This Is Me... Now
Prime Video
The much-hyped new album/visual project from Jennifer Lopez has arrived and it is... truly something.
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It feels like it was cooked up under the influence of hallucinogens.
Billed as a 'cinematic original', the roughly hour-long program is best described as a series of music videos tied together with a thin narrative thread, with some odd commentary by a 'zodiacal council' of famous people thrown in for good measure.
This Is Me... Now harks back to JLo's 2002 album This is Me... Then, which was released after she first started dating Ben Affleck and became one half of the first Bennifer.
Now, all these years later, the pair are back together and finally made it down the aisle, and the new album is something of an ode to how she got there.
While it's clearly drawn from her own life, Lopez isn't exactly playing herself in this extended video thing, she's credited as 'the artist'.
The wild ride takes you from an animated Puerto Rican tale about destined lovers, with themes of hummingbirds and flowers, to JLO and a mystery man riding on a motorcycle in a picturesque salt flat area, to some sort of dystopian steam-punkish factory where women manufacture rose petals (maybe? it's unclear) to keep a giant mechanical heart running.
Each song is paired with a new mini story, setting and vibe. Some work better than others - there's a quite successful section where JLo's character has a wedding with three interchangeable grooms, while her friends comment on how ridiculous the marrying situation has become.
The accompanying song is Can't Get Enough, and it's a high point of the whole experience.
Another high point song is Rebound, though the accompanying video/story segment is perhaps a bit too dramatic.
Joining Lopez on this cinematic journey are, of course, Affleck (though he's highly made up with prosthetics and a blond wig for most of his time on screen, so you'll be forgiven for not recognising him), dancer Derek Hough, rapper Fat Joe as her character's therapist, as well as the folks embodying the zodiac signs, including Jane Fonda (Lopez's Monster-in-Law co-star), Keke Palmer (who worked with her on Hustlers), Trevor Noah, Kim Petras, Post Malone, Sofia Vergara, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Jennifer Lewis, Jay Shetty and Sadhguru.
Players
Netflix
Taking a leaf right out of the Barney Stinson playbook is this obvious but enjoyable enough rom-com.
Elevated by the great chemistry of its core four (which, hardly a spoiler if you've seen the trailer, grows to five), Players follows a group of friends who help each other 'run plays' to score dates, which are mostly one-night stands.
But when one of them, sports writer Mack (Gina Rodriguez, never not enjoyable) decides she's after loftier goals than a one night stand - namely her own drawer at her mark's apartment - they pull together to help her get the win.
Alongside Rodriguez is Damon Wayans Jr (Coach on New Girl), Augustus Prew (Nolly), Joel Courtney (The Kissing Booth trilogy), Liza Koshy (Work It) and Tom Ellis (Lucifer).
The Grand Tour: Sand Job
Prime Video
If you're a fan of the Top Gear guys, then this latest edition of The Grand Tour, set in Mauritania, is probably right up your alley.
Clocking in at two hours and 16 minutes, it is far, far too long.
There's silly jokes and hijinks aplenty, and the typical cars doing things they shouldn't shtick.