DRUGGY DRAMA
The Bikeriders
Austin Butler plays Benny, one of the leaders of the Vandals, a biker gang that marauded through the Midwest in the '60s and early '70s in Jeff Nichols' movie. It's based on Danny Lyons' book of the same name. Throughout the film, Danny (Mike Faist) interviews Benny's wife Kathy (Jodie Comer) for insights into the peculiar lifestyle of the biker gang.
Marlon Brando's seminal role in The Wild Ones (1953) is referenced; it inspired Johnny (Tom Hardy) to found the club or gang. While Johnny's a violence-prone family man, Benny's a brooder who pursues and quickly marries Kathy. She goes along with being someone's "old lady," but also stakes her claim to Benny when times get tough.
A few joints are passed, lots of beer is imbibed and cigarettes are chain smoked.
This is what you would call a contemporary biker film, somewhat toned down from the raucous B-movies of yore.
Box office: $21.7 million
Similar to: Hell's Angels on Wheels (1967)
Watch at Prime Video
STONER COMEDY/EDIBLES/WOMEN
The Fabulous Four
Jocelyn Moorhouse's first film since The Dressmaker (2015) brings together a quarter of Hollywood stars for a story about friendship among women. Marilyn (Bette Midler) is having a late-in-life wedding in Key West and invites three besties. However, she's estranged from Louise (Susan Sarandon) over her first marriage to a man they both knew years ago. The straight-laced "Lou" is talked into coming by Kitty (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and Alice (Megan Mullaly). Lou loosens up when she meets Ted, who turns out to be Marilyn's fiancée (he uses two names, hmm).
Wannabe rock singer Alice plays the stoner. She comes with edibles and a vape pen. Kitty grows her own and makes gummies. During a boat outing, Lou eats an infused truffle, noting cluelessly, "I didn't know you could use chocolate for seasickness."
Part travelogue (they have dinner at the Hemingway House), part fem-comedy, Moorhouse leans heavy on the schmaltz with fiery arguments followed by heart-to-hearts. Sarandon's particularly good reprising her standoffish character Livonia from The Banger Sisters (2006). And Midler at 79 is a ball of chaotic energy from start to finish.
Box office: $2.8 million
Similar to: 80 for Brady (2023)
Watch at Paramount+
STONER COMEDY/BLACK/TEENS
The UnderDoggs
Snoop Dogg plays former star NFL wide receiver Jaycen who's fallen on hard times and becomes the blunt-smoking coach of a foul-mouthed peewee football team in Charles Stone III's R-rated flick. It includes a beer-drinking scene at a pool party (however, no blunts are smoked by the youngsters). Snoop curses non-stop as do most of the kids. It's The Mighty Ducks meets Next Friday with Mike Epps (Kareem) joining Jaycen as the assistant coach.
No box office
Similar to: The Bad News Bears (1976)
Watch at Prime Video
