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I am not one that memorized all of the hundreds of pokemon, but in this movie that is okay because they created this movie in such a great story telling way that you didn't have to have them memorized. The comedy of Ryan Reynolds as Pikachu and Justice Smith as Tim is a match you have to see. The colors and action in this movie are amazing.

Pokemon: Detective Pikachu (Rated PG) is available for checkout on DVD.

This TV comedy series follows the political career trajectory of Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) who works in the Parks and Recreation department of a small town in Indiana. The show features a full cast of quirky characters from April (Aubrey Plaza), the sulking twenty-something receptionist; to Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman), the ultra-masculine, libertarian, meat-eater; to Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe), the always upbeat, vegetarian, political middle manager. Parks and Recreation will put a smile on your face.

Starring Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Rashida Jones, Aubrey Plaza, and Rob Lowe.

The Murder on the Orient Express (2017, Rated PG-13) movie is highly underrated. The suspense, drama and the amount of questions that has you acting like a detective yourself is what makes this movie great. Just when you think you know how the movie is going there is a twist. 

Casablanca is a classic film set during WWII, which has some of the most quoted lines in movie history, is a must see for movie buffs. Rick (Humphrey Bogart) is an American expatriate bar owner in Morocco, and when his former lover Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) asks for his help to flee the city from the Nazis with her husband, he has to decide how much he is willing to risk. The witty dialogue between the deadpan Rick and Captain Renault (Claude Rains) is worth the price of admission alone.

Starring Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Claude Rains, and Paul Henreid.

In this Australian TV comedy series, a surgeon who likes his single life (and nightlife) a bit too much is about to lose his medical license unless he cleans up his act and is offered one chance. He has to go back to his home town and be a GP.

I enjoy The Heart Guy because deep down I think Rodger is a good guy and has to come to the rescue every episode (like most of the doctor shows) and save the day. He has a quirky kind of family, which provide some of the humor. He is gradually starting to like his boss, and vice versa (reminds me a little of Doc Martin).

Check out season one on Hoopla—I think it's worth a shot.

The Crimson Pirate is a family classic that you can watch with your kids. It follows pirate Captain Vallo as he sails about the 1700s Caribbean pursuing money-making schemes ranging from seizing British vessels to kidnapping. But when he falls for the beautiful Consuelo, he changes his pirate ways. This swashbuckling comedy is good, clean fun.

Starring Burt Lancaster, Nick Cravat, and Eva Bartok.

I recently watched the DVD of the first season of The Chosen and it's the best show I've seen in years. It's a TV series about Jesus. While a lot is fictional stuff written in, there is a large amount of scripture here and they do an excellent job of weaving it in so that it all ties together to make a terrific story. I hope everyone has an opportunity to take home this DVD and binge watch The Chosen. 

I highly recommend this high adrenalin movie, "The Desperate Hour". The entire movie has Amy Carr (Naomi Watts) in it as the mother that has just got her kids off to school and goes for a long jog in the woods. She has her cell phone with her and makes many plans and takes many calls along her long run. During her run she comes to realize that the town has been thrown into chaos - as she finds out there has been a school shooting at the high school. She is miles away and wants to know if her son is okay or even at school. He's not answering his phone and she can't get in touch with him or get to him. This movie was heart-pounding and kept me on the edge of my seat. Very good suspense thriller. Every mother's nightmare these days.

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan was a powerful and thought-provoking book that is definitely considered a classic for a reason. The four women of the Joy Luck club meet regularly to play mahjong, eat traditional Chinese food, and share the dreams and struggles they've had leading up to raising their four respective daughters in America. The founder of the club, Suyuan Woo, has recently passed and her daughter, Jing Mei, is taking her place at the mahjong table. In doing so, she learns of the hardships her mother faced to give Jing Mei her life in the US. The impactful stories of the other three women and their daughters are also told - beginning in rural China and ending in San Francisco.

The book reads almost like a collection of short stories that seamlessly shift from light-hearted to deeply impactful and back. A rich and meaningful read no matter where your family comes from. It's a beautiful illustration that the stories that shape us are not just our own. Reading this book was an emotional and moving experience that I wish I could experience again for the first time. I put down the book with more thought towards the stories and struggles of my own family (which sounds kind of dramatic but is totally true lol). 

Available on eBook and eAudiobook on eMediaLibrary.

This daring adventure follows British Captain Jack Aubrey around the waters of South America during the Napoleonic Wars. He is in pursuit of an elusive French warship which puts his crew to the test. This visually captivating film will transport you to another place and time.

Starring Russell Crowe, Paul Bettany, and Billy Boyd.

Master and Commander (PG-13) is available for checkout on DVD.

I laughed so much during this movie. The awkwardness of the robot Ron is cute and funny. Barney wants to fit in and with the new invention of B-Bots' ability to make friends, everyone has one, except for him. When he does get a B-Bot it turns his life upside down. A fun journey of friendship.

Greta is a great pick if you're looking for something creepy and suspenseful. Frances, a girl who is mourning the loss of her mother, finds a handbag on the subway and returns it to its owner, a French piano teacher whom she befriends and believes is simply a lonely widow. However, Frances soon notices Greta's obsessive behavior, and takes the necessary steps to distance herself from the friendship. Greta, not happy about Frances ignoring her, becomes more erratic and takes matters into her own hands, determined not to lose Frances's attention. This film will have you completely engrossed until the last scene and is perfect for those who like realistic horror.

Looking for a darkly funny comedy that will also give you hope that a better future is possible? Look no further than Miracle Workers! This anthology series stars Daniel Radcliffe and Steve Buscemi among an ensemble cast that will capture your heart and make you laugh out loud. Season three follows as Reverend Ezekiel Brown (Radcliffe) teams up with the infamous criminal Benny the Teen (Buscemi) to lead their small settlement on a journey to a better life in Oregon. The twenty-two minute episodes make it easy to marathon whole series in only a few sittings, but the show will stick with you long after it's over.

If you like action, dad jokes and more dad jokes this is the movie for you. I loved this movie and how Disney was able to transform the story of a ride from the Disney parks into such a great movie. The action of  Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt blend well into the adventures down the river. 

The main reason I think The Founder (2016, rated PG-13) is a good movie is because of the spirited discussion it generated between my coworkers and me. There was no debate about Michael Keaton's terrific performance of Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonald's.

My mistake was assuming Kroc was obviously a bad person for what he did. A debate quickly began as to whether or not in the world of business, was Kroc wrong at all or a genius entrepreneur? After all, "It's not personal Sonny, it's strictly business."

I highly recommend you watch this movie and decide for yourself. Check it out on Hoopla today.

Tracy also liked this film. Check out Tracy's review here.