[When you need a break from basketball, here are some fun movies. I review "The Housemaid," "Untitled Home Invasion Romance" and "My Oxford Year"]
The Housemaid (2025)
A young woman with a troubled past hopes to start a new life as a housemaid for a wealthy couple only to discover she may have gotten herself into even worse trouble.
Millie Calloway (Sydney Sweeney) is living in her car until she is hired by Nina Winchester (Amanda Seyfried) as a live-in maid. She joins Nina's wealthy husband Andrew (Brandon Sklenar) and daughter Cece (Indiana Elle) at their home in Great Neck, Long Island and is given an attic bedroom that can be locked from the outside. Odd. And Millie has some issues. We later learn that Millie is on parole and desperate to keep her job as part of the conditions of her parole.
But Millie is not the only one with issues. Millie learns that Nina had been institutionalized for trying to drown Cece and for attempting suicide by overdose. She has anger and OCD issues too. In fact, she is kind of a psycho and Millie starts to wonder what she has gotten herself into. Little Cece isn't very friendly, either. Kind of a creepy kid.
And then there is the handsome Andrew. He is charming to Millie and an attraction develops. What is his deal? And what is the deal with his and Nina's marriage? Is this the story of every woman's nightmare - the husband attracted to the nanny, or in this case, the housemaid? Or a remake of "Single White Female," but oh, noooo.
Things are not at all as they first appear in this story based on the novel by Freida McFadden, a screenplay by Rebecca Sonnenshine and directed by Paul Feig, who famously directed "Bridesmaids" and "A Simple Favor." And this is certainly more "A Simple Favor" than "Bridesmaids." Not a comedy, though there are some moments that could be interpreted as funny. But it's mostly a thriller, all about secrets and lies, where everyone looks like a villain until the secrets, lies and real villain are revealed. It's kind of a cringey tale, but cringey in a good, thriller, edge of your seat, and kind of campy way with some major plot twists. This is the kind of movie we used to see a lot of in the 90's.
Seyfried lets it all hang out in some very unhinged, and sort of fun, moments and Sklenar is one handsome dude. Oh, and there is some hot sex (this wouldn't be a Sydney Sweeney movie without some hot sex where she can show off that bod of hers).
Rosy the Reviewer says...a fast-moving and fun thriller with a twist you won't see coming. (For rent or purchase on Amazon Prime)
Untitled Home Invasion Romance (2025)
As a last-ditch attempt to save his failing marriage, an actor stages a home invasion during a romantic getaway weekend so he can play the hero. Doesn't work out the way he had hoped.
My Oxford Year (2025)
Anna has her life all mapped out. Until she meets Jamie and her world gets turned upside down.
Anna De La Vega (Sofia Carson) is a hard-working, middle class Ivy Leaguer who has deferred a post-graduate offer for a job as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs to take a year off to study Victorian poetry at Oxford - a childhood dream - but then she plans to return to America for her job at Goldman Sachs for a life of financial security. Falling in love was not part of her plan.
On her first day at Oxford, Anna gets splashed by a puddle as Jamie Davenport (Corey Mylchreest) speeds by in his vintage Jaguar sports car. They meet again later and she recognizes him as the guy who splashed her and she is not amused. And wouldn't you know? It turns out he is the teacher for one of her classes. Awww. Talk about meeting cute. More cuteness follows as the two become closer. Jamie takes Anna to a pub (she had never been to one) and he explains that "Pubs are like churches. We consider them sacred and attend them religiously." Jamie is a bit of a rich playboy who is difficult to pin down, but the two fall in love and they frolic in the beauty that is Oxford and the English countryside. It's all very cute.
But then, the cuteness ends. Turns out there has been a reason why Jamie has been holding back and when his secret is revealed, the film takes a dramatic turn that challenges our lovers relationship. What will happen? Well, it's rather predictable, but, hey, it's the journey.
Written by Julia Whelan, Allison Burnett and Melissa Osborne and directed by Iain Morris, we get to take part in a journey that follows two beautiful young lovers around historic Oxford and as they travel the beautiful English countryside in this literary, sweet and uplifting story. What more could you ask for?
Rosy the Reviewer says...if you like drama, romance and a poignant story, you will enjoy this (Netflix).
