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 give you the lowdown on what to watch this weekend.
This weekend, we learn what happens in The Secret Life Of Pets, Tom Hanks has a rocky landing in Sully, Viggo Mortensen is Captain Fantastic, and we revisit Australia in the 70’s in the quirky comedy Girl Asleep.
The Secret Life Of Pets
Rating: G
Starring: Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart
Synopsis: Taking place in a Manhattan apartment building, Max’s life as a favourite pet is turned upside down, when his owner brings home a sloppy mongrel named Duke. They have to put their quarrels behind when they find out that an adorable white bunny named Snowball is building an army of abandoned pets determined to take revenge on all happy-owned pets and their owners.
Trailer:
Why you should care: If you have kids, or are a big kid at heart, you’re all over this. It’s a slam dunk for that crowd really. Ditto lovers of all things fluffy and cuddly. The plot looks pretty basic, but this seems to have a nice sly sense of humour so it’ll be the little details that make you chuckle.
Who should see it: Puppy pals
Sully
Rating: M
Starring: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart, Laura Linney, Anna Gunn
Synopsis: On January 15, 2009, the world witnessed the “Miracle on the Hudson” when Captain “Sully” Sullenberger (Tom Hanks) glided his disabled plane onto the frigid waters of the Hudson River, saving the lives of all 155 aboard. However, even as Sully was being heralded by the public and the media for his unprecedented feat of aviation skill, an investigation was unfolding that threatened to destroy his reputation and his career.
OUR VERDICT
Trailer:
Why you should care: How do you stretch a 208 seconds event into a 90 minute feature? I’ll guess we’ll find out. Hanks can play this kind of lone hero role in his sleep, so if that’s your bag, you’ve got your weekend viewing sorted. My colleague Ben recommends seeing it on the biggest screen possible, so a trip to IMAX might be in order to take full advantage of those bone-rattling crash scenes.
Who should see it: Those who love a Heroic Hanks
Captain Fantastic
Rating: M
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Frank Langella, Kathryn Hahn
Synopsis: In the forests of the Pacific Northwest, a father devoted to raising his six kids with a rigorous physical and intellectual education is forced to leave his paradise and enter the world, challenging his idea of what it means to be a parent.
Trailer:
Why you should care: Part family drama, part quirky independent comedy, this one was a big hit on the festival scene over the last year. It also boasts a welcome return from Viggo Mortensen whose been largely absent from features for the past few years. Go if you in the mood for some wacky family antics and for something a bit different from the typical Hollywood film.
Who should see it: Fantastic families
Girl Asleep
Rating: M
Starring: Bethany Whitmore, Harrison Feldman, Matthew Whittet, Amber McMahon, Eamon Farren
Synopsis: The world is closing in on Greta Driscoll. On the cusp of turning fifteen, she can’t bear to leave her childhood, it contains all the things that give her comfort in this incomprehensible new world.
Trailer:
Why you should care: Like one of the quotes in the trailer says, this has a very Napoleon Dynamite vibe to it, by way of Puberty Blues. This is something different from the recent rash of Aussie films, and harkens back to the hey-day character pieces of the 90’s like Muriel’s Wedding. If it gets the tone right, this could be a real winner.
Who should see it: Aussie adolescents (current and former)
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!