Popcorn Perspectives with Danny Minton
Week of April 27, 2026
Animal Farm
Rated PG for thematic elements, language, some action/violence and rude humor
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 28% at time of writing
In Theaters
I have to admit that this one is a little perplexing. The immensely talented Andy Serkis (Gollum from Lord of the Rings) directs this animated adaptation of George Orwell’s classic story about what happens when the animals revolt and start running the farm. The main character, a Pig named Lucky (voiced by Gaten Matarazzo of Stranger Things) wants to do what is right for all of the animals, but the head pig Napoleon (voiced by Seth Rogen) wants to run things like an authoritarian, taking all the spoils for himself and eliminating good leaders that stand in his way. The screenplay is from one of the best adult comedy filmmakers in the business (Nicholas Stoller) who did Bros, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek) and the stellar cast includes Glenn Close, Steve Buscemi, Kieran Culkin, Woody Harrelson and many other big names. The odd part, though, is the studio. Angel Studios is known for its faith-based, conservative material. And to me, this movie looks to be wagging a finger straight at the current administration. Sure its just a film they acquired and not one that they set out to make, but it’s an odd choice for them regardless. Not in a way that should offend too broadly, but rather in a way that says “what is going on now was foretold decades ago and we need to heed the warning.” I have to admit that the animation is a little crude, and from what I’ve read, the narrative doesn’t exactly stay lockstep with the source material (I’ve never read the book), but I can certainly appreciate the guts to represent a film that might anger, or at least shock, its main audience. As for being family-oriented, the kids may like it well-enough, and it’s definitely kid-safe, while the adults will spend most of the time deciphering the message. B-
Beef: Season 2
Rated TV-MA
Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
Streaming on Netflix
The first season of Beef, starring Ali Wong and Steven Yeun, was such a crazy and unexpected experience that I honestly couldn’t wait to see where they might take a second season. If you’ve seen the first season, you know that that story is completed. So this second journey is with all new characters and fresh beef. The dramedy revolves around a middle-aged married couple (Oscar Isaac and Carey Mulligan) who are caught fighting by two of their country club employees (Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny), with misconceptions and bad decisions flying around waiting to hit whoever is in the way. The wrench in the works comes in the form of a new owner of their club (Oscar winner Youn Yuh-Jung) who arrives with her own set of problems needing to be solved. While all of the poor choices end up with rather bad resolution, the show lacks the actual “beef” of the first series. The spirit is kind of there, but the inciting incident seems less than believable and the story evolves into a wild, shapeless form that is hard to follow at times due to its inconceivable nature. I can see why such a cast would take on this project, but I didn’t think the story-telling to be nearly as strong as the first, and ultimately, the last chapters, while creatively disastrous, are hard to connect with. C+