Another week of sheltering at home, another week of trawling Netflix for entertainment to pass the hours. Here are a few promising new offerings being released this week by the big N:
“Absurd! Planet”
If you are looking for a way to combine education with kids-style entertainment while your children are out of school, this might fill the bill. Spawned from Wired Magazine’s “Absurd Creature of the Week” feature, this docuseries combines actual nature footage of odd and incredible animals with the goofy narration of an omniscient Mother Nature, voiced by actor Afi Ekulona. Debuted April 22
“The Willoughbys”
Netflix’s first big animated film of the year is based on Lois Lowry’s children’s book of the same name. Per the official premise: “Convinced they’d be better off raising themselves, the Willoughby children hatch a sneaky plan to send their selfish parents on vacation. The siblings then embark on their own high-flying adventure to find the true meaning of family.” Although produced by the Canadian-based Bron Studios, there’s a fair amount of Brit wit in the trailer, due mainly to Ricky Gervais’s presence as narrator and character voice. The rest of the cast includes Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Alessia Cara, and Terry Crews. Debuted April 22
“Extraction”
Wanna see Chris Hemsworth in firefights and fisticuffs? Teamed again with “Avengers” directors Anthony and Joe Russo, who produce this film, Hemsworth plays a jaded black-market mercenary hired to rescue the kidnapped son of an imprisoned crime lord. Things predictably go haywire, and Hemsworth has to Thor his way out of trouble. I don’t know if it’s good, but it’s definitely wall-to-wall action, directed by former Marvel movie stunt coordinator Sam Hargrave. Debuts April 24
“Never Have I Ever”
Season one of this coming of age comedy series features Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), an oddball Hindu teenager attending Sherman Oaks HS in California. You get the strong feeling that Devi is a doppelganger for a young Mindy Kaling, the “Office” vet who is the show’s producer and creator. The comedy is on the naughty side, but the trailer suggests a lot of charm and wit. Ten episodes debut on April 27.