Review Day

There are no major spoilers in these reviews.

The Great Expanse by Hilltop Hoods:
The newest album from this Australian hip hop band is solid, full of distinctive songs and catchy beats. They've pulled away from the overly repetitive backing tracks that made some of the previous albums annoying. The single, Leave Me Lonely is pretty infectious.

Final Grade: B+

Good Girls, Season One:
This show about three suburban moms who rob a grocery store is good, but suffers from genre overload. While it does manage to carve out its own voice and style, it's hard for it to stand on its own without comparing it to Breaking Bad (it's way less serious) or Weeds (it's way less absurd). Even though the story struggles to be unique, the performances by the 3 lead actresses are great -- Retta especially, has surprising range that she never had a chance to show on Parks and Recreation. If you can get past the unoriginal premise and are okay with the fact that the plot is propelled by characters getting into trouble that should have been avoidable, you'll find an enjoyable throwaway show to entertain you. Free on Netflix.

Final Grade: B

You Complete Me, Ho:
Ken Jeong's standup special starts strong but ends up more nostalgic than funny. Too much of his set is tacked around his appearance in The Hangover and other movies, and most of the jokes don't stand on their own unless you're already a fan of his. Free on Netflix.

Final Grade: C-

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (PG-13):
This movie about a nerdy guy that must defeat the "Seven Evil Exes" to date a girl is presented as a surreal, live-action graphic novel. While that might be an immediate turn off for some (even me on most days -- I watched it because it was made by Edgar Wright, the creator of Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead), I found the movie much funnier than expected. The jokes originate from the characters and dialogue in spite of the weird format, where a lesser production might have made the format the whole point of the movie. There are plenty of great cameos as well. Free on Netflix.

Final Grade: B+