Netflix’s latest comedy, No Good Deed, has didn’t impress critics regardless of its star-studded ensemble that includes Lisa Kudrow, Ray Romano, and Linda Cardellini.

The eight-episode sequence, which was launched on Thursday (December 12), follows a pair — performed by Kudrow and Romano — who record their ritzy Los Angeles Twenties Spanish-style villa in the marketplace in hopes of beginning a brand new life. The itemizing instantly attracts a number of households within the property, satisfied that the idyllic residence will resolve all their issues. Nevertheless, the couple are compelled to maintain hidden the damaging secrets and techniques that linger within the residence if they’ve any hopes of promoting it.

No Good Deed additionally options Broad Metropolis’s Abbi Jacobson, Hacks breakout Poppy Liu, comic Matt Rogers, Legally Blonde star Luke Wilson, and Rescue Me’s Denis Leary. However even with a powerful solid, the brand new sequence from Useless to Me creator Liz Feldman has confronted a lukewarm reception in early critiques, with TVLine describing it as “flimsy” and “shaky.”

Kudrow has been singled out for her efficiency as Lydia Morgan, with The Guardian’s Rebecca Nicholson writing that the Pals alum “carries this twisty, binge-worthy thriller.”

Carol Midgley of The Occasions agreed, going as far as to say that Kudrow “saves this comedy.”

“Kudrow reveals her expertise for doing each the sunshine and the very darkish, and that she is greater than able to holding the display screen alone,” she wrote of the actor.

Selection’s Alison Herman discovered the present’s “overreliance on twists” to “be counterproductive.”

Nevertheless, “within the parlance of its central business, as soon as the eight-episode season settles into its story, one can recognize the great bones beneath all of the pointless fixtures,” she added.

In the meantime, Saloni Gajjar was stronger together with her criticism of the present, writing for the AV Membership that “No Good Deed is not well worth the funding.”

Whereas the sequence is at first look “promising,” she argues that it “slowly falls aside as a result of it’s — gasp — fairly boring, with half-baked scripts, a scarcity of suspense, disjointed arcs that align too late, and surface-level character growth.”

As for the comedy’s ending, the Los Angeles Occasions’s Robert Lloyd mentioned that it felt just like the present “runs out of breath.”

“After the primary mysteries attain their climax, the sequence jumps ahead six months to an ending so tidy and beneficiant and mawkish that it verges on parody,” he mentioned.

No Good Deed is offered to stream on Netflix.

The upper a staff finishes within the high eight, the higher their seeding is for the last-16, and Lazio and Athletic Membership – whose San Mames floor will host Could’s closing – presently prepared the ground, with 5 wins and a draw.

Third-placed Anderlecht and Galatasaray, in sixth, have additionally but to lose a recreation, whereas Lyon, 2022 winners Eintracht Frankfurt and Rangers spherical out the present automated berths.

Tottenham, who drew 1-1 at Ibrox on Thursday, lead the chasers from the play-off positions, with the likes of Ajax, Actual Sociedad, Roma and Convention League holders Olympiacos all hoping to push on after Christmas.

Within the inaugural season of the brand new format, there seems to be an actual absence of ‘useless rubbers’, with Dynamo Kyiv the one staff to have been eradicated.
The Ukrainians have misplaced all six video games within the competitors up to now.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell left the sidelines throughout his group’s season-crushing loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night time, in an obvious refusal to play that earned scorn from teammates and jeopardized his spot on the group.

The veteran had been bumped from the beginning lineup with the return of the beforehand injured Dre Greenlaw, however when Greenlaw wanted to come back out of the sport within the third quarter Campbell declined to play, in keeping with 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan.

“He mentioned he didn’t wish to play at present,” Shanahan instructed reporters after the sport.

Shanahan mentioned Friday on a convention name with reporters that Campbell will not be a member of the group.

“We’re working via the semantics of precisely how you can cope with it,” Shanahan mentioned, in keeping with NBC Sports activities Bay Space. “However you guys heard from me final night time. You guys heard from our gamers. His actions from the sport shouldn’t be one thing you are able to do to your group or your teammates and nonetheless be part of our group.”

On Thursday, tight finish George Kittle and cornerback Charvarius Ward, two of the group’s most revered gamers, vented their frustration with Campbell’s inaction.

“It is exhausting to win soccer video games when somebody would not wish to play soccer,” Kittle mentioned. “I feel that’s ignorant. And I feel it’s simply dumb. It’s simply silly, and it’s very immature. I simply don’t see how you might do one thing like that to your group.”

Ward mentioned Campbell ought to have by no means placed on a uniform if he did not wish to play Thursday.

“That is some sucka s—, it undoubtedly damage the group,” mentioned Ward, taking part in in his third sport for the reason that demise of his 1-year-old daughter. “He is most likely going to get reduce quickly.”

The Los Angeles Rams defeated San Francisco, 12-6, nearly eliminating the defending NFC-champion 49ers from playoff competition.

The 6-8 Niners have three video games left and path first-place Seattle (8-5) by 2 1/2 video games. The loss to the Rams put San Francisco’s playoff hopes at lower than 1%.

A consultant of the Nationwide Soccer League Gamers Affiliation declined to remark Friday.

The 49ers signed Campbell to a one-year deal in March as a placeholder for Greenlaw, who tore his left Achilles tendon throughout the Tremendous Bowl.

Your loved ones’s subsequent festive Christmas film is right here! Purple One, a vacation comedy starring Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans, is now obtainable for streaming. Learn on to learn to watch Purple One at residence to your subsequent film night time.

Directed by Jake Kasdan, the Amazon MGM Studios movie options Johnson as the top of North Pole safety and Evans as a infamous hacker and bounty hunter. The official synopsis reads: “After Santa Claus is kidnapped, the North Pole’s Head of Safety should workforce up with a infamous hacker in a globe-trotting, action-packed mission to save lots of Christmas.” The solid additionally consists of Lucy Liu, Kiernan Shipka, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Nick Kroll and Wesley Kimmel.

Forbes‘The Greatest Christmas Pageant Ever’ Is Now Streaming—How To Watch The Vacation Hit At HouseBy Monica Mercuri

Purple One had an enormous price range of $250 million and was initially meant to be a streaming-only launch. Nonetheless, Selection reported that Amazon determined to launch it in theaters first to generate buzz across the movie and entice extra viewers when it will definitely arrived on Prime Video, which might hopefully assist retain subscribers.

Nonetheless, after debuting in theaters on Nov. 6, 2024, the movie has underperformed on the field workplace, incomes $164 million globally, together with $86 million domestically, in response to Field Workplace Mojo.. Reception-wise, Purple One acquired a 33% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes, however audiences had been way more favorable, giving it a 90% ranking.

Determine for your self what you consider Purple One by streaming the vacation movie from the consolation of your property. Right here’s how one can watch it—even totally free.

How To Watch Purple One At House

As of Dec. 12, Purple One is on the market for streaming on Prime Video. You may entry Prime Video by signing up for a full Amazon Prime membership or choosing simply the Prime Video subscription. See pricing particulars from the location and pupil reductions, under.

Amazon Prime membership:

• $14.99 per 30 days
• $139 per 12 months
• Prime Video membership — $8.99 per 30 days

Amazon Prime Scholar membership:

• $7.49 per 30 days
• $69 per 12 months

How To Watch Purple One At House For Free

New subscribers, in addition to anybody who hasn’t subscribed to Prime Video previously 12 months, are eligible for a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime. To join the trial and watch Purple One totally free, observe the steps under.

1. Go to Amazon Prime.
2. In case you are supplied a free trial, you’ll have an possibility to pick “Begin your free 30-day trial”
3. Observe the on-screen directions if prompted.
4. In case you are not supplied a free trial, you may nonetheless join Prime on Amazon Prime.

Is Purple One Nonetheless Enjoying In Film Theaters?

Sure, the movie Purple One will proceed to play in theaters after its launch on Prime Video on Dec. 12. Please test your native cinemas for particular showtimes.

Watch the official trailer for Purple One under.

It’s probably the most fantastic time of the yr – a time for carolling and concert events, bushes and tinsel, mulled wine, open fires and, after all, The Rock (aka Dwayne Johnson). Or at the least, that’s, in line with Hollywood. The motion star’s newest movie, Pink One, has been enjoying in cinemas internationally since mid-November. However critically, it’s been considered a little bit of a stinker.

For individuals who missed it, the movie was conceived as the primary instalment of a Christmas-themed motion franchise. It casts Dwayne Johnson as Callum Drift, commander of the North Pole’s Enforcement Logistics and Fortification (ELF) – Santa’s safety workforce.

When Santa is kidnapped on Christmas eve, Drift should workforce up with a band of Santa troopers and mercenaries performed by motion stalwarts like Chris Evans and Lucy Liu, all of whom should punch their manner by way of Lapland to defeat the evil forces trying to destroy Christmas.

On the lookout for one thing good? Lower by way of the noise with a fastidiously curated number of the most recent releases, dwell occasions and exhibitions, straight to your inbox each fortnight, on Fridays. Enroll right here.

Within the phrases of its personal advertising workforce, Pink One sells itself to audiences as a “globe-trotting motion packed mission to avoid wasting Christmas”. However precisely whose Christmas it thinks its saving stays unclear.

The movie presently has rating of 31% on Rotten Tomatoes, and opened to poor field workplace numbers worldwide. Some analysts have predicted that the movie will make a loss within the area of US$100 million (£78 million).

Regardless of the all-too-easy temptation to mock Pink One as a clearly ill-conceived challenge, this isn’t merely a one-off catastrophe. Quite the opposite, Pink One is simply the most recent in an extended line of notorious makes an attempt made by Hollywood studios to make a spectacular Christmas motion movie.

Within the Nineteen Eighties, we had Santa Claus: The Film (1985), delivered to us by the producers of Superman: The Film (1978). If Superman famously made some viewers imagine a person may fly, Santa Claus: The Film tried to make use of the identical pioneering particular results to make us imagine that reindeers may fly, turning Santa’s sleigh journey into the stuff of blockbuster cinema. It was a flop.

Within the Nineties, there was Jingle All of the Means, an ill-conceived Arnold Schwarzenegger automobile which, regardless of being the topic of many festive memes was however a crucial catastrophe. In 2010, Arthur Christmas, a co-production between Aardman Studios and Sony Photos, tried to modernise Santa’s infrastructure to improve his sleigh to a rocket ship. But once more, the movie was a field workplace disappointment, regardless of incomes optimistic opinions from critics.

In fact there are exceptions to the rule of Christmas motion movies creating field workplace bombs. Allow us to not overlook that, for a lot of followers, Die Exhausting is a Christmas film. However the historical past of Hollywood making an attempt to carry collectively the aesthetics of the action-adventure style with that of Christmas has virtually all the time led to failure.

Learn extra:
Die Exhausting is a Christmas (terrorism) film

So why does Hollywood stick with this technique? Largely, as a result of it has boxed itself right into a nook. In its heyday, Hollywood produced Christmas classics like Miracle on thirty fourth Road (1947), Meet Me in St Louis (1944) and White Christmas (1954).

These movies are cosy, heat and comforting. They established the template not just for the ritual of watching movies at Christmas time, but additionally what that Christmas viewing expertise needs to be. However they had been all made earlier than the popularisation of tv. And, as dwelling viewing has intensified over the previous 75 years, Hollywood has been pressured to place itself as a distinctly un-cosy equal to the armchair and roaring hearth.

Watching movies at house is stress-free. After we image our cinematic Christmas routines, I believe many people are imagining being surrounded by family members, in comfortable pyjamas, having fun with a comfy evening in collectively watching Residence Alone, The Muppet Christmas Carol or Love Really with some mulled wine and a tin of High quality Road.

Learn extra:
The Muppet Christmas Carol turns 30: how the movie grew to become a cult basic

Going to the cinema, nevertheless, is meant to be spectacular. It’s loud, booming, thrilling and visceral. All of that feels a bit intimidating and pointless while you’re sitting in your jim-jams with a pleasant turkey mayo sandwich and cup of tea.

If we don’t need our Christmas films to seem like Pink One, we should always maybe ask ourselves what we do need from our seasonal viewing experiences. Statistics present that Christmas remains to be the time of the yr that individuals are almost definitely to go the cinema. However the core viewers wanted to maintain cinemas afloat is a youthful demographic, that prefers the large superhero, motion and science-fiction franchises.

The remainder of us, nevertheless, are left craving for a Christmas viewing expertise that now appears to have been taken over by the likes of the Hallmark channel and Netflix, which even has a devoted Christmas part. That is nice information for Lindsay Lohan, who appears to be experiencing one thing of a profession renaissance by executive-producing and starring in some questionable Christmas “classics” like Falling for Christmas (2022) and, most lately, Our Little Secret.

These movies is likely to be cheesier than a festive baked Camembert, however there’s a cause they’re common. They remind us of the ghosts of Christmas films previous that massive movie studios appear unable or unwilling to make as we speak.

The film trade must suppose onerous in regards to the sorts of movies it hopes to contribute to the Christmas movie custom in future. However we too want to simply accept that we is likely to be asking Hollywood for one thing that even Santa would battle to ship.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is not going to play Friday in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves, based on the workforce, and didn’t accompany the workforce on its flight to Minneapolis, ESPN reported. After James was absent from the workforce’s observe on Wednesday, coach JJ Redick instructed reporters that James was out for “private causes” and that it was an “excused absence.”

James, who will flip 40 on the finish of the month, sat out of the Lakers’ most up-to-date contest — a win over the Portland Path Blazers that snapped a three-game dropping streak — as a consequence of a sore left foot. That was the primary recreation that he had missed all season. 

Again in October, James expressed a need to play in all 82 video games. He can not accomplish that feat, which Redick not too long ago acknowledged wasn’t such an excellent thought to start with. “I do not know that is in the perfect curiosity of him and us,” Redick mentioned earlier this month. He supplied some additional ideas on James’ workload when chatting with the media on Wednesday. 

“In recreation, he is requested for a sub a pair instances as a result of he is gassed,” Redick mentioned. “For us, we’ve to be cognizant as we play an increasing number of video games, simply the cumulative impact of enjoying lots of minutes and Sunday, being banged up with the foot factor, it felt like a great alternative for him to get some relaxation.”

As a result of the Lakers didn’t advance to the knockout stage of the NBA Cup, they’d a break within the schedule that included 4 nights off between Sunday’s recreation in opposition to the Path Blazers and Friday’s assembly with the Timberwolves. For James, who did not play in opposition to the Blazers, that might characterize a full week between video games (and counting).

The Lakers are again dwelling on Sunday in opposition to the Grizzles. 

No matter when James returns to the courtroom, it is clear the Lakers are considering of the lengthy haul. Solely 4 gamers — John Stockton, Robert Parish, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Vince Carter — have ever performed greater than 75 video games at age 40 or older, and none of them had the duty that James does. 

How do they get him via the season whereas sustaining his effectiveness? 

James is enjoying 35 minutes per recreation this season, which is true consistent with the place he is been on the final two seasons, and placing up 23 factors, eight rebounds and 9.1 assists. Whereas his counting stats are spectacular and he is nonetheless able to dialing it up on sure nights, he has not been his standard self on a game-to-game foundation. 

His 4.6 free throw makes an attempt per recreation are a career-low and the primary time he is been under 5 in that class, his 17.2% turnover charge can also be a career-worst, and the share of area objectives that he is taking on the rim (28.6%) is his second-lowest ever. Beginning in late November, he missed 20 consecutive 3-pointers over a five-game stretch, and through a blowout loss to the Timberwolves earlier this month he had simply 10 factors on 4 of 16 from the sphere. That was the primary time since his preliminary stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers that he had 10 or fewer factors on 25% or worse taking pictures from the sphere. 

Maybe most notably, for the primary time since he joined the Lakers in 2018, they have been higher with him off the ground (minus-8.4 web ranking with James on, plus-4.1 web ranking when he sits). 

James stays one of many smartest and most proficient gamers within the league, but it surely appears clear at this level that some type of load administration plan can be in the perfect curiosity of each himself and the workforce. Whether or not which means taking extra video games off or enjoying fewer minutes is up for dialogue. 

The largest impediment could also be getting James to conform to such a technique. 

“I do know you bought me on f—ing outdated man time percentages and shit,” James was seen telling Lakers assistant coaches early final season once they tried to institute a minutes restriction. “Play eight minutes and shit. Two photographs in eight minutes, simply getting cardio. I hate this shit already, this shit’s rubbish.”

It is onerous to think about his mindset has modified. It might must, although, if he desires to have sufficient left within the tank to assist the Lakers attempt to make some noise within the playoffs this spring. 

The comic Duncan Norvelle, whose catchphrase “chase me” made him a staple of British Saturday evening TV within the Eighties, has died aged 66. He had suffered from a chest an infection and sepsis.

His companion Lynn Trevallion stated: “His sort of comedy doesn’t occur anymore, he’s most likely final of the legends of true selection comedy, so many have handed now.

“He was a mild comic, by no means swore on stage. Sir Ken Dodd cherished Duncan, as a result of he stated he was like him, ‘, clear act’, and he invited Duncan on his eightieth birthday to be the leisure for him.”

A clip on YouTube of Norvelle showing on the impenetrable 80s quiz present 3-2-1 provides a flavour of his act. He sidles onstage sporting a mullet and blue tuxedo jacket, then flirtatiously gives the carnation in his buttonhole to a bearded man within the entrance row of the viewers, inviting him to “chase me”.

Although his act performed on the homosexual stereotypes of the time, Norvelle was heterosexual. He was a part of a era of comics, together with Cannon and Ball and Jim Davidson, who turned TV stars after reducing their enamel in working males’s golf equipment and selection exhibits.

They have been finally changed within the mainstream by a extra left-leaning, anarchic and political conscious crop of comics initially generally known as “various comedians” together with Ben Elton and French and Saunders.

Born in Horton, in Leicestershire, Norvelle rose to standup performances in venues together with the London Palladium and appeared on exhibits TV resembling Wogan, The Bob Monkhouse Present and The Keith Harris Present.

In 1985, he hosted the pilot episode for a relationship present known as It’s a Hoot!, which later turned Blind Date offered by Cilla Black.

“Within the pilot, Duncan hadn’t been capable of get the logistics, however Cilla was nice in any respect the army-like manoeuvres – flip left right here, look into that digicam, introduce this now,” Alan Boyd, head of leisure at London Weekend Tv, instructed the Guardian.

Norvelle had suffered a stroke in 2012 which left him partially paralysed, although he continued to carry out. “He acquired again on stage after his stroke and simply proved to everybody that he may nonetheless get a standing ovation each single time he did a present,” Trevallion stated.

“And he did hundreds and a great deal of exhibits after his stroke as a result of they stated he fairly presumably would by no means stroll or speak correctly, and he may speak completely.”

Davidson despatched his “heartfelt condolences” to Norvelle’s household, including: “Relaxation in peace Duncan. You have been, and at all times shall be, a correct comic.”

Comic Jimmy Cricket, one other star of the period, stated: “Duncan was a charismatic performer who thrilled audiences up and down the nation together with his model of humour and hilarious impressions, he was additionally a person of indomitable spirit! RIP previous good friend.”

Gary Bushell, the previous TV critic of the Solar, wrote: “So sorry to listen to we’ve got misplaced loveable comedian Duncan Norvelle. Angels are chasing him now.”

He rose to fame on the ITV selection present Saturday Royal within the early 80s, and was seen extra not too long ago on a Come Dine with Me particular and Pointless Celebrities.

The comic’s administration group added: “We managed Duncan and re-released his album Music From My Life, however greater than something he turned an excellent buddy and shall be really missed within the leisure world.”

Trevallion described him as a “light comic, [who] by no means swore on stage, he was a clear act”, including that comic Sir Ken Dodd “cherished Duncan”.

“His kind of comedy does not occur anymore, he is in all probability the final of the legends of true selection comedy, so many have handed now,” she mentioned of Norvelle’s performances.

Talking about his return to the stage following a stroke in 2012, Trevallion mentioned he “proved to everybody that he may nonetheless get a standing ovation each single time he did a present”.

A submit on Duncan’s Fb web page, signed by her on Thursday, mentioned: “Duncan handed peacefully with myself and daughter Yasmin. Relaxation in peace our comedy legend, so deeply cherished and shall be so very missed.”

It added that funeral preparations can be introduced in the end.

Tributes have begun to come back in from fellow comics together with Jim Davidson, who wrote on X: “Relaxation in peace Duncan. You have been, and at all times shall be, a Correct Comic.”

Comic Jimmy Cricket wrote: “Duncan was a charismatic performer who thrilled audiences up and down the nation along with his fashion of humour and hilarious impressions, he was additionally a person of indomitable spirit! RIP outdated buddy.”

Norvelle was admitted to Pilgrim Hospital in Boston two weeks in the past.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is not going to play Friday in opposition to the Minnesota Timberwolves, in keeping with the crew.

He didn’t accompany the crew on its flight, sources advised ESPN.

It might give James, who missed Sunday’s sport with foot soreness, eight days in between video games if he returns Sunday in opposition to Memphis.

Due to the NBA Cup, the Lakers are capable of take a prudent strategy with the schedule to permit James to recalibrate and recharge his physique.

L.A. performs simply two video games in a 10-day stretch Dec. 9-18 — coach JJ Redick gave your complete crew Monday off and designated Tuesday as an elective “get what you want” day.

Redick met with lots of the Lakers’ gamers individually Tuesday, however James was not current, the coach mentioned Wednesday.

On the season, James is averaging 23 factors on 49.5% taking pictures (35.9% from 3), 9.1 assists and eight.0 rebounds. Redick mentioned he’s in fixed communication with the participant and Mike Mancias, James’ longtime athletic coach, about managing the four-time MVP’s workload as he nears his fortieth birthday on the finish of the month.

“In sport, he is requested for a sub a pair occasions as a result of he is gassed,” Redick mentioned Wednesday. “For us, we’ve got to be cognizant as we play increasingly video games, simply the cumulative impact of taking part in loads of minutes, and Sunday, being banged up with the foot factor, it felt like alternative for him to get some relaxation.”

Guard Austin Reaves is questionable for Friday’s sport with a left pelvic contusion that has stored him out the previous 5 video games.

This Rangers had not been seen for some time. Belligerent, but in addition good on the ball. Pacy, threatening, strong sufficient on the again even after they suffered the massive lack of their finest defender, John Souttar, after little greater than half an hour.

And this Ibrox was a drive, too. Loud, deliriously pleased, thunderously indignant – an unsettling wall of noise.

All of the whereas, Postecoglou waved and flapped and turned away in fury when one in every of his gamers – lots of his gamers – went backwards.

What he had was a cavalry to name on. Kuluseveski was a game-changer. Dominic Solanke was an enormous presence, too, within the salvage job. They have been each concerned within the equaliser, Kulusevski ending.

Postecoglou barely moved. Perhaps his coronary heart was singing. Perhaps not.

It was frenetic and fractious within the quarter-hour that adopted. Solanke got here shut, however Tavernier got here up with an enormous defensive second to disclaim him.

The Dessers probability was it. That was the second, or might have been.

Forster obtained them out of jail, however Postecoglou’s trial goes on. One win in eight is an uncomfortable case for the defence.

For Rangers, a League Cup closing to come back on the weekend in opposition to Postecoglou’s outdated and firing workforce.

A number of weeks again, that closing appeared like a little bit of a formality for Celtic. Now? If Rangers can construct on the most effective of this they will have one thing to say, for positive.