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Grace and Frankie s1’s tonal inconsistencies and lazy writing wastes its promising premise

On the surface, Grace and Frankie sounds almost too good to be true. The title characters (Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, respectively) are two septuagenarians whose husbands, Robert and Sol (Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston) announce that they are leaving the women for each other. The strengths and legacies of the actors, the contrast in personalities, and the core hook of the show sound as if they’re tailor-made to deliver Netflix’s next binge-worthy addiction.

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New on Video: Robert Altman’s ‘Nashville’

“With its eclectic cast of individuals from all walks of life (typical for Altman), its sprawling narrative of disjointed personal and professional connections (ditto), and its setting of a distinctly American city around the time of our nation’s bicentennial, Nashville comes across as more than a fictional depiction of characters embodying certain nationalistic traits; it truly feels like the film itself is America in a nutshell.”

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Tina Fey and Paul Rudd winning in ‘Admission,’ even if the plot isn’t

Admission Directed by Paul Weitz Written by Karen Croner USA, 2013 Tina Fey and Paul Rudd have, over the last decade, cornered the market on being professionally delightful. They are immensely likable if quirky performers, blending off-kilter comedy with movie-star good looks. As such, Admission, their first film together, has an affable charm for its …

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