Family adventure “Finding ‘Ohana” loots gleefully but respectfully from its predecessors. The action-comedy name-checks the “Indiana Jones” series, references “The Goonies” in both direct quotes and shots and even casts Ke Huy Quan (a.k.a. Short Round and Data) in a supporting role. But while its beats are familiar, TV director Jude Weng’s debut feature diverges from its well-worn path when it matters, staying true to its heart and love of Hawaiian culture.
Young geocaching queen Pili (Kea Peahu) worries her summer is ruined when her mother (Kelly Hu) uproots her and her teenage brother, Ioane (YouTuber Alex Aiono), from Brooklyn back to Hawaii to help the kids’ grandfather (Branscombe Richmond) after he has a heart attack and is in danger of losing his house. Then 12-year-old Pili finds a pirate’s journal, and her treasure-hunting skills are put to the test when she sneaks out in search of Spanish gold. Accompanied by her scaredy-cat brother, his crush Hana
Finding Ohana begins with an exhilarating opening sequence as Pili (likeable newcomer Kea Peahu) races a bicycle through Brooklyn. She is geocaching, a GPS-guided treasure hunt that s like an escape room outdoors. Sorry folks, it s a competition, she apologizes when she knocks people and objects aside in a narrow laundromat, without trying to hide the triumph in her voice. We get a view that puts us on her handlebars, with lively, kinetic editing that makes us feel like we are in the race.
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It is not just Pili s riding that s fast. She outsmarts the other participants with tenacity, excellent puzzle-solving, and the ability to communicate with her teammate in Spanish so no one else can hear her solution. She wins! It s a triumphant moment. And the prize is a trip to geocaching camp, so she can work on her skills even more. This is going to be the best summer EVER!
What to stream this weekend: Palmer, Little Things
By
The Little Things and John Krasinski hosts
Saturday Night Live this weekend.
In addition, WWE presents its Royal Rumble pay-per-view event, Blackpink performs a ticketed livestream concert and
Desus & Mero return for Season 3.
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Here s a rundown on some of the films, television shows and concerts set to be released this weekend.
Film
The Little Things, which comes to HBO Max and theaters on Friday. Washington and Malek butt heads while investigating a series of murders with Leto as Washington s prime suspect. Palmer Apple TV+
Justin Timberlake is a former high-school football star who recently got out of jail and starts caring for a 7-year-old boy, portrayed by Ryder Allen, in
Now streaming on Netflix, Finding Ohana stars Owen Vaccaro, Lindsay Watson, Alex Aiono, and Kea Peahu. | Netflix
Following a tumultuous year, “Finding Ohana” the new Goodies -inspired adventure from Netflix provides a heartwarming reprieve, highlighting the importance of family, friendship, and sacrifice.
Hitting the streaming service Jan. 29, “Finding Ohana” opens in New York City, where 12-year-old Pilialoha “Pili” Kawena (Kea Peahu) is looking forward to spending a perfect summer vacation at a geocache camp in the Catskills.
However, her hopes are soon dashed when she, along with her mother Leilani (Kelly Hu) and teenage brother Ioane (Alex Aiono) are forced to relocate to Oahu, Hawaii, to care for her ailing and stubborn grandfather.
Finding Ohana Review: A Goonies -Inspired Adventure for the Geocaching Generation Finding Ohana Review: A Goonies -Inspired Adventure for the Geocaching Generation
A young treasure hunter and her older brother forge new familial bonds as they seek a long lost fortune in Netflix s formulaic but satisfying all-ages actioner.
Courtney Howard, provided by
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Director: Jude Weng
With: Kea Peahu, Alex Aiono, Lindsay Watson, Owen Vaccaro, Kelly Hu, Branscombe Richmond, Ke Huy Quan, Chris Parnell, Marc Evan Jackson, Ricky Garcia.
Running time: Running time: 120 MIN.
Director Jude Weng’s “Finding ‘Ohana” starts on a good note and continues that feeling through most of its story, which focuses on a tween girl and her family searching for buried treasure while reconnecting with each other and their Hawaiian heritage. Paying homage to adventure movies like “The Goonies,” “Dora and the Lost City of Gold” and “Tomb Raider” without blatantly mi