Our offerings are all over the place this week — from an animated take on the biblical story of “David” to the tense, well-acted series “Little Disasters” on Paramount+ and one of the brightest new series you can watch right now — and it’s airing on PBS.
Here is our roundup.
“David”: It’s a tough order, making an animated biblical musical that’s suitable for the entire family and appeals to the masses, one that isn’t overly reverential and with musical bits that are legit songs, not sermons. Angel Studios does a fine job of that with their tuneful treatment about the story of the musically inclined David. Best known, of course, for his stacked-odds kerfuffle with that gargantuan brute Goliath (imagined comically here), directors Phil Cunningham and Brent Dawes — who also wrote the screenplay — venture beyond that well-known slab of the story to give us another timeless moral tale about standing up for what we believe and doing the best for our community. Those messages and David’s own journey from boyhood to adulthood as King Saul wrangles with his own faith get set to peppy songs (“Shalom” and “Follow the Light” are my favorites) that often feature adorable critters — all well-animated — in the background. “David” came to light itself after a groundswell in audience funding. It was money well spent for this entertaining family treat, even if it didn’t leave me entirely with one song in my heart. Details: 3 stars out of 4; opens Dec. 19 in theaters.
“Little Disasters”: Any mother with a newborn will feel like they’ve stepped into their worst nightmare when watching this well-done Paramount+ six part series based on Sarah Vaughan’s novel. Late one night, always-put-together mom Jess (Diane Kruger) frantically rushes her baby daughter to the New Zealand ER where Liz (Jo Joyner), a doctor who was a close friend until they had a falling out, calls child protective services since the baby sustained a skull injury that doesn’t fit with Liz’s explanation on what happened. That bombshell reverberates throughout the lives of Jess and her husband Ed (JJ Field), a seemingly “perfect couple,” and their friends, who include consists of the often inebriated Liz and her husband Nick (Doc Brown), the wealthy and the judgmental Charlotte (Shelley Conn) and her lawyer hubby Andrew (Patrick Baladi) and the always helpful but taken advantage of by her controlling dreamer of a musician hubby (Stephen Campbell), Mel (Emily Taaffe). Through flashbacks — including an eventful vacation together that sours — we see the bonds getting ready to snap and the pressure only intensifies as secret crushes, mental health issues and other secrets get coughed up. Director Eva Sigurðardóttir keeps everything tightly wound and hands this impressive cast — everyone is exceptional, in particular Kruger who shows the frayed mental edges of her character along with Joyner as an alcoholic facing her day of reckoning and Fields as a husband searching for answers and perhaps comfort. While the mystery of what happened does get solved, its contrivances don’t entirely fit with the rest of this excellent production, which explores both with compassion and passion at times, the perils of motherhood and how trying to keep up with and feeding that image of perfection rather than getting and asking for help can have serious consequences. Details: 3 stars; all episodes available now on Paramount+.
“Happiness”: There is truth in advertising and in titles sometimes. That applies to this pep-you-up six-part series from New Zealand that is destined to make you smile, especially if you were a drama kid. Airing on PBS and PBS Masterpiece on Prime Video, the half-hour musical comedy has been favorably compared to “Schitt’s Creek” and “Glee.” Those are apt comparisons for this warm-hearted confection in which up-and-coming musical director (or so he thinks) Charlie Summers (Harry McNaughton) gets stalled in his small hometown of Tauranga over a visa mishap. His theater mom Gaye (Rebecca Gibney) couldn’t be happier and has grand hopes he’ll return to the stage there for their upcoming musical production of “The Trojan Horse,” which includes some lyrics that are howlingly funny. Creators Kip Chapman and Luke Di Somma – who wrote the very catchy songs – let you know what to expect from the opening when Gaye greets Charlie at the airport and everyone at the airport breaks into a song-and-dance number using the Backstreet Boys’ “Everybody” as its base.
In the lead, McNaughton’s an exasperated delight while all the other members of this troupe are lovably eccentric. It’s well aware of the local theater scene and includes one clever line after another. My favorite? “This is not democracy. This IS musical theater!” How can you resist that? I can’t. Details: 3½ stars; runs Sundays through Dec. 28 on PBS (check local listings); also available on PBS app.
HIM: Justin Tipping’s eye-catching 2016 feature debut “Kicks” promised that great things were in store for the El Cerrito native. With “HIM,” Tipping more than delivered on that promise. The film — which comes to Peacock on Dec. 198, works as horror film and as a guttural commentary about how professional sports exploit athletes physically and mentally. A lot of turf gets covered, and “HIM” never fumbles the ball.
As up-and-coming QB Cameron Cade, Tyriq Withers stakes his claim here as a force of nature, cast well not just for his acting chops (he certainly has them) but his gazelle-like athleticism and a doe-eyed earnestness that coves a more complex person inside. When Cam’s path to glory gets eclipsed by a crazed fan, he undertakes a bizarre healing regimen at isolated desert compound. From there, it gets freakier and freakier, leading to a bloody finale that shakes you up and spits you out. Every aspect of this film — the sound, surreal cinematography, gladiator-esque production design, even costumes by Dominique Dawson, a Vallejo native — elevates Tipping’s Grand Guignol vision. Welcome to the big time, Tipping. You’ve just made one of the best films of 2025.
Details: Rated R (graphic violence, language); 1 hour, 36 minutes; available Dec. 19 on Peacock.
— Contact Randy Myers at soitsrandy@gmail.com.