The Movie Guru: “Werewolf by Night,” “Catherine Called Birdy,” and other movies worth streaming

Werewolf by Night (Disney+)

This is so good you’ll forget it’s part of the MCU.

Based on a more obscure corner of the Marvel Comics universe, “Werewolf by Night” feels blissfully different than the superhero movie formula we’re used to. It’s more of a throwback to classic monster movies, but with a twist that makes it all just that much more delightful. It’s scary, funny, a little bit sweet and surprisingly emotional, everything you never knew you wanted in a monster movie.

Even the cast is perfect. Gael Garcia Bernal as a particular delight, and Harriet Sansom Harris is just as menacing as you could hope for. Laura Donnelly is also quite good as Elsa Bloodstone, the daughter of the Bloodstone’s original owner, and though she has barely enough time to establish her character she puts in some interesting shading.

In fact, there are only two real flaws. One is the bodysuit for the titular character, which definitely needs to be reworked (though the face is perfect). The other is the absolutely criminal 50-minute runtime, along with the fact that there’s no sign that we’ll see these characters again. I need more, Marvel.

Catherine Called Birdy (Amazon Prime)

Think of it as a real girl power movie.

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Based on a classic middle-grade book, Catherine Called Birdy is a wonderfully charming historical coming-of-age story that manages to feel surprisingly modern. It does this not by squeezing in ridiculous slang or anything like that, but by so perfectly capturing the feeling of being a young girl that Catherine’s adventures feel timeless. Even though hundreds and hundreds of years separate her life with ours, there are some things that will never stop being true.

The movie is a surprising turn by Lena Dunham, who has previously been known better for arch dialogue than warm-hearted emotion. Here, however, she portrays some of the more unfortunate realities of Catherine’s life with a tender honesty that only enriches the experience. Some of the restrictions Catherine faces are more relevant than ever today, given some of the recent laws that have been passed, but Dunham keeps her focus firmly on Catherine.

As Catherine, Bella Ramsey is an absolute delight. Though the entire cast is excellent, she’s the beating heart of the story and brings such light to every part of it. Hollywood, this is your sign to give her more leading roles.

And ladies, this is your sign to watch this movie. You won’t regret it.

Entergalactic (Netflix)

There’s always more room for romances that don’t feel like they were pulled straight from a Hallmark movie.

The latest to fill that spot is “Entergalactic,” an urban slice-of-life romance partially written by rapper Kid Cudi. The animated format allows for some wonderfully dreamlike fantasy sequences, which is fitting for a movie about two artists falling in love. Even with those sequences, though, the movie also feels very grounded in the quiet realities of two adults trying to balance friendships, love, and careers.

It’s definitely an adult movie, and not just because of the sex scene and drug discussion. The things the main characters care about are firmly grown-up issues, the kind of things you don’t even recognize unless you’ve been out on your own for awhile. It’s a rare, surprisingly refreshing element to find in the romance genre.

Jenniffer Wardell is an award-winning movie critic and member of the Denver Film Critics Society. Find her on Twitter at @wardellwriter or drop her a line at themovieguruslc@gmail.com.