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This week, there are FIVE new films out for you to choose from, led by Rocketman. Here are the titles, with more info below:
- Rocketman
John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection
Secret Life Of Pets 2
Aladdin 2019
Booksmart
Rocketman tells the story of Elton John’s life, from his years as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music through his influential and enduring musical partnership with Bernie Taupin, the pair played respectively by Taron Egerton and Jamie Bell.
It does look interesting, but whether it’ll work as a whole, I don’t know. It looks as if they’re going for a camp ‘nonsense’ approach to telling his life story, although presumably that will have been sanctioned with the man, given that Elton John also starred (rather too much!) in Egerton’s Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
All that said, I think Rocketman has a tough row to hoe in the light of Bohemian Rhapsody. Then again, it’s directed by Dexter Fletcher, who I later found out finished BoRap after Bryan Singer got the boot, so based on that, I might just give it the benefit of the doubt.
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Writer: Lee Hall
Also stars: Bryce Dallas Howard, Richard Madden, Steven Mackintosh, Gemma Jones, Kamil Lemieszewski, Luke White, Alison Ball, Michel Alexandre Gonzalez, Jamie Bacon, Benjamin Mason
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Maybe!
John McEnroe: In the Realm of Perfection
A documentary set at the final of the 1984 French Open between John McEnroe and Ivan Lendl at a time when McEnroe was the world’s top-ranked player.
McEnroe was a hell of a character back then, so I’m definitely looking forward to checking this out.
Director: Julien Faraut
Stars: John McEnroe, Ivan Lendl, Mathieu Amalric
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Hit!
Secret Life of Pets 2 shows that when you have a hit, keep milking it until you have a trilogy. And then, perhaps, milk it some more, and we’re on that train, now. Yes, you can tell this sort of film is not for me.
Director: Chris Renaud
Screenplay: Brian Lynch
Stars: Patton Oswalt, Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Lake Bell, Dana Carvey, Hannibal Buress, Bobby Moynihan, Kylie Hart, Nick Kroll, Garth Jennings, Pete Holmes, Jenny Slate, Harrison Ford, Tiffany Haddish, Ellie Kemper
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Miss!
Aladdin 2019 is another movie that I’m not fussed about watching. You know how I feel about kids CGI films, so it won’t surprise you, and this looks so much a film that’s ‘made by committee’ so like the 1992 cartoon version was done to showcase Robin Williams’ talents (and I tired of that after about 30-40 minutes), this looks to be Will Smith playing Will Smith who just happens to be a blue genie. He’s still just Will Smith.
…and this is actually a live-action remake of that 1992 version.
…and it’s directed by Guy Ritchie. Oh dear.
Also stars: Billy Magnussen, Naomi Scott, Nasim Pedrad, Mena Massoud, Marwan Kenzari
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Miss!
Booksmart is the directorial debut from Olivia Wilde and centres around two academic superstars and best friends who, on the eve of their high school graduation, realise they should have worked less and played more. Determined not to fall short of their peers, the girls try to cram four years of fun into one night.
However, again, another sweary comedy that’s there for the sake of swears. It also has the same dire f-word-laden rap song as Good Boys. Must be the week for it(!)
This film actually comes out next Monday, the Bank Holiday Monday, which means it will have a 7-day ‘weekend’ running from the Monday to the Sunday, but even that won’t stop Godzilla from beating it.
Screenplay: Susanna Fogel, Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins, Katie Silberman
Stars: Kaitlyn Dever, Lisa Kudrow, Will Forte, Jason Sudeikis, Billie Lourd, Skyler Gisondo, Molly Gordon
Hit or Miss? Verdict: Miss!
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.