Weekend events planner

Here are the top 11 things to do in Houston this weekend

The weekend is roaring with things to do, from a comic and pop culture con to live music and comedy performances. There are also festivals, arts, a taco and brews brunch, and more. Keep reading for our guide to the 11 best things to do in Houston.

For more options, check out the full CultureMap Events Calendar. And for where to brunch with mom on Sunday, check out this story.

Take it easy
Thursday, May 11
The Eagles tribute band, Already Gone, performs at Market Street in The Woodlands as part of an eight-week spring concert series, which runs through June 8. Enjoy the performance from the patio at any of Market Street’s restaurants, including Jasper’s, Cru Wine Bar, Tommy Bahama Tropical Cafe, Uni Sushi, and 1252 Tapas Bar. (6 pm; tickets: free)
9595 Six Pines Dr., The Woodlands; 281-419-4774

Comics, sci-fi, and more
Friday, May 12-Sunday, May 14
Comicpalooza, comic and pop culture con, hits the George R. Brown Convention Center with a lineup of celeb guests like Chuck Norris (of films like Delta Force, The Expendables, and TV’s Walker, Texas Ranger), Anthony Mackie (The Falcon in the Captain America franchise), Robert Englund (Freddy Krueger in the A Nightmare on Elm Street films), Lance Henriksen (Bishop in Aliens), and the cast of Marvel's Iron Fist. The weekend-long event features a film festival, live art auction, kid’s area, gaming competitions, comic retailers, and more. (Various times; tickets: $30-$40 per person for a single day pass, $70-$275 per person for a three-day pass)
1001 Avenida de las Americas; 713-853-8000

Rockin’ good time
Friday, May 12-Saturday, May 13
Pop artist Jason Derulo, 2016’s The Voice winner Sundance Head, hip-hop superstar Flo Rida, and the “I Love the 90’s” tour featuring Salt-N-Pepa, Vanilla Ice, All 4 One, Color Me Badd, Tone Lōc and Young MC, are all scheduled to play at the Rock the Ranch Music Festival at the Valley Ranch Town Center Amphitheater in New Caney. All American Rejects, LeCrae, and New Respects are also on the bill. While you're there, feast on tasty ‘cue as 35 amateur teams compete on a cook-off. (Various times; tickets: $79-$159 per person)
11985 N Grand Pkwy. E., New Caney; 855-542-3378

Stand-up comedy
Friday, May 12-Saturday, May 13
Saturday Night Live alum Chris Rock brings his Total Blackout tour to Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land for two nights. This marks the comedian’s first tour in over nine years. Rock has won four Emmy Awards and three Grammy Awards, and is a New York Times best-selling author. (Friday at 8 pm. Saturday is sold out; tickets: $69.50-$125 per person)
18111 Lexington Blvd., Sugar Land; 281-207-6278

Six for one
Friday, May 12-Saturday, May 13
Award-winning writer and performer Chase Padgett premieres his original work “6 Guitars” for Houston audiences at the Alley Theatre. Padgett delivers an 85-minute virtuosic performance as he becomes six different guitar players, each with a distinct voice, view and musical style. (8 pm; tickets: $27-$37 per person)
615 Texas St.; 713-220-5700

Make yourself at home
Saturday, May 13-Sunday, May 14
Get an inside look at Galveston’s architectural history as the doors of several privately-owned abodes open to visitors during the 43rd annual Galveston Historic Homes Tour. (10 am; tickets: $35 per person)
811 Broadway St.; 409-765-3405

Puppy love
Saturday, May 13
The Puppies for Breakfast event at downtown's Market Square Park showcases all things dog-centric, with more than 40 dog industry vendors and artists on-hand, plus a play area for our four four-legged friends, and lots more. (10 am; tickets: $5 suggested donation)
301 Milam St.; 713-650-3022

Shop it up
Saturday, May 13
Shop for folk art and artisan crafts, including packaged specialty foods at The Market at The Silos on Sawyer. (11 am; tickets: free)
1502 Sawyer St.; 832-273-4798

Tacos and beer
Saturday, May 13
Fusion Taco teams up with Saint Arnold Brewing Company to host a special brunch at the Fusion Taco locale in the Heights, featuring tasty tacos paired with ice-cold Saint Arnold's craft brews. (12-2:30 pm; tickets: $35 per person)
4706 N. Main St.; 713-686-9494

Watt's up?
Saturday, May 13
Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt goes to bat for charity at the 5th annual J.J. Watt Charity Classic. Joining him on the field at the competitive softball tournament are 31 of Watt's fellow Texans teammates. Keep an eye out for The Terminator, aka Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is expected to be in the stands. Proceeds from the event benefit the JJ Watt Foundation. (Game time is 7 pm, with a home run derby at 6 pm; tickets: $5-$200 per person).
501 Crawford St.

Park it
Sunday, May 14
Grab your chairs and blankets, and picnic at Midtown's Baldwin Park. The family-friendly afternoon will also include food trucks, lawn games, and music by Ruben Moreno and Zydeco Re-Evolution. (2-4 pm; tickets: free).
1701 Elgin; 832-394-8805

Chris Rock brings his Total Blackout tour to Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land for two nights.

Chris Rock/Facebook

Chris Rock brings his Total Blackout tour to Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land for two nights.

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Movie Review

Fun visuals can't save The Magic Faraway Tree's meager plot

Photo courtesy of Vertical Entertainment

Andrew Garfield, Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Claire Foy, Phoenix Laroche, and Billie Gadson in The Magic Faraway Tree.

With kids and families always on the hunt for entertainment, it’s typically a safe bet for a movie studio to offer up something new, even if it is a film based on an old property. The Magic Faraway Tree, based on a series of books that started in the 1930s, is a very old property, one that its filmmakers have tried to liven up with a few stars, a lot of whimsy, and a boatload of CGI.

The Thompson family, led by stay-at-home dad Tim (Andrew Garfield) and breadwinner mom Polly (Claire Foy), are forced to move to a rundown country home when Polly gets laid off. The kids — Joe (Phoenix Laroche), Fran (Billie Gadson), and Beth (Delilah Bennett-Cardy) — are used to the perks of city life like wifi and electricity, and each of them rebels in their own way to their new lot in life.

Fran, enticed by a fairy named Silky (Nicola Coughlan), is the first to venture out of the house, making her way to a magic tree that transports her to a world full of strange characters like Moonface (Nonso Anozie), Saucepan Man (Dustin Demri-Burns), Dame Washalot (Jessica Gunning), and more. Her adventures there not only broaden the world she thought she knew, but may be the key to helping her ailing family.

Directed by Ben Gregor and written by Simon Farnaby (Paddington 2, Wonka), the film is a pleasant enough lark, but it fails to fully capture the imagination. The five-member family has a lot going on, from an initially-mute Fran to a domestic situation that raises more questions than it answers. The film tries to incorporate an anti-technology message through Tim’s hatred of a smart refrigerator (voiced by Judi Dench!) and the kids' addictions to devices, but it’s quickly shed in favor of other options.

Once Fran makes it to the Magic Faraway Tree, there’s a nice shift in the storytelling, but it’s unclear what the ultimate goal is. It’s a good idea to have Fran, the youngest of the children, convince her older, more cynical siblings about the virtues of the magic world, but the conflict in the real world doesn’t seem to rise to the level needed for the escape the tree provides.

There also seems to be a missing link in the storytelling for viewers to understand the importance of the fantastical characters. The visuals of seeing Moonface and his crescent moon-shaped hair, a man with a suit full of banging pots, and more are fun for a while, but not enough to carry the whole film. A last-minute revelation feels like it was something that should have been disclosed much earlier to help strengthen the emotions of the story.

A two-time Oscar nominee, Garfield is making his first foray into family movies (if you don’t count playing Spider-Man), and while he does a good job, he doesn’t make the best fit for the semi-goofy role. The same goes for the Emmy-winning Foy, who isn’t given much of anything to do. The movie puts the story on the shoulders of the three child actors, and while each of them acquit themselves well, none of them are so outstanding as to be noteworthy.

With nearly 90-year-old source material, The Magic Faraway Tree needed to be something truly special to stand out in the 21st century movie world. Unfortunately, it features a mostly forgettable story that features some fun visuals, a couple of cute kids, and not much else.

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The Magic Faraway Tree is now playing in theaters.

movies film