This weekend has many family-oriented films to choose from, but the MVP is a mystery thriller. Keep reading!
The House with a Clock in Its Walls
Directed by: Eli Roth
With: Jack Black, Cate Blanchett, Owen Vaccaro, and Kyle MacLachlan
What is it about? A young orphan named Lewis Barnavelt aids his magical uncle in locating a clock with the power to bring about the end of the world.
Heads Up: This a big switch for a director like Eli Roth who is best known for making gory horror films like Cabin Fever and Hostel, not children fantasy films. With Jack Black and Cate Blanchett as your stars and very decent reviews, I think it’s a good bet that the whole family will enjoy it.
Searching
Directed by: Aneesh Chaganty
With: John Cho, Debra Messing, Michelle La, and Joseph Lee
What is it about? After his 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a desperate father breaks into her laptop to look for clues to find her.
Heads Up? A film that takes place entirely on a computer screen ala Unfriended, and although this sounds like a gimmick, this up and coming director has pulled it off. In a ★★★★☆ review our own Faizan Rashid wrote: “While Searching may sound familiar in premise, it is a bona fide original in its approach and execution“.
Night School
Directed by: Malcolm D. Lee
With: Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, Taran Killam, Rob Riggle, and Keith David
What is it about? A group of troublemakers are forced to attend night school in hope that they’ll pass the GED exam to finish high school.
Heads Up? It’s unfortunate that Tiffany Haddish who was the breakout star of last year’s Girls Trip had her first starring role in this film which from its trailer and reviews seems like a big misstep. Unless you are a giant Kevin Hart fan, I would say avoid.
Smallfoot
Directed by: Karey Kirkpatrick, Jason Reisig
With: Channing Tatum, James Corden, Zendaya, Gina Rodriguez, and Danny DeVito
What is it about? A Yeti is convinced that the elusive creatures known as “humans” really do exist.
Heads Up? Here is a high-concept animation film (what if humans are the mythical creatures to yetis and not the other way around). The film features a star-studded cast doing the voice work, and the trailer promise a cute slapstick film that should satisfy the little ones, so why not?
Pataakha
Directed by: Vishal Bhardwaj
With: Sanya Malhotra, Radhika Madan, and Sunil Grover
What is it about? the story of two feuding sisters who realize the true nature of their relationship only after marriage separates them.
Heads Up? From my favorite Indian director Vishal Bhardwaj (Maqbool, Omkara, Haider, Kaminey) comes this comedy set in a rural Indian village. I had a great time just watching the trailer, so I am very much looking forward to seeing this one.
Sui Dhaaga: Made in India
Directed by: Sharat Katariya
With: Anushka Sharma, Varun Dhawan, and Raghuvir Yadav
What is it about? Set in a small town in India, the journey of an honest man and his loving wife from a humble background, who pursue their passion, overcoming all odds, on the way to great success.
Heads Up? Varun Dhawan has been cementing himself as a reliable and charismatic leading man, and this dramedy seems to extend that. This film tells a simple inspirational rag-to-riches story which should be decent uncontroversial family entertainment, with two excellent lead actors.
