Support the Free Press | Facts matter. Truth matters. Journalism mattersSalt Lake City Weekly has been Utah's source of independent news and in-depth journalism since 1984. Donate today to ensure the legacy continues.
The Bob's Burgers Movie, Top Gun: Maverick, Montana Story and more
The Bob’s Burgers Movie ***1/2
What has two thumbs and can provide a test case for whether this long-running Fox animated sitcom works as a feature for someone who’s never seen a single episode?
Ogden Music Festival, Electric PowWow, Get Funky Festival and more
In a recent Buzz Blog entry, we offered some of the updates and additions to the summer concert schedule, highlighting several small festivals and series in the process. The past week brought another batch of updates.
Men, Downton Abbey: A New Era, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, Emergency and more
Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers ***
Yes, it is basically a legacy-quel spin on the premise of Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, complete with a villain threatening the unique properties of animated characters. It’s also funny, lively and generally entertaining, so sue me. In a world where humans interact with animated characters of all kinds, 30 years have passed since Chip (John Mulaney) and Dale (Andy Samberg) starred in their Rescue Rangers TV series, then had a professional and personal falling out.
Classic songs keep spirits high even when the story feels dated.
It’s not a particularly hot take that some classic musicals work almost entirely as delivery systems for their songs. Narratives might not age particularly well with the passing of years, but great tunes stand the test of time—and can make a show worth enjoying all on their own.
Firestarter, Happening, Memoria, Senior Year and more
Firestarter *1/2After nearly 30 years of writing about movies, I will still never understand why filmmakers would decide to take perfectly good source material and make deeply stupid choices about changing it structurally. This second screen version of Stephen King’s 1980 novel casts Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Charlie McGee, the 11-year-old pyrokinetic sought by a shadowy government agency, along with her telepathic father Alex (Zac Efron), to continue the research that gave Charlie’s parents unique powers during experimental testing.
Upcoming shows at Ogden City Arts, Free Community Concert Series, Heber Market
A number of concert series and festivals are in the process of announcing dates and lineups, while others are staking a claim to days and times, though still finishing the booking process.
Savvy comedy of manners avoids speeches in favor of characters who need to understand themselves.
In a messy, complicated time, it’s easy for a creative work to find like-minded audiences if it lays out a thesis full of easy, applause-line talking points.
Doctor Strange, The Duke, Along for the Ride, Petite Maman
Along for the Ride ***
Formulaic fare feels a lot less formulaic when there’s a spark to the performances, and writer/director Sofia Alvarez packs a surprising punch in her adaptation of Sarah Dessen’s 2009 YA novel simply by putting together a terrific young cast. Emma Pasarow plays Auden West, a straight-arrow high achiever who decides to spend the summer between high-school graduation and college in the beachside community of Colby staying with her father (Dermot Mulroney) and working in the shop owned by her stepmother (Kate Bosworth).
Opening:
Body Awareness @ Pygmalion Productions, May 6-21 [tickets]
The Hunchback of Notre Dame @ Draper Historic Theatre, May 6-21 [tickets]
Into the Woods @ On Pitch Performing Arts, May 12-14 [tickets]
Jesus Christ Superstar @ Broadway at the Eccles, May 10-15 [tickets] Continuing:
Camelot @ Hale Theater Orem, through 6/4 [tickets]
Disenchanted @ On Pitch Performing Arts, through 5/7 [tickets]
The Frog Prince @ Salty Dinner Theater (various locations), through 5/26 [tickets]
The Light in the Piazza @ Hale Centre Theatre, through 6/18 [tickets]
Passing Strange @ Salt Lake Acting Company through 5/15 [tickets]
The Pirates of Penzance @ Ziegfeld Theater, through 5/21 [tickets]
School of Rock: The Musical @ Hale Centre Theatre, through 5/28 [tickets]
A Year with Frog and Toad @ Parker Theatre [tickets]
