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‘Moana 2’ Review: Doesn’t Quite Capture the Original Film’s Magic

By
Kevin Finnerty
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Moana 2
A scene from ‘Moana 2’ (Photo © 2024 Disney Enterprises, Inc)

The young, strong-willed adventurer Moana sets sail on a new course with a new ragtag crew in Moana 2, the sequel to Disney’s 2016 animated hit. The movie opens a few years after Moana (voiced by Auli‘i Cravalho) saved her island from environmental disaster. She’s become a hero and an inspiration to her people and has been sailing the ocean looking for other tribes.

She returns home with proof that inhabited islands must exist. During a celebration in her honor, Moana has a vision from her forebears that she must follow a sign in the night sky to find a mysterious hidden island called Motufetu. This island will connect her people to other tribes.

So, Moana assembles a crew with questionable seafaring skills, and a larger canoe, to journey to the far seas of Oceania. Their treacherous trip will take them into dangerous, long-lost waters on a quest to unite her home with all the people of the world. Oh, and yes, she hopes that her old friend, the Demigod Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson), will once again join her on this adventure.

Moana 2 is a worthy sequel to the Oscar-winning blockbuster film, with stunning animation and the returning voice talents of Auli‘i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson, reprising the roles of Moana and Maui. Dwayne Johnson and Auli‘i Cravalho still have great chemistry, and the best parts of the animated sequel are when they are reunited and onscreen together.

This doesn’t mean the sequel is free of issues, such as the addition of one-dimensional characters. Her crew adds little humor to the film and takes time away from Moana and Maui’s scenes. What made the first film so endearing was the partnership and bonding between Moana and Maui.

Memorable songs are another missing factor. None of the new tunes hold a candle to the songs in the first film. These songs feel like they were written for a movie destined for a straight-to-streaming or Blu-ray fate.

Even though it’s missing some of the original film’s magic, the visually stunning animation and the familiar voices of Johnson and Cravalho, reunited for another adventure, make Moana 2 a fun and entertaining watch, particularly for diehard fans of the original.

GRADE: B-

MPAA Rating: PG for action and peril
Running Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Release Date: November 27, 2024
Directed By: David G. Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, and Dana Ledoux Miller
Studio: Walt Disney Animation Studios




‘Accused’ Season 2 Episode 7 Preview: ‘The Masked Singer’s Ken Jeong Stars

By
Rebecca Murray
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Ken Jeong and Jamie Chung star in Fox’s Accused season two episode seven, the season’s penultimate episode. “Eugene’s Story” will air on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 8pm ET/PT followed by the season finale, “Megan’s Story,” at 9pm ET/PT.

Season two of the anthology series features episodes starring Michael Chiklis, Patrick J. Adams, William H. Macy, Felicity Huffman, Nick Cannon, Cobie Smulders, Taylor Schilling, Justin Chambers, Sherri Saum, Trevor White, Debra Winger, Mercedes Ruehl, Christine Ebersole, and Danny Pino.

“Eugene’s Story” Plot: A jewelry store owner (Jeong) is put on trial after interfering with his wife’s dicey past in the all-new “Eugene’s Story” episode of Accused.

Accused Season 2 Episode 7
Ken Jeong in the “Eugene’s Story” episode of ‘ACCUSED’ (Photo by Peter Stranks © 2024 Fox Media LLC)

Accused Description, Courtesy of Fox

Accused is a collection of intense, topical and human stories of crime and punishment. Each episode is a fast-paced provocative thriller, exploring a different crime, in a different city, with an entirely original cast. Based on the BBC’s BAFTA-winning crime anthology, each episode opens in a courtroom on the defendant, with viewers knowing nothing about their crime or how they ended up on trial.

Told from the defendant’s point of view through flashbacks, the show holds a mirror up to current times with evocative and emotional stories. In the end, audiences will discover how an ordinary person gets caught up in extraordinary circumstances, and how one impulsive decision can impact the course of that life – and the lives of others — forever.

Jamie Chung
Jamie Chung in season 2 episode 7 (Photo by Peter Stranks © 2024 Fox Media LLC)
Ken Jeong and Patrice Goodman
Ken Jeong and Patrice Goodman in season 2 episode 7 (Photo © 2024 Fox Media LLC)
Ken Jeong
Ken Jeong in the “Eugene’s Story” episode (Photo by Peter Stranks © 2024 Fox Media LLC)




‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Trailer: The Serial Killer Hones His Skills

By
Rebecca Murray
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Paramount+ with Showtime’s official Dexter: Original Sin trailer gives Dexter fans the first real look at the younger versions of the key players. Michael C. Hall returns to voice Dexter’s inner thoughts, and Patrick Gibson takes on the role of the serial killer in training.

The series also stars Molly Brown as Dexter’s sister, Debra, and Christian Slater as their father, Harry. Patrick Dempsey plays Aaron Spencer, James Martinez is Angel Batista, Christina Milian is Maria LaGuerta, Alex Shimizu is Vince Masuka, and Reno Wilson plays Bobby Watt. Emmy winner Sarah Michelle Gellar guest stars as Tanya Martin.

“Set in 1991 Miami, Dexter: Original Sin follows Dexter (Gibson) as he transitions from student to avenging serial killer. When his bloodthirsty urges can’t be ignored any longer, Dexter must learn to channel his inner darkness,” reads Paramount+ with Showtime’s synopsis. “With the guidance of his father, Harry (Slater), he adopts a Code designed to help him find and kill people who deserve to be eliminated from society without getting on law enforcement’s radar. This is a particular challenge for young Dexter as he begins a forensics internship at the Miami Metro Police Department.”

The 10-episode season premieres on December 13, 2024 on Paramount+ with Showtime and on Showtime on December 15th.

The prequel is executive produced by showrunner Clyde Phillips (Dexter), Scott Reynolds (Jessica Jones), Michael C. Hall (Six Feet Under), Mary Leah Sutton (Resident Evil), Tony Hernandez (Emily in Paris), and Lilly Burns (Russian Doll). Michael Lehmann (Heathers) is a directing executive producer and Robert Lloyd Lewis (The Lincoln Lawyer) serves as a producer.

Dexter: Original Sin Poster
Poster for ‘Dexter: Original Sin’ (Photo credit: Paramount+ with SHOWTIME)




‘FBI: Most Wanted’ Season 6 Episode 6 “Pageantry” Preview with Photos and Video

By
Rebecca Murray
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The team needs to ferret out the identity of a mole on CBS’s FBI: Most Wanted season six episode six. Directed by Carlos Bernard from a script by D. Dona Le, episode six – “Pageantry” – will air on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 10pm ET/PT.

Dylan McDermott returns to lead the cast as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott. Season six also stars Shantel VanSanten as Special Agent Nina Chase, Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes, Keisha Castle-Hughes as Special Agent Hana Gibson, and Edwin Hodge as Special Agent Ray Cannon.

“Pageantry” Plot: When an international beauty queen is killed on live television, the Fugitive Task Force heads to Philadelphia to hunt down the killer. Meanwhile, Hana senses that Ethan is hiding something.

FBI: Most Wanted Season 6 episode 6
Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes and Dylan McDermott as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott in ‘FBI: Most Wanted’ season 6 episode 6 (Photo: Mark Schafer © 2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)

FBI: Most Wanted Description, Courtesy of CBS:

FBI: Most Wanted is a high-stakes drama that focuses on the Fugitive Task Force, an elite unit that relentlessly pursues and captures the notorious criminals on the Bureau’s Most Wanted list. The team’s charming but formidable leader is Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott, who started his career in the New York FBI field office before rising through the ranks of the Bureau in Philadelphia and Las Vegas.

The team includes Special Agent Sheryll Barnes, a former NYPD detective and forensics expert; Special Agent Hana Gibson, a gifted millennial computer whiz with a sharp wit and mad hacking skills; Special Agent Ray Cannon, who is a former New Orleans cop-turned-junior detective and worked Violent Crimes in Albany after following in his retired FBI agent father’s footsteps; along with well-seasoned Special Agent Nina Chase who worked assorted cases with the FBI’s New York office and among her strengths is her undercover work.

Keisha Castle-Hughes
Keisha Castle-Hughes as Special Agent Hana Gibson in season 6 episode 6 (Photo: Mark Schafer © 2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
Edwin Hodge, Roxy Sternberg, and Dylan McDermott
Edwin Hodge as Special Agent Ray Cannon, Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes, Dylan McDermott as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott, and Donna Glaesener as Officer Turner (Photo: Mark Schafer © 2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc.)
Keisha Castle-Hughes, Edwin Hodge and David Manis
Keisha Castle-Hughes as Special Agent Hana Gibson, Edwin Hodge as Special Agent Ray Cannon, and David Manis as Professor Ben in season 6 episode 6 (Photo: Mark Schafer © 2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)




‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ Video Welcomes Keanu Reeves as Shadow

By
Rebecca Murray
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Paramount Pictures takes fans behind the scenes of Sonic the Hedgehog 3 with the “Casting a Shadow” featurette. The minute-long video features Keanu Reeves in the recording booth, getting into character as the main villain. “For 50 years, Shadow’s been in a state of suspended animation,” says Reeves, adding, “He’s coming out of it seeking revenge.”

Jim Carrey, the voice of Dr. Robotnik, describes Shadow as having a “sympathetic, brooding kind of darkness that Keanu has mastered so brilliantly.” Ben Schwartz, the voice of Sonic, and Idris Elba, the voice of Knuckles, also share their thoughts on Shadow in the video.

The cast also includes James Marsden, Tika Sumpter, Colleen O’Shaughnessey, Natasha Rothwell, Shemar Moore, Adam Pally, and Lee Majdoub. Newcomers to the film franchise include Alyla Browne and Krysten Ritter.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Shadow
Shadow (Keanu Reeves) in ‘Sonic the Hedgehog 3’ from Paramount Pictures and Sega of America, Inc.

“Sonic the Hedgehog returns to the big screen this holiday season in his most thrilling adventure yet. Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before,” reads Paramount Pictures’ synopsis. “With their abilities outmatched in every way, Team Sonic must seek out an unlikely alliance in hopes of stopping Shadow and protecting the planet.”

Jeff Fowler directs from a screenplay by Pat Casey, Josh Miller, and John Whittington. Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara, and Hitoshi Okuno serve as producers. Executive producers include Haruki Satomi, Shuji Utsumi, Yukio Sugino, Jeff Fowler, Tommy Gormley, and Tim Miller.

Sonic the Hedgehog 3 opens in theaters on December 20, 2024.

‘Vanderpump Rules’ Season 12 Brings In a New Cast

By
Rebecca Murray
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Vanderpump Rules
Andy Cohen, Lisa Vanderpump, Tom Sandoval, and Tom Schwartz in ‘Vanderpump Rules’ season 11’s reunion show (Photo by: Griffen Nagel/Bravo)

Bravo’s bringing back Vanderpump Rules for a 12th season but with a brand new cast. The network announced the renewal and revealed an upcoming retrospective special is in the works that will “celebrate the past decade of heartbreaks, friendship rifts, and scandals.”

Filming is expected to get underway in 2025. Bravo hasn’t released any details on the season 12 cast.

“The new season will feature Lisa Vanderpump and a new group of close-knit SUR-vers who are as complicatedly involved with one another as their iconic predecessors,” reads Bravo’s teaser. “Under Lisa Vanderpump’s watchful eye, the West Hollywood mainstay SUR – and now TomTom – welcomes the next batch of servers, hosts and bartenders rife with plenty of drama, situationships, and frenemies.”

“The last 12 years of filming have been an extraordinary run full of laughter, tears and everything in between,” stated Lisa Vanderpump. “I can’t thank enough those who have shared their lives. How I love you all. In the restaurant business, one shift always gives way to another. Cheers to the next generation of Vanderpump Rules.”

The Emmy-nominated series is produced by 32 Flavors and Evolution Media. Executive producers include Alex Baskin, Barry Poznick, Jenn Levy, Joe Kingsley, Lisa Vanderpump, and Ken Todd.

“What a thrill it is to build on the legacy of this series by doing it all over again,” said Alex Baskin, executive producer 32 Flavors. “With profound appreciation for the original group and their iconic run, we can’t wait for the audience to see a dynamic new group of co-workers and friends make their way through life together.”




‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’ Moves Up Its Premiere Date

By
Rebecca Murray
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Star Wars: Skeleton Crew Poster
Poster for Disney+’s ‘Star Wars: Skeleton Crew’

Disney+ has bumped up the premiere date for Star Wars: Skeleton Crew from December 3, 2024 to Monday, December 2. The series will kick off with the release of the first two episodes at 6pm PT, with new episodes streaming on Tuesdays.

The series, aimed at younger Star Wars fans, features Jude Law, Ravi Cabot-Conyers, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Kyriana Kratter, and Robert Timothy Smith. Tunde Adebimpe, Kerry Condon, and Nick Frost also star.

“Star Wars: Skeleton Crew follows the journey of four kids who make a mysterious discovery on their seemingly safe home planet, then get lost in a strange and dangerous galaxy,” reads Disney+’s synopsis. “Finding their way home—and meeting unlikely allies and enemies—will be a greater adventure than they ever imagined.”

Season one is directed by Jon Watts, David Lowery, Jake Schreier, Bryce Dallas Howard, Lee Isaac Chung, and the Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert). Watts and Christopher Ford are the head writers and executive produce along with Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni, Kathleen Kennedy, and Colin Wilson. Susan McNamara and John Bartnicki serve as producers.

‘9-1-1: Lone Star’ Season 5 Episode 9 Fall Finale Preview

By
Rebecca Murray
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We’ve arrived at the fall finale and Fox’s 9-1-1: Lone Star season five episode nine promo warns us that we won’t believe the shocking twist. Episode nine, “Fall From Grace,” will air on Monday, December 2, 2024 at 8pm ET/PT.

Rob Lowe leads the cast as Captain Owen Strand, Ronen Rubinstein stars as T.K., Gina Torres plays Paramedic Captain Tommy Vega, and Jim Parrack is Judd Ryder. Natacha Karam plays Marjan Marwani, Brian Michael Smith is Paul Strickland, Julian Works is Mateo Chavez, Rafael Silva plays Carlos Reyes, and Brianna Baker is Nancy Gillian. Sierra McClain did not return for the fifth season.

“Fall From Grace” Plot: Carlos is determined to solve his father’s murder. Owen is offered a life-changing opportunity. Judd gives into his demons as Tommy begins her treatment.

9-1-1 Lone Star Season 5 Episode 9
Rob Lowe in ‘9-1-1: LONE STAR’ season 5 episode 9 (Photo by Kevin Estrada © 2024 Fox Media LLC)

9-1-1 Lone Star Season 5 Description, Courtesy of Fox:

9-1-1: Lone Star follows members of Austin’s 126 Fire Department led by Captain Owen Strand who, along with his adult son, T.K., moved to Texas to help rebuild the firehouse which had experienced a tragedy of its own. His team of diverse and qualified first responders include widowed Paramedic Captain Tommy Vega, Judd Ryder, who was the sole survivor of Austin’s original 126 house after a rescue call ended in tragedy; Marjan Marwani, an adrenaline junkie and badass firefighter who also is a devout Muslim; Paul Strickland, a transgender male firefighter, who bravely decided to transition on the job in Chicago and has a gift for observation worthy of Sherlock Holmes; and rookie firefighter Mateo Chavez.

Settling into his new home, T.K. caught the eye of police officer Carlos Reyes and the two began a romantic relationship eventually marrying in the season four finale. T.K hung up his firefighter helmet to become a full-time paramedic under Tommy’s guidance and works closely with fellow paramedic Nancy Gillian.

In the upcoming fifth season, Captains Strand and Vega, along with the 126 team, race into action when in a multi-episodic opening storyline, a catastrophic train derailment endangers several lives including some of their own. With Judd resigning from the 126 to take care of his recently handicapped son Wyatt (Jackson Pace), Owen must find a new lieutenant to replace Judd and has a difficult decision ahead of him when both Marjan and Paul apply for the promotion. Tommy is ready to take the next step in her relationship, but she finds the road to happiness is filled with obstacles.

On his 30th birthday, T.K. gets a surprise visit from someone from his past that could change his and Carlos’ lives forever. Now officially husband and husband, T.K. and Carlos’ marriage is put to the test when Carlos becomes obsessed with solving his father’s murder.

Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe in the “Fall “From Grace” episode (Photo by Kevin Estrada © 2024 Fox Media LLC)
Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe in the “Fall “From Grace” episode (Photo by Kevin Estrada © 2024 Fox Media LLC)
Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe in the season 5 fall finale (Photo by Kevin Estrada © 2024 Fox Media LLC)




‘FBI: International’ Season 4 Episode 6 Preview: Photos, “They Paid More” Promo and Cast

By
Rebecca Murray
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The team heads to Morocco to help aid workers on CBS’s FBI: International season four episode six, “They Paid More.” Directed by Michael Katleman from a script by Roxanne Paredes, episode six will air on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 9pm ET/PT.

Jesse Lee Soffer stars as Supervisory Special Agent Wesley “Wes” Mitchell, Carter Redwood plays Special Agent Andre Raines, Vinessa Vidotto is Special Agent Cameron Vo, Eva-Jane Willis is Europol Agent Megan “Smitty” Garretson, and Christina Wolfe plays Special Agent Amanda Tate.

“They Paid More” Plot: When a bus full of American volunteers is hijacked in a dangerous section of Morocco, the Fly Team works to locate the missing aid workers and the people who kidnapped them.

FBI: International Season 4 Episode 6
Jesse Lee Soffer as Supervisory Special Agent Wesley “Wes” Mitchell and Carter Redwood as Special Agent Andre Raines in ‘FBI: International’ season 4 episode 6 (Photo: Nelly Kiss © 2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)

FBI: International Details, Courtesy of CBS:

FBI: International is the third iteration of the successful FBI brand that follows the elite operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s International Fly Team. Headquartered in Budapest, they travel throughout Europe with the mission of tracking and neutralizing threats against American citizens wherever they may be, putting their lives on the line to protect the U.S. and its people. Newly embedded to the Fly Team is charming and rakish Supervisory Special Agent Wesley “Wes” Mitchell, whose impeccable instincts and unconventional tactics deepen his drive to stop at nothing to achieve justice.

Special Agent Andre Raines shines in the field and makes good use of his accounting background in tracking criminal enterprises’ moving money. Special Agent Cameron Vo, a competitive West Point grad, excels at interrogation and strategy and Megan “Smitty” Garretson, a streetwise Europol agent with an extensive undercover background, uses her expertise to liaise with each host country they inhabit. Special Agent Amanda Tate, a confident and tech-savvy intel analyst, stays quick on her feet and remains calm in the midst of chaos. Always at the scene where American interests are at risk, FBI: International is a globe-trotting depiction of law enforcement overseas.

Eva-Jane Willis and Carter Redwood
Eva-Jane Willis as Europol Agent Megan “Smitty” Garretson and Carter Redwood as Special Agent Andre Raines in season 4 episode 6 (Photo © 2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
Jesse Lee Soffer and Eva-Jane Willis
Jesse Lee Soffer as Supervisory Special Agent Wesley “Wes” Mitchell, Eva-Jane Willis as Europol Agent Megan “Smitty” Garretson, Vinessa Vidotto as Special Agent Cameron Vo, and Carter Redwood as Special Agent Andre Raines in season 4 episode 6 (Photo © 2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
Vinessa Vidotto, Jesse Lee soffer and Carter Redwood
Vinessa Vidotto as Special Agent Cameron Vo, Jesse Lee Soffer as Supervisory Special Agent Wesley “Wes” Mitchell, and Carter Redwood as Special Agent Andre Raines in season 4 episode 6 (Photo © 2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc)
Vinessa Vidotto and Jesse Lee Soffer
Vinessa Vidotto as Special Agent Cameron Vo and Jesse Lee Soffer as Supervisory Special Agent Wesley “Wes” Mitchell in season 4 episode 6 (Photo © 2024 CBS Broadcasting, Inc.)




‘The Six Triple Eight’ Trailer Starring Kerry Washington

By
Rebecca Murray
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Writer/director Tyler Perry’s The Six Triple Eight just unveiled a full trailer ahead of its December 6, 2024 limited theatrical release. The film tells the inspirational story of the only Women’s Army Corps unit of color in WWII, who were given the seemingly impossible task of getting hundreds of thousands of letters to the troops from their families at home.

“Ladies, we have been ordered to provide hope. The soldiers have not heard from their loved ones, and their loved ones have not heard from them,” says Major Charity Adams (played by Kerry Washington) in the trailer. “When there is no mail, there is low morale.”

In addition to Kerry Washington, the cast includes Ebony Obsidian, Milauna Jackson, Kylie Jefferson, Shanice Shantay, Sarah Jeffery, Pepi Sonuga, and Moriah Brown. Jeanté Godlock, Jay Reeves, Jeffery Johnson, Baadja-Lyne Odums, Donna Biscoe, Gregg Sulkin, Scott Daniel Johnson, Susan Sarandon, Dean Norris, Sam Waterston, and Oprah Winfrey also star.

“The Six Triple Eight is inspired by the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to serve overseas in WWII. Despite facing racism and sexism – and grueling working conditions – they were committed to serving their country with honor and distinction,” reads Netflix’s synopsis. “Given an extraordinary mission and united in their determination, these unsung heroes delivered hope and shattered barriers.”

Following its release in select theaters, the film will stream on Netflix on December 20th.

The Six Triple Eight Kerry Washington
Kerry Washington stars as Captain Charity Adams in ‘The Six Triple Eight’ (Photo Cr. Bob Mahoney / Perry Well Films 2 / Courtesy of Netflix)
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