This week’s recommendation roundup for Paramount+ subscribers in the U.S. is a glorious mixed bag. Up top, it features a new addition to starring Russell Crowe that, despite it getting skewered by critics and a 45% on Rotten Tomatoes, remains the No. 1 movie on the service this week. Meanwhile, Joe Dirt, which we wrote about two weeks ago, is still hovering in the top 10.
In the spirit of open-mindedness, then, I’ve thrown a few things against the wall for a well-rounded list I think you’ll all like. It includes that Crowe flick; another recent addition—a safe-cracking thriller (and my top pick—scroll to the end)—currently heating up Rotten Tomatoes; and two library favorites just waiting for their turn to shine!
4
The Get Out
Stress is killing Manco, but maybe not before the cartel does
Stress is a real killer, especially for Manco Kapak (Russell Crowe), an Albanian-born Los Angeles club owner with a heart condition whose doctor tells him to slow down or he’s going to die. But how does a guy who’s been a loyal money launderer for a drug cartel for years sever the cord without things getting messy?
With his sights set on selling his business to a potential buyer, Joe Carver (Luke Evans), Manco, and his girlfriend Sunny (Teresa Palmer) can feel the sea breeze. But when desperate college professor Jeff (Aaron Paul) and his wild girlfriend Carrie (Nina Dobrev) start robbing Manco to pay off a debt, they’re clueless as to who the money belongs to—and they’re about to find out, fast. The Get Out might not be getting the best reviews, but it’s actually a pretty entertaining crime thriller with a solid cast.
3
Airplane!
Surely you’ve heard of this classic spoof before
I make it a point to watch the legendary 1980 spoof Airplane! at least once a year. It’s an hour and a half of guaranteed laughs and, for younger viewers or those who haven’t seen it, a chance to see the origins of golden lines like “Surely you can’t be serious,” and its iconic response, “I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.” The late, great Leslie Nielsen delivers it as Dr. Rumack, who’s trying to maintain order aboard an L.A.-to-Chicago flight whose pilots and many of its passengers have all gotten food poisoning.
Their only hope is former fighter pilot Ted Striker (Robert Hays), who’s still so traumatized from the war that he needs the help of his old commanding officer, Rex Kramer (Robert Stack), to talk him down from the tower, and his estranged girlfriend, flight attendant Elaine Dickinson (Julie Hagerty), to give him another chance. Ridiculousness and the best sight gags of all time ensue.
Airplane!
- Release Date
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July 2, 1980
- Runtime
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88 minutes
- Director
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Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
2
Transformers One
When Optimus Prime and Megatron were best buds
This one’s for the big kids out there. It’s hard to believe that Transformers One is this Hasbro franchise’s first animated feature film since the original 1986 The Transformers: The Movie, which 12-year-old me still counts as one of the saddest movies of all time (if you know, you know). And if you’re going to go back to the origin story of the two most legendary Transformers ever, you might as well stack the voice cast with Hollywood A-listers to do it.
Back before the Autobot-Decepticon war, best friends Orion Pax (Chris Hemsworth!) and D-16 (Brian Tyree Henry) are simple Energon miners on Cybertron, lower-class robots who can’t transform. When they and their friends B-127 (Keegan-Michael Key!), the future Bumblebee, and Elita-1 (Scarlett Johansson!!) learn of a deep betrayal by their leader, Sentinel Prime (Jon Hamm!!), to keep them repressed, they’re freed and given transforming powers. Orion wants to use them for good and becomes Optimus Prime, while D-16 rages and wants revenge, turning him into Megatron, splintering their friendship forever.
1
Tuner
A piano tuner with an ear for cracking safes
Tuner may be a film in a long line of films that follows a tried-and-true formula of “guy-resorts-to-questionable-activities-with-bad-people-to-save-dying-father-figure,” but I have to say that it does it with a fascinating take that I didn’t see coming. A TIFF favorite and with an RT score of 94%, my top pick this week stars Prime Target‘s Leo Woodall as Niki, a piano virtuoso whose hearing condition robbed him of a career, relegating him to a life tuning pianos with his curmudgeonly mentor Harry (Dustin Hoffman).
When Harry’s medical bills start to overwhelm him, Niki discovers he can make bank using his super-sensitive ears to help a gang of thieves crack safes. The money also helps with his wooing of Ruthie (Havana Rose Liu), a classical music student he’s fallen for. But as the jobs get deadly and his involvement with the gang spirals, Niki may have gotten tangled up in something he can’t get out of unscathed.
Your movie week, fine-tuned and cleared for landing
Come on, you don’t get too many chances for puns like those in a subheader. Four great choices for movies this week on Paramount+ are there for your entertainment pleasure. If you missed it, check out last week’s selections for more ideas, or if you like thrillers specifically, I put together a weekly list of those on Paramount+, too.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
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3
- Live TV
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Select live sports (NFL on CBS & UEFA Champions League)
- Price
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Starting at $8/month or $60/year