Summer season is over, and for the upcoming weeks we will only have the leftovers. This weekend releases include an action franchise reboot of sorts, an adventure comedy, Meryl Streep, a family adventure film, a revenge drama, and a Bollywood action comedy sequel. Let’s check them out:
The Transporter Refueled
Directed by: Camille Delamarre
With: Ed Skrein, Loan Chabanol, and Ray Stevenson
Heads up: A continuation of The Transporter series the former special-ops mercenary Frank Martin enters into a game of chess with a femme-fatale and her three sidekicks who are looking for revenge against a sinister Russian kingpin. Our in-house critics hated this film, citing it as the worst film they saw all year. In his 1 Star review, our critic Lloyd Bayer wrote: “If anything, Refueled is a classic example that any Tom, Dick and Harriet can make a movie. I can just imagine the hiring notice for the fifth film – Apply within, no skill required.“
A Walk in The Woods
Directed by: Ken Kwapis
With: Robert Redford, Nick Nolte, and Emma Thompson
Heads up: The story of Bill Bryson, who after spending two decades in England returns to the U.S., where he decides the best way to connect with his homeland is to hike the Appalachian Trail with one of his oldest friends. Great great cast, but the reviews are so-so. This is geared for more mature audience, so if you are in the demographic, then go for it.
Ricki and The Flash
Directed by: Jonathan Demme
With: Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Mamie Gummer
Heads up: The story of a musician who gave up everything for her dream of rock-and-roll stardom returns home, looking to make things right with her family. Meryl Streep is a legend and she makes up for almost every shortcoming in any project she stars in. The film is written by Diablo Cody and is directed by Jonathan Demme, both are Oscar winners. This is the second film for grownups in this week’s new releases, and if I have to choose, I will go for this one.
The Game Maker
Directed by: Juan Pablo Buscarini
With: David Mazouz, Joseph Fiennes, Tom Cavanagh, and Edward Asner
Heads up: The story of Young Ivan Drago’s, who has to defeat the evil inventor Morodian, who wants to destroy the city of Zyl. In order to save his city and family from Morodian’s plans, by becoming a true Game Maker. This film is for young kids, so if you are an adult, and if you don’t have to accompany your children, then I don’t think it will be very interesting.
Lila & Eve
Directed by: Charles Stone III
With: Jennifer Lopez, Viola Davis, and Shea Whigham
Heads up: The story of two distraught mothers, whose children were gunned down in a drive-by, who team up to avenge their deaths after local authorities fail to take action. This is a film about vigilante women which usually bodes well with cinema crowd. That said, the film is already can be rented via iTunes and other venues. Also its reviews are mostly negative citing its ridiculous plot and weak screenplay. I say catch it on TV if you must.
Welcome Back
Directed by: Anees Bazmee
With: Anil Kapoor, Nana Patekar, John Abraham, Paresh Rawal, and Dimple Kapadia
Heads up: A sequel for the 2007 film Welcome, and in it Uday Shetty and Majnu Bhai have left the underworld, and are now big businessmen. They are both vying for the love of a beautiful woman Chandni who will put them through a lot of shenanigans to win her love. this is an Anees Bazmee/Firoz Nadiadwala vehicle, so the story is not of importance, it will be an incoherent slapstick sketches slabbed together in one film. This kind of films can be crowd-pleasing, so if you are inclined, I would recommend watching it in theater with a good crowd.
