Weekend Event Planner

Sam Smith and Ringo Starr top best weekend events in Dallas

It's another music-heavy weekend in Dallas-Fort Worth, with events featuring a couple of living legends, an homage to a recently-passed master, a newcomer who's taken the world by storm and a local singer who may be about to break out nationally.

Below are the best options for your precious free time Thursday through Sunday. Don't like what you see? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, October 9

Patio Sessions: Luke Wade & No Civilians with Kirk Thurmond
Fans of The Voicewere wowed along with the coaches when Fort Worth's Luke Wade belted out Otis Redding's "That's How Strong My Love Is" in his blind audition. While he waits for the live shows to start, Wade will play a free show along with his band, No Civilians, as part of the Patio Sessions series in Sammons Park. They'll be joined by opening act Kirk Thurmond.

Dallas VideoFest 27
It may not have the cachet that other film festivals in the area do, but for 27 years Dallas VideoFest has been home to a wide array of thought-provoking movies. Now through Sunday at Alamo Drafthouse in Richardson and next weekend at Angelika Film Center Dallas, the Video Association of Dallas will screen hidden gems from around the world you won't get to see anywhere else.

Sam Smith in concert
There may be no bigger singer in 2014 than Sam Smith. The Brit released his debut album, In the Lonely Hour, in May, and thanks to hit songs like "Stay With Me" and "I'm Not the Only One," he's been a staple on radio ever since. The lucky few who have tickets will be able to listen to his soulful voice in the relative intimacy of House of Blues Dallas; the next time he comes back to town, he's sure to be in a bigger venue.

Friday, October 10

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra presents A Tribute to Marvin Hamlisch
There are famous composers, and then there's the late Marvin Hamlisch. One of only a dozen people to reach EGOT status (those who have one at least one Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award), Hamlisch left his mark all over the entertainment industry throughout his nearly 50-year career. The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and guests like Jodi Benson and Donna McKechnie will honor Hamlisch's legacy with three concerts Friday through Sunday at Bass Performance Hall.

Living Colour in concert with Buffalo Black
Last year, Living Colour came to town to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its debut album, Vivid, which featured the iconic "Cult of Personality." Now the group is coming back to the Kessler in support of its upcoming new album, Shade, with support from opening act, Buffalo Black.

Saturday, October 11

Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band in concert
No matter what he's done in the 44 years since the Beatles broke up, Ringo Starr has always come across as the least valuable of the Fab Four. His fans know better, of course, and they'll pack Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie to hear him and his All-Starr Band, which now includes people like Todd Rundgren and Gregg Rolie, play the hits.

Steppin' Out Live with Ben Vereen
Ben Vereen is a Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor whose career has been as versatile as it gets. He'll show that nimbleness in this show at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson, when he pays homage to Broadway, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. with a program full of song and dance.

Art Garfunkel in concert
The name Garfunkel has come up again in pop culture recently, but in a funny way, as the comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates have used Art Garfunkel's notorious second fiddle status as a way to earn laughs. Like Ringo Starr, Garfunkel deserves better, and there's no way to better appreciate his music than by attending this concert at Majestic Theatre.

Friday, October 12

Southwest Airlines Freedom to Fly Celebration
In case it's somehow flown under your radar, the Wright Amendment, which kept Southwest Airlines from flying directly from Dallas to any state that it didn't border, finally comes to end on October 13. To celebrate the amendment's demise, Southwest is holding a free blowout party at Klyde Warren Park, complete with performances from Kelly Willis & Bruce Robison, Jack Ingram and Robert Earl Keen.

Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band will play at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie on October 11.

Ringo Starr at the International Peace Day celebration at John Varvatos store in California

Photo by Michael Buckner Getty Images for John Varvatos

Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band will play at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie on October 11.

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Movie Review

Dark comedy Friendship covers male bonding with copious cringing

Photo courtesy of A24

Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd in Friendship.

Comedian Tim Robinson has gained a cult following thanks to series like Detroiters and I Think You Should Leave, in which his brand of cringe comedy is on full display. The former Saturday Night Live writer/performer has had a few small movie roles over the years, but he’s now getting his first starring role in the off-kilter Friendship.

Robinson plays Craig, a mild-mannered suburbanite with a wife, Tami (Kate Mara) and son, Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer). Craig has a boring life that involves little more than going to his middle manager job while wearing the same clothes day after day, anticipating the next Marvel movie, and helping Tami out with her at-home floral business.

He gets a jolt of energy when Austin (Paul Rudd) moves into the neighborhood. The two men seem to hit it off, with Austin - a weatherman at a local TV channel - even taking Craig on a couple of impromptu adventures. But when Craig commits a couple of faux pas at a group gathering at Austin’s house, their bond starts to fracture.

Even though the film is written and directed by Andrew DeYoung, it’s clear that Robinson had a big influence on the style of comedy it features. There are no big set pieces with a slew of jokes coming one after another. Instead, the film forces the audience to try to vibe with the very particular type of wavelength it’s giving off, one that could almost be called anti-comedy for the way the laughs come out of left field.

The 100-minute film is full of random comedic moments, like Steven kissing Tami on the lips, Craig being obsessed with his plain brown clothes, a group sing-along, and more. More often than not, it’s the way Craig reacts to both normal and abnormal situations that gets the laughs. The character is needy and oblivious, two traits that combine to make many of his actions cringeworthy.

Perhaps most importantly for this type of movie, there are many things in the story that go unexplained or don’t make sense. Seemingly crucial elements are brought up only to fade away just as quickly, while other parts that appeared to be throwaway sections get callbacks later in the film. DeYoung and Robinson are determined to keep the audience on their toes the entire time, never knowing what to expect next.

Robinson has the perfect face for a story like this, one that’s bland enough to blend into the background but memorable enough to sell the jokes. His demeanor is also excellent, never becoming too expressive, even when he gets angry. With long hair, a mustache, and a certain swagger, Rudd is a great complement to Robinson. Only in a film like this would an everyman like Rudd be considered the suave and cool one.

There will be some that will see Friendship and come away wondering what the hell they just watched. But anyone who goes in knowing that they’re about to witness a comedy that challenges their sensibilities will likely have a great time.

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Friendship is now playing in select theaters.

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