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TOM’S TAKE ON TV’S MR NICE GUY
Fred (below) hosted his TV series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood from 1968 to 2001.
One of a kind SPECIAL GIFT
The Th festive f i season may be b long l over, but the midwives still have one special gift, arriving this week. In this year’s Call the Midwife Christmas Special, Mother Mildred, played by the delightful Miriam Margolyes, takes the ladies to the Outer Hebrides to help the islanders
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A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is in cinemas Thursday.
REVIEWS
TV Call the Midwife Christmas Special, TVNZ 1, Friday at 9.15pm.
after their only midwife leaves to get married. With less than ideal conditions, the women of Nonnatus House must work hard to help this struggling community. Despite being far out of their comfort zone, the special is still guaranteed to deliver fun and laughter.
New Zealand Woman’s Weekly
T
om Hanks is one of the most lovable figures in Hollywood, so it’s only fitting that he take on the role of one of the most beloved figures in American children’s entertainment. While New Zealanders may not know Presbyterian minister turned TV host Fred Rogers, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is a heart-warming biopic well worth a watch. Journalist Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) is assigned to write a profile on Fred and approaches the task with scepticism. How can someone be that genuinely good-natured? Fred’s empathy and kindness win over the jaded soul, forcing him to confront his painful past. Fred is a legendary figure in the US. “You put on that red sweater and those blue shoes and you might as well be putting on Batman’s cape and cowl. You feel powerful,” says Tom. The 63-year-old felt a huge responsibility when he took on the role, especially as they were filming in the entertainer’s hometown of Pittsburgh. He recalls a conversation with a local in an elevator about how filming was going. “Just as the elevator was closing he said to me, ‘You know we take Mister Rogers very seriously here in Pittsburgh.’ And [then] the door closed… that was literally ‘Don’t screw this up.’”
FILM
JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL RATING PG Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was a surprise hit of 2017, so there were big expectations for this sequel. While The Next
Level has some fun moments, its two-hour run time drags on and there are definitely scenes that could have been left on the cutting room floor. Once again, the highlight of the film is Jack Black, who plays three different characters throughout, each one as hilarious as the next. You certainly won’t have a bad time watching this movie, but it doesn’t hold a candle to its predecessor. Rebekah Hebenton
AAABB
