the thick of promotions for this eagerly-awaited Sci-Fi-Action Blockbuster, just having done the rounds in New York earlier this week. Special precautions were taken at the Premiere tonight allowing only select Media who had met testing and vaccination requirements access to the Black Carpet. And while these Premieres normally include a fan pit, extra precautions were made to clear the area for social distancing amidst these unique times. The venue also was bought-out completely with all 14 screens devoted to playing the Film. Outside and inside the theatre, elaborate projections of the Film’s iconic green digital rain where displayed in high-definition taking fans right back inside The Matrix. The Premiere was brought to us by Audi, The Fairmont Royal York Hotel and IMAX.

Moss originally was slated to attend the affair as well, but sadly couldn’t make it out. Nonetheless, Toronto fans were thrilled to see their pride and joy celebrate with them.

We were incredibly lucky to be seated right beside Reeves as he chat with Host Donovan Bennett about how great it is to be back and seeing this Film on IMAX.

Some Snaps from the night:

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release THE MATRIX: RESURRECTIONS December 22, 2021.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/Warner Bros. Pictures Canada)

You know how much we love RuPaul’s Drag Race and already during the Pandemic we’ve been treated to two seasons of Canada’s Drag Race on Crave Canada!

The winner of Season Two was unveiled tonight and a special celebration was held at The Danforth Music Hall with the top three queens: Ottawa’s Icesis Couture, Montreal’s Pythia and Vancouver’s Kendall Gender in-attendance for the Finale screening. Guest Judge Hollywood Jade hosted the affair.

Gaining momentum late in the Series, Icesis Couture‘s seasoning after many years on the Drag Pageant circuit really showed as she outperformed her competition to take the Season Two crown.

The Queens of Season Two will be going on tour in January, with a date in Toronto towards the end of the month! Learn more about it here.

We were so thrilled to meet these lovely girls and can’t wait to see where their careers take them next!

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong/Crave Canada)

Channing Tatum and Sandra Bullock star in THE LOST CITY. Check-out these new Stills and Trailer!

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

Brilliant, but reclusive author Loretta Sage (Sandra Bullock) has spent her career writing about exotic places in her popular romance-adventure novels featuring handsome cover model Alan (Channing Tatum), who has dedicated his life to embodying the hero character, “Dash.” While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta is kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire (Daniel Radcliffe) who hopes that she can lead him to the ancient lost city’s treasure from her latest story. Wanting to prove that he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her. Thrust into an epic jungle adventure, the unlikely pair will need to work together to survive the elements and find the ancient treasure before it’s lost forever.

Cast: Sandra Bullock, Channing Tatum, Daniel Radcliffe, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Oscar Nuñez, Patti Harrison, Bowen Yang

Paramount Pictures Canada release THE LOST CITY MARCH 25, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Paramount Pictures Canada)

bbno$ (pronounced “bb-no-money”) is responsible for one of the biggest smash hits of 2021 and many don’t even realize he’s Canadian! Thanks to widespread exposure on TikTok, “Edamame”, featuring Rich Brian, already has cracked the Top Ten on the Canadian Billboard Hot 100, and things aren’t stopping anytime soon for the Vancouver Rapper as he makes waves internationally.

Just joining the New York and London legs of the Jingle Ball Tour, bbno$ (born Alexander Gumuchian) finally was able to make-up a missed Toronto date on his Eat Ya Veggies Tour, playing a sold-out crowd at Danforth Music Hall.

We had the pleasure of meeting charismatic bbno$ and he’s everything we imagined! So gracious and giving to his fans, handing out copies of his latest effort, for which his tour is named after.

See some Snaps:

If you aren’t familiar with the talent bbno$, here’s your chance to get acquainted!

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong/bbno$)

Official Sundance selection YOU WON’T BE ALONE stars Noomi Rapace and you can catch the just-released Trailer here.

Synopsis:

Set in an isolated mountain village in 19th century Macedonia, YOU WON’T BE ALONE follows a young girl who is kidnapped and then transformed into a witch by an ancient spirit. Curious about life as a human, the young witch accidentally kills a peasant in the nearby village and then takes her victim’s shape to live life in her skin. Her curiosity ignited, she continues to wield this horrific power in order to understand what it means to be human.

Focus Features and Universal Pictures Canada release YOU WON’T BE ALONE April 2, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Focus Features)

Alyssa Milano is back in BRAZEN! See the new Trailer for this Thriller Series coming to Netflix.

Synopsis:

Prominent mystery writer and crime expert, Grace (Alyssa Milano), hurries back to her family home in Washington, D.C. because her estranged sister summons her. When her sister is killed and her double life as a webcam performer is revealed, Grace ignores the warnings of cool-headed detective Ed (Sam Page) and gets involved in the case.

BRAZEN arrives on Netflix January 13, 2022.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)