weekend event planner

Here are the top 8 things to do in Houston this weekend

Dive into The Watters this weekend at the Fall Concert.

Photo courtesy of The Watters

This weekend promises to be quite political. The third Democratic debate will be held on Thursday night at Texas Southern University. (There will also be a Trump campaign event five miles away.) There will be watch parties held at various spots, as well as a midnight rally with guests Julian Castro and Cory Booker.

For those tired of the elephant and donkey show, fear not (although, there actually is a Donkeeshow on Saturday). These diverse offerings vie for your weekend vote.

Thursday, September 12

Kevin Farley at The Secret Group
Kevin Farley followed in the footsteps of his big brother, the late, Saturday Night Live cast member Chris Farley, by studying at Chicago's Second City and even appearing in some of his brother's films. Over the years, he's done plenty of guest work in everything from Curb Your Enthusiasm to Drunk History to Hawaii Five-O. But the man has been also known to get a little bit nuts (just like his brother) while doing stand-up, which he'll be doing at The Secret Group this weekend. 8 pm.

Abundantly Queer! at Pearl Bar Houston
It appears that there has been a very interesting, possibly fabulous LGBTQ+ talent show going on right under our noses. This monthly queer showcase, hosted by synth-pop duo Space Kiddettes and "part-time rock star" Stoo, has performers and artists of all mediums hitting the stage and doing their thing. DJ HYPERFEMME, Hank Honey, and She Rex are scheduled to perform. The theme for this month's show is "Sleepover!," so wear your best jammies. Cocktails will be available, as well as vegan food from Sinfull Kitchen. 9 pm.

Friday, September 13

JLF Houston at Asia Society Texas Center
Last year was the first time the two-day, Jaipur Literature Festival came to Texas and with its success, they're doing it again this year. Attendees will have the opportunity to listen in on conversations about diverse topics like mystics and mythology, women’s issues and concerns, America’s medical industry, politics, and more. There will be a ton of internationally recognized authors, plus local favorites like Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton, Lacy M. Johnson, Rekha Muddaraj, and Rich Levy. 10 am.

Fall Concert at Market Square Park
The Houston Downtown Management District will host this fun, down-home evening, where event-goers can enjoy lawn games and live music from regional musicians. Austin singer-songwriter Nakia, a fan favorite from NBC’s The Voice, will headline the show, performing with his band The Blues Grifters. Husband-and-wife duo The Watters will open with a set featuring their signature blend of Americana soul, backed by musicians from Texas groups Band of Heathens and Shinyribs. 7 pm.

Saturday, September 14

Donkeeshow Art Exhibit at The Union HTX
It's adorable that there is a mother-and-son team here in Houston making art and showing it off to people. What are their names, you ask? Why, it's Donkeeboy and Donkeemom. These two will be exhibiting a one-day immersive experience that displays their artwork at a Victorian bungalow in the heart of the Houston Arts District. This event celebrates the influences in the artists' creative world, giving a glimpse into their respective childhoods and the pop-culture icons deeply woven into the fabric of their work. 3-9 pm.

Margaret Smithers-Crump: Breaking Point Opening Reception at Rudolph Blume Art/ArtScan Gallery
With this exhibit, Houston-based Canadian artist Margaret Smithers-Crump investigates a holistic approach to the health of our planet and the human impact on the vulnerability and interconnectedness of diverse life forms and ecosystems. Smithers-Crump uses recycled plexiglas, paint, and found materials to create these artworks. Throughout the exhibition, the artworks display a tension between the freedom of natural processes and their subordination by physical or chemical means. This will run through Saturday, October 26. 6-8 pm.

Sunday, September 15

Mexican Independence Day at Picos
Mexican Independence Day is on Monday, a time to celebrate the "cry of independence" that started a revolt against the Spaniards. Picos will be celebrating this day early with a special feast. The restaurant will be throwing a Mariachi Brunch to kick off the holiday, so expect a banquet-style smörgåsbord consisting of omelette and waffle stations, strolling mariachi music, impressive paella displays, and the signature, holiday Chile de Nogada dish. 10:30 am to 3 pm.

Rear Window at Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra
Who doesn't like a good Alfred Hitchcock movie on a Sunday night? You can't go wrong with this voyeuristic 1954 classic, with Jimmy Stewart as a temporarily injured photographer (with a stylish Grace Kelly as his boo) who spends his days looking through binoculars and peeking in on his neighbors, until he begins to suspect one of them has committed a murder. Admission is free for members of Alamo's Victory program, but you can reserve your seat in advance with a $5 food and beverage voucher. 5:30 pm and 8:45 pm.

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Movie Review

Michelle Pfeiffer visits Houston in new Christmas movie Oh. What. Fun.

Photo courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios

Michelle Pfeiffer in Oh. What. Fun.

Of all the formulaic movie genres, Christmas/holiday movies are among the most predictable. No matter what the problem is that arises between family members, friends, or potential romantic partners, the stories in holiday movies are designed to give viewers a feel-good ending even if the majority of the movie makes you feel pretty bad.

That’s certainly the case in Oh. What. Fun., in which Michelle Pfeiffer plays Claire, an underappreciated mom living in Houston with her inattentive husband, Nick (Denis Leary). As the film begins, her three children are arriving back home for Christmas: The high-strung Channing (Felicity Jones) is married to the milquetoast Doug (Jason Schwartzman); the aloof Taylor (Chloë Grace Moretz) brings home yet another new girlfriend; and the perpetual child Sammy (Dominic Sessa) has just broken up with his girlfriend.

Each of the family members seems to be oblivious to everything Claire does for them, especially when it comes to what she really wants: For them to nominate her to win a trip to see a talk show in L.A. hosted by Zazzy Tims (Eva Longoria). When she accidentally gets left behind on a planned outing to see a show, Claire reaches her breaking point and — in a kind of Home Alone in reverse — she decides to drive across the country to get to the show herself.

Written and directed by Michael Showalter (The Idea of You), and co-written by Chandler Baker (who wrote the short story on which the film is based), the movie never establishes any kind of enjoyable rhythm. Each of the characters, including competitive neighbor Jeanne (Joan Chen), is assigned a character trait that becomes their entire personality, with none of them allowed to evolve into something deeper.

The filmmakers lean hard into the idea that Claire is a person who always puts her family first and receives very little in return, but the evidence presented in the story is sketchy at best. Every situation shown in the film is so superficial that tension barely exists, and the (over)reactions by Claire give her family members few opportunities to make up for their failings.

The most interesting part of the movie comes when Claire actually makes it to the Zazzy Sims show. Even though what happens there is just as unbelievable as anything else presented in the story, Showalter and Baker concoct a scene that allows Claire and others to fully express the central theme of the film, and for a few minutes the movie actually lives up to its title.

Pfeiffer, given her first leading role since 2020’s French Exit, is a somewhat manic presence, and her thick Texas accent and unnecessary voiceover don’t do her any favors. It seems weird to have such a strong supporting cast with almost nothing of substance to do, but almost all of them are wasted, including Danielle Brooks in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo. The lone exception is Longoria, who is a blast in the few scenes she gets.

Oh. What. Fun. is far from the first movie to try and fail at becoming a new holiday classic, but the pedigree of Showalter and the cast make this dismal viewing experience extra disappointing. Ironically, overworked and underappreciated moms deserve a much better story than the one this movie delivers.

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Oh. What. Fun. is now streaming on Prime Video.

movies film