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Accidental Family

Where to watch.

Watch Accidental Family with a subscription on Prime Video, rent on Fandango at Home, or buy on Fandango at Home.

Audience Reviews

Cast & crew.

Jason Hudson

Kinsey Leigh Redmond

Olivia Strauss

Justen Jones

Alex Bailey

Michelle Davidson

Stephen Matlock

Chad Crenshaw

Critics Reviews

Accidental Family

By Alan Ng | December 2, 2022

I’ll say it over and over again: sometimes, telling the truth in every aspect of life prevents an impending headache that builds over time. But that would also make for bland storytelling, so Jason Hudson’s family-centric romance,  Accidental Family , brings sweetness to the mistaken identity tale.

Accidental Family follows Olivia (Kinsey Leigh Redmond), who has been eyeing (or, as she confesses, stalking) the handsome Alex (Justen Jones) for quite some time at her local coffee shop. Every attempt to get him to notice her fails miserably. Olivia works for a genealogy company that compiles a historical artifact called a “heritage chest.” The chest contains documents, photos, newspaper clippings, and other sentimental items for any family.

As luck would have it, the box she needs to hand off to her client is for Alex’s family, the Baileys. When her client is a no-show, Olivia takes it upon herself to deliver the box to the unsuspecting Baileys. She is greeted by a family surprise party when she arrives at their home. A shocked Olivia throws the heritage chest in the air and lands on her head.

Olivia then wakes up in Grandmother Bailey’s nightgown, greeted by morning breakfast. Everyone in the family thinks Olivia is Olivia Bailey, a long-lost cousin whose been on our tour with the Peace Corps in the Congo. Not wanting to disappoint the family, Olivia goes on with the charade in hopes that she will spend time with Alex, who’s about to marry a gold-digger, Megan (Michelle Davidson). In the process, she finds love from a family she never had, being an orphan.

“…the family thinks Olivia is Olivia Bailey, a long-lost cousin  whose been on our tour with the Peace Corps…”

Accidental Family   is not exactly in the wheelhouse of the typical Film Threat reader looking for a dark piercing taking into human depravity. But for someone who’s spent more than my fair share of family Christmas dinners, this   is safe, fun, and, if you can open your heart, just a bit romantic.

Being a family-friendly film, the film   does suffer in ways indicative of the genre. The comedy is too over-the-top, with exaggerated facial and body movements by most of the cast. Dialogue is spoken in the comic tone of, say,  The    Brady Bunch . And, of course, the ending is 100% happy. I just have to believe this genre can ground itself more and feel authentic to how people act in real life.

Criticism aside, Kinsey Leigh Redmond is the star. As Olivia, she has a lot of dramatic and comedic plotlines to juggle. She’s vulnerable, lovable, and charismatic, and you believe that everyone she meets wants to be her friend. Huge credit for not making this aspect of her character not feel corny in any way.

My problem with stories like  Accidental Family  is that the idea of someone pretending to be a family member is sometimes too unbelievable for even audiences to buy. There comes a point in the second act where we forget and want to believe this is Olivia’s family. Then the reveal… and well, delightful cringe ensues.

There is no blood, cursing, or deep seedy undertones. In the end, it’s not just a rom-com but a story about the true meaning of “family.”  Accidental Family   is safe to pull the entire family around the television, relax, and feel good about the loved ones around us.

Accidental Family (2022)

Directed and Written: Jason Hudson

Starring: Kinsey Leigh Redmond, Justen Jones, Michelle Davidson, Stephen Matlock, etc.

Movie score: 6.5/10

"…relax and feel good about the loved ones around us."

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Loved this movie. I’m a 65 year old man and sobbed at the end. More please !

Very much the pace of a good old Hallmark movie but with funnier characters such as Vinny lol with an I. I knew the silly would turn into sad but I did love the redeeming ending. I know the millennial audience will love this film.

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Accidental Family

Where to Watch

Kinsey Leigh Redmond (Olivia Strauss) Justen Jones (Alex Bailey) Michelle Davidson (Megan) Stephen Matlock (Angel) Chad Crenshaw (Toni) Dean Testerman (Mike Bailey) Alex Galick (Tim) Jennifer Seward (Olivia Bailey) Kathy Breeden (Ellen Bailey) Jay Ness (Eric Bailey)

Jason Hudson

A shy and lonely genealogy consultant, Olivia, finds herself trapped between the man she likes and his family, who have both mistaken her as their long-lost relative.

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Accidental family.

Directed by Jason Hudson

Life is full of surprises!

A shy lonely genealogist finally discovers the perfect family and the love of her life… they just don’t know it yet! They mistakenly think she’s a long lost relative, and unfortunately he is engaged to the wrong girl who just wants his family fortune. As sparks start to fly, she must warn him of his deceptive finance and find a way to tell him the truth about herself.

Kinsey Leigh Redmond Justen Jones Michelle Davidson Chad Crenshaw Joe Morack Stephen Matlock Dean Testerman Alex Galick Jay Ness Kathy Breeden John Wilson

Director Director

Jason Hudson

Releases by Date

Theatrical limited, 06 aug 2021, 27 apr 2023, 06 dec 2022, releases by country.

• Theatrical limited Saint Joseph, MI

97 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Cami ½

incest if it was in a silly goofy mood 🤪🤭🫣

Review by abi ★

fuck her great grandpa for leaving her ass in that orphanage for 18 years wtf 😭

Review by Sydney [she/her]

It wasn’t While You Were Sleeping until they stole the Joe Jr character so completely.

Anyway this movie had not one but TWO dogs so it was not the worst thing I’ve watched this week. And for these two to reunite after the gaaaarbage of Christmas at the Chateau was truly brave.

Review by Jenn

i just couldn't get through this. Maybe if it had more genealogy....

Review by jtuttle ★

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

I felt uncomfy through most of it, especially when Alex, who thought Olivia was his relative the whole movie, said "I've loved you since the moment I met you" or something along those lines.

The one star is for the kinda cool foster kid story and reuniting at the end.

Review by dafnisees22 ★

Not that good of a movie

Review by blueberrydr ★★

First of all this plot is so wrong like he definitely thought she was far enough down the family  tree to get away with somethin 😭😭but I ate it up. I have no idea why she looked homeless when she was just living her normal life but when she was with Alex suddenly her glasses disappeared and she her hair didn’t look like she just got struck by lightning. The ending was really funny but also why you gotta do Oscar like that 😔 and on her birthday is foul. Him saying “I’m so glad we aren’t related” IS ABSOLUTELY CRAZY. Granny fixing her wig every second and it completely falling off has me dead.

Review by GG ★★

I don’t know who came up with this story, but I think they should be investigated cause WHAT?!?!? This is such an odd story and why did he say, “I’m so happy we’re not related” like ew I CRINGED! I was uncomfortable with the the plot BEYOND compare and the acting was wannabe hallmark. Whoever was on hair and continuity needs to be FIRED RIGHT NOW because tell me why this girl had glasses in one scene and none the next! MAKE IT MAKE SENSE!!! The only reason I gave it stars is because it was so fun to make fun of this movie, and the sets were decent. The ending was the best part of this movie!

Review by starlover1994

This was so bad it’s my new favourite movie. Non-existent continuity, hallmark acting, horrible premise. I recommend to everyone— at the very least you’ll feel visceral incredulity.

Review by MrBeardGuy ½

Nothing about this was accidental. She saw her opportunity, went for it, and epically failed.

The whole movie is Olivia trying to fix one bad mistake and making bad decision after another as she tries to make things right.

Sounds like that’s what Hudson experienced when writing this. This was an unbearable chaotic mess.

Review by Anne Campbell ★½

Accidental Family starts with a bad premise and somehow gets worse. Its morale of uplifting family values doesn’t add any genuine sweetness that it’s supposed to. It’s an over-wrought romantic dramedy that has poorly formed messages on top of bad acting, awful comedy and misguided romance. One shouldn’t be surprised when a story that starts with the idea “I’ll fake being somebody’s family member in order to get them to fall in love with me” isn’t good.

The problems here are endless. Not the least of which is that usually people don’t fall in romantic love with relatives. This Olivia is supposed to be a genealogy expert except at no point do they ever identify how the other Olivia is…

Review by linmanuterusliningmanuel<3 ½

This invented cinema, revolutionized the silver screen. It’s only crime the cardboard they taped to her feet. There is no point wearing shoes if they’re gonna be that flat.

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Accidental Family

Cast & crew.

Kinsey Leigh Redmond

Olivia Strauss

Justen Jones

Alex Bailey

Michelle Davidson

Stephen Matlock

Chad Crenshaw

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Accidental Family

Streaming in:

We checked for updates on 246 streaming services on May 2, 2024 at 12:28:50 PM. Something wrong? Let us know!

Accidental Family streaming: where to watch online?

Currently you are able to watch "Accidental Family" streaming on Amazon Prime Video or for free with ads on The Roku Channel, Tubi TV, Freevee, Amazon Prime Video with Ads. It is also possible to rent "Accidental Family" on Amazon Video, Vudu, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Apple TV online and to download it on Amazon Video, Vudu, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, YouTube.

Where does Accidental Family rank today? The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

Streaming charts last updated: 9:21:05 AM, 05/02/2024

Accidental Family is 8554 on the JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts today. The movie has moved up the charts by 4425 places since yesterday. In the United States, it is currently more popular than Freestyle but less popular than Making The Disney Wish: Disney’s Newest Cruise Ship.

A shy lonely genealogist finally discovers the perfect family and the love of her life… they just don’t know it yet! They mistakenly think she’s a long lost relative, and unfortunately he is engaged to the wrong girl who just wants his family fortune. As sparks start to fly, she must warn him of his deceptive finance and find a way to tell him the truth about herself.

Streaming Charts The JustWatch Daily Streaming Charts are calculated by user activity within the last 24 hours. This includes clicking on a streaming offer, adding a title to a watchlist, and marking a title as 'seen'. This includes data from ~1.3 million movie & TV show fans per day.

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ACCIDENTAL FAMILY

A Romantic Comedy

Quirky girl finds the perfect family… they just don’t know it yet!

In this hilarious romantic comedy, Olivia is a shy lonely genealogist who finally discovers the perfect family and the love of her life, Alex.  There's one small issue.  They think she's a long lost relative.  What could go wrong?  

Matters worsen when Olivia discovers that Alex's fiance' is plotting to steal his family fortune.  As sparks start to fly, Olivia tries to warn Alex and find a way to tell him the truth about herself.

WATCH NOW!   

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Movie reviews: Hollywood and Indie, specializing in independent comedies, dramas, thrillers and romance.

Friday, December 9, 2022

Accidental family: movie review.

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Accidental Family Movie Review: Heartwarming and Hilarious

Are you looking for a feel-good movie to watch with the family? Look no further than Accidental Family! This heartwarming comedy follows a single dad as he embarks on an unexpected journey of self-discovery. In this blog post, we’ll take an in-depth look at the movie and review it from every angle.

Accidental Family is a romantic comedy starring Kinsey Leigh Redmond and Justen Jones. The movie follows Olivia, a shy and lonely genealogy consultant, who finds herself caught between the man she likes and his family, who have all mistaken her as their long-lost relative. The film features Olivia’s journey as she navigates the complexities of family dynamics and finds true love in the process. It is a light-hearted film that offers an uplifting message about family and love.

Accidental Family follows Olivia (Kinsey Leigh Redmond), who has been eyeing (or, as she confesses, stalking) the handsome Alex (Justen Jones) for some time. A genealogy consultant, Olivia is enlisted by Alex and his family to help them trace their lineage and discovers that the family is related to her. With this newfound information, romantic sparks and family drama ensue as Olivia struggles to get closer to Alex and his family, all while keeping her true identity a secret.

The plot of Accidental Family is an interesting one that keeps viewers engaged throughout the movie. It is filled with humorous and heartfelt moments, as well as unexpected twists and turns that further complicate the already complex situation. The movie also explores themes of identity and belonging, as Olivia struggles to fit in with Alex and his family while also trying to be true to herself. The film is an entertaining watch and a great mix of comedy and drama.

Accidental Family stars Kinsey Leigh Redmond as Olivia, a shy and lonely genealogy consultant who finds herself trapped between the man she likes, Alex (Justen Jones), and his family, who have both mistaken her as their long-lost relative. Redmond brings a unique brand of humor and charm to her character, providing the perfect balance of comedy and seriousness required for the role. Michelle Davidson, Chad Crenshaw and other supporting characters also bring their own charm and quirks to the movie, creating a more dynamic and exciting story.

Accidental Family delves into the themes of belonging, identity and family. Through Olivia’s journey, the audience sees how important it is to find where you belong and to embrace your identity, both as an individual and in relation to your family. As Olivia struggles to find her place in Alex’s family, she finds out more about herself, her own family and the importance of forgiveness. The movie shows that family can be those who are related by blood or those who you have chosen to be close to – and both are equally important.

Cinematography

In Accidental Family, the cinematography is quite effective in creating a sense of atmosphere and emotion. The camera angles, lighting, and color palette all serve to capture the nuances of the characters’ relationships and the comedic moments. The use of wide shots and close-ups also helps to draw the audience’s attention to the important details. The use of light and shadows is especially effective in conveying the mood of the movie. From the lighthearted moments to the poignant ones, the cinematography adds a layer of depth and emotion to the film.

Acting Performance

The acting performance in Accidental Family is what really brings the movie to life. Kinsey Leigh Redmond steals the show with her energetic and comical performance as Olivia. Her character is the glue that holds the story together, and her charm and charisma make her irresistible to watch. Justen Jones also shines as Alex, the object of Olivia’s affections, while Michelle Davidson and Chad Crenshaw provide solid supporting performances. The cast is rounded out by a talented ensemble, all of whom bring a much needed lightness to the drama. Overall, the acting performances in Accidental Family are well-executed, and it’s clear that the actors did their best with the material given to them.

Music and Sound Design

The music and sound design in Accidental Family is both unique and effective. The soundtrack contains a range of genres, from classical to jazz, and is used to effectively emphasize the comedic and romantic elements of the story. The sound design also contributes to the comedic elements, using sound effects to emphasize the humor and silly moments in the movie. Furthermore, the sound design helps to convey the characters’ emotions, creating a more immersive experience. Overall, the music and sound design in Accidental Family plays an important role in creating an enjoyable movie-watching experience.

Accidental Family Shot Entirely in St. Joseph Missouri

Accidental Family is a romantic comedy that was shot entirely in the city of St. Joseph, Missouri. St. Joseph, Missouri is a small city located in the northwest corner of the state, known for its rich history and cultural significance. The city was founded in the early 1800s and has a rich history of industry, including agriculture, manufacturing, and transportation.

As a film location, St. Joseph offers a variety of unique and interesting settings, including historic downtown districts, charming neighborhoods, and picturesque natural landscapes. The city also has a strong film industry, with a number of local production companies and resources available to filmmakers.

Overall, the decision to shoot Accidental Family entirely in St. Joseph, Missouri added a sense of authenticity and local flavor to the film. The city’s rich history and diverse landscapes provided the perfect backdrop for the movie’s story of family, belonging, and identity.

Personal Reflections

In conclusion, the movie Accidental Family is a charming and comedic story about family, love and life. Kinsey Leigh Redmond is the perfect lead for this movie, bringing a unique and energetic energy to the role. The plot is well-crafted and engaging, with characters that are lovable and realistic. The themes explored in the movie are relatable, and the cinematography, soundtrack, and production values all add to the overall effect. Watching Accidental Family was an enjoyable experience, and it’s a great choice for a family movie night.

After watching Accidental Family, it’s easy to see why it has become so popular. It offers a comedic look at the complexities of family dynamics and relationships, with a captivating story and excellent acting performances. Kinsey Leigh Redmond brings her own unique brand of charm and calamity to the lead role of Olivia, and Justen Jones is equally impressive as the object of her affections. Themes of identity, belonging and love are explored with sensitivity and humor, and the production values, cinematography and music serve to enhance the viewing experience. Accidental Family is a truly enjoyable movie, and one that is sure to appeal to all ages.

It features strong performances, a heartwarming plot, and a charming and likable cast of characters. If you’re in the mood for a feel-good romantic comedy, I highly recommend giving Accidental Family a watch.

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Tv/streaming, collections, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, accidental texan.

Now streaming on:

A bad first impression won’t necessarily ruin a movie. If anything, it’s more important that a film stick the landing, so the audience doesn’t walk out grumbling, “it was okay, but that ending .” 

Still, sometimes a movie stumbles so badly in its first five minutes that it never recovers. Such is the case with “Accidental Texan,” a film whose opening sequence so utterly fails to evoke the look and feel of a movie set that it calls into question how much director Mark Lambert Bristol knows about life in general. Because if a filmmaker can’t convincingly evoke filmmaking , what could they possibly have to say about anything else?

It’s certainly essential context for the down-home folksiness that drives the majority of the film, which unfolds after aspiring actor Erwin Vandeveer ( Rudy Pankow ) is fired from his lead role in the blockbuster movie mentioned above. Why? For a technical snafu where the ringtone (which is on) of his phone (which is in the front pocket of his costume) somehow sets off a chain of explosions that destroys the entire set he’s standing on. 

Driving back to Los Angeles, Erwin’s Prius breaks down, forcing him to wander on foot into the type of wholesome one-horse hamlet that only exists in the movies. There, he encounters Faye (Carrie-Ann Moss), an utterly unconvincing small-town diner waitress. (No offense to Ms. Moss, who’s great, but she has never called anyone “hon” in her life.) She tells him that the people here in Buffalo Gap, Texas live a simpler—and therefore more morally pure, in this movie’s calculus—type of lifestyle, and he’ll have to wait until tomorrow to get his car towed. He ends up staying much longer than that. 

Erwin’s Boston upbringing and book learnin’ (he’s a Harvard business school dropout) are foils for the film’s rough-palmed, no-nonsense rural conservatism, embodied in the character of Merle Luskey ( Thomas Haden Church ). Like the town he lives in, Merle is a conservative fantasy—he’s an independent oil man, of all things, which means he gets to live the Republican dream of being a “small business owner” and destroying the environment at the same time. 

Merle has problems with the bank that need a Harvard boy to get solved, you see. And while it’s difficult to conceive of a man who owns multiple oil rigs as an underdog, it’s also difficult to wrap your mind around a soundstage that’s rigged to self-destruct when a cell phone goes off. And so here we are, trapped by generic sentiment and puzzling conceit, in a film that would provide at least some small pleasure by virtue of its casting were it not directed as if Bristol were wearing oven mitts. 

Faye looks at Merle with wet eyes, Merle dispenses gruff wisdom, Erwin learns the inevitable lessons about loyalty and hard work, and the town sheriff throws his cowboy hat on the ground in frustration because those old boys, they’ve done it again ! Bruce Dern shows up, for a little while, as an eccentric old coot who talks to his pet cow. Everyone agrees that rugged independence is a virtue, and the folksy aphorisms and quirky humor never quite land even with the aid of a score that hits every clichéd emotional beat possible. 

Part of that disconnect comes from the clumsy filmmaking. The film’s sense of space and time are both disjointed, thanks to poor editing: Cuts between characters conversing in what’s ostensibly the same room often feel as though they were shot miles apart. (Which may be true, but it’s an editor’s job to disguise that.) And the script is so declarative and predictable that it suggests that the writers felt their audience must be stupid.

That last part points to what makes “Accidental Texan” such a discordant melody, despite playing what would seem to be a popular tune. This movie is clearly pandering: Cultural signifiers like tall, cool glasses of sweet tea and Whataburger wrappers are prominently placed in the frame, and Merle asserts that he dropped out in the eighth grade to go work on his daddy’s rig, and he’s just as smart as Mr. Harvard over here. 

What’s unclear is whether this project is clumsy, but earnest, or a cynical attempt to sell a shoddy film to the “DVD section at Walmart” crowd. If that’s the case, it worked—“Accidental Texan” is playing select theaters this weekend, ironically mostly in big cities. Congrats? 

Katie Rife is a freelance writer and critic based in Chicago with a speciality in genre cinema. She worked as the News Editor of  The A.V. Club  from 2014-2019, and as Senior Editor of that site from 2019-2022. She currently writes about film for outlets like  Vulture, Rolling Stone, Indiewire, Polygon , and  RogerEbert.com.

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Film credits.

Accidental Texan (2024)

103 minutes

Rudy Pankow as Erwin Vandeveer

Thomas Haden Church as Merle

Carrie-Anne Moss as Faye

Bruce Dern as Scheermeyer

Julio Cesar Cedillo as Sheriff Nail

Brad Leland as Max Dugan

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You know it when you see it: here are some movies that got sex scenes right.

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It is a happy coincidence that our "What makes a good sex scene?" episode came out in the same week as Challengers, a film about a romance triangle in the tennis world starring Josh O'Connor, Zendaya and (not pictured) Mike Faist. Niko Tavernise/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures hide caption

It is a happy coincidence that our "What makes a good sex scene?" episode came out in the same week as Challengers, a film about a romance triangle in the tennis world starring Josh O'Connor, Zendaya and (not pictured) Mike Faist.

What makes a good sex scene? It can be easier spot bad sex, but Aisha Harris, Christina Tucker, Ronald Young, Jr. and I tried to focus on the good this week on Pop Culture Happy Hour. You can listen to our full conversation here. (We didn't originally plan for this episode to run the same week as our episode about Challengers , which is out in theaters now, but it's a happy coincidence, since that film has gotten a lot of attention — probably too much, relative to its other merits — for the sex scenes involving its three leads. It's really very good .)

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Watch a tense romantic triangle play out on the tennis court in 'challengers'.

It's often very obvious when a sex scene is bad, just like when a sex scene in a book is bad. It can get so uncomfortable to watch that you have to leave the room (and not in a way that feels true to the story). One of my personal tells for a bad sex scene is when all I can think about is how hard the actors are trying to persuade me that the characters are having a good time. For example, there has been much good discussion in recent years about Showgirls being a more interesting and competent project than it originally got credit for, but in that one pool scene (if you know it, you know it), all I can see is the effort.

Lauren Bacall And The 'Sex? What Sex?' Kind Of Movie Sex

It's not always as clear which scenes are good . That's partly because they serve so many different functions, all of which look different, and all of which can be effective. Furthermore, you don't want to confuse whether a sex scene is used well in a film with whether it's hot to you personally, despite the fact that there is overlap between those considerations.

In the 'Last Dance,' Magic Mike leaves his thong-and-dance routine behind

Here's what I mean: When Aisha talks about the sequence near the beginning of Magic Mike's Last Dance , it's not irrelevant that the scene is, to her (and to me), hot. But it also makes sense in the context of the film and the franchise, partly because of the way it sets up the power dynamic between Mike (Channing Tatum) and Max (Salma Hayek Pinault). Mike is older now, he knows more, and the way he approaches a lap dance is actually different than in earlier movies.

And not all good sex scenes are hot in the same ways. The one I mentioned in the episode, from the romantic drama Love & Basketball , is sexy, yes. But it's also a scene between young adults (the talented basketball players Monica and Quincy, played by Sanaa Lathan and Omar Epps), and as such, it incorporates a tentativeness that's not present in Magic Mike's Last Dance , to say the least. As Ronald pointed out during our discussion, that sex scene is quite different from one that takes place later in Monica and Quincy's relationship, when they're older and know each other better. That certainly feels true to real life, but it's not always reflected in Hollywood films, where I would tentatively estimate that 90% of on-screen sex is more idealized and thus less intimate than real-life sex, in part because it isn't allowed to change over the course of a relationship.

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'like it or not, we live in oppenheimer's world,' says director christopher nolan.

Even further from the hotness of the lap dance scene is Ronald's pick: the imagination of Kitty Oppenheimer (Emily Blunt) running wild in Oppenheimer. While her husband (Cillian Murphy) is being interrogated, she pictures him having sex with his mistress, Jean Tatlock (Florence Pugh). It goes by quickly enough that it might seem like a Christopher Nolan flourish for flourish's sake, but it serves the purpose of letting you feel her pain over her husband's affair. Her relationship with Robert doesn't look especially romantic in the film, let alone sexually charged; she finds herself consumed by the idea that he was having hot sex with this other woman, and she locks eyes with her vision of a naked Tatlock and finds herself tormented. It's not really the intent of the scene to titillate the audience, just to give specificity to the shape of Kitty's preoccupation with the affair.

What makes a good sex scene?

Christina raised another really important point, which is that sex scenes also collide with viewers at very specific moments. Her example from Bound , and the scenes between Violet (Jennifer Tilly) and Corky (Gina Gershon), touches on (among other things) her own history. It's an underappreciated aspect of the sex-in-movies discourse: representation matters in these scenes as much as anywhere else. I always wish I saw more sex scenes in movies that featured a broader variety of body types; it's still really rare to see ones that feature anybody who is even average sized. This is one of the reasons I'm curious about the upcoming season of Bridgerton , which places its focus on the gorgeous and curvaceous Penelope (Nicola Coughlan).

Looking for 'nomance': Study finds teens want less sex in their TV and movies

Good sex scenes are like any other kind of good filmmaking, honestly: it comes down to execution with purpose and care, done relative to whatever the function of the scene might be.

Whether that's spiciness or conflict or relationship growth or (as in the case of Bound ) setting up a steamy neo-noir story that wouldn't be the same if it weren't hot as heck, form follows function, ideally.

This piece also appeared in NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour newsletter. Sign up for the newsletter so you don't miss the next one, plus get weekly recommendations about what's making us happy.

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Critic’s Pick

‘Nowhere Special’ Review: Old Bonds, New Family

This understated tear-jerker sees a dying single father making future family plans for his toddler son.

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By Glenn Kenny

“Nowhere Special” is an unusual, and unusually understated, parental tear-jerker in which a father prepares for the loss of his young son. The son isn’t going anywhere. But the father, a single dad, is dying, of an unspecified disease, and he’s at first eager, then later a little desperate, to get his boy placed with the right adoptive family.

The picture was written and directed by Uberto Pasolini, the Italian-born filmmaker who was the producer of the 1997 crowd-pleaser “The Full Monty.” Although he shares a surname with the acclaimed director Pier Paolo Pasolini, Uberto is in fact a nephew of the neorealist cinema giant Luchino Visconti. Pasolini doesn’t seem directly influenced by his actual relative or his namesake. But his movie does have a style: slow, quiet, measured. It takes its time before bringing the emotional hammer down.

Set and shot in Northern Ireland, the film focuses on a window cleaner, John (James Norton), the loving father to a very cute but often sulky 4-year-old, Michael (Daniel Lamont). We never see John at a doctor’s office, but we get a look at his packed medicine cabinet and we see him getting more ashen as the picture goes on. One location he does spend a lot of time in is a child placement agency, whose staffers escort him to speak with approved-to-adopt candidates. There are childless couples, intimidatingly big families and single aspiring parents to consider. John resists putting a “memory box” together for his boy. “I don’t want him to understand death,” he says.

After being admonished by a snotty rich client because of slow work, John, taking the adage “you only live once” to heart, eggs the fellow’s house. It’s one of the few moments when the movie deigns to deliver a conventional satisfaction. But the mostly low-key mode of “Nowhere Special” is the right one. Norton is spectacular, but little Lamont delivers one of those uncanny performances that doesn’t seem like acting, and makes you feel for the kid almost as much as his onscreen parent does.

Nowhere Special Not Rated. Running time: 1 hour 36 minutes. In theaters.

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Lassie: A New Adventure review – canine crusader is star of quaint family fun

Eponymous hero tackles a pooch-pinching operation by getting captured in this old-fashioned production

I n some ways, the Lassie films are like the canine answer to the James Bond series. Both have literary antecedents, both have been big screen successes for MGM, and the basic formula remains essentially the same: a hero saves the day. The equivalent of Sean Connery is probably Pal, the rough collie dog who portrayed Lassie in seven feature films in the 1940s and 1950s. In Lassie: A New Adventure, Lassie is played by Bandit, who brings what is needed to the role, in a slick, handsome, functional way that suggests the Lassie franchise is perhaps in its Pierce Brosnan era, though unfortunately more Die Another Day doldrums than GoldenEye high point.

It bears mentioning at this point that the film is more properly titled Lassie – Ein Neues Abenteuer; this is a German production which has been fairly obviously dubbed into English, with the same director (Hanno Olderdissen) and human lead actor (Nico Marischka) as Lassie Come Home from 2020, also a German production. The premise is simple and straightforward: a nefarious couple have been pinching pooches, the aim of their dognapping operation being to auction off the luckless hounds to the highest bidder. When Lassie’s pal Pippa is snatched, Lassie deploys the time-honoured strategy of deliberately getting captured, and everything works out exactly as you might expect; this is not a film interested in surprising the viewer, and is very much made with younger audiences in mind.

As far as that goes, it’s a wholesome enough way to pass 90 minutes, though depending on how media-saturated the family viewers in question are, it may feel rather quaint and old-fashioned. Compared to savvier family fare available (see: The Mitchells vs the Machines , the recent Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, or even the existential dread of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish), it is all incredibly well behaved, with the human characters failing to offer much interest, despite a well-meaning arc about foster care, and some game performances from the villains. Perhaps it’s time for Lassie to explore a Daniel Craig-era pivot to a slightly more sophisticated offering.

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‘Unsung Hero’ Review: The Family That Prays Together, Plays Together in Uplifting Faith-Based Biopic

A father uproots his family, moving them halfway around the world to avoid professional and personal ruin in this heartening weepie.

By Courtney Howard

Courtney Howard

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After David fails to sell out an Amy Grant concert due in part to a devastating nationwide recession, he loses all their savings. His backup plan to bring Eddie DeGarmo (Jonathan Jackson) over from the States also vanishes overnight. With no other career options, and with another baby on the way, he comes up with a risky proposal: move the family to the U.S. in hopes of representing an artist friend of his in Nashville. Their journey is fraught with obstacles, from a stressful customs detention to the psychological toll of David’s struggles as a provider. While the Smallbones suck up their pride to courageously face dire situations, they’re only human and there’s always a breaking point — one they must work together to mend.

The film works best when trafficking in poignant subtleties that provide a cumulative tear-shedding experience rather than the overt schmaltz which occasionally appears. Lovely grace notes are peppered throughout, from some much-needed tension-release humor (not to be confused with the requisite Vegemite and “Crocodile Dundee” jokes) to the heart-in-throat moment that reveals how Rebecca St. James chose her stage name. (Take that, “Solo: A Star Wars Story”!) Eagle-eyed audiences will find fun spotting a few family members making cameo appearances.

Katherine Tucker’s production design reflects the Smallbones’ evolution — as their familial bonds flourish, their environments change for the better. Cinematographer Johnny Derango discreetly shifts lighting cues in concert with narrative overtones. The frequent golden hour glow represents the presence of David’s perpetually perky father (Terry O’Quinn) even when he’s not on screen, culminating in the genuinely emotional finale’s intersection of a trio of character arcs.

All the siblings offer contributions to their familial sustenance, yet a handful aren’t as fleshed out as they should be given their survival was a psychologically taxing team effort — especially for the younger members thrust into adulthood prematurely. The focus is not only on the parents’ problems, but also on their teenage daughter’s struggle with confidence as a performer and songwriter. And of course, young Luke and Joel, who later in life went on to form the duo For King + Country (and who also provide the heartfelt closing credits ballad), get significant attention, delivering a couple of funny, self-aware bits. However, Ben, Daniel and Josh are relegated to characters defined by their jobs and not by their personalities. They’re left aching for greater incorporation within this testimony.

A finer point could’ve been made about the two sides of the charity coin — the family’s Christmas is saved through the kindness of others, but David feels like a charity case when their wealthy neighbors Jed (Lucas Black) and Kay (Candace Cameron Bure) help out with hefty medical bills. Still, the filmmakers espouse reassuring commentary on achieving the American Dream. More films should acknowledge that throwing money at a problem isn’t always the solution. To glean the amount of meaningful insight as Smallbone clearly demonstrates with this feature, placing himself in his father’s shoes to fully understand a psyche in the throes of turmoil, is quite the dynamic feat. That’s especially important for a faith-based audience who need to see that flaws in our design are what make us human.

Reviewed online, April 23, 2024. MPA Rating: PG. Running time: 112 MIN.

• Production: A Lionsgate release of a Kingdom Story Company, Candy Rock Entertainment production of a For King + Country Film. Producers: Joshua Walsh, Luke Smallbone, Justin Tolley, Joel Smallbone. Executive producers: Candace Cameron Bure, Andrew Erwin, Tony Young, Kevin Downes, Jon Erwin, Mike Curb, Brian Mitchell, Bill Reeves, Jeffery Brooks, Gerald Webb, Ford Englerth.
• Crew: Directors, writers: Joel Smallbone, Richard L. Ramsey. Camera: Johnny Derango. Editor: Parker Adams. Music: Brent McCorkle.
• With: Joel Smallbone, Daisy Betts, Kirrilee Berger, Jonathan Jackson, Lucas Black, Candace Cameron Bure, Terry O’Quinn, Paul Luke Bonenfant, Diesel La Torraca, JJ Pantano, Tenz McCall, Angus K. Caldwell.

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Speak No Evil

A family invited to spend a weekend in an idyllic country house, goes from a dream vacation to a psychological nightmare. A family invited to spend a weekend in an idyllic country house, goes from a dream vacation to a psychological nightmare. A family invited to spend a weekend in an idyllic country house, goes from a dream vacation to a psychological nightmare.

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