What's on Neon in August

Here's everything that's streaming on Neon in August.

Industry Season 3 - August 12

A group of young graduates compete for permanent positions at a top investment bank in London. The boundaries between colleague, friend, lover, and enemy soon blur as they become embroiled in a culture defined by sex, drugs, and ego.
Stars: Kit Harrington, Myha'la, Marisa Abela, Harry Lawtey, Ken Leung

Wheel Blacks: Bodies on the line - August 18

This three-part docuseries follows New Zealand's wheelchair rugby team in their bid to qualify for the Paris Paralympics.
Despite having to rely on fundraising, charity, and volunteers, these Kiwi underdogs are determined to rise to the challenge.

Movies:
Anyone But You - August 21

After an amazing first date, Bea and Ben's fiery attraction turns ice cold - until they find themselves unexpectedly reunited at a destination wedding in Australia. So, they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple.

Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell

Mean Girls - August 6

A new musical twist on the classic hit film. Cady Heron is welcomed into the top of the social food chain by the elite group of popular girls called The Plastics. But then she makes the major misstep of falling for the queen bee’s ex-boyfriend.
Stars: Angourie Rice, Reneé Rapp, Auli'i Cravalho, Christopher Briney, Jaquel Spivey, Avantika , Bebe Woo

Bob Marley: one Love - August 28

The powerful story of Bob Marley, the legendary Jamaican musician who overcame tremendous adversity on his journey to create revolutionary songs, inspiring generations through his message
of love and unity.
Stars: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch, James Norton, Quan-Dajai Henriques, Nolan Collignon, Nia Ashi

The Iron Claw - August 10

The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who made history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, the brothers seek larger than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.
Stars: Zac Efron, Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, Maura Tierney, Lily James, Holt McCallany, Stanley Simons

What's on Disney+ in August

Here's everything that's streaming on Disney+ in August.

27 August

Only Murders in the Building: Season 4 - Star Original Series

Premiere

In season four of “Only Murders in the Building”, our amateur podcasting trio wrestles with the shocking events at the end of season three surrounding Charles’ stunt double & friend Sazz Pataki. Questioning whether she or Charles was the intended victim, their investigation leads them all the way to Los Angeles where a Hollywood studio is readying a film about the Only Murders podcast. As Charles, Oliver & Mabel race back to New York, they embark on an even more epic journey — traversing their building’s courtyard to delve into the twisted lives of the Arconia’s West Tower residents.

2 August

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes - Disney+ Premiere

Director Wes Ball breathes new life into the global, epic franchise with this action-adventure spectacle from 20th Century Studios. Set several generations in the future following Caesar’s reign, apes are living harmoniously as the dominant species — and humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all that he has known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

23 August

The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat - Star Original Movie

Premiere

The movie follows lifelong best friends Odette (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), Barbara Jean (Sanaa Lathan), and Clarice (Uzo Aduba) known as “The Supremes”, who share the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood from decades of weathering life’s storms. Through the joys and sorrows of life, marriage and children, happiness and blues, love and loss, new shades of heartbreak and illness threaten to stir up the past when the trio sees their bond put to the test as they face their most challenging times yet.

14 August

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures: Season 2 - Disney+ Original Series

Premiere

The young Jedi take on new missions across the galaxy as they try to stop the rise of the pirates!

19 August

OceanXplorers

National Geographic Series - Premiere

From James Cameron, the series takes audiences aboard the OceanXplorer, the most advanced research vessel ever built, to investigate the farthest frontiers of the world’s oceans. Armed with advanced technology, a handpicked team of intrepid explorers and scientists embark on a global odyssey to solve some of the ocean’s greatest mysteries through the lives of its animals and their ecosystems.

Also in August…

2 August - Shorts

Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures (Shorts): Season 2

Documentaries

Elway to Marino

Four Days in October

Guru of Go

The Legend of Jimmy The Greek

Muhammad and Larry

Rodman: For Better or Worse

Tommy

7 August

Star Original

International

The Zone: Survival Mission: Season 3 - Series

FX's American Horror Stories: Instalments 1-2

Science of Stupid: Seasons 1-8

FX's A Teacher

Grown-ish: Season 6

ZOMBIES: The Re-Animated Series

8 August

Series

International

Are You Sure?!

9 August

Special

Protecting Paradise: The Story of Niue

Clotilda: The Return Home

12 August - Star Original

Solar Opposites: Season 5

14 August

Star Original

International

The Tyrant

International

Macross Dynamite 7

Series

Grand Cayman: Secrets in Paradise

Wu-Tang: An American Saga: Seasons 1-3

American Crime Story: Impeachment: Season 3

16 August

Movies

International

Macross Fb7 Listen to My Song!

International

Macross 7: The Galaxy is Calling Me!

20 August

Star Original

Muslim Matchmaker

21 August

Star Original

Betrayal: The Perfect Husband: A Father's Secret: Season 2

28 August

Series

The Incredible Pol Farm

New Episodes

Criminal Minds: Season 17 Finale 2 August

Futurama: Season 12 New episodes weekly on Mondays

The Boss: Season 2 New episodes weekly on Fridays

Code Geass: Roze of the Recapture New episodes weekly on Fridays

The Fable New episodes weekly on Sundays

My Name is Gabriel New episodes on 17, 24, 31 August

NO WAY OUT: The Roulette 2 x new episodes weekly on Wednesdays, finale 21 August

Mission: Yozakura Family New episodes weekly on Sundays

Land of Tanabata New episodes weekly on Thursdays, finale 8 August

Mickey Mouse Funhouse: Season 3 5 x new episodes 14 August

Marvel's Spidey and his Amazing Friends: Season 3 New episodes 7, 14, 21 August

Firebuds: Season 2 4 x new episodes 14 August

Morphle and the Magic Pets 15 x new episodes 7 August

SuperKitties: Season 2 4 x new episodes 28 August

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: Review

Cast: Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchison, Alex Pettyfer, Eiza Gonzalez, Henry Golding, Rory Kinnear, Babs Olsunmokun
Director: Guy Ritchie

Guy Ritchie's relatively straight take on a war story lacks the whistles and bells needed for such a tale and it unfortunately shows during this 2 hour drama that really does feel like it's missing some vital ingredients.

With a promising start that sets the scene nicely, the film's desire to thread a tale of derring do for a small group of plucky fighters out to sink a Nazi U-boat during the 1940s just doesn't quite live up to its admittedly charismatic start.

Perhaps in some ways, it's good to see a Guy Ritchie film that doesn't go overboard, but there's a distinct feeling the film just has little else to offer outside of the kind of movie you can have on in the background and not fully pay attention to.

Cavill's extremely muted as the leader of the squad in the undercover mission after displaying some real charisma early. More of the frisson of excitement is provided by Eiza Gonzalez and Babs Olsunmokun's characters and their infiltration spy side missions.

More successful are the bursts of action that populate swathes of the film. If you're after a film that's about killing Nazis, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare certainly provides on that front. Equally the attention to period detail and costuming is second to none, with wartime attire offering more than enough visual thrill to compensate for a more lacklustre narrative.

However, ultimately Ritchie's film fails to fully grasp what makes a good war mission movie soar - a smattering of tension, a cast you care about and a threat to life that feels tangible - consequently, it doesn't deliver a spectacle deserving of its subject matter. 

Extremely muted and wildly undeserving, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare hints at future installments - but based on this, it's just not strong enough to warrant seeing them recalled for any further action.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is streaming on Prime Video now.

Deadpool and Wolverine: Movie Review

Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew MacFadyen
Director: Shawn Levy

Ryan Reynolds returns as the motor-mouth Wade Wilson for yet another outing - but for the first time, Reynolds' wise-cracking, fourth-wall breaking antihero is joining the Disney universe. However, he's not alone in the ride into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Despite trying to join the Avengers in Earth-616, Wade Wilson finds himself rejected. Lacking purpose, he gives up on being Deadpool until the Time Variance Agency (from Disney+ show Loki) shows up on his doorstep on his birthday, saying they need his help.

Abducted, Deadpool is offered a chance in his eyes to redeem himself as the self-confessed Marvel Jesus and bring life to the fracturing timelines...

To say more about Deadpool and Wolverine's (admittedly slight) plot is to rob it of its many reveals.

Needless to say Levy and a team of five writers have pulled together a love letter to both the Marvel and the 20th Century Fox Universe, with a slew of cameos and unexpected moments to thrill fans of the genre. (A moment even Deadpool self-referentially tells nerds to get their sock out to cope with their excitement).

But, if the humour occasionally grates by hitting low-hanging fruit and staying there, and if the pace feels a little bit of a lag over a near 130 minutes run time as the continuing asides fall from his mouth, what Deadpool and Wolverine manages to do is to make essentially what was becoming tired feel somewhat fresh again. However, there are moments when the humour feels a little forced and the script lacks some of the looseness that has previously been brought to table - no doubt thanks in large part to the actors' strike constraints.

Yet, deep within the film Reynolds and Jackman's bond is evident. From continual fights and bickering between the two to a glowering nihilistic Wolverine from Jackman, the chemistry in this Odd Couple companionship is there from the get-go. Of the pair, Jackman is the more successful, having to reinvent yet again another version of the X-Men favourite - but there's a despondency and resentment that Jackman brilliantly mines here to great effect, and which Logan's harder-edge and rating have clearly influenced. (And the script doesn't hold back either, with one moment referencing Jackman's recent divorce).

However, there's a respect for the characters - both the main and the cameos that borders on reverential; at times, the story feels more like it's going for sentiment and saccharine having blown plenty of its cinematic load on some gory, all-out action scenes.

Corrin's take on their character feels both familiar, yet new, exuding menace when needed in the brief appearances she makes as the unsettling antagonist - though the less said about their final moments the better. It's in moments like this, the script's weaker edges come to the fore.

Maybe a tighter edit could have reined in some of Deadpool and Wolverine's less alive moments (which really feel their weight as the story goes on) as it borders on too indulgent (but Marvel famservice) - but as a distinctive love letter to a world, Deadpool and Wolverine strikes the right tone. While it's best to go in cold for maximum enjoyment, the characters will win you over.

It's bitterly ironic for a character who spends so much of his time snarking and poo-pooing sentiment, that Deadpool and Wolverine's central message of mattering to others and heart comes so close to saccharine overload in the final moments. Though, on reflection, perhaps that's Deadpool's ultimate joke on all of us - that no matter what we feel or think, this film and its main character - much like the Marvel Cinematic Universe's legion of fans - just want to be loved.

What's on Prime Video in August

Here's everything that's streaming in August on Prime Video.

Get ready for action in August with the highly anticipated second season of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The Dark Lord Sauron has been unleashed and is working his evil, pushing friendships and alliances across Middle-earth to the brink as darkness spreads and an epic battle begins – launching 29 August.

John Cena and Awkwafina team up in Jackpot! to stay alive in near-future California where winning a multi-billion dollar ‘Grand Lottery’ comes with a killer catch launching on 15 August.

In an action-adventure thrill ride, Kiwi, KJ Apa stars in One Fast Move as a young man chasing his dream of becoming a professional motorcycle racer, launching 8 August.

Meanwhile, J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves and Bruce Timm reimagine the Batman mythology as executive producers on the new animated series Batman: Caped Crusader launching 1 August.

For a touch of romance, catch new K-Drama No Gain No Love exclusively on 26 August – starring Shin Min-a and Kim Young Dae.

Or, relive the summer with Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell in Anyone But You.

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RINGS OF POWER

SEASON TWO AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM THURSDAY 29 AUGUST 

In Season Two of The Rings of Power, Sauron has returned. Cast out by Galadriel, without army or ally, the rising Dark Lord must now rely on his own cunning to rebuild his strength and oversee the creation of the Rings of Power, which will allow him to bind all the peoples of Middle-earth to his sinister will. Building on Season One’s epic scope and ambition, the new season plunges even its most beloved and vulnerable characters into a rising tide of darkness, challenging each to find their place in a world that is increasingly on the brink of calamity. Elves and dwarves, orcs and men, wizards and Harfoots… as friendships are strained and kingdoms begin to fracture, the forces of good will struggle ever more valiantly to hold on to what matters to them most of all… each other.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Season Two stars Morfydd Clark, Charlie Vickers, Robert Aramayo, Owain Arthur, Ismael Cruz Córdova, Charles Edwards, Markella Kavenagh, Tyroe Muhafidin, Leon Wadham, Maxim Baldry, Trystan Gravelle, Ema Horvath, Sophia Nomvete, Lloyd Owen, Megan Richards, Dylan Smith, Benjamin Walker, Daniel Weyman, Sara Zwangobani, Gabriel Akuwudike, Zates Atour, Ben Daniels, Amelia Kenworthy, Nia Towle, Nicholas Woodeson, Sam Hazeldine, Oliver Alvin-Wilson, Stuart Bowman, Gavi Singh Chera, William Chubb, Kevin Eldon, Will Keen, Selina Lo, Calam Lynch, with Ciarán Hinds, Rory Kinnear, and Tanya Moodie.

JACKPOT!

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THURSDAY 15 AUGUST 

In the near future, a ‘Grand Lottery’ has been newly established in California - the catch: kill the winner before sundown to legally claim their multi-billion dollar jackpot. When Katie Kim (Awkwafina) moves to Los Angeles, she mistakenly finds herself with the winning ticket. Desperate to survive the hordes of jackpot hunters, she reluctantly joins forces with amateur lottery protection agent Noel Cassidy (John Cena) who will do everything in his power to get her to sundown in exchange for a piece of her prize. However, Noel must face off with his slick rival Louis Lewis (Simu Liu), who also seeks to collect Katie’s commission at all costs. Jackpot! is directed by Paul Feig and written by Rob Yescombe.

Jackpot! stars Awkwafina, John Cena, Ayden Mayeri, Donald Elise Watkins, Sam Asghari, Murray Hill, with Simu Liu and Machine Gun Kelly.

BATMAN: CAPED CRUSADER

SEASON ONE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM THURSDAY 1 AUGUST 

Welcome to Gotham City, where the corrupt outnumber the good, criminals run rampant and law-abiding citizens live in a constant state of fear. Forged in the fire of tragedy, wealthy socialite Bruce Wayne becomes something both more and less than human—the BATMAN. His one-man crusade for justice attracts unexpected allies within the GCPD and City Hall, but his heroic actions spawn deadly, unforeseen ramifications.

The series is a reimagining of the Batman mythology through the visionary lens of executive producers J.J. Abrams, Matt Reeves and Bruce Timm. Based on DC characters, Batman: Caped Crusader hails from Warner Bros. Animation, Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions and Reeves’ 6th & Idaho. Along with Abrams, Reeves and Timm, Batman: Caped Crusader executive producers include Ed Brubaker, James Tucker, Daniel Pipski, Rachel Rusch Rich, and Sam Register.

Batman: Caped Crusader stars the voices of Hamish Linklater, Jamie Chung, Diedrich Bader, Christina Ricci, Minnie Driver, Mckenna Grace, Eric Morgan Stuart, Michelle C. Bonilla, Krystal Joy Brown, John DiMaggio, Paul Scheer, Reid Scott, Tom Kenny, Jason Watkins, Gary Anthony Williams, Dan Donohue, David Krumholtz, Haley Joel Osment and Toby Stephens.

ONE FAST MOVE

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THURSDAY 8 AUGUST 

One Fast Move is an action-adventure thrill ride about a young man down on his luck who seeks out his estranged father to help him pursue his dream of becoming a professional motorcycle racer. With the help of his small town love interest and a motorcycle shop owner who moonlights as his mentor, he begins to break down the walls that his father’s absence had built up.

One Fast Move stars KJ Apa, Eric Dane, Maia Reficco, Edward James Olmos, Austin North

THE SHAKEDOWN

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY THURSDAY 8 AUGUST

When his mistress threatens to expose the secret of their affair, a respected insurance broker seeks the help of his underworld brother to save his reputation.

The Shakedown stars Carl Beukes, Emmanuel Castis, Julia Anastasopoulos, Berenice Barbier, Milton Schorr, David Isaacs and Zander Tyler.

THE MALLORCA FILES

SEASON THREE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM THURSDAY 8 AUGUST 

Set on the sun-drenched and glamorous island of Mallorca, The Mallorca Files centers around ambitious British detective Miranda Blake (Elen Rhys, Consent, The One That Got Away) and her laid-back German partner Max Winter (Julian Looman, The Ibiza Affair, Constellation) who make up the perfect team – if only they could see it. In Season 3, amid high-stakes adventures, treasure hunts, arson, kidnappings, and murders, Max and Miranda’s personal tensions and odd-couple partnership are put to the test.

The Mallorca Files Season Three stars Elen Rhys, Julian Looman, Maria Fernandez Ache, Enrique Arce, Philippe Brenninkmeyer, Charlie Higson, Michael Jibson, David Mora, Elena Saurel, Leonor Watling, Francesc Corbera

NO GAIN NO LOVE

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM MONDAY 26 AUGUST 

When it comes to family, love, or work, Son Hae-yeong (Shin Min-a) has encountered loss after loss. In order to change her luck, Hae-yeong ends up seeking a fake wedding with her neighbourhood convenience store employee, Kim Ji-uk, played by Kim Young Dae (The Forbidden Marriage, Moon in the Day) to avoid missing out on a promotion. Kim Ji-uk is known for being a model neighbourhood citizen and works night shifts at a convenience store. A local hero who cannot ignore others in need, he agreed to Hae-yeong’s ridiculous proposal to be her fake groom for her fake wedding. Furthermore, the series features second lead actors Lee Sang-yi as third-generation chaebol Bok Gyu-hyun who is the CEO of the company where Hae-yeong works and Han Ji-hyun (Cheer Up, The Penthouse) who plays Nam Ja-yeon, a popular R-rated web novel writer and Hae-yeong's family-like friend and roommate.

Directed by Kim Jung-sik (Strong Girl Nam-soon; Work Later, Drink Now), No Gain No Love is written by Kim Hye-young (Her Private Life).

No Gain No Love stars Shin Min-a, Kim Young-dae, Lee Sang-yi, and Han Ji-Hyun.

THE BEEKEEPER

AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FRIDAY 23 AUGUST

One man's brutal campaign for vengeance takes on national stakes after he is revealed to be a former operative of a powerful and clandestine organization known as "Beekeepers."

The Beekeeper stars Jason Statham, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Bobby Naderi, Josh Hutcherson and Jeremy Irons.

ANYONE BUT YOU 

AVAILABLE FROM WEDNESDAY 21 AUGUST

In the edgy comedy Anyone But You, Bea and Ben look like the perfect couple, but after an amazing first date something happens that turns their fiery hot attraction ice cold -- until they find themselves unexpectedly thrust together at a destination wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple.

Anyone But You stars Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Dermot Mulroney and Darren Barnet.

A SACRIFICE AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY FROM FRIDAY 2 AUGUST 

Inspired by Nicholas Hogg’s 2015 novel Tokyo Nobody, A Sacrifice is an emotionally turbulent story that follows American social psychologist Ben Monroe who is investigating a local Berlin cult connected to disturbing events. While he immerses himself in his work, his rebellious teenage daughter, Mazzy, becomes embroiled with a mysterious local boy who introduces her to the city’s underground party scene. As their two worlds head toward a dangerous intersection, Ben will need to race against the clock in order to save his daughter.

A Sacrifice stars Eric Bana, Sadie Sink and Sylvia Hoeks.

BEACON 23 SEASON TWO AVAILABLE FROM FRIDAY 2 AUGUST 

Beacon 23 takes place in the farthest reaches of the Milky Way. Season One followed Aster (Lena Headey), a government agent, and Halan (Stephan James), a stoic ex-military man, whose fates became entangled after they found themselves trapped together inside one of many Beacons that served as a lighthouse for intergalactic travelers. In Season Two, Beacon 23 is now little more than a prison with Aleph onboard, and The Artifact provides more questions than answers. Without a clear path forward, the inhabitants of Beacon 23 must rely on each other, but their conflicting agendas may get in the way.

Beacon 23 Season Two stars Stephan James, Natasha Mumba, Lena Headey, Eric Lange, Wade Bogert-O'Brien and Ellen Wong.

What's on DocPlay in August

Here's what's on DocPlay in August.

Swan Song

22 July 2024

This August, explore conversation-starting documentaries: Sorry/Not Sorry sheds new light on the experiences of women who spoke up about comedian Louis C.K.’s sexual misconduct; four-part series Swan Song immerses audiences in a new production of Swan Lake by the National Ballet of Canada; and Westall 66, from Australian director Rosie Jones (The Family) explores the mystery of the 1966 UFO sighting.

Flyways |  5 Aug  | Australian

Narrated by Mia Wasikowska, Flyways tells the journey of migratory shorebirds, and the extinction level threats they face traversing their ancient flyways.

Westall 66  |  8 Aug  |  Australian

In 1966, in the Australian suburb of Westall (Victoria), hundreds of students, teachers and local residents witnessed a UFO hover overhead for several minutes, land and take off again at incredible speed. These witnesses revisit their extraordinary experience as tenacious sleuth Shane Ryan goes back to find an answer to the mystery. Directed by Rosie Jones (The Family).

Swan Song (series)  |  12 Aug  |  DocPlay Exclusive

Take an immersive look inside The National Ballet of Canada as it mounts a legacy-defining new production of Swan Lake. With full access to the creative process, this four-part series delves into the lives of the dancers as they push themselves to their limits to stage one of the most significant nights in their careers and company’s history.

Sorry/Not Sorry  |  12 Aug  |  DocPlay Exclusive

Through candor and surprising humor, Sorry/Not Sorry sheds new light on the nuanced experiences of three women who spoke up about comedian Louis C.K.’s sexual misconduct over the years. The film invites viewers to question whose stories and whose art we value, and at what cost. Directors Caroline Suh and Cara Mones are available for interview request.

Jerry Lewis: The Man Behind the Clown  |  15 Aug

This entertaining documentary chronicles the remarkable life and work of one of the most iconic comic performers and filmmakers of our time.

The Narrow Bridge  |  29 Aug  |  Australian

The Narrow Bridge is an eye-opening film about trauma and healing that follows four individuals, Palestinian and Israeli, who have each suffered unimaginable grief—the loss of a loved one to violence—but who manage to use their misfortunes to find a way to healing and reconciliation.

Drive-Away Dolls: Blu Ray Review

Cast: Margaret Qualley, Geraldine Viswanathan, Beanie Feldstein, Colman Domingo, Bill Camp, Matt Damon, Pedro Pascal

Director: Ethan Coen

Ethan Coen's latest, a bawdy and brash road trip movie, is a film that, thanks to its appealing messiness, will test your limits in more ways than one.

Despite only mustering a brisk 84 minutes in length, large swathes of this odd couple LGBT comedy road trip feel padded out filled by unnecessary quirks and visuals by a director who's a little unsure of what he wants to do.

Qualley and Viswanathan star as flatmates Jamie and Marian. Polar opposites - Jamie is a fast talking and fast and loose woman about town and Marian an uptight celibate - the pair find themselves on a road trip to Tallahassee to drop off a car.

But by confusion, they end up picking up a car that contains a very precious cargo - a suitcase with mysterious contents - and also pick up a pair of desperate thugs keen to get the case first.

Both are running from something - Jamie, a break up with Sukie her policewoman girlfriend and Marian, on the run from the tedium of daily life and desperate for a change of scene.  Yet Coen doesn't quite seem to know what to do with them, frequently filling escalating screwball proceedings with occasionally lingering shots of women or using Qualley's star-making turn and accent to enliven what transpires.

As with any Coen film, there are a number of quirky characters, who range from dim-witted to being overly precise with words - this is a world of extremes where misunderstandings are prevalent and contrived for the plot. But despite the excellent chemistry between Qualley and Viswanathan, there are too many moments when the story's freewheeling feels like it's overplayed and overcooked; yet bizarrely, there are parts when thanks to numerous cameos and distractions, much of it feels undercooked. It's rooted in the 90s in many way, and even the obsession with the case channels Pulp Fiction in more ways than one.

Yet, Drive-Away Dolls is a film of opposites in many ways, but while it's to be commended for presenting the kind of movie where the women are playing as freely as their male counterparts often do in the genre, you can't help but feeling Ethan Coen's storytelling prowess isn't nearly as strong here as it should - or could - have been.