Wondering what to watch this weekend? This week we bring you films for the family as well as something just for adults. Plus: Drama comes to Cheddar News' favorite Christmas classics poll.
Physical - Apple TV+
Picked by Senior Director of Content Lauren Babbage
I was recently on maternity leave and had A LOT of time to browse every single piece of content on every platform. This is the show that quickly moved into my top 5 shows of all time, and my absolute favorite show of 2023. "Physical" on Apple TV+, starring Rose Byrne as Sheila Rubin, follows a housewife in the '80s who is battling an eating disorder and a very liberal husband who is less than helpful around the house. She finds joy in aerobics and sets out to create her own fitness empire, breaking most gender norms of that time. Picture the golden age of fitness tapes, spandex, and big hair.
Throughout the series, you hear Sheila's self-deprecating and critical inner voice narrating what she's *actually* feeling or thinking and it is the most relatable thing I've ever witnessed. You see her struggle with the fact that she's preaching a healthy lifestyle to women all over the country while hiding out in a hotel room to binge-eat burgers and fries. It might make you feel a little more "seen" if you're also experiencing a bit of imposter syndrome.
There is a bit of politics, sex, religion, and betrayal mixed in. The best of all worlds. The show is the perfect combination of female empowerment, quirky humor, retro nostalgia, and most importantly...'80s fitness fashion.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQTFdslwJYo[youtube]
Throwback Picks
The Santa Clause - Disney+
Picked by Newsletter Writer Graison Dangor
It doesn't seem to rank highly on many Best of Christmas movie lists, but that's because those lists weren't written by me as a boy in the 1990s, who would have put it at #1 based solely on the coolness of Bernard the elf and the built-in hot chocolate machine on Tim Allen's sleigh. It's been years since I've seen it, and I'm a little afraid it hasn't aged well, but I'm planning to rewatch so that I can watch "The Santa Clauses," which I've been told is pretty good.
[youtube]https://youtu.be/Bx8FX7etF_8?feature=shared[youtube]
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory - Max
Picked by Senior Editor Dina Ross
Here's a great family classic for those of you not looking for a Christmas film. Gene Wilder plays Willy Wonka, a bizarre recluse candymaker who takes five random children and their grown-ups on a tour of his magical factory. From fruity wallpaper to eye-popping chocolate eggs, the factory is every kid's dream. "Little surprises around every corner, but nothing dangerous,” says Wonka, although you can be the judge of that. Although the film, based of the Roald Dahl book, is more than 50 years old. the heart of it is timeless and kids today will enjoy it just as much as I did when I was a kid.
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cBja3AbahY[youtube]
Bonus: Cheddar Newsies Favorite Christmas Films
As a special treat this week, we unscientifically polled the Cheddar News team to see which holiday flick tops their Best Of list and we were not prepared for the drama! There was a ballot-stuffing scandal that sent dark horse "A Christmas Story" to the top of the charts. But, when adjusting for fake inflation, we found that "Elf," the 2003 hit starring Will Ferrell as Santa's human-sized helper, was the clear winner.
Happy viewing everyone!
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14o38xfHlXc[youtube]
