Mini Review - Superman
Superman (out Jul 10) is an entertaining jaunt. The premise isn’t wildly original, but it makes a bunch of great artistic choices which, when blended, add up to a worthwhile movie. The cast are great, it doesn't try to be an origin story, there's a nice balance of humour and comedy, the action scenes are easy to follow, and the remix of the John Williams 1978 music score works beautifully. Grade: A-.
Mini Review - Smurfs
Smurfs (out Jul 10) is another attempt to reboot the franchise and is centred on a Smurf with no name (an odd plot point) who must help rescue a kidnapped Papa Smurf. It’s a weird, chaotic narrative with a sci-fi, magic focus that struggles to generate humour and emotion. We barely get to know the characters. Grade: C.
Mini Review - Jurassic World Rebirth
Jurassic World Rebirth (out Jul 3) refers to a “rebirth” but this is best described as an underwhelming “rehash”. Borrowing heavily from the previous 6 movies, it's another action piece where heroes, who make head-scratching decisions, face off against dinosaurs and a villainous pharmaceutical guy. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - The Shrouds
The Shrouds (out Jul 3) is a messed-up David Cronenberg film about a savvy entrepreneur who has created a unique funeral home but things unravel when his computer systems are infiltrated by unknown hackers. I liked the concept more than the full narrative. Grade: B.
Mini Review - M3GAN 2.0
M3GAN 2.0 (out Jun 26) is proof that a new model isn't always as good as the original. It's a subpar sequel to the 2023 horror film. The drama and themes aren't as credible, and the humour isn't as strong. It’s hard to care about a character’s fate when they seemingly have no care themselves. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - F1
F1 (out Jun 26) is the Happy Gilmore of motor racing movies. You can enjoy it as simple entertainment, but it bears no resemblance to the sport itself. The production values are top-notch with heart-pumping race sequences and a pulsating Hans Zimmer music score. Unfortunately, the script is cliched and Hollywood-ised which makes it difficult to swallow. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - The Story of Souleymane
The Story of Souleymane (out Jun 26) is a drama about an immigrant from Guinea fighting for French citizenship while making a meagre living as a food delivery driver. It earned 8 César Award nominations, tells an important tale, and features a great lead turn from star Abou Sangaré. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Riviera Revenge
Riviera Revenge (out Jun 26) is a French comedy about a long-married couple who go on a wacky adventure to "set things right" when it's discovered that one of them had an affair several decades earlier. There are some funny scenes (the ending is a winner) but it's a bit too goofy in places. Grade: B-.