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These are the 5 best concerts in Houston this week

Before our shows of the week, let's give some love to homegrown electro-pop act, Space Kiddettes.

Founded by duo Trent Lira and Devin Will after spending late nights together at the University of Houston radio station, the queer-friendly Space Kiddettes are a mainstay in the local music scene. They just took a big step forward in their sonic evolution with the just released Deadspace. Recalling British Hi-NRG and new wave acts like Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Bronski Beat, the production work is solid and exciting. The highlight comes via "Shine a Light," featuring The Suffers' frontwoman Kam Franklin, a dancefloor banger straight from 1985 London. Highly recommended.

You can catch them at their Abundantly Queer Christmas show at Pearl Bar on December 15.

Other recommended shows are on tap this week. CultureMap's best, biggest, and most notable shows are as follows:

Fantasia at Smart Financial Centre
Let's face it: American Idol doesn't have a great track record of producing stars. Sure, there's the pop chart dominance of Kelly Clarkson (Season 1 winner), the inescapable country hits of Carrie Underwood (Season 4 winner), and Adam Lambert (Season 8 runner up) secured a pretty sweet day job as the frontman of Queen. But otherwise, there have been way more misses than hits.

Just below those successes stands Fantasia, the winner of Idol Season 3, who has gone on to sell three million albums, not too shabby considering people don't really buy albums anymore. She's also picked up a Grammy award for her R&B work and continues to record and tour on the strength of her talents the reality TV show showcased. The North Carolina native is on the road behind her latest album, this year's Sketchbook, and will be joined by The Masked Singer judge Robin Thicke, who has bounced back after a nasty divorce, drug addiction, and the controversy around "Blurred Lines."

Fantasia performs at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land, located at 18111 Lexington Blvd. in Sugar Land on Wednesday, November 27. She is joined by Robin Thicke, Tank and the Bonfyre. Tickets start at $40 plus fees. The show starts at 8 pm.

Pat Green at Sam Houston Race Park
San Antonio-raised Texas country troubadour Pat Green takes a break from building a music venue-restaurant empire to make a post-Thanksgiving appearance at Sam Houston Race Park. A prolific songwriter with a catalog over 20 years old, Green has been a staple on the regional country circuit and favorite among those who like a little grit on their cowboy boots. He hasn't released an album since 2015's Home, but you have to forgive him since he's been busy bringing his concept, The Rustic, to multiple Texas cities. Not coincidentally, The Rustic has quickly become home for up-and-coming Texas country acts.

Pat Green is at Sam Houston Race Park, located at 7575 North Sam Houston Pkwy W., on Friday, November 29. Kyle Park opens. Tickets start at $19 plus fees. Event starts at 6 p.m.

CultureMap recommends: Sailor Poon at Satellite Bar
We have the perfect remedy for those who sat through a boring, straight-laced Thanksgiving dinner in the suburbs. Raunchy, feminist, garage punk act Sailor Poon is coming to kick butt and take names. The last time the Austin band — fronted by the charismatic singer/saxophonist/percussionist Billie Buck — played Houston, they thrilled the audience at the Legendary Art Car Ball with bluesy, infectious barnstormers. The group kicks off their Hot Dog Highway tour in the Bayou City and it's not to be missed.

Sailor Poon is at Satellite Bar, located at 6922 Harrisburg Blvd., on Friday, November 29. Daisy Chain opens. Tickets available at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Musiq Soulchild at Arena Theatre
Inspired by D’Angelo and Lauryn Hill, Philadelphia-raised Musiq Soulchild has been a mainstay on R&B charts with a vast catalog that recalls the best the east coast city has to offer. Born Taalib Johnson, Musiq has produced platinum works and earned 11 Grammy Awards. He’ll bring his romantically smooth style to H-town behind his latest, the 2017 release Feel the Real.

Musiq Soulchild plays Arena Theatre, located at 7326 Southwest Fwy, on Saturday, November 30. Marsha Ambrosius opens. Tickets start at $39.50 plus fees. Show starts at 8:30 p.m.

CultureMap show of the week: Bad Bunny
Massive Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny takes over the home of the Rockets, which is an apt symbol for the Latin artist's rise to fame. A true Millennial success tale, Bunny hopped up the U.S. charts without even releasing an album, guest starring on the Cardi B No. 1 single, "I Like It" in addition to Latin hit single "Soy Peor," which racked up 650 million video views, as well as the J. Balvin and Prince Royce collab, "Sensualidad." His latest album, Oasis, topped the Latin charts and is nominated for a Grammy in the Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album category. Expect this show to get close to a sell-out.

Bad Bunny is at Toyota Center, located at 1510 Polk St., on Sunday, December 1. Tyla Yaweh and Swae Lee open. Tickets start at $51 plus service fees. Doors open at 7 pm.

Fantasia is at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land on Wednesday, November 27.

Fantasia/Facebook

Fantasia is at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land on Wednesday, November 27.

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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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