Just when we were about to accept the new face of normalcy as our life in 2021, COVID-19 crept back up and threw us off-track with its steep incline in cases. And if you're left sobbing about your Saturday night plans that were (abruptly) cut off without warning, we're here for you. There's no reason why staying at home could be a bad thing, considering the fact that it provides us with an untimely break that we needed at a time like this. If there's one thing that the global pandemic has taught us, it is to sit back and truly indulge in the simple pleasures of life. Whether you find that in baking muffins, painting your drywall or dusting off old books to re-read in the afternoons -- there's a lot to do within the four walls of your house if you put your mind to it.
Now, with the hectic schedule upon us, it is almost godsent to finally have the time to catch up on our favourite series and movies without being reminded of the crippling employed life. However, if you've lost touch with the medium, you can count on us to give you a crash course on what's in store on our favourite OTT platforms this summer. While most of them aren't exactly 'new', they're classics we absolutely adore! Read on below for a comprehensive guide on what to watch this week -- and you can thank us later!
Moxie!
If you haven't yet watched Moxie!, there couldn't be a better time to compensate. Come 2021, the urgency to have a film that points out everything wrong with the high-school culture was long due. The movie beautifully explains Vivian's effort to bring out an anonymous magazine that addresses everything wrong with the school's archaic system. It tactfully highlights the difference between 'annoying' and 'harassing' -- terms that are dismissed and thrown around loosely without a second thought. Starring Amy Poehler and Hadley Robinson in the lead roles, it features several other strong female leads throughout the movie. The movie leaves you with an adrenalin rush and a need to fuel change in today's time. If that doesn't get you up and thinking during the lockdown, we really don't know what will.
A Week Away
Musicals are definitely catching on (or making a comeback), and either way, that has us pumped. A Week Away, a coming-of-age movie, has traces of High School Musical that we can't help but love! Will Hawkins, who's at a summer camp for the first time, finds a life-changing experience awaiting him. With a tendency to run, our protagonist is not a typical, reckless teenager who shows no signs of slowing down. However, a chance encounter with a girl from his camp -- Avery -- makes him realise all that he's willing to be for her. No, we're not crying -- you are!
Yes Day
Imagine being a child once again -- and to have a day where your parents can't refuse you for 24 hours. Yeah, it does sound too good to be true to us as well. However, Yes Day is an entire movie based on this fictional phenomenon. The American comedy-drama is a glimpse into what parents -- and children -- go through on a day to day basis. It is refreshing to watch Jennifer Garner and Jenna Ortega in a mother-daughter role. And while we can't promise if there will ever come a day like this, we can definitely say yes to this ideal family drama for your watch list!
Pagglait
Because dark-comedy is also comedy, after all! Pagglait released on Netflix recently, and if the trailer didn't leave you intrigued, we're a little worried about you! The movie talks about the life of a young recently-widowed woman (played by Sanya Malhotra), who shows no signs of grief towards her husband's demise. Leaving relatives and friends baffled over her unperturbedness, she goes on to live her life as though nothing has changed. Pagglait promises an unusual spin on the regular Bollywood drama -- something we've only heard about so far. After all, it is 2021, and we're all for some dark comedies.
Soul
Soul quietly created a buzz after its release, and for a few weeks, it was the talk of the town! A simple (yet impactful!) film, Soul traces the (abrupt) journey of a jazz enthusiast who loses his life on the day he was about to fulfil his greatest dream. What follows is a series of misadventures that lead him to discover his real purpose of living. Soul keeps you on the edge of your seat, and you're left rooting for him till the very end. The movie will warm your heart with its storyline and soul-stirring visuals (see what we did there?). Whether you're a fan of animated flicks or you're a fan of jazz music -- this movie is the perfect pick for you this summer!
Mulan
There couldn't be a better time to revisit nostalgia, and Disney+ has Mulan's live-action version to make it happen. Whether you're a fan of fairytales or not, this one takes the cake with its dramatic action sequences along with its impeccable casting. While the critics were a little unsure about the movie deviating from its original storyline, it isn't a bad idea to watch it with a clean slate. Despite the debates, Mulan went on to bag nominations for Best Costume Design and Best Visual Effects at the 93rd Academy Awards. Fair warning, the live-action version does not have Mushu -- and we're upset about it as well!
Phineas & Ferb the movie
"There's 104 days of summer vacation
And school comes along just to end it
So the annual problem for our generation
Is finding a good way to spend it."
It's no coincidence that the title track resonates with our lockdown mood this year! After all, only Phineas and Ferb can spend their entire summer in their backyard and make the most out of it. However, in this movie, their annoying sister Candace is abducted by aliens (of course). Naturally, the duo has to rescue her before their mom finds out -- because that would obviously be a lot to explain!
Unpaused
Although Unpaused released late in December 2020, we don't mind revisiting it for a glimpse of its (not so?) fictional, dystopian universe. The film features five short segments by directors Raj & DK, Nikkhil Advani, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Avinash Arun and Nitya Mehra -- featuring their take on the post-COVID/lockdown scenarios. With a brilliant star-cast and heart-tugging stories, the film repaints the shades of COVID-19 lockdown into short flicks. While most of us watched after the worst was over, there's no harm in watching it now that we're sitting through another uncertain phase. If nothing, it will remind us of how bad times have passed, and they will, once again.
Tenet
We've seen memes about users enjoying -- yet not being able to understand Tenet! However, that hasn't stopped us from going ahead and recommending it. Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, if you missed the action-thriller film in the theatre, now's an excellent opportunity to catch up on it. The film revolves around the life of a spy who learns to manipulate the flow of time -- and while we're all well-versed with the confusion that follows -- this time, it is to prevent an invasion from the future that threatens to demolish the existing realm. We can't be too sure, but Tenent seems like the best way to put our brain cells to use!
The Map of Tiny Perfect Things
There's nothing a good rom-com cannot fix -- and if it goes hand-in-hand with sci-fi -- we're sold! For those who are fans of Kimi No Na Wa (Your Name), the Japanese film based on two teenagers swapping lives, The Map of Tiny Perfect Things can be the ideal choice to sit back with a bowl of popcorn. The film walks us through the lives of Mark and Margaret -- two teenagers who are stuck in a time loop -- forcing them to repeat the same day over and over again. If that doesn't feel like the current situation we're stuck in, we don't know what does!
