Q-Tips Reviews

A sweeping family adventure, My Penguin Friend is a triumphant tale of friendship between a lonely father and a little lost penguin who recharges his spirit and heals his family with an unshakable, ocean-crossing loyalty. Humble fisherman João (international star Jean Reno) has turned away from the world in the wake of tragedy. But when he discovers a penguin drifting alone in the ocean, drenched in oil from a spill, his first instinct is to help. To his wife’s (Oscar nominee Adriana Barraza) dismay, he not only rescues the sea creature, but takes the flightless bird under his wing. For the first time in years João starts to feel joy, even if he cannot fathom just how unbreakable a bond is being formed. When the penguin suddenly disappears back into the immense wilds of the ocean, João believes it is impossible that he will ever see his friend again. But thousands of miles away, the penguin is caught in misadventures of his own, determined to use his unique GPS-like powers to find his way back to the place he now considers home.

Based on an emotional true story that riveted the world and filmed on the spectacular coasts of Brazil and Argentina, My Penguin Friend is a tale that traverses the magic of the ocean, the beauty of nature, and the transformative power of love. on Disney+, Hulu, rent on Fandango 

Q-tips say: YES, WATCH MY PENGUIN FRIEND. A great feel good movie.

Mrs. Q says: This sweet little movie won’t change your life, but as a story about people – and animals! – whose lives were changed for the better, it will warm your heart a little. A heart-warming true story of a fisherman who rescues a penguin and is rewarded with annual visits from his friend for years.

It’s an inspiring story but it also acknowledges grief and suffering.

Young and charming, newly elected Pius XIII, aka Lenny Belardo, is the first American Pope in history. His ascension appears to be the result of a simple, effective media strategy implemented by the College of Cardinals. In the Vatican, however, the prevailing wisdom is the church’s leaders have chosen a mysterious figure as their guiding force. And Pius XIII proves to be the most mysterious and contradictory of them all. As Belardo begins his reign, he is stubbornly resistant to the Vatican stewards, instead relying on Sister Mary to serve as his chief adviser. While she urges him to focus on leading his billion followers, the young pope shows little interest in making himself known, either to the College of Cardinals or to the masses. The 10-episode drama series stars Jude Law in the title role and Diane Keaton as Sister Mary, a nun from the U.S. now living in Vatican City. HBO

Q-tips say: YES, we are enjoying it. Mrs. Q says: The setting is, Vatican City, so it’s gorgeous to look at too.

The Young Pope” certainly offers an alternative to most recent television in that it’s unafraid to take its time or deal with complex moral and religious issues. It’s a smart show; I just wish it didn’t feel the need to so often remind us how smart it is.

 It should be obvious that The Young Pope is not for everyone. It’s a show that seems designed to imitate a host of different genres, then dive deeper and deeper into them until it emerges as something beyond, immune to parody. This is an intriguing series and worth watching as well but mind you there are references which are very Catholic and might be lost on those not aware of the tradition or mysteries.

STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT SERIES.

In the heartfelt comedy JUNE AGAIN, a twist of fate gives family matriarch June (Noni Hazlehurst) a reprieve from a debilitating illness. Much to their amazement, June re-enters the lives of her adult children, Ginny (Claudia Karvan) and Devon (Stephen Curry), and learns that ‘things haven’t gone according to plan’. With limited time but plenty of pluck, she sets about trying to put everything, and everyone, back on track. When her meddling backfires, June sets out on a romantic journey of her own and discovers she needs help from the very people she was trying to rescue. Peacock

Q-tips say: Yes, we did enjoy this movie.

The situation of dementia and how it affects a family is realistically and with a little humor depicted here. June’s fleeting mission to restore harmony to her family is a simple but thoughtful meditation on understanding. Does June restores family harmony?

A feel-good movie about dementia? June Again is a winner.

A working-class man and his dying mother confront their understanding of themselves and their biases as they help the 8-year-old child they’re raising embrace her true self.

Q-tips say: Yes, we really enjoyed this movie. However, it may NOT be a movie for everyone.

Mrs. Q says: “Two Lives in Pittsburgh.” The growing awareness of new understandings of ourselves, the strength of support for a young person feeling like they are living in a body that belong to another gender, and the transformative power of (finally) acknowledging the truth of oneself can affect a whole a circle of people. Great-grandparent, care-giver, grandparent, friends, child … we could understand and root for everyone of them.

CONCLAVE follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events — selecting the new Pope. Cardinal Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with running this covert process after the unexpected death of the beloved Pope. Once the Catholic Church’s most powerful leaders have gathered from around the world and are locked together in the Vatican halls, Lawrence uncovers a trail of deep secrets left in the dead Pope’s wake, secrets which could shake the foundations of the Church.

Q-tips say: Yes, watch it. Since Pope Francis recently passed away, he was the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2013 until his death in 2025. CONCLAVE follows one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events — selecting the new Pope.

Mrs. Q says: Loved the ending.

Wanda has her hands full: her 8-month pregnant daughter wants a wedding which her ex-husband is flaking on paying for, her mother thinks she’s dying, her wayward son is either going into rehab or the army, her long-time boyfriend doesn’t excite her, but her new girlfriend doesn’t either, and she barely has time for herself, not that she would know what to do with it anyway. Peacock.

Q-tips say: Yes, we did enjoy it. We all likely know someone like Wanda, which makes I’ll Be Right There an enjoyable, intelligent character study. 

An engaging family dramedy about a parent finding her identity when her children have grown up.