2017 Warm Weather Movie Preview: April
2017 Warm Weather Movie Preview: April

2017 Warm Weather Movie Preview: April

April doesn’t exactly inspire lots of fun trips to the movies this year:

SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE

The Good: You can catch a nap while your kids laugh at fart jokes and puns.

The Bad: When has a Smurf movie been good, like ever?

Prediction:

Your 4 year old will love this. That’s it.

GOING IN STYLE

The Good: It’s hard to not enjoy a movie with Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Alan Arkin riffing off each other.

The Bad: Zach Braff(!) is actually directing this, and Theodore Melfi (Hidden Figures aside) does more schmaltz than nuance.

Prediction:

The old guys get some paychecks and fun scenes, but this will be forgettable and a waste of talent, like Zach Braff.

THE CASE FOR CHRIST

The Good: Based on a respected Christian novel and a decent cast.

The Bad: Relatively untested creative team and the studio famous for pushing propaganda over story (GOD’S NOT DEAD HE’S SURELY ALIVE!!!!)

Prediction:

Should be well made, but too pushy with its agenda.

THE FATE OF THE FURIOUS

The Good: The formula works: over the top action, kick ass superheroes (they are), and a yearly addition of a respected thespian (Hi Charlize Theron!). Plus strong acting and the writer of the previous 5 films.

The Bad: Except for the last one, these movies don’t exactly deliver anything except the movie version of empty calories.

Prediction:

Hot cars and girls, and references to family despite no one having offspring, the Rock’s cocoa butter arms fighting Jason Statham? Guaranteed stupid fun.

GIFTED

The Good: The leads are all good actors, starting with Captain America.

The Bad: Marc Webb fell off a cliff after 500 Days of Summer, untested writer, and a stupid premise (my gifted daughter can’t go to special school! Then she won’t be normal!!! Boo hoo).

Prediction:

I’ve seen this trailer at least a dozen times, and I can hear the maudlin strings of the violin begging for my tears. Not buying it.

UNFORGETTABLE

The Good: Katherine Heigl turning her offscreen persona into an onscreen one. And one not terrible horror writer.

The Bad: Meta jokes aside, this story looks tired and a waste of Rosario Dawson.

Prediction:

Katherine Heigl will not be ignored, but people will find a way to ignore her anyway.

THE LOST CITY OF Z

The Good: Up and coming cast with an interesting director and strong Apocalypse Now overtones.

The Bad: Anytime a films release date gets delayed, that’s usually a bad sign.

Prediction:

This film is hard to pin down; could be great, but the delay could lead to a very expensive haughty flop.

FREE FIRE

The Good: A really strong cast letting loose and an intriguing director, plus A24, the star production company at the moment, is involved.

The Bad: Is there enough material to sustain a feature length film?

Prediction:

The trailer makes this super fun, and watching great actors with what appears to be a strong script always reaps dividends.

THE CIRCLE

The Good: The Ponsoldt and Eggers have a proven record for quality (teen) filmmaking, and Tom Hanks and Emma Watson lead a very strong cast.

The Bad: The premise would have been fresher 10 years ago, but now it seems stale: wait, large internet companies like spying on people in different ways? Seen it.

Prediction:

The one giant red flag is the premise, but the strong talent everywhere around the film has me interested in their spin on the tired story.

HOW TO BE A LATIN LOVER

The Good: What appears to be solid acting talent, and a not terrible story.

The Bad:  Very untested behind the scenes group, with an actor directing and unknowns writing.

Prediction:

There’s a great story in here somewhere, but my guess is this will be a one joke premise that gets tired very quickly.

 

MUST SEE: Free Fire. A24 is on a roll, and shows no signs of slowing up with a really fun looking shoot em up.

MUST SKIP: Anyone know how the Smurfs are still going strong? Anyone? Bueller?

MOST INTRIGUING: We will see if Tom Hanks can keep the square pegs out of The Circle, which has the potential to be great or Tomorrowland.

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