a magical journey trailer

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Link to Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
• The Fall Guy Link to The Fall Guy
• The Last Stop in Yuma County Link to The Last Stop in Yuma County

New TV Tonight

• Doctor Who: Season 1
• Blood of Zeus: Season 2
• Pretty Little Liars: Summer School: Season 2
• Black Twitter: A People's History: Season 1
• Dark Matter: Season 1
• Bodkin: Season 1
• Hollywood Con Queen: Season 1
• The Chi: Season 6
• Reginald the Vampire: Season 2
• Love Undercover: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• A Man in Full: Season 1
• Fallout: Season 1
• Hacks: Season 3
• The Sympathizer: Season 1
• Them: Season 2
• Dead Boy Detectives: Season 1
• X-Men '97: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Doctor Who: Season 1 Link to Doctor Who: Season 1
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

100 Best Movies on Tubi (May 2024)

The Best Shows on Amazon Prime Video to Watch Right Now (May 2024)

Asian-American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Heritage

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Rotten Tomatoes Predicts the 2024 Emmy Nominations

8 Things To Know About The New Season Of Doctor Who

• Trending on RT
• Furiosa First Reactions
• Streaming in May
• New Doctor Who
• Planet of the Apes Reviews

A Magical Journey

Where to watch.

Watch A Magical Journey with a subscription on Prime Video, rent on Fandango at Home, or buy on Fandango at Home.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Olias Barco

Screen Hologram

Polina Artemenko

Audrey Marnay

Viking Queen

Saul Rubinek

Édouard Baer

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Get the app
• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Explaining the News to Our Kids

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Celebrating Black History Month

Movies and TV Shows with Arab Leads

Celebrate Hip-Hop's 50th Anniversary

A magical journey, common sense media reviewers.

Muddled fantasy-adventure has peril, some mild language.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Kids can be brave and clever. Family matters.

Many adults behave in an abusive way toward kids.

Some international accents heard here even in dubb

A child is locked in her room and her aunt and cou

A man tells a young girl to kiss a frog and see if

"Damn," "hell," "ass," "idiot."

A woman smokes cigarettes. A group of soldiers dri

Parents need to know that the Ukrainian/Belgian film A Magical Journey is a child-centric fantasy adventure where kids face a variety of threats. Among them, getting chased, locked up, nearly poisoned, threatened with electrocution, mocked, almost cooked for dinner, thrown to the ground, and chased by adults…

Positive Messages

Positive role models.

Many adults behave in an abusive way toward kids. Others help the children. Polina shows courage and ingenuity in escaping danger and attempting to solve a mystery. She and her group of mostly kids help each other out, even at risk to themselves.

Diverse Representations

Some international accents heard here even in dubbed English version. Three different men have physical disabilities.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Violence & Scariness

A child is locked in her room and her aunt and cousin try to poison her. She's told her parents are dead, and we later see how two members of her family did die in a fire (caused by another relative). She's chased by men, and finds herself in a series of dangerous situations. In one, she's in a war-ravaged landscape and sees a man taken hostage at gunpoint. In another, schoolchildren are made to wear dunce caps, threatened by a teacher, and shut into a cage at the back of a classroom. Men engage in fist and sword fights, where one dies but is brought back to life, and a man gets hit over the head with a pan. A woman directs her servants to prepare a child for her to eat for dinner. A man threatens to conduct experiments on kids and tries to electrocute a small boy, getting electrocuted himself. A young girl and a grown man engage in a boxing match where they both get thrown around, as does another man who jumps in to help.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

A man tells a young girl to kiss a frog and see if it turns into a prince, and that she'll need to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince. A man and a woman kiss and snuggle.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

A woman smokes cigarettes. A group of soldiers drink out of a bottle and appear drunk.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that the Ukrainian/Belgian film A Magical Journey is a child-centric fantasy adventure where kids face a variety of threats. Among them, getting chased, locked up, nearly poisoned, threatened with electrocution, mocked, almost cooked for dinner, thrown to the ground, and chased by adults. Other men are beaten up, killed then brought back to life, hit over the head, thrown around, electrocuted, taken hostage at gun point, and tied up. A young girl watches how two members of her family die in a fire that was intentionally set by another relative. All of this is played for fantasy, as if inside different movies, but the dangers are real to the characters. Language includes "damn," "hell," "ass," "idiot." There's occasional cigarette smoking and one scene where a group of men appear to be drunk. A young girl is told to kiss a frog to see if he turns into a prince. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (1)
• Kids say (2)

Based on 1 parent review

It’s simply not giving, i wanted to fall asleep but couldn’t cause I was crying at the fact of it being so bad.

What's the story.

A MAGICAL JOURNEY sees 11-year-old Polina (Polina Pechenenko) escape her abusive home, where she lives with an aunt and grown male cousin, to try to find out what happened to her missing parents. She knows the mystery involves a movie studio, and once there, a man ( Jean Reno ) appears to her in a hologram and tells her she must piece together the sections of a family photo in order to solve the mystery before midnight, when she turns 12. Her search for the missing pieces of the photo takes her to different stages in the studio, each of which sends her into a different setting, or movies starring a shared cast of actors. She must escape a variety of threatening situations on the various sets, and in between she's still being chased by her cousin. Some of the actors help her and others seem intent on hurting her or the new friends she's made.

Is It Any Good?

There's an adage in storytelling that encourages writers to "show, don't tell"; this film could have benefited from that advice. Instead, A Magical Journey relies heavily on a character's recollection of events to compensate for a disjointed storyline that doesn't add up to much of anything. An oddball collection of characters moves from disconnected setting to setting, or more accurately, from soundstage to soundstage of a magical movie studio, as a young girl tries to solve a mystery by midnight.

The adventure leaves nothing for viewers to grab onto -- no fully-developed characters, no hoped-for outcome. Other aspects add to the weirdness, including some poorly-dubbed actors in the English version and dismal attempts at humor (?) often involving kids getting hurt. A final fight scene made to look like an early-era video game is vexing. French veteran Jean Reno's apparition as an omniscient hologram does nothing to lift the proceedings, nor does the presence of a few other familiar faces. Take a pass on this muddled journey.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the idea of going "behind the screen" or inside a movie, as Polina does in A Magical Journey . What movie would you like to go inside of?

Polina narrowly escapes danger in many scenes. How does she rely on the help of others to save herself? How does she help others stay safe?

Of all the worlds Polina enters, which felt the most realistic? Which the least? Did any remind you of other movies you've watched?

Movie Details

• On DVD or streaming : October 19, 2021
• Cast : Polina Pechenenko , Virginie Ledoyen , Jean Reno
• Director : Olias Barco
• Inclusion Information : Female actors
• Studio : Blue Fox Entertainment
• Genre : Fantasy
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Brothers and Sisters , Fairy Tales , Friendship
• Run time : 94 minutes
• MPAA rating : NR
• Last updated : April 15, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey

A Babysitter's Guide to Monster Hunting

Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods

Best fantasy movies, best epic movies, related topics.

• Magic and Fantasy
• Brothers and Sisters
• Fairy Tales

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

A Magical Journey (2019)

Adventure, Fantasy

• Rent or buy
• Categories Categories
• Getting Started

A Magical Journey

Customers also watched.

Cast and Crew

Other formats

89 global ratings

How are ratings calculated? Toggle Expand Toggle Expand

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

A Magical Journey

Cast & crew.

Master of the Game

Saul Rubinek

Saul / Headmaster

Virginie Ledoyen

Audrey Marnay

Polina Artemenko

Muddled fantasy-adventure has peril, some mild language.

Information

© 2019 Blue Fox

Accessibility

Copyright © 2024 Apple Inc. All rights reserved.

Internet Service Terms Apple TV & Privacy Cookie Policy Support

A Magical Journey

Now available on vod, play trailer, full cast & crew.

A Magical Journey is a story of an 11-year-old orphan who escapes from home in search of the truth about herself and her family. She has less than 24 hours before midnight of her 12th birthday to figure out the puzzle of events through imaginary worlds to avoid the nasty intentions of her aunt and cousin.

Olias Barco

Olias Barco, Saul Rubinek, Anouchka Walewyk

Jean Reno, Saul Rubinek, Virginie Ledoyen, Audrey Marnay, Polina Artemenko, Virgile Bramly, Edouard Baer, Sasha Ivanov, Victor Barco, Angelina Horobets, Evnika Saadvakass, Sarah Lind, Severija Janušauskaite, Dinara Drukarova, Wim Willaert, Daniel Cohen, Vasyl Virastyuk, Eloy Alfaro Verstraeten

Where to Watch

Film website.

Poster Coming Soon

Sign up for updates, enter your email to subscribe to our mailing list.

A MAGICAL JOURNEY

• Rankings FA
• TV Premiere Calendar
• Coming in 2024
• Latest Reviews
• Cannes 2024 New

A Magical Journey

• Credits 
• Trailers  [1]
• Image gallery  [1]

All images are copyrighted by their respective copyright holders and/or producers/distributors.

• Polina and the mystery of a film studio

• Polina Pechenenko

• Dinara Drukarova

• Severija Janusauskaite
• Oleksandr Ivanov

• Daniel Cohen

• Yana Novikova
• Rosario Amedeo
• See all credits

All copyrighted material (movie posters, DVD covers, stills, trailers) and trademarks belong to their respective producers and/or distributors.

User history

• Movie - A Magical Journey - 2019

A Magical Journey  (2019)  Polina i tayemnyzia kinostudiyi / Polina and the mystery of a film studio

• Release Date: 19 October 2021 (US) (more)
• Genre: Adventure (more)

As the orphaned girl Polina seeks to learn the truth about her family and herself, she ends up on a magical adventure, while her evil aunt and cousin plot to get rid of her.

• Olias Barco ()
• Virginie Ledoyen
• Polina Pechenenko
• Saul Rubinek
• Edouard Baer
• Dinara Drukarova
• Audrey Marnay

Watch Online

• Al Ghurfa 207
• 2022 - Series - Short

• Safi Salina
• 2022 - Series

• 2024 - Series - Cartoon

• 2020 - Series

• Safah El Giza
• 2023 - Series

• 2018 - Series

• Virgile Bramly
• Severija Janusauskaite
• Oleksandr Ivanov
• Wim Willaert
• Daniel Cohen

• Release Date:
• US [ 19 October 2021 ]
• Is this a coloured title?:

• Buy tickets
• 2023 Summary
• Riyadh Season 2023
• Now Playing
• Coming Soon
• Egypt Box Office
• Infographic
• Video Gallery
• Ramadan, Eid & Seasons
• Ramadan 2024
• TV series 2024
• Fitr Eid Movies 2024
• Riyadh Season 2024
• Adha Eid Movies 2024
• Egypt Cinemas
• UAE Cinemas
• Kuwait Cinemas
• Lebanon Cinemas
• Bahrain Cinemas
• Qatar Cinemas
• Saudi Cinemas
• Oman Cinemas
• Jordan Cinemas
• Iraq Cinemas
• About elCinema.com
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Privacy Policy

Reset Your Password

Ewan McGregor's Mom Refuses To Get Off the Sofa in First 'Mother, Couch' Trailer

The movie also stars Ellen Burstyn, Rhys Ifans and Lake Bell.

The Big Picture

• Ewan McGregor stars in the mysterious Mother, Couch in which his mom won't leave a store couch.
• The movie blends comedy, horror and symbolism, and director Niclas Larsson wants to keep audiences guessing.
• Larsson shared the movie's secrets with the crew, but avoided explaining the metaphors in the movie to the public.

There are some movies that are able to grab your attention based on their premise alone. Ewan McGregor 's ( Obi-Wan Kenobi ) next project Mother, Couch seems like one of those. In the story, he plays a man who goes on a shopping trip with his mother and gets baffled at the fact that the woman suddenly refuses to get up from a certain couch. The more she stays, the more desperate he gets and the more we wonder what is really going on in the story. The movie will have a limited release in July.

There are two big elements that the Mother, Couch trailer highlights. First is the most obvious: why would an old lady suddenly decide that she won't get up from a couch inside a store ? The movie will take us through that journey with David (McGregor), who, little by little, starts suspecting that his mother is acting passive-aggressive in order to force the discussion of family issues . That's why he ends up recruiting his siblings to come down and try to talk to her – but it doesn't go well.

The second aspect of the trailer is the suggestion that Mother, Couch can get even more curious as the story progresses. Judging by what we're shown, what starts out as a comedy may completely derail into a horror-thriller with existential questions and symbolism. In other words, a must-watch. The movie had an early premiere at last year's Toronto Film Festival. At the occasion, the movie's director and screenwriter Niclas Larsson talked with Collider about the project and revealed that he likes to incorporate metaphors and magical realism into his work.

'Mother, Couch' Director Will Never Explain The Movie's Mysteries

Additionally, Larsson also told Collider that even though there's a clear layer of symbolism on Mother, Couch , it doesn't mean that he's eager to spell it out for viewers. However, he didn't hide anything from his crew, and even wrote a book detailing every secret of the movie – but this book will never be released .

"My audience will never read this book. That was a distinction I made because it's not for the audience. But for my crew, for my creative team, I think it's a necessity. Clarity is a necessity. I myself, I've been a crew member, and I've been an actor, and having a director who hides stuff from the crew, I find quite frustrating, and I think it's actually hiding your insecurities more so. So, I'm like, 'I know exactly where I wanna go. Why don't just tell my team where I wanna go and we can, together, go there?' Because it's a very complex film, and I needed them to be on par with me in order to spitball ideas of how walls should break and where we going."

Aside from McGregor, the cast from Mother, Couch also feaures Ellen Burstyn ( The Exorcist: Believer ), Lake Bell ( Harley Quinn ), Rhys Ifans ( House of the Dragon ), Taylor Russell ( Bones and All ) and F. Murray Abraham ( The White Lotus ).

Mother, Couch will have a limited release on in New York at the Angelika Film Center on July 5 and in Los Angeles at the Landmark Nuart on July 12. Wider release dates are yet to be announced. You can watch the trailer below:

• All Previews
• Judging by the Cover
• BOOM! Studios
• IDW Publishing
• X-Men Monday
• Fantastic Five
• AIPT Comics Podcast
• AIPT Movies Podcast
• AIPT Television Podcast
• Talkin’ Tauntauns Star Wars Podcast
• Marvel Cinematic Universe
• Reality Check
• Conspiracy Theories
• AIPT Comics
• AIPT Movies
• AIPT Television

Comic Books Reviews

Comic Books Previews

Comic Books News Press Releases

Comic Books Judging by the Cover

Comic Books News Press Releases X-Men

Comic Books

‘ain’t no grave’ #1 is a slightly uneven start to a hugely exciting desert sojourn.

‘Ain’t No Grave’ is a bumpy but ultimately intriguing comics ride.

What’s that thing they say about first impressions?

In the case of Ain’t No Grave , things are a tad more complicated. Because what could’ve been a genuinely mighty start was a little underwhelming. But there’s also no denying that this book has heaps and heaps of potential to become a powerful slice of western storytelling with just a sprinkling of fairy tale delight.

But before any of that, the logistical stuff. Ain’t No Grave features a rather star-studded creative team: writer Skottie Young, artist Jorge Corona, colorist Jean-Francois Beaulieu, and letterer/designer Nate Piekos. The group’s united around a simple but compelling premise, as an outlaw-turned-mother (Ryder) must return to her old ways (and leave her family) to save herself from a slow, creeping illness. It is, as Image Comics promised , an “ Unforgiven -style journey” that’s told “through a Guillermo del Toro-esque lens.”

Perhaps it’s best, then, to actually begin with the “bad” of this first issue — especially because there’s not as much. The single biggest “crime” in this issue is that even though it’s a double-sized offering, not a whole hell of a lot happens. Sure, we get Ryder’s backstory, and the reason for her perilous journey to the city of Cyprus. But there’s just not enough to really latch onto here. You’re often forced to get lost in the sprawling scene of what’s basically an extended horse ride. And, sure, there’s some rather compelling moments along the way, there doesn’t seem to be nearly as much intention and guidance, and we don’t get to engage and connect with the creators in the way all really sharp narrative promises. I would have loved to see more happen in this larger issue, or it to feel even bigger, but there were times where it felt we got the bare minimum for even a standard-sized first issue.

Courtesy of Image Comics.

And while this isn’t as much of a concern, I’m a little worried about the larger premise of this book. I don’t want to spoil exactly what Ryder’s end goal/mission is, but I’m torn between thinking it’s a little too gimmicky and that it’s a really poignant metaphor, and that indecision so early on feels a little uneasy. Similarly, while there’s some great elements to Ryder, she does come off a little one-sided, like the encapsulation of every edgy cowboy trope we’ve ever heard. It’s these issues that have me thinking about some real downsides down the road, and if cliches and stereotypes might limit the growth of a character with some real upsides.

And when I think of Ryder’s upsides, I can’t help but feel like Young really stepped up here. I often find his other works ( Strange Academy , I Hate Fairyland ) a little too sweet and syrupy, but here he’s crafted someone with proper layers. Ryder is torn between being a mother and returning to her outlaw status and what it all really means as she deals with events and emotions that she finds herself wholly unprepared to face. Yes, she’s a little too stunted emotionally, but the way she’s portrayed, there’s some powerful struggle in exploring that humanity amid her own doubt and shortcomings. As such, that adds texture and tension we don’t always see in these cowboy yarns.

She seems torn about who she is and who she was and who she’s becoming, and I love how that thread carried across this debut. It was the thing that upended some of the cliches/tropes with a real charm and sense of uncertainty — a reminder that this book is at least trying to buck certain ideas and trends and tell a more potent story about a person who wants only the peace provided by her small corner of the world and who is forced to reconcile with her life in a ugly, uneven, and wholly cathartic process.

Again, I’m a touch worried if the book can sustain this back-and-forth amid Ryder, and if less space in issue #2 and beyond is going to 1) diminish that focus or 2) actually leave it enough room at the sake of a larger plot/arc of action and other essential happenings. But for now, Ryder is just enough of a really powerful character to keep my attention.

And speaking of attention, we can’t talk about this book and not discuss the uniqueness and overt power of the art. I’d mentioned earlier about how this book almost forced us to meander around the scenery. While I made that seem like a chore, it’s not that at all. (Even as the real issue is some of the larger authorial presence.) Because I just love the look and feel of this world regardless of all those issues. From a design standpoint, it’s very much a super gritty fairy tale — Ryder’s hair is big and exaggerated, the buildings seem pulled from some Wild West fable, and there’s a solid mix of grit and fantasy baked into every corner and scenic vista.

I think that more playful, almost magical tendency of the art gives us something to engage with even when the creators’ ideas and presence don’t feel as robust. (Plus, I think it perfectly undercuts the supremely adult-centric perspective of the narrative, and it gives us a little more space to move around.) I don’t want it to seem like I didn’t enjoy moving through this world — even when I wished our journey felt more textured with some happenings.

Because there were some great creative decisions and other instances that made a solid journey through a barren desert feel all the more lively. Be it some novel angle of Ryder moving across a canyon at night, lots of wide shots that show her insignificance across a vast, uncaring terrain, or the watchful eyes of a group of native warriors, Ryder’s journey had heaps of unsung context provided and hinted at added layers. In some cases, these small but mighty moments landed bigger than some other plot points, like an emotional run-in with a woman and her daughter. However, it didn’t entirely mitigate the sense of too much space or time on our hands, and this first issue could’ve been so much more with a little more control and a firm hand on the reins.

It’s less that I’m torn about Ain’t No Grave at this point — you should absolutely read this at your very first chance. Rather, I think this book is a solid example of a few things: the need for more tight curation (we didn’t really need a larger debut); how really good books demand both our celebration and critique; how creators must exist within their own stories; and how the serialized nature of comics means that first impressions mean something different in these here parts. But if we’re still ranking this as a solid first impression or not, Ain’t No Grave is a firm-ish handshake that makes me want to do business all the same.

Join the AIPT Patreon

Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:

• ❌ Remove all ads on the website
• 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
• 📗 Access to our monthly book club
• 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
• 💥 And more!

Sign up for our newsletter

Exclusive previews, reviews, and the latest news every week, delivered to your inbox.

‘Crocodile Black’ #1 review

In Case You Missed It

‘Hellboy: The Crooked Man’ director Brian Taylor confirms film did not use AI

New ‘Hellboy: The Crooked Man’ film utilized AI for creature design

‘Blood Hunt’ #1 is a bold beginning to Marvel’s latest event

Marvel sheds new light on ‘Infinity Watch’ annual crossover out in July and August 2024

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Keke Palmer Turns Her Struggles Into ‘Big Boss’ Energy On New Album

Black Voices Editor, HuffPost

Keke Palmer is in her “Big Boss” era.

The actor and new mother released her newest album on Friday, along with accompanying visuals written and directed by her.

“Big Boss” gives a look into Palmer’s experiences navigating a male-dominated music industry that pressured her to sacrifice more parts of herself than she was comfortable with. In the 10 -track album, the 29-year-old explores her faith and the pressures of growing up “booked and bus.” She gives fans a peek into the personal struggles she has had to overcome in her 20-year career.

Palmer, an independent artist, said she “feels amazing” that this project is her directorial debut.

“It’s a huge thing for me in more ways than one, directing and writing for the first time as well as actually being able to tell my story,” she told HuffPost. In addition, she relished the fact that she “had the final say.”

She continued, “I didn’t budge on any aspect of putting this together. I really was fully sound and clear in my mind and what I wanted for this, and I followed through in a way that I never did before. I think it’s easy to just get sidetracked and just give up. And this time, I didn’t do that.”

The Robbins, Illinois, native released her first album, “So Uncool,” in 2007 under Atlantic Records. Since then, she’s released several other projects, including a two-part EP in 2020 called “Virgo Tendencies.”

In “Big Boss,” produced by Tricky Stewart, Palmer shines as she marries her two worlds of acting and singing in the film that follows her journey growing up as a child star. She was signed to three different labels at separate points in the past, worked on “Big Boss” for over a year, and filmed the visuals before meeting her partner.

She said doing it on her own terms was therapeutic. Though she didn’t go into great detail, Palmer recalls being in music business situations that didn’t feel right to her when pursuing music in the past. (One situation she’s been vocal about, however, has been when she accused Trey Songz of “sexual intimidation,” in which he tricked her into being a music video against her will.) She said she would feel like she had been knocked down after certain encounters, adding that her growth, spirituality and leaning into her “big boss energy” have carried her a long way.

“A lot of that stuff happened when I was like 19, 20, 21, 22. This is a collection of experiences that happened over the course of that time period of my life,” Palmer explained. She recalled feeling alone emotionally. Time and therapy helped her understand what she went through to find healing.

“I think a lot of it was like forgiving self. It’s not like I did something for me to be ashamed of, but it’s like self-betrayal. You don’t realize how it affects you until after the fact,” she said. “I think I had a lot of moments where I betrayed myself unknowingly, and the effects of this stuck with me. Coming to terms with a lot of that and being able to have compassion for myself is also what helped me to grow and move on.”

Palmer highlights her fellow former child stars in the visual album, including Skai Jackson, who plays a young Palmer, Robert Ri’card, and Kyle Massey, who both play creepy music producers. Palmer’s parents also make an appearance in the visuals. Her mom, Sharon Palmer, has an especially poignant scene in which she’s having a heart-to-heart with her daughter in the car about the weight she carries professionally. She said her parents and some introspection allowed her to have better work boundaries while staying true to her own uniqueness.

Musically, Palmer didn’t have a specific sound or inspiration she was aiming for. With “Big Boss,” she did what she felt was right and comfortable, working closely with Stewart. Palmer struts her vocals on upbeat bops like “Right Now,” “Frfr” and “Waiting” and reaches deep for “Lights Out” and “Standards.”

Palmer said “Big Boss” is her “setting the tone, writing the checks, going to the beat of my own drum.” After listening to the album, she hopes others are inspired to do the same.

“To get to this point, I didn’t just arrive here, and I didn’t always know what I know now. I had to go through things,” Palmer said. “When you’re going through stuff, and things aren’t going your way, know that there is something on the other side, and you’ll get through it. You can make it, and you can get the last laugh.”

Her album’s release isn’t the only thing Palmer has to look forward to. Palmer will be celebrating her first Mother’s Day two months after the birth of her son Leodis Andrellton Jackson. She called her son “the best blessing that I could have ever dreamed of.”

“I love being a mom,” she said. “My son gives me so much joy and so much strength, and it just makes me feel like I can really do the impossible. I just feel like it’s just really magical to be able to have experienced this. I’ve always wanted kids. I’ve always wanted to be a mom, and now the time is here, and I just feel like, honey, I am in the role. This is me. I’m going full method, honey.”

“Big Boss,” the visual album, is now streaming on Palmer’s streaming channel, KeyTV Network, on YouTube and Facebook . The album is also available on music streaming platforms.

Our 2024 Coverage Needs You

It's another trump-biden showdown — and we need your help, the future of democracy is at stake, your loyalty means the world to us.

As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.

Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.

Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.

Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?

HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.

It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.

But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.

Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.

Dear HuffPost Reader

Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?

The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.

Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.

Popular in the Community

From our partner, more in black voices.

Sign in to add this item to your wishlist, follow it, or mark it as ignored

Sign in to see reasons why you may or may not like this based on your games, friends, and curators you follow.

Planned Release Date: Q4 2025

About this game, escape to a ghibli-esque island paradise, a rich farming and exploration experience, genuine community interaction and cultural caring, endless possibilities in home creation, system requirements.

• OS *: Windows 7 or later
• Processor: 2.6 GHz Quad Core or similar
• Memory: 8 GB RAM
• Graphics: GeForce GTX 760 or Radeon HD 7950
• DirectX: Version 11
• Network: Broadband Internet connection
• Storage: 10 GB available space
• Processor: 3.0 GHZ
• Memory: 16 GB RAM
• Graphics: GetForce GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 580
• Storage: 20 GB available space

More like this

You can write your own review for this product to share your experience with the community. Use the area above the purchase buttons on this page to write your review.

You can use this widget-maker to generate a bit of HTML that can be embedded in your website to easily allow customers to purchase this game on Steam.

Enter up to 375 characters to add a description to your widget:

Copy and paste the HTML below into your website to make the above widget appear

Popular user-defined tags for this product: (?)

Sign in to add your own tags to this product.