Movies
Save Now On Home Security
The Streaming Chronicles
Monitored by ADT ® the #1 home security company in the U.S.
Another three options for the weeks of shutting in By Br yan VanC ampe n
GREAT
LOW PRICE MONITORING
ADT® 24/7 Monitored Home Security
PER MONTH
24/7 monitoring provides peace of mind Yard sign and window decals help deter crime Quickly connect to fire and emergency response
May qualify for a homeowners insurance discount
1-844-950-1728
WE’RE AVAILABLE 24/7—CALL TODAY!
The rollicking movie “Onward” is the latest offering from Disney-Pixar. (Photo online)
E
motionally rich, hilarious and exciting, “Onward” (DisneyPixar, 2020, 103 min.) is the first great movie of the year. (I’ve already seen it twice, the second time to try and scrutinize the Easter eggs and background detail.) Its intriguing notions about magic vs. technology would make for a great double bill with Ralph Bakshi’s “Wizards” (1977). Once upon a time, there was magic, and a world populated by wizards, elves and all manner of mythological creatures. But rather than learn a complicated illumination spell, it was easier to invent the light bulb. This leads to a modern world that still hearkens back to the storybook: suburban little boxes with mushroom roofs, castles turned theme restaurants. In this droll, inviting milieu, two elven brothers Ian and Barley Lightfoot (Tom Holland and Chris Pratt) are given a magic staff left to them by their late father. The boys—Ian the unsure and insecure sort and Barley the blustering screw-up—try to resurrect their dead dad but only succeed in bringing back the lower half of his body. The guys climb into their ’70s beater van with a Pegasus painted on it in a madcap road trip/quest to track down what they need to finish the spell. It’s only afterwards, taking in the rosy glow of the end credits that I realized that “Onward” was something of a reunion for two of my favorite cast members from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tom Holland’s Ian is certainly very close to what he’s done with the character of Peter Parker in the recent “Spider-Man” movies, and Chris Pratt is doing a variation
on the brash, loud-mouthed Peter Quill in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films. Julia Louis-Dreyfuss is a dowdy delight as the kids’ up-and-at-‘em mom, likewise Octavia Spencer and Mel Rodriguez as, respectively, a brassy manticore and a cop centaur, who is also the kids’ mom’s new boyfriend. Think of your very favorite Pixar movies. I’m thinking of “Coco” and “Wall-E” and “The Incredibles” and “Inside Out” and the first three “Toy Story” movies. Behold! Forsooth! “Onward” ranks up with the very best films that the studio has produced. ● ● ●
Ben Affleck wasn’t my favorite Batman for sure, but even back in the day when he was making junk like “Pearl Harbor” and “Paycheck,” I knew he was a very talented actor. I’d seen his promise early on in films like “Chasing Amy,” “Dogma” and “Changing Lanes.” He’d co-written his own movie early on and won an Academy Award. Since his “Gigli” days, he’s turned out to be a talented filmmaker, too, helming “The Town” and the Oscar-winning “Argo.” So, I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised at how good Ben Affleck is in Gavin O’Connor’s “The Way Back” (Warner Bros., 2020, 108 min.), in which he plays Jack Cunningham, a self-loathing alcoholic tasked with going back to his Catholic high school, where he was a star basketball player, to coach the new kids. I’ll admit that I’d seen the film’s trailer continued on page 16
BASIC SYSTEM: $99 Parts and Install. 36-Month Monitoring Agreement required at $27.99 per month ($1,007.64). 24-Month Monitoring Agreement required at $27.99 per month ($671.76) for California. Offer applies to homeowners only. Basic system requires landline phone. Offer valid for new ADT Authorized Premier Provider customers only and not on purchases from ADT LLC. Cannot be combined with any other offer. The $27.99 Offer does not include Quality Service Plan (QSP), ADT’s Extended Limited Warranty. GENERAL: For all offers, the form of payment must be by credit card or electronic charge to your checking or savings account, satisfactory credit history is required and termination fee applies. Certain packages require approved landline phone. Local permit fees may be required. Certain restrictions may apply. Additional monitoring fees required for some services. For example, Burglary, Fire, Carbon Monoxide and Emergency Alert monitoring requires purchase and/or activation of an ADT security system with monitored Burglary, Fire, Carbon Monoxide and Emergency Alert devices and are an additional charge. Additional equipment may be purchased for an additional charge. Additional charges may apply in areas that require guard response service for municipal alarm verification. Prices subject to change. Prices may vary by market. Some insurance companies offer discounts on Homeowner’s Insurance. Please consult your insurance company. Photos are for illustrative purposes only and may not reflect the exact product/service actually provided. Licenses: AL-19-001104, AR-CMPY.0001725 AZ-ROC217517, CA-ACO6320, CT-ELC.0193944-L5, DC-EMS902653, DC-602516000016, DE-07-212, FLEC13003427, EC13003401, GA-LVA205395, IA-AS-0206, ID-ELE-SJ-39131, IL-127.001042, IN-C.P.D. Reg. No. – 19-08088, City of Indianapolis: LAC-000156, KY-City of Louisville: 483, LA-F1914, LA-F1915, LA-F1082, MA-1355C, MD-107-1626, ME-LM50017382, MI-3601205773, MN-TS01807, MO-City of St. Louis: CC#354, St. Louis County: 95091, MS-15007958, MT-PSP-ELS-LIC-247, NC-25310-SP-FA/LV, NC-1622-CSA, NE-14451, NJ Burglar Alarm Lic. # -NJ-34BF00021800, NM-353366, NV-0068518, City of Las Vegas: 3000008296, NY-Licensed by the N.Y.S. Department of State UID#12000317691, NYS #12000286451, OH-53891446, City of Cincinnati: AC86, OK-AC1048, OR-170997, Pennsylvania Home Improvement Contractor Registration Number: PA022999, RI-3582, RI-7508, SC-BAC5630, SD- 1025-7001-ET, TN-1520, TX-B13734, ACR-3492, UT-6422596-6501, VA-115120, VT-ES-2382(7C), WA-602588694/ECPROTEYH934RS, WICity of Milwaukee: PAS-0002790, WV-WV042433, WY-LV-G-21499. 3750 Priority Way South Dr. Indianapolis, IN 46240 ©2017 DEFENDERS, Inc. dba Protect Your Home DF-CD-NP-Q120
DENTAL Insurance Physicians Mutual Insurance Company A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve
CALL NOW!
1-888-611-0499
Get help paying dental bills and keep more money in your pocket This is real dental insurance — NOT just a discount plan You can get coverage before your next checkup
Don’t wait! Call now and we’ll rush you a FREE Information Kit with all the details.
FREE Information Kit
1-888-611-0499 Visit us online at
www.dental50plus.com/ithaca Product not available in all states. Acceptance is guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. This specific offer is not available in CO: call 1-800-969-4781 for a similar offer. For complete details about this solicitation of insurance, please contact us. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN) 6129-1118
A p ri l
1 – 7 ,
2 0 2 0
/ T h e
I t h a c a T i m e s 15