This eighties film full of teen angst and suburbia cliches is ridiculous and laugh out loud funny in so many places you'll want to jump back and see the scenes again.

Joining Cusack are David Ogden Stiers as his dad, Kim Darby as his weird mom, Diane Franklin as the French exchange student, and Curtis Armstrong as the wacko Charles de Mar.

What's the film about? Let's just talk tropes: high school misfits,  popular girl heartbreaker, bullies, French exchange student, weird parents, 80's music, genius psycho little brother, awesome muscle car, sports competition, and complete absurdity.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

When you need a good laugh and don't want to over-analyze something, watch Better Off Dead free on Netflix.

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The film is a 2026 Australian-American science fiction action film directed, co-produced, and co-written by Patrick Hughes. In addition to Ritchson, Dennis Quaid pops in and out with co-stars, Stephan James, Jai Courtney, Esai Morales, Keiynan Lonsdale, and Daniel Webber.

War Machine was released to theaters in Australia on February 12, 2026 and received generally positive reviews from critics, praising it as "a fun, old-school, throwback action movie despite its familiar, formulaic storyline." 

What the critics said pretty much sums up what Darling Hubby and I thought about the film. 

Regrettably, much of the dialogue seems aimed at an aaudience that might not know much about the military, military vehicles, or tactical actions. 

The characters are basically stereotypes you've seen in many films, and the plot mines the usual cliches. It's just good escapism that doesn't require you to tax your brain.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

So toss a bag of popcorn into the microwave, turn on the movie, and enjoy the flick.

The other day I saw a Facebook post about Shanna, a historical romance novel by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, the housewife who started the romance revolution with the 1972 publication of her first novel, The Flame and The Flower.

That first book sold over 2.3 million copies in the first 4 years of publication. It's still selling. I don't know if her genre-busting early books have ever been out of print.

(I'll confess that I didn't care much for the book which is the Forced Marriage trope, a polite way of saying sexual assault.)

As soon as I closed Facebook, I went to the armoire in my office and pulled my copy of Shanna from the shelf of paperback books in there. Yes, it was on my keeper shelf along with several other vintage novels.

When Shanna was published, it sold over 3 million copies and remained on the New York Times bestseller list for a full year.

I remember the first time I read this book probably a decade or more after it was published in 1977. It was filled with lush  descriptions of characters, setting, and the sexuality and passion of the characters. 

We're talking thrusting loins and heaving bosoms and bodice ripping—by the villain, never by the hero in Woodiwiss's novels.

I started reading it again. Yes, it's dated, and I had to smile at the flowery analogies used far too often. However, it's still a page turner.

Eventually, over the years before I was published, I read all of Ms. Woodiwiss's early books. Life and writing got in the way, and I became enmeshed in the contemporary romance world so I never got to her later books. I plan to correct that oversight this year.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

A keeper shelf is a place of delight and comfort. Reading an old book is like visiting with an old friend.

It's for a Podcast viewable on YouTube. Dropping Names With Brent and Jonny is hosted by Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes.

The episode I watched on Dropping Names was Once We Were All Spacemen, and it's funny, smart, and a great showcase for the personalities of all involved as they swap war stories on their respective careers.

The hour-long conversation, which is what it seemed like rather than a podcast, was a nice afternoon break with NO political or other divisive hot-button issues discussed or argued—just a free-ranging conversation with people who genuinely seemed to like each other.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Check out both podcasts if you're looking for something intelligent and entertaining.

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Strictly speaking, I didn't find it to be a romantic comedy. It was more like a romance with mild humor. 

Regardless, I found this film, the last directed by Gary Winick before he died, to be entertaining and romantic with its dual love stories.

The "feel-good" film leaves viewers with a sense of optimism and hope that romance and love can be found at any age.

MOVIE DESCRIPTION

Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) is on a pre-honeymoon in Verona and  inadvertently finds an old unanswered letter asking for love advice from Juliet. She discovers that this is a traditional practice in Verona with the letters answered by a group of women who write as Juliet.

Sophie takes it upon herself to answer the decades-old letter which brings the letter-writer (Vanessa Redgrave) to Verona, along with her cranky grandson (Christopher Egan). Together the three go in search of the woman's long-lost love (Franco Nero).

The film was inspired by the 2006 non-fiction book Letters to Juliet by Lise Eve Friedman and Ceil Jann Friedman, about the phenomenon of writing letters to Shakespeare's Juliet.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I enjoyed Letters to Juliet very much. I'm sure if you're not a Netflix subscriber that you can purchase  the movie from Amazon.

Every spring I make plans to finish landscaping the front and back yards, but I never quite get it done the way I like it.

Darling Hubby gets frustrated because I'm always changing the plan so this year, I thought I'd do something different.

I searched online and found a few free landscape design apps. I thought I'd post about them so you can try them along with me.

First up is Neighborbrite, an AI powered landscape design app that is always free to use unless you decide to upgrade to the pro version for more control and custumization for plant types, placements, and some other features. 

HOW IT WORKS

Neighborbrite uses advanced AI technology to help you design. Upload a photo of the outdoor space  you want to design, choose a garden style, and get design ideas for your space.

That's it. There's nothing to download and install since it's an online site to use. You don't need any special tech skills or knowledge because it's designed to be user-friendly and intuitive.

To learn more before you try, check out their FAQ page.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I'm photographing my yard front and back. I'm excited to try this, and I hope it's as easy as it sounds. I'll let you know next Monday when I post another free app blog. Let me know if you also try Neighborbrite.

Read The Night Agent, Amazon

The Night Agent was a big hit for Netflix when the first season premiered on March 23, 2023. It was so popular that it was renewed in its first week of broadcast.

Fans of the thriller series couldn't wait for Season 2. Unfortunately, that season was underwhelming.  In fact, it was so disappointing, I didn't immediately watch Season 3 when it hit the small screen last week.

However, this past weekend when we were searching for something to view, we clicked on it. I'm glad we did because it was as compelling as Season 1 had been.

WHY WATCH SEASON 3 OF NIGHT AGENT

Better story. Better drama. Better new characters. Better pacing. Interesting villains.

It was great to see a character from Season 1—Secret Service agent Chelsea Arrington (Fola Evans-Akingbola )—who helps ground the series emotionally. Her character is likable, smart, and brave. She does the right thing even if it means her career is at stake. 

Honesty in a character is so refreshing. She had a big part in Season 1 but only a cameo in Season 2. They were smart to bring her back because for whatever reason they haven't brought back Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan) whose relationship with Peter (Gabriel Basso) was a big part of the Season 1 success.

 WHY NOT BRING ROSE BACK?

Showrunner Shawn Ryan made the decision not to bring Rose back in order for Night Agent Peter to be a lone wolf focused only on his assignments. Blah blah blah. I see it as another James Bond persona with no relationshiips except fleeting one-night stands. Peter though isn't finding a woman in every destination. 

Emotionally, he still has his demons—still trying to prove his loyalty to his country. He seems lonely and has no "real" life. Maybe Season 4 will change all that. We can only hope to see some emotional growth in a compelling character.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're looking for action, adventure, and thrills, definitely watch The Night Agent 3. If you don't have Netflix, read the book.

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When the film began, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the stereotypes and clichés associated with Texas. I was about ready to stop the film, but I decided to give it another 5 minutes.

I'm glad I did because the movie proved to be delightful in its portrayal of a billionaire Texan and the woman who found herself stuck on a reality TV show that wasn't what she thought it was.

The premise of the TV show is the same as The Bachelor. Instead of a rose, this Texas cowboy gives his approval by giving the woman a—no, I won't tell you what, but I found it funny.

The supporting cast of Madison Pettis, Torrance Coombs, Frances Fisher, and Yvonne Orji are excellent, but the story and the charm belong to the 2 stars, Miranda Cosgrove as Dawn and Pierson Fodé. as Trey McAllen

THE DETAILS

The music was by Nathan Lanier, and some of the scenes—I'm thinking of the scene where Trey McAllen (Pierson Fodé) is tending his horse—has pop music that makes the scene hysterically funny.

The Production companies involved were MPCA and Brad Krevoy Productions with distribution by Netflix. The film was released in September of 2025. I don't know if it was on Netflix immediately. If it was, it simply wasn't on my radar.

The "famous" critics panned the movie with some harsh comments. A couple of critics said rather dismissively that it was for "hopeless romantics" which was the most flattering remark about those who might find the film worth watching.

What? Hopeless romantic? I'm not that. I'm a HOPEFUL romantic! And I bet you are too!

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

If you're looking for a fun movie that is a hopeful romcom (is there any other kind?), watch The Wrong Paris on Netflix. It will entertain and delight you.

Poldark Books on Amazon

The latest TV series was created and written by Debbie Horsfield, based on the book series by Winston Graham.

This 2015 offering of Poldark is not to be confused with the earlier Masterpiece series in 1975 which starred Robin Ellis as Ross Poldark and Angharad Rees as Demelza.

That production covered the first 7 of Graham’s novels, and it was a huge success on Masterpiece Theatre in the U.S.

The Netflix offering debuted in March 2015 and ran until August 2019 and was offered on PBS in the U.S. Like the 1975 production, this new version of Poldark was a huge success from the beginning.

TEASER

Aidan Turner is Capt. Ross Poldark, a redcoat returning to Cornwall after the American Revolutionary War. He discovers that his father is dead, his estate is in ruins, and his true love is engaged to marry his cousin. The action-packed series is full of drama, passion, and romance.

Rent or Buy Episodes on Amazon

I wanted to tell you about the YouTube channel LIFE AT THE MANOR, created by James Lowsley-Williams, the proud inheritor of Chavenage Estate, the 500 year-old Elizabethan Manor where Poldark 2015 was filmed.

I found the channel last year when I was doing a bit of research on historic mansions and castles.

James and his wife Emma reside at Chavenage and film their restoration and enhancement of the house and grounds, a 2,000-acre Cotswold estate that’s been in James’s family for 6 generations. The history of Chavenage is evident in every room.

The paintings that adorn the walls are breathtaking even to their frames. A centuries-old organ still works.

If you're a Poldark fan, you'll recognize the house as the family home where Poldark's uncle and family lived. Since he was the son of a second son, he didn't inherit the manor. 

If you watch James's channel, you'll recognize Elizabeth's bedroom, the window from which she gazed longingly at Poldark, the drawing room where she eavesdropped on her husband's conversations.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Be warned, Poldark is totally binge-worthy. If you like the historical series, you should watch Life at the Manor.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

BLAME IT ON CHOCOLATE

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Flipped - BluRay from Amazon

FLIPPED, a Rob Reiner film, is on Netflix now, and I loved it. If you don't have Netflix, I included a link to Amazon where you can pick up a Blu-ray copy for a low price. It's good enough that you may want to watch it again and again.

BLURB

When Juli Baker lays eyes on her new neighbor Bryce, she falls in love with him at first sight.

Bryce does not reciprocate that feeling. In fact, he doesn't like her at all. From that day forward, Bryce (Callan McAuliffe) tries his best to avoid her, but Juli (Madeline Carroll) is persistent in everything she undertakes.

Eventually, Juli realizes that Bryce does not return her feelings. Just as Bryce begins to see Juli's true worth, she decides he's an unfeeling jerk who isn't worth her time.

Billed as a young adult—the story begins at second grade and moves to junior high—the movie is based on Flipped, the book by Wendelin Van Draanen.

By Wendelin Van Draanen

THE CAST 

The main cast is composed of Madeline Carroll as Julianna "Juli" Baker with Morgan Lily as young Juli, and Callan McAuliffe as Bryce Loski with Ryan Ketzner as young Bryce.

Rebecca De Mornay is Patsy Loski, Bryce's mother; Anthony Edwards is Steven Loski, Bryce's father; and John Mahoney is Chet Duncan, Bryce's grandfather. (Flipped was Mr.  Mahoney's final film before his death in 2018.)

Penelope Ann Miller is Trina Baker, Juli's mom; Aidan Quinn is Richard Baker, Juli's dad; and Kevin Weisman is Daniel Baker, Juli's uncle.

THE DETAILS

The movie was obviously a labor of love for Rob Reiner who served as Director, Screenplay writer along with Andrew Scheinman, and Producer with Alan Greisman also producing.

Cinematography was by Thomas Del Ruth. Editing by Robert Leighton, and Music by Marc Shaiman.

The companies involved were Castle Rock Entertainment and Reiner/Greisman Productions with distribution by Warner Bros. Pictures.

This kind of movie will never be a box office blockbuster, but it will be a big hit with families looking for intelligent family-friendly movies. 

MY THOUGHTS

This movie is emotional, heartwarming, funny, and poignant. It made me remember what it was like to be in elementary and junior high and having all those feelings that come with growing up. Feelings a kid doesn't really know what to do with.

As an adult, it makes you understand how awkward boys and girls of that age are and how they don't really understand what's going on in their parents' lives because everything is still all about them. If you have kids, it may help you understand that too.

It's the kind of film you could watch with your kids and discuss what's happeneing and why it's happening—especially with the scene involving Juli's uncle who was brain-damaged at birth.

Yes, that's a bit heavy, but it's something must families never talk about—and they should. Maybe it would help kids develop understanding and compassion for others.

This coming-of-age story explores the sacrifices families make, how others may misunderstand their life situaiton, and the themes of first love, personal growth, and how opinions can change with insights.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

I hope you watch it if you have a Netflix subscription—rent it or buy it if you don't. It's worth the price.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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Wake Up Dead Man Poster - Amazon

If you too were disappointed with Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, you'll be delighted to know that the new movie is immensely better than that.

Whatever you find yourself thinking as you watch Wake Up Dead Man, you'll probably be wrong about what who the good guys are. who the murderer is, and what's is really going on.

THE STORY

Daniel Craig reprises his role as the super sleuth Benoit Blanc when he's asked to solve the mystery of a baffling death inside a quiet country church.

Everyone lies, everyone has secrets, and the young priest new to the parish who has slowly been losing his faith seems to be the prime suspect.

Like all good mysteries, nothing is at it seems. No one is truly innocent, and it's up to Benoit Blanc to find the killer and close the case.

STELLAR CAST

Wow. Great cast. Accompanying Craig on this adventure are Josh O'Connor as the young priest, Glenn Close as the woman who really runs the church, and Josh Brolin as the senior priest. Members of the community are played by Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

Wake Up Dead Man was written and directed by Rian Johnson. On Sept. 6, 2025, the film had its world premier at the Toronto International Film Festival. Then it was released in select theaters the day before Thanksgiving. Streaming on Netflix began December 12, 2025.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Yes, watch this! It's quite a story—well-plotted, well-acted, and an excellent film noir. It reminded me of a dark and brooding film of the sort Alfred Hitchcock was known for.

Stranger Things 5 Poster - Amazon

All of the talking heads say this storm will mimic the icy apocolyptse that descended upon the Houston area on February 10, 2021.

LET'S TALK ABOUT STRANGER THINGS

If you haven't watched this final season yet, I think you'll either love it or hate it or possibly yawn and not give a lot of thought to it.

As for me, I think Seasons 1 and 2 were the strongest of the series. They were full of surprises and introduced us to some great characters. There were laughter, tears, and shocks which made those seasons watchable again and again.

Season 3 was good but the plot elements and characterizations relied too much on cliches that we're all seen until we merely roll our eyes. Examples: teen angst and rebellion, a controlling father who can't commuicate so he shouts and issues orders, characters who don't ask obvious questions when they're tryng to discover what's going on, etc.

The characteristics that made use love them were being erased. With some characters that were hated, there seemed to be an effort to make the audience understand and sympathize with them.

SEASON 5

Suddenly, all of the characters are cursing—from the youngest to the oldest with GD this and that. What was funny when Dustin did that in the early episodes was funny because it was so unexpected. 

When all of them were doing it, it wasn't funny. It was odd. Also, the constant squabbling between all the characters was off-putting. Everything the characters did took the focus off the rising drama of the dire situation in which they found themselves.

Again, characters don't tell each other pertinent details when they should. In fact, it's weird that they don't. They also don't ask questions about what's going on when they should. Agh. Drives me crazy when characters don't behave as if anyone would in real life. 

Yeah, I know it's not real life, but characters are supposed to be believable and do what people really would in similar situations. Otherwise, they don't seem "real" and aren't believable to the audience.

Then there is the whole dynamic with the Army. If any Army is as stupid and robotic as the one portrayed in Season 5, then whatever country they defend is doomed from the start. It was like a "paint-by-numbers" characterization of an Army from an old anti-war movie.

Then there's the whole fake science of the situation which tries to make everything that happened from beginning to end make some sort of sense of everything.

SUM IT UP

I discussed Season 5 with my daughter. The one thing we agreed upon was the ending. It's a open-ended hook. If the Duffer Brothers are ever in need of money, they have a ready-made franchise into which they can breathe life.

After all, Eleven is out there exploring the world but pining away for Mike. When the world needs saving again, she can mentally get in touch with Mike, and they can get the band back together.

TAKEAWAY TRUTH

Well, I guess I had a heck of a lot more to say than I thought. Should you watch it? Of course, You may have a different opionion. My daughter liked it. Let me know what you think about it.

Joan participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, affiliate advertising designed to help websites earn advertising fees by linking to products on Amazon. If you click an Amazon link in her post, she may receive a small commision at no extra cost to you.

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