Weekend events planner

Here are the top 9 things to do in Houston this weekend

The Fourth of July celebrations might be over, but that doesn't mean you can't keep the fun going. From sensational exhibits to free pizza slices and a summer rosé fest, read on for your guide to the best nine things to do in Houston this weekend.

For more options, check out the full CultureMap Events Calendar.

Mexican movies
Thursday, July 6-Saturday, July 8
The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents “The Golden Age of Mexican Cinema,” featuring 14 films complementing current museum exhibition, Paint the Revolution: Mexican Modernism, 1910–1950. Screenings include You’re Missing the Point (Ahí está detalle) on Thursday, July 6; Another Dawn (Distinto Amanecer) on Friday, July 7; and A Woman in Love (Enamorada) on Saturday, July 8. (2 pm, tickets: $9 per person)
1001 Bissonnet St. 713-639-7300

Wish you were here
Thursday, July 6
Pink Floyd veteran Roger Waters plays at Toyota Center as part of his US + Them Tour, which comes behind his new solo album, Is This the Life We Really Want? Waters will also perform new songs as well as classic Pink Floyd tunes. (8 pm; tickets: $55-$295 per person)
1510 Polk St.; 713-758-7200

Chills and thrills
Thursday, July 6-Sunday, July 8
New arts company Strange Bird Immersive presents The Man From Beyond: Houdini Séance Escape Room at the Silos on Sawyer. With only eight seats per show, the interactive adventure promises an adrenaline rush as participates take part in a séance hosted by eccentric medium Madame Daphne. (8 pm; tickets: $29-$36 per person)
1502 Sawyer St.; 832-314-8804

Art exhibit
Friday, July 7
"The Big Show" opening reception at Lawndale Art Center kicks off the art center's annual juried exhibit with work in all media by artists living within a 100-mile radius. Artwork will remain on display through August 12. (7-9 pm; tickets: free)
4912 Main St.; 713-528-5858

Jingle bells
Saturday, July 8
Celebrate the holidays early at 5K run, Christmas in July, benefiting The Salvation Army of Greater Houston. (7 am; tickets: $35-$50 per person)
1500 Austin St.; 713-752-0677

We’ll drink to that
Saturday, July 8
Wine representatives serve up free tastings of several refreshing rosés at the Summer Rosé Festival at Midtown’s Izakaya restaurant. The afternoon lineup also includes DJ spins and a photo booth, plus free appetizers from the kitchen and free samples from next door’s Fluff Bake Bar. Proceeds go to Houston Area Women’s Center. (12-4 pm; tickets: $25 per person or bring a donation of new — with tags — yoga pants, sweatpants, and sweatshirts)
318 Gray; 713-527-8988

When the moon hits your eye
Saturday, July 8
Montrose pizzeria Love Buzz celebrates its two-year anniversary with free slices of pizza and drink specials. Grazie. (1-6 pm; tickets: free entry)
412 Westheimer Rd.; 713-521-2899

Slam dunk
Saturday, July 8
The Harlem Globetrotters bring their show to NRG Arena in back-to-back games. The team roster includes Big Easy Lofton, Ant Atkinson, Hi-Lite Bruton, Thunder Law, Bull Bullard and Cheese Chisholm, along with female stars TNT Maddox, Ace Jackson, Swish Young, and Hoops Green. After each game, Globetrotter stars will sign autographs and take photos with fans. (2 pm and 7 pm; tickets: $$19-$408 per person)
1 NRG Park; 713-629-3700

Say yes
Sunday, July 9
Be inspired to create the wedding of your dreams at the Bibi Bridal Show at downtown’s Hyatt Regency Houston. Check out the newest trends in wedding design curated for luxurious South Asian weddings and get advice from industry experts on a range of topics from decor to choosing a photographer. (12 pm; tickets: $15 per person)
1200 Louisiana St.; 713-654-1234

"The Golden Age of Mexican Cinema" features Another Dawn (Distinto Amanecer) at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston this weekend.

Photo courtesy of Dallas Museum of Art

"The Golden Age of Mexican Cinema" features Another Dawn (Distinto Amanecer) at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston this weekend.

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Movie Review

Reminders of Him taps into grief, grace, and the power of moving on

Photo by Michelle Faye / Universal Pictures

Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers in Reminders of HIm.

Texas author Colleen Hoover has gone from being a popular writer to a full-on celebrity in the 2020s. The new film Reminders of Him marks the third adaptation of her books in just 19 months (a fourth, Verity, is scheduled for release in October 2026). All of her books that have been adapted so far — most notably It Ends With Us — are female-led stories that feature elements of romance and trauma, catnip for studios looking to appeal to the underserved demographic of women.

Leading the way in this film is Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe), who returns to her hometown of Laramie, Wyoming after spending years in prison for killing her boyfriend, Scotty (Rudy Pankow), in a car accident. That relationship resulted in a daughter, Diem (Zoe Kosovic), whom Kenna gave birth to while imprisoned and is now being raised by her grandparents, Patrick (Bradley Whitford) and Grace (Lauren Graham).

Yearning to be a part of Diem’s life, Kenna tries to reconnect with Patrick and Grace, only to be rebuffed by Scotty’s best friend, Ledger (Tyriq Withers), a former NFL player who now owns a local bar. In running interference, Ledger starts to become closer to Kenna, discovering that her tragic mistake shouldn’t be the only thing that defines her.

Directed by Vanessa Caswill and written by Lauren Levine, the film features mostly surface level examinations of its themes and average performances, yet it winds up being effective thanks to a willingness not to rush through its storytelling beats. The filmmakers take the slow and steady approach toward the coupling of Kenna and Ledger, setting up their bond through a series of heart-to-heart conversations that makes any romance feel earned.

The majority of the focus is on Kenna reclaiming her place in the world, and on Ledger coming to terms with the fact that the person who killed his best friend is not inherently a bad person. The film definitely could have gone deeper in its explorations of grief and anger, but the sheer amount of time it takes in addressing the characters’ doubts and fears turns out to be sufficient for a film that’s not aiming to be considered a dramatic masterpiece.

It also helps that Caswill and Levine do a solid job of establishing the variety of characters that inhabit the film. Kenna and Ledger don’t always feel like fully-formed people, but they become so through their interactions with each other and the other townspeople. Lady Diana (Monika Myers), a girl with Down syndrome who lives in Kenna’s apartment complex, and Roman (Nicholas Duvernay), Ledger’s co-worker at his bar, help to broaden the appeal of the two leads.

Monroe has, to this point, been best known for starring roles in horror films like It Follows and Longlegs. While she does somewhat well in this role, her delivery is often more flat than you’d expect for a character going through what she does. Withers thankfully doesn’t remind viewers of his recent bomb Him, demonstrating a crossover appeal that should serve him well in the future. Whitford and Graham don’t get to do much, but their combined experience gives their roles exactly what is needed.

It may sound like damning with faint praise, but Reminders of Him is a competently made film that knows how to serve its core audience without insulting anyone who may not automatically be all-in for such a story. The filmmakers don’t try to force any of the key moments down the audience’s throat, and that stands out in a genre that’s not always known for its subtlety.

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Reminders of Him opens in theaters on March 13.

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