
New releases for your streaming pleasure: Aug 6-12
APPLE TV+
Picks up with everyone's favourite pair of best friends as they contend with new midlife hurdles, including work, weddings and partners in crises. The duo tries their best to be each other's rock — but sometimes rocks break things.
HBO/ HBO MAX
Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Premieres on Aug 9
Sonic, Knuckles and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before.
Hard Knocks: Training Camp With The Buffalo Bills
Premieres on Aug 6
The annually-produced documentary series will give viewers an intimate look inside the Bills' summertime operations over the course of five episodes.
PRIME VIDEO
The Pickup
In the action-comedy, a routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when two mismatched armored truck drivers, Russell and Travis, are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe, with plans that go way beyond the cash cargo. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities, and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.
NETFLIX
Wednesday: Season 2 Part 1
Premieres on Aug 6
Wednesday Addams returns to prowl the Gothic halls of Nevermore Academy, where fresh foes and woes await.
Halabala (Survival Cut)
Premieres on Aug 11
A police lieutenant must leave his pregnant wife alone while he hunts down a gang leader in a foreboding jungle, only for true evil to manifest at home.
Premieres on Aug 11
Returning to Japan after a painful experience abroad, an aspiring concert pianist meets a fellow student who helps him rediscover the joys of life.
Final Draft
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Bangkok Post
a day ago
- Bangkok Post
New releases for your streaming pleasure: Aug 6-12
Looking for a title to binge-watch this weekend? Here's our pick! APPLE TV+ Picks up with everyone's favourite pair of best friends as they contend with new midlife hurdles, including work, weddings and partners in crises. The duo tries their best to be each other's rock — but sometimes rocks break things. HBO/ HBO MAX Sonic The Hedgehog 3 Premieres on Aug 9 Sonic, Knuckles and Tails reunite against a powerful new adversary, Shadow, a mysterious villain with powers unlike anything they have faced before. Hard Knocks: Training Camp With The Buffalo Bills Premieres on Aug 6 The annually-produced documentary series will give viewers an intimate look inside the Bills' summertime operations over the course of five episodes. PRIME VIDEO The Pickup In the action-comedy, a routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when two mismatched armored truck drivers, Russell and Travis, are ambushed by ruthless criminals led by a savvy mastermind, Zoe, with plans that go way beyond the cash cargo. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities, and one very bad day that keeps getting worse. NETFLIX Wednesday: Season 2 Part 1 Premieres on Aug 6 Wednesday Addams returns to prowl the Gothic halls of Nevermore Academy, where fresh foes and woes await. Halabala (Survival Cut) Premieres on Aug 11 A police lieutenant must leave his pregnant wife alone while he hunts down a gang leader in a foreboding jungle, only for true evil to manifest at home. Premieres on Aug 11 Returning to Japan after a painful experience abroad, an aspiring concert pianist meets a fellow student who helps him rediscover the joys of life. Final Draft

Bangkok Post
7 days ago
- Bangkok Post
Happy's back
Happy Gilmore is back 29 years after the original movie helped make Adam Sandler a comedy superstar. Whether you're a fan of the 1996 film or not, there's no denying how important Happy Gilmore was to pop culture at the time and how it cemented itself as a cult sports comedy beloved by multiple generations. So when the news broke that Sandler would be reviving the character for Netflix, I was immediately torn between curiosity and concern. Comedy sequels, especially those released decades later, are rarely successful. More often than not, they lean too heavily on nostalgia, recycle old jokes and lack the spark that made the original a hit. There was definitely a worst-case scenario here: a tired lead actor phoning it in, a script overloaded with lazy callbacks and a parade of random cameos distracting from the plot. That would have been an insult to the original movie and its fans. Thankfully, Happy Gilmore 2 doesn't fall into that nightmare category. That's not to say it's a comedy classic in its own right -- far from it -- but I was pleasantly surprised to find it had just enough charm and sincerity to keep me watching. While it's nowhere close to topping the original, it's also not the embarrassment it could've been. Adam Sandler returns as Happy Gilmore, now a man in his late 50s whose professional golf career is long behind him. Once the king of the long drive, Happy has endured personal tragedy and financial trouble. After the loss of a loved one, he's now broke and living modestly with his four children. His once-glorious lifestyle has been reduced to a suburban shuffle, with eccentric pro golfer John Daly amusingly crashing in his garage. The central emotional hook of the story revolves around Happy's desire to support his daughter's dreams. When he learns that she's been accepted to a ballet school in Paris, but can't afford the tuition, Happy decides -- against all odds -- to revive his golf career. Naturally, this leads to a fish-out-of-water narrative as he tries to relearn the sport that made him famous, only this time older, rustier and more emotionally fragile. It's a familiar setup -- the "one last shot" storyline -- but it works reasonably well in the first half of the film. However, things take a wild turn midway through. The second half introduces a fictional new golf league called Maxi -- a loud, over-the-top, pro-wrestling-style version of professional golf. Think bright costumes, pyrotechnics and trash talk. Maxi is positioned as a threat to the dignity and tradition of the sport and it's up to Happy to defend golf's legacy. He joins forces with real-life pros like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler in a bid to stop the cartoonish chaos from taking over the game. This new twist gives the film a surreal energy but also pulls it further into gimmicky territory. Being a decades-later sequel, Happy Gilmore 2 features several returning characters. Julie Bowen's Virginia is back, though disappointingly underused considering how crucial she was in the first film. Christopher McDonald makes a triumphant return as Shooter McGavin, Happy's long-time rival. McDonald completely commits to the role and gives arguably the best comedic performance in the movie -- delightfully unhinged and every bit the egomaniac fans remember. Ben Stiller also returns as Hal L., the cruel nursing home orderly from the first film. But this time around, his character doesn't land quite as well. He doesn't feel like the same person -- his motivations are unclear and his presence feels more like a wink to the audience than an integral part of the story. While some of the returning characters still have their spark, others come off as forced or underdeveloped. The film is absolutely stuffed with cameos. Some are amusing, like real golfers (Keegan Bradley, Fred Couples, Nick Faldo), musicians (Post Malone, Eminem) who pop up in random places, but many feel unnecessary. Travis Kelce as a waiter? YouTubers and podcasters playing themselves? These moments add to the film's bloated runtime and sometimes detract from the emotional core. That said, I did find it touching how the film includes tributes to several original cast members who've passed away. These scenes are handled with genuine affection and Sandler's sentimental side shines through. Clocking in at nearly two hours, the film definitely runs about 15–20 minutes too long. A tighter edit might have helped focus the narrative and trim down the overwhelming number of callbacks and cameo appearances. There are more than a few moments where it feels like Happy Gilmore 2 could have been subtitled "Nostalgia Bait: The Movie". If you're not already attached to the original film, much of this sequel might fall flat for you. The movie starts slow and includes an awkward sequence where Happy plays with a trio of amateur golfers (including a strange cameo by Margaret Qualley) that didn't really work for me. But to the film's credit, it picks up after that. In terms of comedy, the film is uneven. There are a few genuine giggle moments and I did smile at some of the more absurd scenes. But overall, the humour feels inconsistent. The writing leans on tired jokes -- some of which are outdated -- and the punchlines often fall short. That's the film's biggest weakness. For a comedy, the jokes should be the strongest part. Here, they're hit or miss (mostly miss). Still, I can't say I regret watching it. It has just enough heart, a few strong performances and a sense of fun that prevents it from being a total misfire. I just don't think I'll revisit it the way I still occasionally do with the original. In the end, Happy Gilmore 2 is a serviceable sequel that hits some decent shots but never quite finds its groove. If the script had been more focused, the runtime shorter and the humour sharper, this could have been a much more triumphant return. Instead, it's a mildly entertaining follow-up that survives on charm and nostalgia, but won't win any majors. Happy Gilmore 2

Bangkok Post
30-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
New releases for your streaming pleasure: July 30-Aug 5
Looking for a title to binge-watch this weekend? Here's our pick! APPLE TV+ Chief Of War Premieres on Aug 1 Performed by a predominantly Polynesian cast led by Jason Momoa, Chief of War follows the epic and unprecedented telling of the unification and colonization of Hawai'i at the turn of the 18th century. Siblings Karl, Addy and Michael have a very special next-door neighbour: a wise panda named Stillwater. His friendship and stories give them new perspectives on the world, themselves and each other. HBO/HBO MAX Premieres on July 31 Babs, Buster and friends enrol at Acme Looniversity, the premier institution of higher hijinx learning. Final Destination Bloodlines Premieres on Aug 1 Plagued by a recurring violent nightmare, a college student returns home to find the one person who can break the cycle and save her family. Dog Man A 2025 American animated superhero comedy film based on Dav Pilkey's children's graphic novel series of the same name. FOOD NETWORK 24 In 24: Last Chef Standing: Season 2 Premieres on Aug 4 Chefs often describe their jobs as being 24/7; now, Michael Symon and Esther Choi put that to the test as 24 chefs face 24 challenges in 24 nonstop hours; the chefs take on eight shifts, each testing a different skill, for a chance to win US$50,000. NETFLIX Glass Heart Premieres on July 31 An aspiring drummer suddenly loses her spot in the band. But when a brilliant musician recruits her for his new band, her life takes a passionate turn. The Black Death During the great war between Ayutthaya and Hongsawadee, the great 'plague' is reported all over town. However, disaster strikes when the corpses of those who died from the plague come back to life. They rise up to bite and tear at the flesh and blood of everyone, turning them into creatures like themselves. The Stone Premieres on Aug 1 After discovering his ailing father's legendary amulet, a man is thrust into a dangerous world of criminals and collectors desperate to claim it. My Oxford Year Premieres on Aug 1 An ambitious American fulfilling her dream of studying at Oxford falls for a charming Brit hiding a secret that may upend her perfectly planned life. Call Me By Your Name Premieres on Aug 1 In the summer of 1983, 17-year-old Elio forms a life-changing bond with his father's charismatic research assistant Oliver in the Italian countryside. Beyond The Bar A young, rookie lawyer with a strong sense of justice joins a top law firm — navigating the complex legal world under a cold, demanding mentor. When a pair of clueless gym employees stumble on secret CIA documents, their clumsy attempts at blackmail land them in a dangerous world of trouble. Dan In Real Life