There is little
question what you will see this weekend, but there are a couple
options besides the cinematic earthquake that's about to go off. You
know, in case you want to go see something before or after in a way
to keep the “high on movies” feeling going. One of the two
counter-programming options indeed looks worthwhile. The other, I'm
sorry if you have to appease any small children. Let's see what's
going to create lines around the block.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Director: J.J.
Abrams
Writers: Lawrence
Kasdan, J.J. Abrams, Michael Arndt
Starring: Harrison
Ford, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Carrie
Fisher, Mark Hamill
Here it is. It's
the big kahuna, the movie that will disappoint Disney if it doesn't
become the the highest-grossing film of all time. That would seem
like a lot of pressure, but it's such an event that those
expectations are far from silly.
The return of the
big three from the original Star Wars trilogy, Harrison Ford's
Han Solo, Carrie Fisher's Leia (now a general), and Mark Hamill's
Jedi master Luke Skywalker, is probably what has most people excited.
However, J.J. Abrams and company have made no bones about the fact
that the new trio of Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe
Dameron (Oscar Isaac) are both the present and future of these
movies. The old heroes are there as a link, offering guidance and
whatnot. But this is especially Rey's show, as she is the new
protagonist. That's the right way to go.
Sisters
Director: Jason
Moore
Writer: Paula Pell
Starring: Tina Fey,
Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Ike Barinholtz
Tina Fey and Amy
Poehler deserve better treatment than to be offered as the
sacrificial lambs to the god of Star Wars. Everything about
the trailer shows this to be a funny, maybe even heartwarming, movie
about these two sisters who want to send off their childhood home in
style with a gigantic party. These are two of the best comedic
performers of the modern day, and they play off each other perfectly.
It's especially nice to see Fey play the looser cannon of the two,
flipping the dynamic from their last big-screen pairing, Baby
Mama.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road
Chip
Director: Walt
Becker
Writers: Randi
Mayem Singer, Adam Sztykiel
Starring: Matthew
Gray Gubler, Justin Long, Jesse McCartney, Jason Lee
Nothing to see
here. Move along.
Unless this breaks
convention in revolutionary ways, it will likely be another dire
piece of annoyance for parents. The voices, the hacky jokes,
on-the-nose pop culture references, everything looks to be there in
spades. I get the feeling this is the studio's way of saying they're
sick of this property, even if it makes okay money, and they are
putting it up against Star Wars to rid themselves of it for at
least a little while.
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