Helix: Seasons 1-2 (2015)

Helix is quite good for a SyFy Original series, but I was not ready to say that until seeing the second season. Two-thirds of the first season is filmed in dark corridors and bunkers, and a key Japanese character has the annoying habit of speaking in mystical whispers. The second season moves from a secret corporate lab in Antarctica to a secret island society led by a narcissist with a messiah complex. Basically, the premise is CSI (in the form of a dedicated CDC team) uncovers and combats a global conspiracy for genocide. Every member of the CDC team is a strong individual who is personally invested in the common goal but also faces individual dangers of their own. The society itself faces a series of existential threats. The storyline covers 530 years. The final scene is a clincher. Enjoy! 3.5 stars. (1-24-2018)

Mike Birbiglia: Thank God for Jokes (2017)

In his Thank God for Jokes comedy show, Mike Birbiglia continues his laid-back, mild-mannered delivery style, which he attributes to his mother and nine years of Catholic schooling. In fact, he was funniest telling stories of his performance in a Christian school gymnasium (it did not go well) and on stage with the Muppets (it really did not go well). He also reflects on the tenuous nature of comedy, how it intrinsically is going to offend someone (because it has to be about something), and how humor can bring us together. Enjoy! 4 stars. (1-24-2018)

Chlorox, Ammonia and Coffee (2005)

As a Minnesotan for my first 40 years, I love Scandinavian and dark comedy. This Norwegian film, however, is billed as a comedy and a "wickedly funny melodrama" (terms I would apply to Kitchen Stories or Waking Ned Devine). I am glad I finally got to see it, since it was a Save title on this service for a decade before becoming an Add title, but it was nothing as described or expected. Normally I am fine with that too, since each film is what it is and should be enjoyed on that basis. However, this film tried to be Crash or Babel or Amelie without the cinematography, casting, scriptwriting, editing, and acting. I found nothing to like in any character save the blandly agreeable grocer. Many of the coincidental connections stretch credulity, culminating in the weirdest scene where the grandmother is suspended in midair, pondering the justification of her existence, after she has been hit by a car driven by her coke-addled son. Scene transitions are abrupt and often cryptic. I assume the trampoline moments are meant to be funny. The ending is unsatisfactory. I hope you can enjoy it more! 2 stars. (1-24-2018)

Todd Glass: Act Happy (2018)

Todd Glass: Act Happy receives the lowest rating I have ever given a comedian -- and I am a very copacetic reviewer. That said, I think Todd has the stage presence and chops to carry off a winning performance -- and he may well have done so previously, since I knew nothing about him before watching this special -- even if he has ADHD, as some suggest, because I see how he could make that work for him. But no, his failings were in being gimmicky, tedious, and tendentiously obnoxious (schmaltzy, to use an old-school Yiddish term). His band was great -- I could listen to them playing real music all night -- but he used them to schvitz "public domain" bits like wah-wah-wah, rim shot, and "Battle Hymn of the Republic." They were also shills, pretending to throw their voices from the audience -- while admitting to it, as he tried to joke about it. Worst of all were the "improv" songs from him and the band, with lyrics literally as bad as "blah-blah-blah" -- with intentionally bad meter and vocals -- admittedly added in case he didn't have enough material to fill the show. Painful! Lamentably, his act also included 5 minutes talking about his drug use, 5 minutes of light talk about his "coming out" and how gays and straights are "the same" (he can say what he wants, but why can't others?), and 5 minutes of clunker joke ideas (again, just to fill time, though justified by claiming he was out of time). In fact, there was only one line where I nearly chuckled -- but I forget what it was. I want to like the guy, so I will stop at 1.5 stars. (1-24-2018)

Mike Birbiglia: What I Should Have Said Was Nothing: Tales From My Secret Public Journal (2008)

Mike Birbiglia is almost too low-key; he riffs on his life's awkward moments and basically says "So, yeah..." and the magic happens when his audience laughs. He makes it work; I had a gentle chuckle going at least half the time, esp. while talking for a few minutes about his parents ("They are basically older, boring versions of me, and that's not cool") and George W. Bush ("nonsense like 'You can't shoot the shooter, heh-heh-heh'"). I saw the streaming version of this show, however, the DVD version has additional material, if you are interested. 3 stars. (1-22-2018)