weekend event planner

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

Houston Ballet presents never-before-seen footage of Just by Stanton Welch.

Photo by Noor Eemaan

This weekend offers up some drive-in laughs, dog-friendly fun for National Fetch Day, and some totally stroll-worthy local markets. Meanwhile, the ballet spins to a virtual performance, while a local theater company pays homage to the legendary Stevie Wonder.

Here are your best bets for the weekend.

Thursday, October 15

Houston Ballet presents A Night at Jacob’s Pillow
This weekend is the last time you can check out this virtual ballet, which made its world premiere in August 2018 at the historic Ted Shawn Theater. This ballet will also feature never-before-seen footage of Just by Stanton Welch. Commissioned by Jacob's Pillow for the company's return to its famous summer festival after 40 years, Welch's edgy choreography showcases the dancer's raw emotion while exploring the heartbreak of lost love. 10 am.

A.D. Players presents Signed, Sealed, Delivered: John-Mark McGaha Sings Stevie Wonder
Now that the real Stevie Wonder has recently decided to part ways with longtime Motown, perhaps now would be a good time to have somebody take you back to those classic songs the Grammy-winning legend did for the label. Singer and multi-instrumentalist John-Mark McGaha (The Ray Charles Legacy, Smokey Joe's Cafe) will pay tribute to Wonder and his music with this show, which will run through Sunday, October 31. 7:30 pm (3 and 8 pm Saturday; 2:30 pm Sunday).

Friday, October 16

The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival
Like so many things that have been popping off during these pandemic times, the Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival is going virtual. A celebration that is designed to bring the joy of fine art and fine crafts into the homes of art lovers in the community and beyond, the festival will also have a VIP Art Dash Party on Friday. It will be transformed into an intimate, virtual experience with an online “happy hour” and raffle for art by featured artist and naturalist Christina Smith. 10 am.

Bert Kreischer at Moonstruck Drive-In
Bert Kreischer has been making some cool moves lately. Earlier this week, his new show The Cabin with Bert Kreischer debuted on Netflix, where he and fellow comic buddies rough it in the woods. But you can still see him in his element: onstage, with his shirt off, telling embarrassing but usually funny stories. The thing is, you’re gonna have to be in your car to take that in. He’s just one of several comics as of late who’ve been hitting the road and playing drive-ins across the country. 10:30 pm.

Saturday, October 17

Canines and Croissants at CityPlace
Saturday is National Fetch Day, and CityPlace has an event where you can spend some quality time with your beloved pet. This complimentary, pet-friendly event will feature professional dog portraits, pet adoptions from Special Pals, vet consultations from Banfield Pet Hospital, and live music from musician Lloyd Hughes. Vendors such as Furrever Doggies, MexiPaws Boutique, and Natural Pawz will be on site offering delicious treats and handmade accessories for dogs of every breed and size. 10 am.

Jack Rabbit Gallery presents "Nostalgia!" opening reception
Jack Rabbit Gallery, the Heights-located spot which prides itself on being “not your typical art gallery,” has an exhibition debuting this weekend that, judging from the title, may have some spectators affectionately reminiscing about certain points in time. This group show features new paintings and photo composite works by Elisabeth Ladwig, Matthew Paoletti, Tom Jean Webb, and more. It will be on view through Tuesday, December 1. 6 pm.

Sunday, October 18

Wanderlust Market HTX
Well, this looks like a fun, bohemian time had by all. Head over to East Downtown (that’s EaDo, for people in the know) every Sunday and take in four hours of outdoor shopping, live music, games, food trucks, a full bar, and oh-so-much more. No flights are needed to discover international foods, textiles, artisan products, games ,and performances representing countries from all over the world. 11am.

Art Hop at Sawyer Yards
Have you ever visited a bunch of art studios and said to yourself, “Do you know what would make this better? Beer!” Holler Brewing Co. will be making your dreams come true with this ale-saturated tour throughout Sawyer Yards. Each participant will pick up his or her map at Holler, grab some beer to-go and visit multiple stops to chat with artists and view artwork on display. There will also be prizes given out by the artists, as well as a prize from Holler if you visit five stops. 3 pm.

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Movie Review

Star TV producer James L. Brooks stumbles with meandering movie Ella McCay

Photo courtesy of 20th Century Studios

Emma Mackey in Ella McCay.

The impact that writer/director/producer James L. Brooks has made on Hollywood cannot be understated. The 85-year-old created The Mary Tyler Moore Show, personally won three Oscars for Terms of Endearment, and was one of the driving forces behind The Simpsons, among many other credits. Now, 15 years after his last movie, he’s back in the directing chair with Ella McCay.

The similarly-named Emma Mackey plays Ella, a 34-year-old lieutenant governor of an unnamed state in 2008 who’s on the verge of becoming governor when Governor Bill (Albert Brooks) gets picked to be a member of the president’s Cabinet. What should be a happy time is sullied by her needy husband, Ryan (Jack Lowden), her agoraphobic brother, Casey (Spike Fearn), and her perpetually-cheating father, Eddie (Woody Harrelson).

Despite the trio of men competing to bring her down, Ella remains an unapologetic optimist, an attitude bolstered by her aunt Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis), her assistant Estelle (Julie Kavner), and her police escort, Trooper Nash (Kumail Nanjiani). The film follows her over a few days as she navigates the perils of governing, the distractions her family brings, and the expectations being thrust upon her by many different people.

Brooks, who wrote and directed the film, is all over the place with his storytelling. What at first seems to be a straightforward story about Ella and her various issues soon starts meandering into areas that, while related to Ella, don’t make the film better. Prime among them are her brother and father, who are given a relatively small amount of screentime in comparison to the importance they have in her life. This is compounded by a confounding subplot in which Casey tries to win back his girlfriend, Susan (Ayo Edebiri).

Then there’s the whole political side of the story, which never finds its focus and is stuck in the past. Though it’s never stated explicitly, Ella and Governor Bill appear to be Democrats, especially given a signature program Ella pushes to help mothers in need. But if Brooks was trying to provide an antidote to the current real world politics, he doesn’t succeed, as Ella’s full goals are never clear. He also inexplicably shows her boring her fellow lawmakers to tears, a strange trait to give the person for whom the audience is supposed to be rooting.

What saves the movie from being an all-out train wreck is the performances of Mackey and Curtis. Mackey, best known for the Netflix show Sex Education, has an assured confidence to her that keeps the character interesting and likable even when the story goes downhill. Curtis, who has tended to go over-the-top with her roles in recent years, tones it down, offering a warm place of comfort for Ella to turn to when she needs it. The two complement each other very well and are the best parts of the movie by far.

Brooks puts much more effort into his female actors, including Kavner, who, even though she serves as an unnecessary narrator, gets most of the best laugh lines in the film. Harrelson is capable of playing a great cad, but his character here isn’t fleshed out enough. Fearn is super annoying in his role, and Lowden isn’t much better, although that could be mostly due to what his character is called to do. Were it not for the always-great Brooks and Nanjiani, the movie might be devoid of good male performances.

Brooks has made many great TV shows and movies in his 60+ year career, but Ella McCay is a far cry from his best. The only positive that comes out of it is the boosting of Mackey, who proves herself capable of not only leading a film, but also elevating one that would otherwise be a slog to get through.

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Ella McCay opens in theaters on December 12.

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Movie Review

Star TV producer James L. Brooks stumbles with meandering movie Ella McCay