What We’re Watching
At the top of our list is the Odyssey! A must-see on a big screen (but it doesn’t have to be IMAX). The second season of “The Four Seasons,” produced and starring Tina Faye and a fun cast, is better than the first season, and you will laugh… a lot! And Margot’s Got Money Problems is a delightful comedy/drama starring Elle Fanning and Michelle Pfeiffer.
The Odyssey – In Theaters
If you have not seen Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey yet, do not miss it. And you do not have to see it in an IMAX theater to appreciate the power of the movie. Now I know some of you are skeptical because if you are of a certain age, you were forced to read Homer’s Odyssey in junior high or high school. I loved the book, which was composed around the late 8th century BC, and it still matters because it’s the original story of resilience, identity, and the long road home. Its themes echo through every modern tale of survival and self-discovery. So even if you loathed the book, I promise you will love the movie!!! And Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway deserve Oscars!
The Four Seasons – Season 2 Netflix
When season one premiered last year, it was hard not to compare it to the original movie version that starred the fabulous cast of Alan Alda, Carol Burnett, Len Cariou, Sandy Dennis, and Rita Moreno. The streaming series, produced by and starring Tina Fey, was funny but a bit all over the place and not as good as the movie. Season 2, however, has really kicked it up a notch. It takes place in Italy over Christmas, and it’s stronger, deeper, and more cohesive than Season 1, with richer character arcs and a more finely tuned balance of humor and poignancy, with themes of grief, aging, and reinvention. It delivers laughs and catharsis, not always easy to do. I can’t wait for Season 3.
Margot’s Got Money Troubles – Apple TV
This series, created by David Kelly, is a brilliant comedy/drama with a unique plot and a great cast. Elle Fanning plays Margot, the daughter of a former Hooters waitress (Michelle Pfeiffer) and an ex-pro wrestler with a drug problem played poignantly by Nick Offerman. Other cast members include Nicole Kidman, a female wrestler who happens to be a lawyer, and Greg Kinnear (perfect as Michelle’s Bible-thumping husband).
Margot is a recent college dropout and aspiring writer, who has an affair with her college professor and decides to keep the baby. With no support from the father and a mounting pile of bills, she starts performing for money on OnlyFans.
The show’s greatest strength is its tone: it’s laugh‑out‑loud funny, but the humor never cheapens the real emotional stakes. Margot’s financial stress, her attempts to reinvent herself, and her complicated relationship with her ex all feel grounded in the realities many viewers know too well. The writing is quick, modern, and self‑aware, but it also gives space for quiet moments of vulnerability.
Elle Fanning is fabulous as Margot, and Michelle Pfeiffer and the rest of the cast are terrific. And there will be a Season 2!
The tomato behind The Three Tomatoes.
Cheryl Benton, aka the “head tomato” is founder and publisher of The Three Tomatoes, a digital lifestyle magazine for “women who aren’t kids”. Having lived and worked for many years in New York City, the land of size zero twenty-somethings, she was truly starting to feel like an invisible woman. She created The Three Tomatoes just for the fun of it as the antidote for invisibility and sent it to 60 friends. Today she has thousands of friends and is chief cheerleader for smart, savvy women who want to live their lives fully at every age and every stage. She is the author of the novel, "Can You See Us Now?" and co-author of a humorous books of quips, "Martini Wisdom." Because she's lived a long time, her full bio won't fit here. If you want the "blah, blah, blah", read more. www.thethreetomatoes.com/about-the-head-tomato
