Minions: The Rise of Gru

The little yellow pills of fun are back, and ready to take on the world in a new adventure.

Gru’s childhood is about to a little heated, as his dreams of hitting the big villain league get a little out of control.

In this heartwarming tale of adolescence, Gru finds his way in the world, with the help of his little yellow minions, to use his talent for getting up to mischief.

But what he doesn’t expect, is meeting his villainous idol, who takes him under his wing and shows him the ropes.

From incredible animation, to crazy plot twists, this film delves into the mayhem of the minion world.

But what this film loses in fluffy unicorns, it makes up for in jokes, that are there to bring a new level of enjoyment to the franchise.

Though this film won’t be everyone, it is an easy watch, and makes for good and wholesome family entertainment, that will make everyone from your 5 year old to your second uncle twice removed glow from ear to ear.

Christopher Robin

Christopher Robin may have grown up, but his childhood never went away.

A classic graces our screens once more, as the silly little bear, known as Winnie the Pooh, leaves the hundred ache wood to pursue an adventure in The Big smoke.

As a live action film, Disney has combined digital animation with real-life wonder to bring to A. A. Milne’s world of imagination to the screen with supreme vitality.

Every ounce of this film drips with talent, as everything from the stunning character animation to the ingenious film locations ebb away at this grossly nostalgic triumph of cinematic euphoria.

The Darkest Minds

When the adults turn against the children, nowhere is safe.

In a world ruled by color categories to classify the level of danger a child poses, Ruby (Amandla Stenberg) is a category orange in the new regime wiping out her under 18 peers, but for the past several years she’s been able to avoid detection, that is, until now.

As a page to screen adaptation of Alexandra Bracken’s The Darkest Minds series, this film combines just the right amount of cinematic drama with fictional authenticity, to create a well-rounded and emotionally evoking spectacle.

Though the target audience may be a young one, the copious talent that emanates from the actors provides a maturity that is sure to please even the eldest of audience members.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

Hollywood’s biggest musical marvel is back with a new wave of sporadically cringeworthy sing-a-long hits.

After the loss of her mother, Sophie decides to pursue her mother’s dream and renovate her hotel into a magical haven, but not all goes to plan when some unexpected guests make an appearance at the grand opening.

Though it seemed quite possible that all the ABBA hits had already been exhausted in the first film, this new installment shows just how wrong an assumption that was, as the old songs are recycled to showcase new stories.

Despite Meryl Streep not taking the lead role in this latest film, the cast members, new and old, seem to make for an equally enjoyable presence onscreen, as their talent radiates throughout, with the likes of Cher and Andy Garcia being added to the already star-studded cast.

Whilst this film holds all the same promise as the first, it does somewhat disappoint in terms of the plot dynamic, which tends to create confusion in place of satisfaction. Donna’s (Meryl Streep’s’) death, for instance, is carelessly overlooked as no explanation as to how and or why is provided.

Incredibles 2

The most incredible family are back.

It’s been over ten years since they were first introduced to the animation world, but now the infamous superhero family is back, and this time even the youngest family member is ready for a fight.

With all the characters now somewhat older, and maybe even a little wiser, the premise of this plot is beautifully executed to show the development of this lovable family as they save the world using their superhero capabilities.

Though the wait has been a long one, this film blows any expectation out of the water as it goes above and beyond to provide an action-packed plot fueled by high powered antics and great storytelling.

Disney and Pixar collaborations may not occur very often, but when they do, this film stands as a testament to just what a success they can be, both in terms of audience impact and innovative film-making.

Adrift

Castaway is not a strong enough description for this understated miracle of sea-ventures.

Going overboard takes a whole new meaning when two lovers find themselves in the aftermath of an ocean storm that tears through their boat and their relationship, leaving them stranded with no land in sight.

Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin make for an indispensable team as they achieve ultimate couple goals in performances that will almost certainly become award worthy.

Despite the inevitable sadness that threatens this films good nature, the plot allows for a whole host of emotions that provides both humorous relief and loving interceptions, which is an enviable achievement considering that the film is based upon a real story.

Ocean’s 8

What started as a man powered franchise, has now developed into an all woman cast, as Danny Ocean’s sister follow’s in her brother’s law-breaking footsteps.

George Clooney and Brad Pitt are nowhere in sight as this film instead finds itself fronted by Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett who take the meaning of a high end heist to whole new level as they take on the The Met Gala and all the jewels within.

Despite approaching this franchise from a different point of view, director, Gary Ross, struggles to find the right equilibrium between new and old as the characters often feel a little too rehearsed.

This being said, the film does have a lighthearted nature, which will be sure to please audiences of all ages. And more importantly still, it provides Hollywood with a prime example of women owning powerful lead roles.

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Bringing Jurassic life into the twenty first century turned out to be a little more complex than the creators of Jurassic Park could have ever envisaged.

Following the collapse of the park’s renovation, the fate of the dinosaurs hangs in the balance as the humans responsible for their resurrection debate whether they deserve to live or die with an impending volcano due to erupt upon the island of Isla Neblar.

In an epic bid to save these animals from a second round of extinction, Bryce Dallas Howard (Claire) and Chris Pratt (Owen) return to this dinosaur driven franchise with faces old and new on a quest to preserve the live’s of these endangered species.

Despite this now being the fifth film in this ever-growing franchise, it remains a whirlwind of activity and suspense as new obstacles provide new entertainment, alongside actors whose talents are inextinguishable.

Book Club

Just because you’re getting older, doesn’t mean the fun has to end.

Four older ladies find a new lease of life when they discover E. L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy; but rather than being defeated by the storyline, the ladies are determined to pursue their own quest for love.

Despite the trailer showcasing much of the Fifty Shades books, the actual film mentions very little of the books as it instead focuses upon the trials and tribulations of these four ladies as they attempt to negotiate their way through life all whilst trying to find romance and adhering to family expectations.

With a cast as brilliant as Jane Fonda, Dianna Keaton, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen, this acting is nothing short of sublime throughout, with the only real downside to this film being it’s over-predictability in terms of happy endings.

Solo: A Star Wars Story

Hans Solo; a name that has become synonymous with the insurmountable franchise that is Star Wars.

From star-crossed lover to fighter pilot, Hans’ delightfully dark past has become an intriguing part of an ever-growing series of films that encapsulates the world of Star Wars.

Focusing on one character can often come across as a desperate spin-off, but luckily this film manages to evade such stigmas, by dedicating a niche of the universe exclusively to Hans’ interpretation of it.

As this is a Lucas Film production, it almost goes without saying that the attention to detail in this film is of flawless standard, with the special effects and CGI reflecting equal brilliance.

With the likes of Donald Glover and Woody Harrelson as key cast members, this film is hard to be anything other than lovable.