Manny the Movie Guy Reviews Chicano Art Doc 'ASCO', Blockbuster 'Supergirl', and a Vulnerable 'Jackass' Finale

It is Friday, and that means it is time for the Agua Caliente Entertainment Report, brought to you by Agua Caliente Casinos. Our resident film critic, Manny the Movie Guy, stopped by the newsroom to break down the latest cinematic offerings hitting screens this weekend, ranging from a powerful local documentary premiere to a highly anticipated comic book blockbuster and an emotional farewell from a legendary comedy crew.

Manny started with the film that the international art world has been eagerly anticipating, the genre-defying documentary ASCO: Without Permission. Directed by filmmaker Travis Gutierrez Senger, the film profiles a revolutionary Chicano art collective from East Los Angeles that formed in the 1970s and remained highly active through the 1980s. The group became legendary in certain circles for staging radical, unpermitted street performances to protest police brutality and combat harmful Latino stereotypes in Hollywood. Despite their profound cultural impact, the members were largely overlooked by mainstream institutions for decades, finally gaining widespread museum recognition between 2005 and 2011. Backed by powerhouse executive producers Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna, the documentary aims to ignite the legacy of these long-marginalized visionaries. Senger noted that in today's political climate, the film functions as an urgent manifesto to celebrate Chicano culture, sexuality, and artistic fullness without ever waiting for institutional approval. The desert premiere takes place tomorrow, Saturday, June 27, at 1:00 PM at the Palm Springs Art Museum.

Shifting to the weekend's massive big-budget blockbuster, Manny shared his highly mixed review of DC Studios' Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, which officially landed in theaters today. Directed by Craig Gillespie, the film stars Milly Alcock as Kara Zor-El, whom Manny praised as brilliant. Alcock securely carries the weight of the film on her shoulders, portraying a traumatized, rebellious antihero who grew up watching her home planet be destroyed. The supporting cast features David Corenswet returning as Superman and a scene-stealing Jason Momoa as the wild interstellar bounty hunter Lobo. However, Manny noted that the film suffers from a severe identity crisis, trying to mix an explosive cosmic rock opera style reminiscent of Guardians of the Galaxy with the gritty, post-apocalyptic energy of Mad Max. With a forgettable villain and rough third-act special effects, Manny concluded that a great superhero movie is unfortunately buried beneath the techno-rubble, awarding Supergirl two and a half out of four kisses.

Finally, Manny surprised the desk by revealing his favorite watch of the weekend, a film he found oddly emotional: the latest and final installment of the Jackass franchise. Celebrating 26 years of togetherness, the movie masterfully blends vintage archival footage from their early television days with a series of newly filmed, outrageous stunts. Manny noted that beneath the ridiculous, bone-breaking comedy, the movie operates as a genuine tribute to lifelong friendship. Frontman Johnny Knoxville even admitted to crying during production as the reality of their final run set in. Manny admitted he never expected to cry at a Jackass movie but walked out of the theater feeling happy and deeply moved, giving the definitive final chapter of the franchise three out of four kisses.

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