The Brainerd Dispatch - Today's Entertainment Magazine
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Brainerd Dispatch • June 6 - 12, 2021 •19 By Raye Smith TV Media WHAT'S NEW ON NETFLIX "Awake" (2021) Keep your eyes wide open for the global release of "Awake," pre- miering on Netflix on Wednesday, June 9. After a disastrous global event wipes out all electronics and destroys everyone's ability to sleep, the world descends into a chaotic, desperate spiral as people look for an answer while fighting against losing their minds. Jill (Gina Rodri - guez, "Jane the Virgin"), a former soldier, might have the answer to everyone's questions — somehow, her daughter can still sleep. Come along on this thrilling sci-fi action adventure as Jill and her family fight to save the world. From direc - tor Mark Raso ("Kodachrome," 2017) and writer Joseph Raso ("Seed"), with a story by Gregory Poirier ("National Treasure: Book of Secrets," 2007), this film also stars Ariana Greenblatt ("Love and Monsters," 2020), Lucius Hoyos ("Heroes Reborn"), Jennifer Jason Leigh ("The Hateful Eight," 2015), Barry Pepper ("True Grit," 2010), Finn Jones ("Game of Thrones"), Gil Bellows ("The Shawshank Re - demption," 1994), Sebastian Pigot ("Wynnona Earp") and Frances Fisher ("Titanic," 1997). "Lupin" Part 2 Don't miss the premiere of Netflix's "Lupin" when it returns with its second installment on Friday, June 11, on the streamer. The French crime thriller that awed audiences when its first five episodes aired in January ended its first part with some serious cliffhangers. Now, returning for five more episodes filled with all the action and revenge for which it has become known, viewers continue along with Assane Diop (Omar Sy, "Juras- sic World," 2015), a gentlemanly burglar inspired by the adventures of Arsène Lupin, on a mission to avenge his father's death and take down the wealthy family behind his murder. From creator George Kay ("Criminal: UK"), the show thrives under the direction of Louis Leterrier ("Now You See Me," 2013), Hugo Gélin ("Casting(s)"), Ludovic Bernard ("Lucy," 2014) and Marcela Said ("Los Perros," 2017). Starring alongside Sy are Vincent Londez ("Into the Night"), Ludivine Sangier ("The Young Pope"), Hervé Pierre ("An Officer and a Spy," 2019), Soufiane Guerrab ("Step by Step," 2016), Etan Simon and Nicolas Wanczychki ("Simon's Got a Gift," 2019). "Wish Dragon" (2021) Tune in for the international de- but of "Wish Dragon," airing on Netflix on Friday, June 11. This hit computer-animated Chinese film stars Jimmy Wong ("Mulan," 2020) as Din, a working-class college stu- dent who ends up on an adventure through modern-day Shanghai with Long (John Cho, "Star Trek," 2009), a wish-granting dragon. The pair go off on a hilarious journey to reconnect with Din's best friend, Li Na, voiced by Natasha Liu Bordizzo ("The Society"), and quickly realize that the old saying, "You'd better be careful what you wish for," is true. The film comes from Sony Pic- tures Animation and Netflix, under the direction of Chris Appelhans ("Coraline," 2009), who co-wrote the film with Xiaocao Liu ("A Writ- er's Odyssey," 2021). Constance Wu ("Crazy Rich Asians," 2018), Will Yun Lee ("The Good Doctor"), Bobby Lee ("Paul," 2011), Jimmy O. Yang ("Silicon Valley") and Ian Chen ("Shazam!" 2019) also lend their voices. WHAT'S NEW ON DISNEY+ "Loki" Get ready, Marvel fans, because "Loki," the brand new series from Disney+, is premiering Wednesday, June 9. The Marvel Cinematic Universe's most lovable mischief- maker returns in this brand new series, following the Avengers' film franchise timeline and taking place after the events of "Aveng- ers: Endgame" (2019), in which an alternate version of Loki (Tom Hiddleston, "Thor," 2011) stole the Tesseract and created a new timeline. Now in trouble with a mysterious organization called the Time Variance Authority, Loki gets a choice: work with them to defeat a greater threat or get deleted from existence. From director Kate Her- ron ("Sex Education") and head writer Michael Waldron ("Rick and Morty"), this quirky fantasy series also stars Owen Wilson ("The Grand Budapest Hotel," 2014), Sophia Di Martino ("Yesterday," 2019), Richard E. Grant ("Downton Abbey"), Gugu Mbatha-Raw ("A Wrinkle in Time," 2018) and Wunmi Mosaku ("Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," 2016). "Zenimation" Season 2 Chill out with your favorite Disney classics when Season 2 of "Zeni- mation" airs on Disney+ on Friday, June 11. This relaxing, montage- style "animated soundscape expe- rience" (per Disney+) features the atmospheric scenes and sounds of Disney's latest and greatest animated films. Each short episode, all coming in at under 10 minutes apiece, showcases scenes from across Disney's animation portfo- lio. Grouped into categories, the first season's 10 episode themes ranged from "Water," "Nature" and "Serenity" to "Cityscapes," "Discovery," "Flight" and more. Created and edited by David Bess ("Tangled Ever After," 2012), the series pays tribute to all of the visual and sound artists behind Disney's magic. WHAT'S NEW ON HULU "Love, Victor" Season 2 Hold on to your heartstrings, because Season 2 of Hulu's smash-hit teen drama, "Love, Victor," is releasing exclusively on the streamer on Friday, June 11. Based in the world of the 2018 film "Love, Simon," Season 1 of the series follows Victor Salazar (Mi- chael Cimino, "Annabelle Comes Home," 2019) after he moves to a new school in Atlanta and must navigate friendships, family, relationships and a new city — all while coming to terms with his sexuality. Season 2 picks back up with a newly out Victor, as he navi- gates new challenges with those he loves and being an openly gay athlete. The series also stars "Love, Simon's" titular character, played by Nick Robinson, as the narrator and Victor's online confidant, as well as Rachel Hilson ("This is Us"), Anthony Turpel ("9-1-1"), Bebe Wood ("The Real O'Neals"), Mason Gooding ("Booksmart," 2019), George Sear ("Alex Rider"), Isa- bella Ferreira ("Orange is the New Black"), Mateo Fernandez, James Martinez ("House of Cards") and Ana Ortiz ("Ugly Betty"). The series was created by Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger, both known for their work on "This is Us," and was inspired by the novel "Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda" by Becky Albertalli. WHAT'S NEW ON HBO MAX "In the Heights" Grab your seats, because the film adaptation of the four-time Tony-winning Broadway musi- cal "In the Heights" is making its debut in theaters and on HBO Max on Friday, June 11. This lively feature-length film takes place in Washington Heights, a predomi- nantly Dominican neighborhood in New York City. The story follows Usnavi de la Vega, portrayed by Anthony Ramos ("A Star is Born," 2018), a hard-working Bodega owner who saves every penny possible as he dreams (and sings) about a bigger, better life. "In the Heights" is a heartwarming story about the power of love, family and community in a beautifully unique corner of New York. Directed by Jon M. Chu ("Crazy Rich Asians," 2018) with a screenplay by Quiara Alegría Hudes ("My America") and music and lyrics by renowned composer Lin-Manuel Miranda ("Hamilton," 2020), who co-wrote the original stage production, "In the Heights" is a celebration of the strength and hard work needed to reach for your dreams in the Big Apple. Starring alongside Ramos in the film are Corey Hawkins ("Straight Outta Compton," 2015), singer/ songwriter Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera ("Vida"), Olga Merediz ("Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Broad- way's "Rent"), Gregory Diaz IV ("Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"), Stephanie Beatriz ("Brooklyn Nine- Nine"), Dascha Polanco ("Orange is the New Black"), Jimmy Smits ("Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones," 2002) and Miranda himself. WHAT'S NEW ON SHUDDER "The Amusement Park" (2019) Keep all hands inside the ride for "The Amusement Park," premier- ing on Shudder on Tuesday, June 8. Originally produced in 1973 as edu- cational content about elder abuse, the film was shelved until 2018 because of its disturbing content. Now, horror fans can experience the thrill as an elderly man, played by Lincoln Maazel ("Martin," 1977), goes for what he thinks is a regular day at an ordinary amuse- ment park. He quickly finds out that what he thought would be a fun day out is actually a hellish nightmare. Directed by George A. Romero ("Night of the Living Dead," 1968) and written by Wally Cook in his premiere screen project, the film stars Michael Gornick ("Dawn of the Dead," 1978) and previously unknown faces Harry Albacker, Phyllis Casterwiler, Pete Chovan, Marion Cook, Sally Erwin and Jack Gottlob. Gina Rodriguez and Ariana Greenblatt as seen in "Awake" Elsa and Anna in a scene from "Zenimation" Michael Cimino as seen in "Love, Victor"