Weekend Event Planner

These are the 8 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

It's a relatively slow weekend for new events around Dallas, but the ones we've got still pack a wallop. There will be three big-name concerts featuring '90s throwbacks, great hip-hop, and alternative rock, respectively. There will also be two famous comedians doing what they do best, a celebration of hip-hop dance, and some amazing magic.

Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Friday, July 26

Bob Schneider in concert
There's no shortage of Bob Schneider appearances in Dallas-Fort Worth; the Austin-based musician seemingly comes back to the area every other month or so. But it's always a treat to see him perform, as he's not only a damn fine singer but one whose stories and other non-musical offerings are just as entertaining as his songs. He'll play an early and late show at The Kessler.

Third Eye Blind and Jimmy Eat World in concert
The '90s will come alive at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving when Third Eye Blind and Jimmy Eat World co-headline the Summer Gods Tour. Despite having been around for a long time, both bands have had one hit song — "Semi-Charmed Life" for Third Eye Blind, "The Middle" for Jimmy Eat World — define them for almost their entire careers. They'll be joined by opening act Ra Ra Riot.

Improv Addison presents Chris Hardwick
Comedian Chris Hardwick is famously one of the busiest people in show business, hosting the ID10T podcast, NBC's The Wall, and AMC's The Talking Dead, among many other things. But stand-up comedy has always been the thing he loves to do the most, and he'll show off his talents during four shows — two Friday and two Saturday — at Improv Addison.

John Leguizamo: Latin History For Morons
Latin History For Morons is inspired by the near total absence of Latinos from John Leguizamo's son's American History books. From a mad recap of the Aztec empire to stories of unknown Latin patriots of the Revolutionary War and beyond, Leguizamo breaks down the 3,000 years between the Mayans and Pitbull into 110 irreverent and uncensored minutes above and beyond his unique style. The show will be at Winspear Opera House for one night only.

Saturday, July 27

Unruly Citizens at The Star featuring Future, Juice WRLD, and more
Unruly Citizens, an entertainment lifestyle brand based in Oklahoma City, will bring The Star in Frisco its first ever hip-hop concert. The festival-style event will feature a full day of musical acts headlined by Future and Juice WRLD. Other performers will include Trippie Redd, Yella Beezy, Zoey Dollaz, Mulatto, Guapdad 4000, Tay Money, Nanks, Barachi, Ill Chris, OG Toni D, and El Solito Dolores.

Beck and Cage The Elephant in concert
Beck and Cage The Elephant come to Dos Equis Pavilion to co-headline The Night Running Tour. Beck, whose latest album was 2017's Colors, has released two recent songs associated with big movies, Roma and The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part. He has a new album, Hyperspace, set for release later in 2019. Cage The Elephant is touring in support of their new album, Social Cues. They will be joined by special guest Spoon.

Dallas Hip-Hop Dance Festival
The Dallas Hip-Hop Dance Fest combines both top-notch dance education and entertainment, with an underground battle and crew competition. The festival, taking place at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson, strives to showcase the positive aspects of the hip-hop culture by highlighting its legacy as an agent of artistic progression.

Champions of Magic
The five world-class illusionists that make up the Champions Of Magic present daring grand illusions, stunning close-up magic, and incredible mind reading. The audience will witness the impossible, including disappearances, levitation, teleportation, and a heart-stopping finale — all presented with lighting and special effects to rival the biggest theatrical spectacles. The show will take place at Arlington Music Hall.

Beck will play with Cage the Elephant at Dos Equis Pavilion on July 27.

Photo by Lauren Dukoff

Beck will play with Cage the Elephant at Dos Equis Pavilion on July 27.

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Movie Review

Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney go off in trashy film The Housemaid

Photo courtesy of Lionsgate

Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney in The Housemaid.

Both Amanda Seyfried (the upcoming The Testament of Ann Lee) and Sydney Sweeney (Christy) are starring in movies with Oscar ambitions this year. By sheer coincidence, the two actors are also co-starring in The Housemaid, a thriller coming out within weeks of their more ambitious works, one that is likely to be seen by many more people than those prestige plays.

Sweeney is given top billing as Millie, a down-on-her-luck ex-convict looking to land any type of job so as not to break her parole. She finds a too-good-to-be-true lifeboat with Nina (Seyfried), who hires her to be a housemaid for her large house on Long Island, where she lives with her husband, Andrew (Brandon Sklenar), and daughter, Cecilia (Indiana Elle).

After a warm interview, Nina almost immediately becomes highly erratic, whipping back-and-forth between happy-go-lucky and rageful. It seems clear that Nina is suffering from mental health issues, as she’ll often accuse Millie of misplacing or stealing items that she didn’t take. Andrew, apparently used to Nina’s tirades, tries to protect Millie from the worst, something that grows increasingly difficult as Nina ups the ante.

Directed by Paul Feig (A Simple Favor) and adapted by Rebecca Sonnenshine from the bestselling book by Freida McFadden, the film is likely the trashiest mainstream movie to come out in 2025. The first half of the movie relies not on story but on moments as Nina embodies the word “hysterical” to an unbelievable extent. The resigned acceptance of the abuse by Millie, as well as the saintly patience of Andrew, make almost every scene laughable, as nobody seems to be acting anywhere close to how a person would normally react to such extreme situations.

The scenes and the performance of Seyfried are so over-the-top, in fact, that it’s clear that the filmmakers are in on the joke. It’s next to impossible not to have a little bit of fun while watching the actors react to outrageous incidents as if nothing is out of the ordinary. The worse Nina acts, the more Millie and Andrew retreat into their chosen roles, and the funnier the film becomes.

Fans of the book will know that the story changes course, eventually turning into a more stereotypical thriller that also has some relatively gnarly visuals to offer. But the trashiness continues, with Sweeney’s, um, assets repeatedly on display in both clothed and unclothed ways. The sex appeal of the R-rated movie makes it an outlier, as recent studio films have shied away from asking their big stars to disrobe completely.

Both Seyfried and Sweeney are far from their Oscar hopeful roles here. Seyfried is given free rein to act as brazenly as she pleases, and she takes full advantage of that ability. Sweeney seems to have been told to be much more reserved, and unfortunately that results in too many wooden line readings. Sklenar continues his breakout streak (It Ends with Us, Drop) with a role that allows him to show more range than either Seyfried or Sweeney.

The Housemaid is an unusual type of movie to be released at a time of year when most films are either those aiming for awards or more family-friendly fare. Despite its many flaws, it’s still an enjoyable watch that features a variety of crazy scenarios not typically seen in movies nowadays.

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The Housemaid is now playing in theaters.

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