NAKM: Mar. 15, 2025

We’re All Irish for a Day!

If you truly mean that, prove it. Put away your Kiss Me I’m Irish button, stop pinching people who don’t wear green, and for the love of Saint Patrick stop puking in the corner or the bushes or the Volkswagen dashboard of a lass you just met at the Chicago Parade in what year was that?

Where was I? Oh yea.

Instead — prop your kids in front of a large screen and discover some real gold. The films of Ireland are magically delicious — and good for your anam.

My recommendations this edition explore Irish culture, art, family life, and folklore. Your kids will be pulled in by the visuals, the music, and the magic of good storytelling.

These films are good enough you won’t need an Irish whiskey chaser. I mean, feel free to pour one but remember there’s more to the Irish than drunken fisticuffs.

The Irish are soulful and poetic. They wear their emotions on their sleeves. They stand up for what they believe in. Sometimes tragically so. And, most importantly, they put their all into everything, be it drinking, writing, fighting, or fu — ok, I can see why it’s fun to be Irish for a day. Just please keep the puking to a minimum.

Sláinte!

Brendan

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My Pint-Sized Review of The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie

The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie is bonkers, as expected. You get a full dose of Porky Pig and Daffy Duck. But the wackiness doesn’t stop there.

Director Peter Browngardt created Uncle Grandpa and worked on several other Cartoon Network shows. You see the influence there. As for Looney Tunes’ many creative iterations, Browngardt is influenced by the Bob Clampett years, aka the golden age of Looney Tunes (1930-1946). Browngardt says Clampett’s characters and stories were “unpredictable” and “off-the-wall” and the “least conservative” version of Looney Tunes in its long run. 

You see that unpredictability on screen as you’re hit with zany montages that barrage you with sight gags and jokes. You blink and you miss something crazy.

The other reason Browngardt loved Clampett’s era is because of the gorgeous on-screen animation. The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie has that same beautiful quality that really pops, especially when things get weird.

You’ll appreciate it most when things get out of control — when the gags derail the story for a moment — or on purpose to move the story along. You’ll see some classic Looney Tunes bits, but for the most part the comedy feels fresh. I laughed out loud several times. When Daffy’s face blew up, as it did in almost every Daffy cartoon, the specific animation of his facial damage made me and my kids laugh out loud.

We laughed a lot. Crack a brew or sip a screwdriver or hit that Jameson. The sauce will just make you laugh harder. Have fun with this one. Appreciate the art. Appreciate the humor. Rejoice that we still live in a world where wackiness is revered.

That’s all folks.

Sorry.

In theaters: Probably not for long. Probably on HBO (sigh, Max) soon.

Rating: PG (Me: 5+)

Director: Peter Browngardt

Starring: Eric Bauza, Candi Milo, Peter McNichol, Laraine Newman

Run time: 1:31

Post-credits scenes: A quick bit after the long credits (which aren’t that long).

Bathroom breaks: Run Pee doesn’t have pee times for this one. My best estimate is to wait an 45 minutes for the story to settle in.

Sequel? Not based on box office, but streaming could make this one a home theater hit.

If you liked The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Story, check out these films:

• Duck Dodgers in the 24½th Century (1953 short) (5+)

• Daffy Duck’s Quackbusters (1988) (5+)

• Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003) (5+)

• The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Movie (1979) (5+)

• Space Jam (1996) (6+) (Full disclosure: I hate this movie)

Fresh Cuts

The latest family films to hit all screens. Not all are winners. Watch at your own risk!

In Theaters 📽️

• (Mar. 21) Disney’s Snow White

On Disc 📀

• (Mar. 18) Moana 2 (2024) (5+)

News You Can Use (and Sometimes Booze)

• Flow: Everyone’s favorite flooded world non-talking cat movie won an Oscar and is, apparently, popular with pets.

• Groot: Everyone’s favorite Guardian is returning, according to Vin Diesel. It could be a Disney+ short. We all hope it’s a film.

• MCU: Disney looks to be all-in for the next Avengers film. Spending has already doubled the most recent Ant-Man movie at the same point. Hopefully that’s a good sign. Though it’s probably just cold, calculated desperation.

• Trailer: The new Lilo & Stitch live-action film could be fun. It helps that this CG monstrosity is alien and not a dead-eyed lion or mush-mouthed dwarf.

• Whiskey: The Irish variety is “having a moment.”

Papa Do Preach!

Let’s Get Rec’d!

Check my list before you wreck yourself next family film night.

Keepin’ It Real

This is not a film for younglings. But if your kid is mature and into music, see this f***king movie. And get ready for some ripe f***ing language. Sing Street is a brilliant coming-of-age musical drama that offers a real look at what it’s like to actually be coming-of-age. There’s no Disney sheen here, though there is joy and optimism. And the soundtrack rocks. Sing Street takes place in the ‘80s and director John Carney mined the era for some fantastic needle drops. This is a musical, which means there is original musical content — and it’s ear candy. Sing Street currently streams on Netflix.

Kickin’ It Old School

The Secret of Roan Inish defies time. It takes place in 1946 but takes place in a community where nature, not machines rule the land. Part of the magic is off screen. The cinematography, folk music, coastal village setting draw you in to this world where family and the stories shared by the hearth warm your soul. A girl, who is sent to live with her grandparents, helps them navigate the changing times by going into their past. The film taps into Celtic folklore about seals, which are highly regarded for their human-like spirit. By connecting the girl to her past, the seals guide the family through crisis to a new, better life. The Secret of Roan Inish is streaming on Kanopy and STARZ.

Secret Sauce

Yes, this is another Irish magic seal movie. Yes, this is a movie you and your kids will love. Let’s start with the art. Song of the Sea is mostly hand-painted with some 3D elements. The backgrounds, both natural and urban, delightfully use light, shadow, stunning colors, and thematic imagery to create a magical world. The people, pets, and creatures are expressive even though they’re minimalistically drawn. The original music is no less magical, plucking at your emotions as a family struggles to recover from the loss of a mother. Watching them come together is emotionally buoying. If you get a chance, see Song of the Sea in the theater. It’s an immersive experience. You can rent it digitally or purchase the Blu-Ray with extra features about the film’s art direction. If you really want to fly your Irish flag this month, check out the other two movies of the (unofficial) Irish Folklore Trilogy, The Secret of Kells and Wolfwalkers.

For Your Eyes Only

What to watch after THEY go to bed.

A Dark Song (2016)

This is one of those films you read about on social media after it stuns audiences on the film festival circuit. Yet it never materializes in the years that follow. It becomes something of a myth — until one day it shows up on a streaming service. It took me more than a half decade to find and see this film. It was worth the wait.

A Dark Song is about the depths you would go to reverse or reduce the pain of a loss. Specifically, a mother who wants to hear the voice of her lost son. The occultist she hires to perform the dark ritual has wants of his own. The ritual takes months. Surprise! Things go horribly (delightfully) wrong. The result is unsettling dread. The film is set in the Welsh countryside, but it’s Irish in its soul as it deals with grief, spirituality, and isolation — three themes you’ll find in many Irish horror films. Plus, the director, producers, and leading actress are all Irish. I suggest you don’t dull your senses for this one. Let the horror wash over you.

The Banshee’s Whisper

This cocktail will get you in the Irish spirit. It’s more subtle than a shot of Jameson but will still get your tastebuds howling.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 oz Irish whiskey

• 0.5 oz Frangelico (hazelnut liqueur)

• 0.5 oz Baileys Irish Cream

• 1 oz half & half (or heavy cream for extra richness)

• Ice

Instructions:

• Grated nutmeg

Instructions:

1. Fill: Add ice and ingredients to a shaker.

2. Froth: Shake it until chilled.

3. Strain: Pour through a strainer into a coupe or rocks glass over fresh ice.

4. Indulge: Garnish with fresh-graded nutmeg

Cheers!

The Man Behind the Mask

Thanks for reading and subscribing!

I am a former television news journalist who now writes about movies, parenting, and tech online (and occasionally on paper). My number one job, though, is making sure my girls grow up with steady heads on their shoulders. I think our shared movie nights have a positive impact on their self-esteem and develop an awareness of the world around them. I relish every night — except for maybe Baby Geniuses. I got through that one with my good friend George Dickel.

Brendan Knapp