With so much grabbing for your attention and dollars these days, it’s easy to miss when the latest releases are heading to a cinema near you. So come back every week as we here at So, Is It Any Good? preview the new movies hitting screens and help you decide what to watch.
This weekend an avalanche of new titles flood the market hoping for a small slice of the non-Deadpool pie.
Ride Along 2
Rating: M
Starring: Ice Cube, Kevin Hart, Olivia Munn
Synopsis: As his wedding day approaches, Ben heads to Miami with his soon-to-be brother-in-law James to bring down a drug dealer who’s supplying the dealers of Atlanta with product.
OUR VERDICT
Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC5T0j7A1rM
Why you should be interested: If you’re a fan of the first Ride Along, you’ll probably like this one, cause it seems like exactly the same movie, just in a different location. Kevin Hart is either a genius, or the most irritating man on the planet, so whatever side of that you fall on should let you know whether you should see this movie.
Who should see it: Hart Hearters
How To Be Single
Rating: M
Starring: Dakota Johnson, Rebel Wilson, Alison Brie, Leslie Mann
Synopsis: New York City is full of lonely hearts seeking the right match, and what Alice, Robin, Lucy, Meg, Tom and David all have in common is the need to learn how to be single in a world filled with ever-evolving definitions of love.
Trailer:
Why you should be interested: How To Be Single otherwise known as How Much Risque Stuff Can Rebel Wilson Say in 90 Minutes, seems like harmless enough fun, but there seems to be a disconnect between the print marketing and the trailer, because they’re selling this as four funny women but Leslie Mann and Alison Brie are barely in the trailer, which is basically the Rebel Wilson show (with Dakota Johnson trying not to get left behind). Regardless, this is the only female-skewing comedy in the market at the moment, so if you’re in the mood for funny ladies, this might just be your ticket.
Who should see it: Funny femmes and their friends
Concussion
Rating: M
Starring: Will Smith, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Alec Baldwin
Synopsis: A look at how American football players suffer from major head injuries and life-long debilitating problems as a result of repeated concussions and efforts by the National Football League to deny it.
Trailer:
Why you should be interested: Will Smith’s gone all serious actor for this one, and it looks like he delivers the goods (although it didn’t deliver an Oscar nomination… #oscarsowhite). An timely and important story about a phenomena that is still happening in professional football today, if you’re not into the NFL, you might be intrigued by the thriller elements and the shadowy plot to silence Dr. Omalu.
Who should see it: Ballin’ Smith fans
Trumbo
Rating: M
Starring: Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren
Synopsis: The successful career of Hollywood screenwriter, Dalton Trumbo, comes to an end when he’s blacklisted in the 1940s for being a Communist.
Trailer:
Why you should be interested: Hollywood, Communism, Heisenberg, oh my! Cranston is in the race for Oscar with this performance, so if you use that as a barometer of quality, that should tell you that at the very least his performance is worth watching. With a great supporting cast as well (Helen Mirren, Diane Lane, John Goodman), I’d say the bench is stacked pretty deep on this one too. I’ve got a soft spot for stories about old Hollywood, and the blacklist era is an interesting time to pick over. If you’re in the mood for talky drama, this is the go I reckon.
Who should see it: Wordsmiths
45 Years
Rating: M
Starring: Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay, Geraldine James
Synopsis: There is just one week until Kate Mercer’s 45th wedding anniversary and the planning for the party is going well. But then a letter arrives for her husband. The body of his first love has been discovered, frozen and preserved in the icy glaciers of the Swiss Alps. By the time the party is upon them, five days later, there may not be a marriage left to celebrate.
Trailer:
Why you should be interested: A small quiet movie, this is one for the non-ADHD generation I think. No explosions or superheroes, just the thoughtful portrait of a marriage at a crossroads. Charlotte Rampling has been singled out for her performance here (including an Oscar nomination), so fans of the 60’s icon will want to take note.
Who should see it: Anyone over 45 years
Risen
Rating: M
Starring: Joseph Fiennes, Cliff Curtis, Tom Felton
Synopsis: Follows the epic Biblical story of the Resurrection, as told through the eyes of a non-believer. Clavius, a powerful Roman Military Tribune, and his aide Lucius, are tasked with solving the mystery of what happened to Jesus in the weeks following the crucifixion, in order to disprove the rumours of a risen Messiah and prevent an uprising in Jerusalem.
Trailer:
Why you should be interested: Roman epic with a side order of Bible study please. It seems like this is trying to turn the story of Jesus’ resurrection into an action movie, which seems a bit odd. All we needed was a crumbling temple or epic battle sequence and we’d have Spartacus 2: Electric Boogaloo. Mmm… pass
Who should see it: Believers, or the bored
Three Wise Cousins
Rating: PG
Starring: Neil Amituanai, Vito Vito, Fesuiai Viliamu, Gloria Ofa Blake
Synopsis: Adam is a 22 year old New Zealand born Samoan guy who falls in love with a girl called Mary. On a chance encounter he learns that Mary only wants to go out with a ‘real island guy’ – not a plastic one. Adam seeks the advice and guidance of his two cousins to get rid of his ‘plastic’ ways and impress Mary, he’ll have to travel to Samoa and have his cousins teach him how to be a real island guy.
Trailer:
Why you should be interested: I feel bad for trashing this sight unseen, but man this looks awful. I don’t know what else to say about it really.
Who should see it: Probably save your $20, go watch Deadpool again.
And here’s how the bullets fell last weekend:
AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE FEB 11-14
Source: Urban Cinefile
Deadpool owned the Valentines weekend, raking in a hefty $14.9 million to finish far and above the rest of the field. That’s a lot of chimichangas! He made serious bank across the pond as well, making off with a record $132.1 million for the 3 day weekend, and $150 million for the 4 day President’s Day holiday weekend.
The Merc with the Mouth well and truly broke the hearts of the Zoolander 2 peeps as well ($2.7 million), making about 7 times as much. Turns out people don’t want to see ridiculously good people duck-facing, they want to see the guy whose face looks like his neck threw up. See kids, looks don’t mean everything. Emigrating into third place, Brooklyn managed a solid $1.04 million from about half as many screens as Derek and Wade Wilson. Expect some more interest if the film takes home any hardware at the Oscars Monday week.
So, who’s getting your hard earned dollars this weekend? Hit us up in the comments and let us know what you’ve watched, and if it’s any good!