Pop Culture Happy Hour: "Star Wars: The Mandalorian & Grogu."

The trio from the Baby, Secret of the Lost Legend episode of A Degree Absolute! — Jordan Morris, Glen Weldon, and yours truly — reunite to work through our extremely mild enthusiasm for the latest Star War, The Mandalorian and Grogu. My Washington City Paper review of the same is here.

Fourth Time's the Charm: "The Fantastic Four: First Steps," reviewed.

When it comes to putting First Family of Marvel Comics in the movies, the fourth time’s the charm. My Washington Post review of Fantastic Four: First Steps is here.

Bigger, Longer, and Uncut: "Gladiator II," reviewed.

Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal get down to it. (Paramount)

“Gladiator was the one where Ridley Scott revived the sword-and-sandals genre that had been dormant for decades while also managing to suggest that our addiction to spectacle—one he himself had then been nurturing for 20 years—might not be altogether healthy, for individuals or democracies. 

“Gladiator II is the one where he throws in a CGI shark. “

My Washington City Paper of the unlikely 24.5-years-later sequel is here.