School Holiday Film Round-Up
Dim the lights, shake those Maltesers into your popcorn and engulf a flavoured choc-top – be transported into the silver screen. School holiday time again means cinemas are the perfect place for time out with the whole family.
There’s something fun for everyone. Among the choices are insect marvel superheroes, gothic teen classic literature, a talking police dog on a catwalk, and ABBA singalongs to the best Adam Sandler film since the last Hotel Transylvania installment.
NOW SHOWING:
THE INCREDIBLES 2
Rated PG 118 min – best suited from age 8
Holly Hunter, Craig T. Nelson, Samuel L. Jackson
Pixar Disney have done it again – a brilliant animation adventure. Following on straight after the original red-suited family of unique superheroes left off fourteen years ago, Elastigirl goes solo with Mr Incredible housebound watching the kids. Hilarity ensues, must see!
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA 3: MONSTER VACATION
Rated PG 97 min – best suited from age 5
Adam Sandler, Fran Drescher, Selena Gomez
Amusing third installment is fresh and funny. Fantastic comedy follows Count Dracula and friends onboard a monster luxury cruise as a summer gift from daughter Mavis. Light-hearted mishaps at sea that adults will enjoy as much as the kids. Blobby by the pool is hilarious.
JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM
Rated M 128 min – best suited from age 13
Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Daniella Pineda
Dark prehistoric mayhem follows a questionable rescue of dinosaurs by private military from the volcanic eruption destroying the island. When back in civilisation, the creatures including a hybrid break out.
ANT-MAN AND THE WASP
Rated PG 118 min – best suited from age 9
Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas
Avengers fans, keep alert for Marvel links/cameos. One minute minuscule, the next gigantic. Ant-man has evolved since the 2015 original and battling out Captain America’s civil war. Now joined by companion the wasp to pursue justice with a focus on comedy.
MARY SHELLEY
Rated PG 112 min – best suited from age 12
Elle Fanning, Bel Powley, Maisie Williams
Teenage gothic girl-power looks at the iconic author of Frankenstein going on a European trip that became inspiration for a literature trailblazer when staying in the eerie castle of oddball Lord Byron.
SHOWDOGS
Rated PG 90 min – best suited from age 8
Will Arnett, Natasha Lyonne, Stanley Tucci
Off the wall comedy with police dog Max called into undercover action to infiltrate a self aware prized best in show canine contest alongside his human partner to avert disaster. The animals all talk.
FROM JULY 12:
SKYSCRAPER
Rated M 102 min – best suited from age 14
Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Noah Taylor
Die Hard for the modern era has everywhere man The Rock as security assessor on assignment at the world’s tallest building in Hong Kong when it sets ablaze. Vertigo sufferers beware, stunts are realistic to the point of exhaustion. SOS Bruce Willis, where are you?
FROM JULY 19:
MAMMA MIA: HERE WE GO AGAIN
Rated PG 114 min – best suited from age 12
Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Cher
Mamma Mia (2008) the big screen hit derived from the ABBA stage musical, now it’s time to dust off those dancing shoes and sequins for a kind of prequel following the teenage years of Donna (Streep) while her daughter (Seyfried) is pregnant herself. ABBA movie gold.
THE EQUALIZER 2
Rated MA 120 min – best suited from age 17
Denzel Washington, Melissa Leo, Abigail Marlowe
Brutal follow up to the original 2014 action hit has elite hitman McCall doing his bit for the underprivileged by knocking out criminal riff raff. Someone he loves is taken, pulses raise, carnage begins.
Shane A. Bassett
