One heartfelt Zombie-Comedy aside, this is a weekend of quieter slate of releases. Let’s break them down one-by-one for you.
Little Monsters
Directed by: Abe Forsythe
With: Lupita Nyong’o, Josh Gad, Stephen Peacocke, and Alexander England
What is it about: A washed-up musician teams up with a teacher and a kids show personality to protect young children from a sudden outbreak of zombies.
Heads Up: The once choice this week should be this Zom-Com starring the forever-impressive Lupita Nyon’O (Have you watched Us yet?). Our own Lloyd Bayer watched it at an advance screening and loved it. His ★★★★☆ review summarizes: “A zombie movie with heart? Little Monsters has a lot of it, and one sweet Caroline.“
Abominable
Directed by: Jill Culton, Todd Wilderman
With: Chloe Bennet, Albert Tsai, Tenzing Norgay Trainor, Eddie Izzard, and Sarah Paulson
What is it about: When teenage Yi encounters a young Yeti on the roof of her apartment building in Shanghai, she and her mischievous friends, ame him “Everest” and embark on an epic quest to reunite the magical creature with his family at the highest point on Earth.
Heads Up: DreamWorks Animations is back in their second film this year after How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. This is yet another gorgeous looking animated film from DreamWorks, and there has been a dearth of great animated films since the release of Toy Story 4 back in June, so if you have young kids, then go for it.
Born a King
Directed by: Agustí Villaronga
With: Abdullah Ali, Rawkan Binbella, Ed Skrein, and Hermione Corfield
What is it about: In 1919, following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire, 13-year-old Faisal is sent by his father, Emir Abdulaziz, on a high-stakes diplomatic mission to London to secure the formation of what was to become the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Young Faisal negotiates his country’s and his family’s future with seasoned politicians like Winston Churchill and Lord Curzon, and forms a friendship with Princess Mary.
Heads Up: This historical drama is a joint production between UK, Spain, and Saudi Arabia. If you are interested in the history of Saudi Arabia, here is a glimpse of that, but stick to the original English version, as the Arabic version is terribly dubbed.
The Informer
Directed by: Andrea Di Stefano
With: Joel Kinnaman, Ana de Armas, Rosamund Pike, Common, and Clive Owen
What is it about: An ex-convict working undercover intentionally gets himself incarcerated again in order to infiltrate the mob at a maximum security prison.
Heads Up: This thriller has some terrific names in the supporting roles, even if the lead Joel Kinnaman is usually a wet blanket of an actor. Reviews are middling, but if you are looking for a second-choice movie, then this is it.
The Rookies
Directed by: Alan Yuen
With: Talu Wang, Sandrine Pinna, Timmy Xu, and Milla Jovovich.
What is it about: Extreme sport lover Zhou Feng got involved in an international illegal trade by accident. So he had to follow an international special agent Bruce to Budapest. Together with a crappy police officer Miao Yan, a non-professional scientist Ding Shan and an unemployed doctor LV, they became an amateur unit. In company with the senior agent Bruce, these four rookies started a fight with the terrorists that was both thrilling and hilarious.
Heads Up: Yet another Chinese action film with a Hollywood star all over its poster who would ends up being playing a supporting role or a glorified cameo. This time it’s Milla Jovovich‘s turn. This looks silly, frivolous, and inoffensive. I am not likely to see it, but I don’t think it’s gonna be awful.
The Wedding Year
Directed by: Robert Luketic
With: Sarah Hyland, Tyler James Williams, Anna Camp, and Keith David
What is it about: A commitment-phobic 27 year old’s relationship is put to the test when she and her new boyfriend go to 7 weddings in the same year.
Heads Up: This rom-com has two charming leads who are most known for their respective TV roles, but unfortunately this is from a director whose peaked at his debut film Legally Blonde, and it was all downhill from there. I’d say avoid.
