Hey there! How’s everyone’s summer going? Isn’t it great we can finally step back into theaters? And just in time too, because there are a couple of blockbusters out just waiting for you at your local theater. But which actually one’s worth your time and money? Let’s take a look:
F9
F9 is certainly that summertime flick chock full of stars and action sequences. But is it time to release Vin Diesel and gang from Universal’s dungeon? I could be wrong, but I’m willing to bet this series’ superficiality is becoming an issue for even its most hardcore fans. Here’s the story: Cipher (Charlize Theron) has been accidentally set free. Her sidekick: Dom’s (Vin Diesel) brother Jakob (John Cena). He’s working for a nut (Thue Ersted Rasmussen) who wants to control a device that will attack the security network of every country. The subsequent details are far more idiotic, so I’ll spare you that agony. The stunts are about as memorable as the burps from that large Pepsi you’ll absently gulp down following that delightfully unhealthy large popcorn you just ingested… but really, the all-important question here is: just how much dumber could all this get? A heck of a lot more! The studio plans two more sequels. Stay tuned.
FOREVER PURGE
This is the latest (hopefully the last) installment of the Purge series, featuring more fascinating social commentary. A couple from Mexico (Ana de la Reguera, Tenoch Huerta) are fleeing the cartels (thanks, CIA!) and wind up in rural Texas, where the reinstalled purge finds our dear purgers furthering directives popularized by one Adolf Hitler. It’s just fodder for another bloody scenario, and sadly, it’s about as well explored as backstory in a porno, but hey, at least it’s promoting awareness of our society’s ills, which is definitely a good thing. Another nice point is that the flick has a wider racial representation—the cast includes Native American actor Gregory Zaragoza. Check out the trailer here:
BLACK WIDOW
Finally something good. Much like the other flicks in a long line of sequels, there’s little substance here, but the good news is that yes! Scarlett Johanssen can indeed carry a movie… so well indeed that she’s worth that theater ticket. Here she’s well paired with Florence Pugh (Midsomar), who plays the estranged sister from an inventive Soviet era pogram. Together they take on Dreykov (Ray Winstone) and his ‘angels of death’ who are doing their part to perpetuate global misery. Personally, I’m grateful the filmmakers did not delve into that darkness, opting instead to focus on the adoptive family (Rachel Weisz, David Harbour) and the comedic angle. Hasn’t the world enough darkness lately already (or, period)? Here’s the trailer:
And that’s it for me, folks. See you here, or out there! Either way, do come back here for the next crop of (worthwhile) new flicks!
