The Complex Pop team has had a busy week. The Academy announced this year’s Oscar nominees and while there were some disappointments, there were also deep moments of excitement at the possibility that things might be progressing slightly in the awards world. In honor of Everything Everywhere All At Once receiving 11 nominations, the most of any other film this year, the A24 project will be making a return to theaters this weekend. So if you haven’t seen it yet, now is your chance.
There are other films worth watching before the awards show airs in March, like Apple TV’s Causeway and The Banshees of Inisherin (streaming on HBO Max). But if you’re all caught up on films and looking for something new, this week has some viable options. Poker Face hit Peacock this week on the TV side, while Netflix’s You People and Prime’s Shotgun Wedding are kicking off the month of love with fresh rom-coms ahead of Valentine’s Day. We chatted with You People’s Eddie Murphy and Sam Jay ahead of the film’s release so check out those interviews after you watch the Kenya Barris film.
Aside from this week’s new releases and the Oscar nominations, we’ve also been covering the first season of The Last of Us which is in full swing and already breaking viewing records over at HBO. Next month is stacked with some big releases and we can’t wait to cover those here. In the meantime, read below for the best that the streaming world has to offer this week, and check back in next Friday for more.
'You People'
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When: Friday, Jan. 27
Where: Netflix
A rideshare mix-up in Los Angeles is the perfect meet-cute for Ezra Cohen (Jonah Hill) and Amira Mohammed (Lauren London) in Netflix’s You People. They may be from the opposite side of the tracks and represent two distinct communities of LA, but the two find themselves falling in love and connecting over a shared love of streetwear, sneakers, music, and each other. Their differences may not be an issue to them but their respective families—made up of Ezra’s often tone-deaf Jewish parents (Julia Louis-Dreyfus and David Duchovny) and Amira’s strict and hard-to-please Muslim parents (Eddie Murphy and Nia Long)—are their biggest hurdles. In his feature film directorial debut, Kenya Barris aimed to deliver a rom-com that was different from the rest by adding a level of tension and cultural differences that many of us experience in our love lives. Whether or not fans will be able to get over Barris’ affinity for stories about interracial relationships or not, the film’s performances from Eddie Murphy, Lauren London, Jonah Hill, and Sam Jay make this movie a fun and worthwhile watch.
'Poker Face'
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When: Thursday, Jan. 26
Where: Peacock
I can’t write about this show or think about it without Lady Gaga’s song coming to mind, and it upsets me every time. Aside from that, this new series created by Rian Johnson might just become our favorite mystery-of-the-week show. Poker Face follows Charlie Cale, played by the easy-to-like Natasha Lyonne, who has the unique ability to tell when someone is lying. (I wish I had that kind of talent!) Every episode will introduce a strange crime that Charlie will use her skill to solve, and will feature a wide range of some pretty incredible guest stars. If Johnson has taught us anything through his Knives Out films is to keep your eyes peeled and ears sharp as the mysteries within his creations unravel right in front of you. Will you be able to solve them? Tune in to find out and read our review of Season 1 here.
'Shotgun Wedding'
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When: Thursday, Jan. 26
Where: Prime Video
Valentine’s Day must be on the horizon with all these new rom-coms on the loose. Jennifer Lopez, who is in my eyes the queen of the genre, is attempting to breathe new life with her latest movie, Shotgun Wedding, in which she stars alongside Josh Duhamel. The film follows a couple named Darcy and Tom who are gathering their families for a tropical destination wedding, Things go left when the ceremony gets put on hold after a group of pirates/gunmen take everyone hostage, including the bride and groom. The film has a lot more plot twists, explosions, violence, and action than your typical rom-com, but it still doesn’t stray too far from the films we’ve previously seen Lopez star in. But a highlight for this one is that it features hilarious performances from Jennifer Coolidge, Lenny Kravitz, and Cheech Marin. And they may just be the movie’s saving grace.
