Two summer streaming gems offer perfect indoor entertainment

Although summer is beckoning us to go outside and embrace the environment, there are still days when it seems preferable to stay at home and watch a movie. Fortunately, there are two vastly entertaining movies currently streaming, which are certain to entertain viewers.

The Paddington Bear franchise has already charmed audiences in two previous movies. Now comes Paddington in Peru — a film which is yet another example of lively and joyous family entertainment.

In this outing, Paddington, who is happily living in London with his adoptive family, the Browns, discovers that his beloved aunt Lucy has disappeared from the care home where she is resident in Peru. Loyal to the bear to whom he owes so much, Paddington determines to fly off to Peru in order to find Lucy. Joined by the Browns, he sets off and soon finds himself boating up the Amazon in search of the mythical land of gold, Eldorado, where he is convinced he will find Lucy.

What follows is an action-packed adventure that is by turns suspenseful, humorous, and delightfully inventive. The only note of caution is that very young children might need some help in understanding all that happens, but otherwise the whole family, of whatever age, will enjoy the journey.

Once again, the team that has been so successful in the past has produced a film which, at the core, is an endearing mixture of innocence, naivety, loyalty, and family love. And as an added bonus for film fans, Paddington in Peru offers the chance to play “Spot the movie reference” as homage is made to a host of classic movies, including Raiders of the Lost Ark, The African Queen, The Sting, and The Sound of Music.

This is a truly entertaining film, offering something for everyone — and, furthermore, is a lovely antidote to a world which seems to be ever more threatening and cynical.

Somewhat darker, but equally meritorious, is Black Bag. Directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Michael Fassbender, Gustaf Skarsgård, and Cate Blanchett, this is ostensibly a spy story, but in reality an intriguing “whodunnit.”

In this case, the leader of a spy group is charged with having to unmask a member of the team who has leaked vitally important information to the enemy. Viewers soon discover not only that there are tensions between various members of the team, but that all are likely suspects, including the leader’s wife. As peculiar situation after peculiar situation is laid bare, the viewer is constantly challenged to guess the identity of the treasonous spy.

I am not at all sure how much of any of this is likely, and in fact wonder that a husband and wife can both be working on the same spy team, though not on the same problems. Moreover, one wonders if team members are permitted to have an affair without being reallocated to another assignment. However, granted the dramatic situation present in Black Bag, the sum result is an involving and suspenseful drama which is told with skill and effectiveness.

So, there we have it: two films which are well worth watching, even at the expense of going outdoors and enjoying nature!

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