It may officially be spring, and while we do very much encourage you to get outside and breathe the warmer air, us movie diehards still need to unwind during the week with a good movie or two.
This week’s suggestions for Paramount+ people include a funnier take on a cult ’80s cop drama TV series starring Johnny Depp, one of the scariest psychological horror films of all time, and a boxing biopic drama based on a true story.
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21 Jump Street
A hilarious buddy-cop take on a classic ’80s TV show
The original 1987 police procedural TV series that this hilarious and successful movie franchise is based on was a lot different. First and foremost, it starred a young, pre-Edward Scissorhands Johnny Depp. Secondly, it was not a comedy. In 2012’s 21 Jump Street, directing pair Phil Lord and Christopher Miller (Project Hail Mary) hold on to the basic premise of young-looking undercover cops who specialize in youth crimes and brilliantly make fun of it.
Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum are perfectly matched as rookie buddy cops, Schmidt and Jenko, who just aren’t getting the hang of policing, so their captain (Ice Cube) takes advantage of their pubescent looks and sends them back to high school to take down a drug ring fronted by Eric Molson, played by Dave Franco.
And it works. 21 Jump Street is full of quotable one-liners and memeable moments, like when Schmidt and Jenko are forced to take the actual drug they’re investigating to prove they’re cool and definitely not NARCs, and their hallucinations and interaction with Rob Riggle’s amazingly unhinged gym teacher, Mr. Walters. Ice Cube is also on point as the stereotypical angry captain. 21 Jump Street has a solid 85% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the sequel, 22 Jump Street (also streaming on Paramount+) is just as funny.
21 Jump Street
Release Date
March 16, 2012
Runtime
109 minutes
Director
Christopher Miller, Phil Lord
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Rosemary’s Baby
Classic paranoia horror at its finest
Widely considered one of the best horror movies ever made, Rosemary’s Baby set the tone for a string of Satan-worship and demon-based horror films—from The Omen to The Exorcist—for years to come.
Directed by Roman Polanski and based on a 1967 novel of the same name by Ira Levin, it’s the creepy-as-hell story of young New York couple Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse (Mia Farrow and John Cassavetes), who move into an old apartment building with a questionable history involving the occult, witchcraft, and murder. Creepy neighbors Minnie and Roman Castevet (Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer) seem a bit too eager when Rosemary becomes pregnant, and she begins to suspect that the Castevets may have sinister plans for the infant.
Rosemary’s Baby is a masterclass in horror paranoia storytelling. As Rosemary slowly starts to question her own sanity, everyone around her keeps telling her everything is fine. And, oh boy, it is not. Rosemary’s Baby is a must-see classic with a 97% rating on RT.
Rosemary’s Baby
Release Date
June 12, 1968
Runtime
137 minutes
Director
Roman Polanski
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The Fighter
An Oscar-winning boxing redemption true story
Christian Bale and Melissa Leo both won Oscars for their supporting roles in The Fighter, a 2010 action biopic about the real-life story of Lowell, Massachusetts, welterweight boxer Micky Ward, played by Mark Wahlberg, in one of the best castings of his career.
After a devastating loss, Micky contemplates hanging up his gloves as his relationship with Charlene (Amy Adams) gets stronger, and a rift between his mother/manager Alice (Leo) and troubled half-brother/trainer Dicky (Bale) grows. However, Micky gets a second chance at a title shot and decides to prepare for the fight with a new team, away from his dysfunctional family. But in this uplifting tale of redemption, can Micky do it without them?
Bale and Wahlberg’s chemistry is outstanding in The Fighter, and the clashes between the brash and tough Charlene and Alice are palpable. The 91% rated film was praised for its authentic depiction of boxing culture of the time.
The Fighter
Release Date
December 17, 2010
Runtime
116 minutes
Director
David O. Russell
Managing several streaming services can be a full-time job, and when you also consider that they all tend to raise their prices on an ongoing basis, getting the most bang for your buck is, er, paramount. We’re here to help every week with these recommendations that we hope are helpful.
Subscription with ads
Yes, $8/month
Simultaneous streams
3
Live TV
Select live sports (NFL on CBS & UEFA Champions League)
Price
Starting at $8/month or $60/year
