Mini Reviews
Mini Review - The Cave
The Cave (out Aug 19) is a weak, poorly acted drama that tries to provide insight into the rescue of 13 young footballers from a flooded Thai cave in 2018. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - Free Guy
Free Guy (out Aug 12) is Pleasantville meets The Truman Show meets Wreck-It-Ralph. Ryan Reynolds is playing the same goofy klutz that he does in every other movie... but the script has a great sense of humour and, when you throw in Taika Waititi, there are plenty of laugh out loud moments. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - The Suicide Squad
The Suicide Squad (out Aug 5) is as good as the 2016 original was bad. It's got creative violence, insane surprises, and a great sense of humour. It's taking a lot of chances for a $185m blockbuster (studios often play it safer) and credit belongs to writer-director James Gunn for bringing it all together. Grade: A-.
Mini Review - The Ice Road
The Ice Road (out Aug 12) is an action-thriller about a struggling an American truck driver (Liam Neeson) who takes a lucrative but dangerous job of transporting mining equipment on frozen Canadian rivers. The first half is strong and realistic but the film then loses its way and degenerates into a non-sensical, cliché-laden mess filled cheesy villains and dumb motives. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - The Rose Maker
The Rose Maker (out Aug 5) is a French comedy about a struggling rose grower (Catherine Frot) who, with the help of some new employees, finds an unorthodox way to reinvigorate her business. It’s corny... it’s contrived... but if you’re looking for a simple feel-good tale to brighten up your mood, perhaps you’re the target audience for this. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - Jungle Cruise
Jungle Cruise (out Jul 29) is an unadventurous family adventure about a scientist (Emily Blunt) who teams up with a steamboat captain (Dwayne Johnson) to travel along the Amazon and locate a magical tree. The characters love a chat but they come across as one-note, empty and uninteresting. Tension lacking also. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - The Misfits
The Misfits (out Jul 29) is a terrible action comedy about an experienced thief (Pierce Brosnan) who teams up with an eclectic group of youngsters to bring down a terrorist organisation in the Middle East. Everything is far too easy and convenient for these characters. Grade: C.
Mini Review - Shiva Baby
Shiva Baby (out Jul 29) is a low-budget American film about a college student from New York who gets stuck an increasingly awkward family event to celebrate the death of someone she doesn’t even know. Writer-director Emma Seligman does a really good job building tension and Rachel Sennott is terrific in the lead role. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Snake Eyes
Snake Eyes (out Jul 22) is the latest entry in the G.I. Joe franchise. The action scenes are well choreographed (for the most part) but it's a dull, empty story... and the characters could be described the same way. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - Old
Old (out Jul 22) is an M. Night Shyamalan thriller about several folk on a beach who finds themselves aging super rapidly. There's a decent punchline but the lead-up is frustrating and tedious - partly because it's hard to give this idea credibility and partly because the script isn't sharp enough. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - Rosa's Wedding
Rosa's Wedding (out Jul 22) is a Spanish comedy about a 45-year-old single mother who, feeling underappreciated by her family (rightly so), curiously decides to marry herself and set her life on a new path. It's an offbeat idea that works thanks to the lead performance of Candela Peña who brings the right mix of confidence and insecurity to the character. Nominated for 8 Goya Awards. Grade: B+.