Welcome back to Flick Picks, your twice-monthly movie fix. From an animated biblical epic to a conspiracy-soaked arthouse satire and a nostalgic rom-com revisit, this installment runs the gamut of faith, weirdness and pure fun.
Now playing
My ears perked when I first learned Angel Studios was releasing an animated film about the biblical David. We’re studying his life at church, and I couldn’t help wondering how a story centered on a warrior king – one whose legacy includes adultery and murder – could be transformed into a family-friendly animated feature.
Angel Studios is best known as the original distributor of “The Chosen,” the popular television series about the life of Jesus and the early church. Beyond a few episodes of that show, my only exposure to the studio’s content was the film “The Shift,” an awkward and poorly executed attempt to blend faith and science fiction – so I was skeptical.
But wow. “David” is good. Really good.
I’ll begin with the visuals. “David” doesn’t aim for Pixar-level polish, but it still presents a richly detailed, vibrant world that looks as if it were lifted from the pages of the Old Testament, with rolling fields, busy markets, ornate throne rooms and small dwellings packed with pottery. Nearly every scene is a pleasure to watch, even when the character animation is too bouncy or weightless.
Several moments stand out. A sequence in which David’s mother weaves a series of striking tapestries foreshadowing his ascent to the throne is both beautiful and thematically resonant. Even more memorable is the depiction of the Amalekites, whose terrifying, almost post-apocalyptic design looks as though it wandered in from a Mad Max fever dream.
Narratively, the film traces David’s journey from shepherd boy to Israel’s second king. Familiar Sunday School stories are all present: his battle with a lion, his brief but iconic clash with Goliath and his long, painful conflict with King Saul. The storytelling is confident and well-paced, hitting the expected beats without feeling rushed or shallow.
David’s struggle to accept his calling is handled with restraint, portraying reluctance not as weakness but as humility. The Israelites’ need for his leadership is equally well established. Even viewers who don’t share a Jewish or Christian faith can find meaning here – lessons about destiny, respect for authority and the courage required to step into leadership resonate universally.
And then there are the songs. While they don’t quite reach Disney at its peak, they’re far from forgettable. From the tender ballad David sings to a tormented Saul to the rousing anthem “Follow the Light,” the music reinforces both the film’s themes and the biblical portrayal of David as a musician and poet. These songs feel purposeful rather than obligatory.
David was deeply flawed; Scripture doesn’t shy away from that. But the same text also calls him “a man after God’s own heart.” Angel Studios has done a superb job of crafting a film that celebrates the faith that defined him.
In theaters
New on streaming
If you’re ever in the mood to watch something off the beaten path, consider a film by director Yorgos Lanthimos. A good entry point is his latest, “Bugonia,” which just landed on streaming.
With films like “Poor Things,” “The Lobster” and others, Lanthimos is carving out a path that exists well beyond the mainstream. His movies are strange, often challenging and occasionally off-putting, yet almost impossible to look away from. “Bugonia” might be his most accessible film to date, but make no mistake: like all of his work, there’s far more happening beneath the surface than first appears.
The premise centers on a far-right conspiracy theorist, Teddy (Jesse Plemons), who kidnaps a powerful pharmaceutical executive, Michelle (Emma Stone). Convinced she’s an alien sent to destroy humanity, he demands that she take him to her mothership during an upcoming lunar eclipse so he can plead Earth’s case before her emperor.
Sound familiar? In today’s world, it probably does. “Bugonia” spends much of its runtime examining online conspiracy culture and the forces – such as trauma – that can pull people down those rabbit holes. The film’s relationships, dialogue and visual choices brilliantly reinforce this theme.
But, like one of those old “Available only on TV” ads, there’s more to “Bugonia.” A lot more. And every additional layer contributes to making the film one of the most thought-provoking releases of the year.
Outstanding performances by Plemons, Stone and Aidan Delbis as Teddy’s autistic cousin, Don, help. (Delbis himself is on the spectrum.) Lanthimos’ direction is precise and sly, scattering breadcrumbs that hint at where the story is headed. You might find yourself asking questions along the way: What’s with the bombastic music? Why does Michelle’s office look like that? Is the Earth depicted in the title cards… flat?
“Bugonia” wears its Lanthimos eccentricity proudly, but its ambition and execution place it among 2025’s top films. An Oscar mention would merely formalize what’s already apparent.
Streamed on Peacock
From the vault
Now 56, Matthew McConaughey is approaching the golden years of his acting career with style, having built a late-period filmography dense with artistic risk and stellar performances. But there was a time when McConaughey was the face of the American romantic comedy.
Revisiting that era recently, I stumbled upon a gem that leans shamelessly into rom-com tropes yet still delivers a fun, surprisingly elevated viewing experience.
Get ready to read the word “fun” a lot as I revisit “Failure to Launch,” a 2006 film that caught McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker squarely at their rom-com peak.
The setup is high-concept Hollywood fiction at its purest. McConaughey plays Tripp, a 35-year-old fully grown man with a successful career as an advertising creative who nonetheless still lives at home with his parents, played by the endlessly likable Kathy Bates and Terry Bradshaw.
The filmmakers could have leaned harder into stereotype territory – making Tripp a fast-food burnout wasting his days on video games – but instead they play against type. Even as the movie relies on familiar clichés, it twists them in fun, creative ways that keep the story feeling fresh.
Desperate to get their son out of the house, Tripp’s parents hire Paula (Parker), a woman who specializes in secretly getting “man-boys” to move out by pretending to be romantically interested in them. The rest, you can probably guess.
What you might not expect is how genuinely funny – and occasionally thoughtful – the film turns out to be. The writers surround Tripp and Paula with a supporting cast that’s fun to watch. From Tripp’s two wingmen to Paula’s roommate, these characters actively push the protagonists toward the emotional growth the story requires.
“Failure to Launch” also takes the time to consider how Tripp’s parents feel about his eventual departure, providing a small but welcome layer of emotional honesty. But what impressed me most is how the film visually suggests that Tripp has finally aligned himself with the natural order of things through a sweet encounter with a dolphin.
Few rom-coms from that era – and even fewer today – bother to add this kind of texture to the formula. That’s part of what makes “Failure to Launch” worth digging up. (Plus, you get to see Terry Bradshaw in a “naked room” gag, if that’s your thing.)
Streamed on Prime Video
Rolling out the snacks
This installment’s snack, Still at Home Bagel Bites, pairs perfectly with “Failure to Launch” because nothing says “I’m 35 and my mom still does my laundry” like microwaveable nostalgia food. Go with the original Bagel Bites by Kraft, or if you’re on a budget, the Great Value version from Walmart.