Pork Pie

A kiwi romp?

Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2

What’s it about?
Set to the backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ continues the team’s adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage.

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: The much-anticipated sequel to Guardians Of The Galaxy was always going to feature a plethora of one-liners and an awesome soundtrack and it certainly delivers on those. But while it’s heavy on laughs, it’s light on story. Almost two-and-a-half hours is a long running time and even more so when you consider just how little plot exists. Despite this, it’s incredibly entertaining and you will laugh for nearly the entire movie so it will once again make a squillion dollars despite the shortcomings. Between the laughs (most of which are delivered by Draxx, Rocket and Baby Groot this time around) and the cuteness (Baby Groot steals nearly every scene he’s in), there’s a lot to like about GotG2, but sadly the story – and ensuing replayability – is not one of them. And there are FIVE post-credit scenes and only one of them is actually worth sitting there for. Flat ending to the fun.

Free Fire

What’s it about?
A bunch of people meet in a warehouse for a weapons deal. Shots are fired and shit gets real in real time.

What did we think? 
Elizabeth Best says: Ever wanted to skip the beginning boring part of a movie and get right to the climax? Free Fire is ALL CLIMAX; an hour and a half of gangsters shooting the shit out of each other, on a claustrophobic set. It’s tense, it’s exciting, it’s even gross in bits. It has a touch of the Reservoir Dogs about it except without the flashbacks. Only thing is, the flashbacks (ironically) are what move the story forwards and without them, the bullet fatigue eventually sets in. The concept is truly kick-ass, it’s just a shame they didn’t do a bit more with it.

My Pet Dinosaur

What’s it about?
A town is plunged into chaos when a boy accidentally makes a new friend. And by make, we mean literally and figuratively. The title probably gives that away though.

What did we think?
While it doesn’t exactly tread new ground, My Pet Dinosaur is a delightful throwback to kid’s movies of the 80s. It’s a positively endearing reminder of youth, imagination and love. It would be easy to lump in with a post-Spielbergian genre, but great acting and good characterisation more than overcome the cliches. It’s good solid fun and wonderful to see a movie for all ages that doesn’t talk down to kids or get too caught up in itself.

Get Out

What’s it about?
A young black man visits his girlfriend’s wealthy white family at their mansion in the woods for the first time, but when he gets there, things seem seriously weird.

What did we think?
True horror is not monsters or ghosts – it’s humanity. And nowhere is this more evident than in Jordan Peele’s Get Out. An incredibly intelligent look at racism, the insidiousness of political correctness and modern America, it’s a movie that defies easy categorisation though it slips into a revenge flick. The true strength is that it will make you uncomfortable mentally long after the credits have rolled. Insightful and witty, it’s a must see not only for film lovers but anyone interested in equality or racial dynamics. Superb.

GET OUT opens in Australian cinemas on May 4. 

CHiPS

What’s it about?
Michael Peña and Dax Shepard reprise the roles made famous in the 1970s/80s by Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox, with the California Highway Patrol officers this time hunting down a mob of motorcycle thugs making a killing from security vans, with suspicions of an inside job. 
What did we think?
Angela says: “Chip happens” is the tagline: an implied sentiment so synonymoys with modern remakes. But surprisingly, this cheesy little comedy is actually not light on laughs. Peña’s Frank Poncherello is a likeable little git, and despite being the writer, director and star, Shepard’s washed-up ex biker makes a great partner. It’s no Oscar-winner, but there’s some serious chortles to be had. It’s a bit like watching a film your douchey friends have made in their spare time – pretty clumsy, but you can’t help feeling happy with it.

What’s Popular

The Predator

What’s it about?
A Predator crashes on earth and proceeds to go hunting, so a bunch of crazy soldiers try and fight it.

What did we think?
Nick says: The Predator starts off a bit wobbly, settles into a solid, often hilarious middle act, but proceeds to crash as things wrap up. Despite that, the cast and their chemistry is dynamite.

Teen Titans Go To The Movies

What’s it about?
A teenage superhero team who dream of Hollywood stardom match wits against a supervillian intent on destroying the world.

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Anyone familiar with the Teen Titans Go TV show is aware of the wacky and zany adventures that frequently slide into sly self-deprecation and meta references. The movie kicks that into overdrive. The surprisingly intelligent script combines flatulence jokes for the kids and adult jokes about comics (both DC and Marvel universes) and moviemaking that parents will laugh along too. I chuckled a lot. Well-layered and constructed, the movie gets a bit loud and obviously focuses a touch more on the younger audience as its main demographic, however if you like superheroes as an adult then this will a bit of fun for you too.

The Nun

What’s it about?
A miracle-hunting priest (Demian Bichir) and novice nun (Taissa Farmiga) investigate the suicide of a young nun in remote Romanian abbey, where a demonic force has risen.

What did we think?
Lisa says: If you’re into plenty of jump scares and some creepy 1950s Catholic mythology (yes please!), The Nun is a fun, tight horror that won’t leave you with bad dreams afterwards. It’s a prequel to other films in The Conjuring Universe, but perfectly serviceable as a stand-alone feature.

Christopher Robin

What’s it about?
Christopher Robin has grown up and forgotten his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood. Now his job is consuming him, making him neglect his family. He needs to be reminded of what is important in life by a Bear of Very Little Brain.

What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: Disney is making a name for itself in wringing life out of existing franchises, creating sequels to much-loved classics no-one knows they need.

By clashing harsh reality with nostalgic fantasy without fully committing to a target audience, Christopher Robin tells a story that goes somewhere but nowhere at the same time – it’s a cute diversion that is missing something: a concept looking for a genre.

As Pooh himself observes, “When you are a Bear of Very Little brain, and you Think Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.”

“Bother.”

Editor's Choice

The Predator

What’s it about?
A Predator crashes on earth and proceeds to go hunting, so a bunch of crazy soldiers try and fight it.

What did we think?
Nick says: The Predator starts off a bit wobbly, settles into a solid, often hilarious middle act, but proceeds to crash as things wrap up. Despite that, the cast and their chemistry is dynamite.

Teen Titans Go To The Movies

What’s it about?
A teenage superhero team who dream of Hollywood stardom match wits against a supervillian intent on destroying the world.

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Anyone familiar with the Teen Titans Go TV show is aware of the wacky and zany adventures that frequently slide into sly self-deprecation and meta references. The movie kicks that into overdrive. The surprisingly intelligent script combines flatulence jokes for the kids and adult jokes about comics (both DC and Marvel universes) and moviemaking that parents will laugh along too. I chuckled a lot. Well-layered and constructed, the movie gets a bit loud and obviously focuses a touch more on the younger audience as its main demographic, however if you like superheroes as an adult then this will a bit of fun for you too.

The Nun

What’s it about?
A miracle-hunting priest (Demian Bichir) and novice nun (Taissa Farmiga) investigate the suicide of a young nun in remote Romanian abbey, where a demonic force has risen.

What did we think?
Lisa says: If you’re into plenty of jump scares and some creepy 1950s Catholic mythology (yes please!), The Nun is a fun, tight horror that won’t leave you with bad dreams afterwards. It’s a prequel to other films in The Conjuring Universe, but perfectly serviceable as a stand-alone feature.

Christopher Robin

What’s it about?
Christopher Robin has grown up and forgotten his friends from the Hundred Acre Wood. Now his job is consuming him, making him neglect his family. He needs to be reminded of what is important in life by a Bear of Very Little Brain.

What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: Disney is making a name for itself in wringing life out of existing franchises, creating sequels to much-loved classics no-one knows they need.

By clashing harsh reality with nostalgic fantasy without fully committing to a target audience, Christopher Robin tells a story that goes somewhere but nowhere at the same time – it’s a cute diversion that is missing something: a concept looking for a genre.

As Pooh himself observes, “When you are a Bear of Very Little brain, and you Think Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.”

“Bother.”

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