As you’ve probably noticed, I’m rewatching my way through the Marvel movies in the order they were released. It’s a lot, but even at 23 movies, watching the MCU canon feels attainable … at least, it does until you consider the TV shows, which I am almost definitely skipping. Seven seasons of Agents of SHIELD, two seasons of Agent Carter, several seasons of shows like Jessica Jones and Daredevil on Netflix, and now there are going to be TEN ADDITIONAL SERIES on Disney+. And ten new Star Wars series, too. I guess Disney is hoping we’re cooped up in our homes for a lot longer!

In other news, I’m booking meetings left and right at my podcasting company BumbleCast (sign up for our newsletter here), and we’re currently running a survey to understand how our audience actually uses social media. If you like podcasts, please take the survey here.

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When I reviewed Zoolander back in October, I singled out Ben Stiller’s earnest commitment to the part as that movie’s strongest asset, and the same is absolutely true of (Zoolander co-star) Will Ferrell’s starring role in the disarmingly wholesome Elf.

Not unlike Paddington, Buddy the Elf is new in town and the source of many hijinks, but Ferrell is, a) very tall, which is funny; and b) completely, destructively clueless about the ways his foreign behavior is disturbing to average New Yorkers, which is funnier still. The supporting cast is also on point, including a pre-New Girl Zooey Deschanel and a pre-Game of Thrones Peter Dinklage, the former playing a surprisingly cynical woman and latter still in the “playing every dwarf in Hollywood” phase of his career.

It’s kind of wild that the same guy who made Swingers, Iron Man and the Mandalorian (Jon Favreau) also made an extremely rewatchable and comfy Christmas movie, but here we are! Recommended. ★★★½

Elf is currently streaming on fuboTV, Starz, DirecTV, and Sling TV.

Thor: The Dark World is emblematic of some of the MCU’s worst impulses.

Despite some great visuals and a few very funny quips, the tone is all over the place, the CGI action is too bouncy to be believed, and the villain — despite being portrayed by a talented actor, Christopher Eccleston — is instantly forgettable.

I prefer the first Thor film for its epic fantasy aspirations and especially the third film for its inspired sense of humor; this ungainly middle child only half-works because of the chemistry among its actors, including a returning Tom Hiddleston as Thor’s brother Loki and Natalie Portman as his love interest, Jane. Apart from setting up some of the funniest bits of Thor: Ragnarok, and potentially laying the groundwork for Portman’s upcoming turn as the Mighty Thor, this one is eminently skippable. ★★★

Thor: The Dark World is currently streaming on Disney+, fuboTV, FXNow, DirecTV, and Sling TV.

I could easily imagine Easy Rider being one person’s favorite movie of all time, and another person’s least favorite. For me, it falls somewhere in the middle: An impressionistic, artistic picture with avant-garde editing style, a killer soundtrack, and characters whose unexplored depths keep the audience at arm’s length.

More than anything else, it’s a time capsule of the southwestern and southern US in the late 60s, and a snapshot of three young actors on the verge of fame — Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, and Jack Nicholson. As a movie, though, it doesn’t really cohere for me, which is a shame. In my head, I compare it to a pre-modern sculpture: I appreciate its historical significance, but I’d rather spend my time admiring a Michelangelo.

I imagine that, in 1969, the sweeping shots of the beautiful deserts and mountains were a revelation for many Americans, but I’d sooner watch a documentary about the land than take this easy ride again. That said, there’s enough I liked here that I’d cautiously recommend the movie for students of film history and/or folks looking for a movie that’s truly different. ★★★

Easy Rider isn’t currently streaming anywhere, but you can rent or buy it on these platforms.

(new additions in bold)