#FIRSTLOOK: TRAILER FOR “THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN”

Check-out this heartwarming new Trailer for THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN featuring a star-studded Voice Cast, coming soon to Disney+!

Synopsis:

An adaptation of the award-winning book about one very special gorilla, Disney’s “The One and Only Ivan” is an unforgettable tale about the beauty of friendship, the power of visualization and the significance of the place one calls home. Ivan is a 400-pound silverback gorilla who shares a communal habitat in a suburban shopping mall with Stella the elephant, Bob the dog, and various other animals. He has few memories of the jungle where he was captured, but when a baby elephant named Ruby arrives, it touches something deep within him. Ruby is recently separated from her family in the wild, which causes him to question his life, where he comes from and where he ultimately wants to be. The heartwarming adventure, which comes to the screen in an impressive hybrid of live-action and CGI, is based on Katherine Applegate’s bestselling book, which won numerous awards upon its publication in 2013, including the Newbery Medal.

The film stars: Sam Rockwell as the voice of Ivan; Angelina Jolie as the voice of Stella; Danny DeVito as the voice of Bob the dog; Helen Mirren as the voice of Snickers the poodle; Brooklynn Prince as the voice of Ruby; Ramon Rodriquez as the mall employee George; Ariana Greenblatt as George’s daughter Julia; Chaka Khan as the voice of Henrietta the chicken; Mike White as the voice of Frankie the seal; Ron Funches as the voice of Murphy the rabbit; Phillipa Soo as the voice of Thelma the parrot; and Bryan Cranston as Mack, the mall’s owner.

See the Trailer:

THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN streams on Disney+ Friday, August 21, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Walt Disney Studios Canada)

#FIRSTLOOK: WHAT TO WATCH JULY 2020 – “ATHLETE A”, “UNSOLVED MYSTERIES”, “CRAZY DELICIOUS”, “RuPAUL’S DRAG RACE”, “CANADA’S DRAG RACE”, “WE’RE HERE”, “THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN”, “THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB”, “DESPERADOS”, “MUCHO MUCHO AMOR”

Summer’s in full swing and here are some new options for you to help pass the time while we’re at home to help “flatten the curve”.

UNSOLVED MYSTERIES (NETFLIX)

Mustering-up the courage to watch this took a lot out of us. This Series mortified us growing-up in the ’90s and made it difficult for this pre-teen to go to sleep on a regular basis, yet still we watched. Netflix just released season 15 of this Series which tackles cold cases and unexplained phenomenons. The theme song and title graphic have been updated by still make us shiver. The round we get six episodes examining everything from a man whose body was found in Baltimore’s Belvedere Hotel; a woman who disappeared from her hair salon with her remains found later leaving her son with several questions and no closure; the search for a man suspected to have killed his family in France; a black man who went missing after attending a party with friends; various towns one night in September 1969 which encountered what is believed to be an UFO; and sisters seeking justice for their missing sister- the suspect being their mom. I am shaking just re-thinking about these. There literally are footprint marks on my bedroom floor for all the feet sweats! We need a mental break. but want more.

CRAZY DELICIOUS (NETFLIX)

We love our cooking and baking competitions and British series CRAZY DELICIOUS is no exception. Each episode, three contestants square-off and are given ingredient and theme challenges and must impress a panel of three high-profile “Food Gods” including Carla Hall, Heston Blumenthal and Niklas Ekstedt. Host Jayde Adams provides tons of puns and quirk. We love the colours and innovation as the show gets its contestants to amp-up the creativity in a serious time crunch. Some thrive, some flop and at six episodes, this was an easy zip-through. I wanted to eat everything.

ATHLETE A (NETFLIX)

Co-Directors Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk take us deep into the world of American Gymnastics where a bombshell was dropped when it was uncovered that Doctor Larry Nassar had abused several young female gymnasts. But prior to being sentenced to 175 years in prison, how did he manage to get away with this for so many years? Documentary ATHLETE A uncovers the web of deception and how the USA Gymnastics Team continued to receive several reports, burying them for several years. Finally, Rachael Denhollander, now a lawyer and a former gymnast ignited the spark that became a blaze as the first woman to publicly accuse Nassar, bringing these victims to justice. We see Nassar‘s world unfold in detail and we get some exclusive content and footage including an interrogation where he visibly is uncomfortable when questioned about his examination practices. Like Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, the Film is focused on the victims and their healing but this goes a layer deeper in understanding of the perpetrator in addition to the victims. Riveting.

HOMEMADE (NETFLIX)

This is a collection of 17 short films, produced by Pablo Larrain (Jackie) set during the COVID-19 Pandemic, ranging between 4 to 11 minutes in length ranging from comedic to dramatic, some autobiographical even. Netflix has arranged the Films in episodes which so you can pick and choose which you wanted to view. Some standouts include:

–RIDE IT OUT by Ana Lily Amirpour, a gorgeously-shot look at Los Angeles during the pandemic –CRICKETS by Kristen Stewart and also starring her, centers on a woman coping with insomnia –JOHNNY MA by Johnny Ma is autobiographical is a letter to his mother, which she may never even see; he shares his mother’s dumpling recipe. –PENELOPE by Maggie Gyllenhaal and starring husband Peter Sarsgaard as a man coping with a virus attacking the planet, causing the moon to orbit closer to Earth –THE LUCKY ONES by Rachel Morrison, about a mother who writes a poem for her son, hoping he will remember what life was like during COVID-19

RuPAUL’S DRAG RACE SEASON 11 (NETFLIX)

Confession – I honestly haven’t tuned into RuPaul’s Drag Race since its first two seasons. It isn’t that I didn’t love it, because I did. Life got busy and there were so many other things to watch. Amidst this period of isolation, I decided to catch-up again and that proved a great decision! We meet 14 Queens here, one returning from last season after a premature elimination. And we also have Canadian representation with former Toronto star Brooke Lynn Hytes making us proud, capitalizing off her experience as a ballet dancer to wow the judges. Celebrity judges include Miley Cyrus, Cara Delevingne, Kandi Burruss, Tony Hale, Joel McHale, Clea DuVall, Katherine Langford, Gina Rodriguez and several more. As desired, things get super-heated among this diverse group of Queens but it is a wonder seeing how far along this Series has advanced in complexity and what we get is a dazzling production with some nailbiter challenges including a drag magic show and a Grease-inspired parody musical. This, in addition to some nerve-wrecking Lip Sync For Your Life and runway challenges. A little wonder how this Series has taken home a whopping NINE Emmys. We need a just-concluded Season 12 on Netflix, in addition to recently-launched Canada’s Drag Race, which is available on Crave in Canada.

CANADA’S DRAG RACE (CRAVE)

Toronto is known as a hot bed for drag talent and this spinoff of RuPaul’s Drag Race gives 12 Canadian Queens a chance to compete for a $100k prize and a year of stays at The Hilton! Brooke Lynn Hytes made a huge splash on season 11 of RuPaul’s Drag Race and gets a heroine’s welcome home as one of three judges, alongside supermodel Stacey Mackenzie and actor Jeffrey Bower Chapman. Each week, a new celebrity guest judge appears starting with the likes of Elisha Cuthbert (24, Happy Endings) and Jade Hassouné (Shadowhunters). A new episode arrives every Thursday on Crave, with the Series premiering this past Thursday to raves. Canada’s Queens certainly have a quirkiness to them, as evinced by a Rocky Mountains photo challenge which saw them tasked with looking their fiercest when the wind machine suddenly went full blizzard mode on them! There’s certainly already quite a bit of sass to be seen already and we can’t wait to see the drama develop.

WE’RE HERE (CRAVE/HBO)

You’d be hard-pressed to find anything more heart-felt, entertaining and educational in six episodes right now on Television. Yes, we had to purchase the HBO add-on to our Crave subscription to see this but it was well-worth the price. WE’RE HERE follows three of America’s top Drag Queens: Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O’Hara and Shangela as they venture to the most obscure towns in America to deliver a message of self-love. We meet a wide array of subjects from people grieving a loss, to people who identify as heterosexual to spread a message of inclusion, to individuals who are non-binary and seek drag as an act of expression to help realize their true selves.

Imagine RuPaul’s Drag Race and Queer Eye as a mash-up in a Documentary format. The Series digs deep and we really see our subjects go on a journey of growth, dealing with things that have halted their lives and most of all, it so much fun seeing the big reveals at the end of each episode. It is eye-opening the barriers that these Queens faced in these places which face an uphill battle in acceptance. The Series culminates in us getting to know each of the Drag Queens and their own emotional journeys from obscurity to fame. WE’RE HERE tugs on all the right emotional strings and gave us all the feels. You will not regret seeing this.

THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN (CRAVE/HBO)

So sad we missed our chance to see this in theatres last fall, but so happy we got to finally enjoy it on Crave via the HBO add-on. Based on Garth Stein‘s Novel, this Story of the unbreakable bond between an owner and their pet hits all the marks emotionally. While oversimplified in parts including a legal battle, what this Simon Curtis (My Week with Marilyn) Tearjerker does well is its empathetic view of the world it gives us from our central canine Enzo (voiced by Kevin Costner) and also his unconditional love for race car driver owner, Denny (Milo Ventimiglia). While this doesn’t really tread any new territory, it gives its audience exactly what it knows it is going to get. This is a must-see for anyone who’s ever loved their dog more than anything and it literally will have you crying so hard, you’ll be gasping for air. You have been warned.

THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB (NETFLIX)

Based on Ann M. Martin’s popular Children’s Novels, this ten-episode Series sure is to be a hit with the younger crowd this Summer. Make no mistake though there are lessons to be learned by kids, young and old here. We follow seventh-graders Kristy (Sophia Grace), Stacey (Shay Rudolph), Claudia (Momona Tamada) and Mary Anne (Malia Baker), who band together to create a club of Baby-Sitters to earn some money. Along the way, they learn about some of the battles they and those close to them each are facing in their own lives. Purely wholesome, these dramas seem real to these young ladies who are dealing with things for the first time. For example, Stacey is a Type-1 Diabetic; Claudia is trying to understand her grandmother’s past having witnessed what it was like to be at an internment camp and also trying to find her artistic self; Mary Anne is learning to assert herself, not knowing how to say “no”. This and several more complex story lines such as living with a single parent or seeing your parent re-marry or date. And the Series even stars Alicia Silverstone as Kristy‘s mother. We love that the stories have been modernized for kids of today but still there are important and healthy perspectives which we all can learn from. We have a feeling there will be more seasons ahead.

DESPERADOS (NETFLIX)

This Comedy centers on Wesley (Nasim Pedrad) and her two BFFs Brooke (Anna Camp) and Kaylie (Sarah Burns) who jet off to Mexico to save the former from sabotaging a blossoming relationship with Jared (Robbie Amell). Wesley‘s biological clock is ticking and she’s running out of patience. Jared is a hunk who has it all and could be the one. That is until he “ghosts” Wesley, triggering her to send an angry series of messages confronting him – only to realize he was hospitalized! In a manic frenzy, Wesley and her friends try to break into his hotel room and delete the series of angry emails. The trip to Mexico however proves life-changing as each of the ladies come to different realizations about what they truly want in life. Enter to the picture Sean (Lamorne Morris), who keeps surfacing and despite having had a rocky start with Wesley, we wonder if she might’ve overlooked him. This Comedy by Ellen Rapoport starts-off actually quite funny with SNL alumni Pedrad shining in her many gags, but when things get a little more serious and she’s forced to face her demons and the BFFs get separated in the second-half, it somehow fizzles and feels a bit long at just under two hours.

MUCHO MUCHO AMOR: THE LEGEND OF WALTER MERCADO (NETFLIX)

Puerto Rican Astrologer Walter Mercado gained fame internationally in the ’70s with his larger-than-life persona and flamboyant fashion, but then suddenly disappeared after having been a very regular part of his fans’ lives. This Documentary by Cristina Constantini and Kareem Tabsch explains his rise to stardom and also the reason why he went away, but more importantly, we witness his comeback after a legal battle after signing-away past, present and future rights to his own name. This is a fascinating portrait of an icon, unafraid to ask questions about this mysterious figure including his romantic life. Hamilton mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda even appears in the Documentary as a teary-eyed adoring fan. The only thing tragic about this is that the subject likely never got to see this lovely tribute to him before passing away last year, though it lets his colourful legacy live on.

For our Review of HAMILTON, click here.

For our Review of EUROVISION SONG CONTEST: THE STORY OF FIRE SAGA, click here.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TRAILER FOR “JIM GAFFIGAN: THE PALE TOURIST”

Funnyman Jim Gaffigan is back in new Comedy Special THE PALE TOURIST, coming soon to Amazon Prime Video. Canadian connection: the Special includes footage even from his Kitchener show!

Synopsis:

In The Pale Tourist, Gaffigan boldly goes where no stand-up comedian has gone before: everywhere. The two hour-long specials were filmed as part of Gaffigan’s The Pale Tourist worldwide tour, in which he traveled the world—in each country meeting people, eating the food, and learning a bit about the history. He would then transform those experiences into a stand-up set of all-new material and perform it for locals and expatriates, before heading on to another destination and doing it all over again.

See the Trailer:

JIM GAFFIGAN: THE PALE TOURIST streams on Amazon Prime Video Friday, July 24, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Amazon Prime Video)

#FIRSTLOOK: NEW TEASER FOR “AWAY”

Two-time Academy Award winner Hi\lary Swank is back in AWAY, coming soon to Netflix! See the Teaser Trailer:

Synopsis:

From Executive Producer Jason Katims, the Netflix series Away is a thrilling, emotional drama on an epic scale that celebrates the incredible advancements humans can achieve and the personal sacrifices they must make along the way. As American astronaut em>Emma Green (Hilary Swank) prepares to lead an international crew on the first mission to Mars, she must reconcile her decision to leave behind her husband (Josh Charles) and teenage daughter (Talitha Bateman) when they need her the most. As the crew’s journey into space intensifies, their personal dynamics and the effects of being away from their loved ones back on Earth become increasingly complex. Away shows that sometimes to reach for the stars, we must leave home behind.

See the Teaser:

AWAY arrives on Netflix Friday, September 4, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#COOKING: SAVOURY MISO OATMEAL RECIPE

Savoury Miso Oatmeal. Who said Oatmeal had to be boring and basic? Try this amazing recipe for a savoury oatmeal which should leave you with some leftovers so you won’t have to worry about breakfast the next day! This idea came years ago when I interviewed Giada DeLaurentiis and she told me her favourite go-to breakfast was savoury oatmeal. Since then, I’ve been obsessed with the idea! Guaranteed this will leave you starting your day energized and satiated!

Ingredients:

2/3 cup quick cooking oats

6 cups water

8 mushrooms, cleaned and sliced thin

1/2 white onion, minced

1/4 cup corn kernels

10 grape tomatoes

1 heaping tbsp miso paste

1 tbsp olive oil

1 egg

1/4 cup grated cheddar cheese

Sea salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Soak oats in water till just covered for about 10-15 minutes.

2. Bring water to boil with salt.

3. Add miso paste and oats, boiling on medium-high heat. Reduce to medium-low heat slightly-uncovered.

4. Cook till oats fully expand and mixture is thick.

5. While cooking oats, heat oil in skillet on medium-high heat.

6. Sautée mushrooms, onions, corn and tomatoes till mixture is caramelized. Season with salt and pepper.

7. Once oats are cooked and thick, crack an egg into mixture, stirring gently as wispy egg clouds form. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

8. Turn off heat and let sit for a couple minutes.

9. Scoop mixture into bowls. Top with with mushroom mixture and grated cheese. Serve.

Gallery:

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(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#GIVEAWAY: ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN “THE HIGH NOTE” ON BLU-RAY™

Universal Pictures Home Entertainment x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a copy of acclaimed THE HIGH NOTE on Blu-ray™!

Synopsis:

The High Note follows a superstar singer (Tracee Ellis Ross – who shows off her own vocals for the original songs in the film) and her personal assistant (Dakota Johnson) as they both aspire for more despite the industry trying to keep them in place. 

See the Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance! You must be following.

Enter for a chance to #win #THEHIGHNOTE on Blu-ray™!

How: https://t.co/50Un4R9rLi pic.twitter.com/zludZINMbY

— MR. WILL WONG 📸 (@mrwillw) July 7, 2020

Rules and regulations here.

THE HIGH NOTE is available on Blu-ray™/DVD Tuesday, August 11, 2020.

order now:

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment)

#FIRSTLOOK: “THE KISSING BOOTH 2” NEW TRAILER

Joey King is back in THE KISSING BOOTH 2, which looks like the perfect Summer escape! Euphoria‘s Jacob Elordi also stars! Check-out this new Trailer!

Synopsis:

Elle Evans (Joey King) just had the most romantic summer of her life with her reformed bad-boy boyfriend Noah Flynn (Jacob Elordi). But now Noah is off to Harvard, and Elle heads back to high school for her senior year. She’ll have to juggle a long-distance relationship, getting into her dream college with her best friend Lee (Joel Courtney), and the complications brought on by a close friendship with a handsome, charismatic new classmate named Marco (Taylor Perez). When Noah grows close to a seemingly-perfect college girl (Maisie Richardson-Sellers), Elle will have to decide how much she trusts him and to whom her heart truly belongs. Director and screenwriter Vince Marcello returns for The Kissing Booth sequel, based on characters from Beth Reekles’ 2012 young adult book.

See the Trailer:

THE KISSING BOOTH 2 streams July 24, 2020 on Netflix.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

#FIRSTLOOK: LAVAZZA DRIVE-IN FESTIVAL

The ICFF, presented by IC Savings, and CHIN Radio/TV will host an all new initiative this summer at Ontario Place – the Lavazza Drive-In Film Festival. 
The festival running July 20-July 31, 2020 will feature a line-up of the latest international films representing countries hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Toronto Premiere of The Cuban, starring Oscar-winner Louis Gossett Jr., and the Canadian Premiere of Italian drama, If Only/Magari.  The festival will partner with the Italian Embassy, and a portion of ticket sales will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross.

Here’s a list of the Films to screen at the Festival:

Concessions also will be available via contactless delivery. More here.

(Photo credit: ICFF)

#COOKING: COCONUT CREAM PIE RECIPE

Coconut Cream Pie. This is a classic and it has been so liberating knowing now that making a pie crust isn’t so terrifying after all! Give this pie a little overnight patience. It is so worth it. Do be careful when baking this crust on its own, you need to weigh it down to prevent shrinkage.

Pie Pastry:
1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp sea salt
1/4 cup butter, chilled
1/3 cup + 2 tbsps Crisco Golden All-Vegetable Shortening
1/4 cup cold water

Filling:
1 can coconut milk
1 cup half and half cream
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup organic raw sugar
1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/4 cup corn starch
2 tbsps unsalted butter
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsps coconut extract
1/4 tsp sea salt

Topping:
1 cup whipping cream
3 tbsps icing sugar
1 tbsp coconut extract
2 tbsps shredded unsweetened coconut, toasted

Instructions:

1. Prepare pastry, combining ingredients, adding water 1 tbsp at a time, handling minimally. Knead dough gently on floured surface. Roll into ball. Chill minimum 2 hours, no more than 5 days.
2. Roll dough out and fit into pie pan. Chill another 30 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 400°F.
4. Place a small oven-safe plate stacked with small oven-safe bowl of water to weigh-down crust to prevent from shrinking.
5. Bake about 25 minutes or till golden brown.
6. Chill in refrigerator covered.
7. In bowl, mix yolks and corn starch.
8. On stove top with medium heat, melt butter, sugar, salt, cream and coconut milk, stirring frequently till it reaches boil.
9. Pour half of milk mixture into egg mixture and mix vigorously.
10. Pour mixture back into sauce pan with milk mixture. Stir till smooth as mixture will thicken fast. Remove from heat.
11. Mix-in butter, coconut and extracts.
12. Pour into pie crust and cover with Saran Wrap. It’s okay to have wrap touching filling. Chill overnight.
13. In large bowl, beat whipping cream with handmixer. Once stiff peaks form, use spatula to mix-in icing sugar and coconut extract.
14. Toast 2 tbsps coconut flakes, careful not to burn.
15. Pipe whipped cream onto pie. Sprinkle with coconut flakes and serve.

Gallery:

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(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#COOKING: PASTA WITH SHRIMP AND MUSSELS IN WINE-CREAM SAUCE RECIPE

Pasta with Shrimp and Mussels in Wine-Cream Sauce. This is one you save for someone you love a lot! The way the juices from the mussels and shrimp infuse into this gorgeous creamy wine sauce is perfection. Be careful not to overcook your seafood. You want to remove this from the heat as soon as they’re cooked.

Ingredients:
450g spaghetti, cooked
2 lbs mussels, scrubbed clean and soaked in salt water
1 lb shrimp
1/2 cup white wine
1/2 cup 18% cream
1/2 cup whipping cream
4 tbsps unsalted butter
4 tbsps flour
1 white onion, minced
5 cloves garlic, minced
Handful of Cilantro, minced
Sea salt and pepper

Parmesan Cheese

Instructions:

1. Cook spaghetti till Al Dente. Strain and set aside.
2. Sautée garlic and onion in butter on medium-high in large skillet till onions are translucent.
3. Drain mussels after soaking in salt water 20 minutes.
4. Add mussels, cream, wine, half of cilantro plus generous sprinkling of salt and pepper.
5. Cover with lid for about 10 minutes. With about 3 minutes left, add shrimp. Cook till shrimp are red, careful not to overcook.
6. In small bowl, make a slurry with equal parts flour and water, mixing till smooth.
7. Mix flour slurry into butter sauce bit by bit till sauce thickens and remove from heat. Coat shrimps and mussels in sauce.
8. Take large serving fork and spiral spaghetti into a ladle and transfer onto plate. Add mussels and shrimp onto pasta, garnish with cilantro and sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese. Serve.

Gallery:

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(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)