Here we go again, folks. Another week of movies to vie for your time. Another week of big summer tent-pole action flicks, thoughtful indie dramas, and things with David Spade. Ahh, summer.
Pacific Rim (Savoy 16 IMAX): The story of a war between humankind and monstrous sea creatures being waged from within huge robotic armored suits. A former pilot and a trainee are paired up to drive a seemingly obsolete special weapon in a desperate effort to save the world from the apocalypse.
Why to Watch: Guillermo Del Toro is one of the most celebrated storytellers in modern cinema, especially when it comes to fantasy and science fiction. People will love this movie because of the fight scenes: monsters being destroyed always help to keep the audience entertained. The lead actors are recognizable, but hardly stars: Charlie Hunnam from Sons of Anarchy fame; Idris Elba; comedic actor (and seeming bastard offspring of Bobcat Goldthwait and Christian Slater) Charlie Day from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia; and Hunnam’s Sons co-star (and Del Toro regular) Ron Perlman. Without question, that’s a pretty fun group. And there’s no questioning the fact that the special effects visuals in this film make it a must-watch in IMAX.
Showing daily: in 2D @ 3:30 & 9:30 p.m., in 3D @ 12:30 & 6:30 p.m., and in IMAX 3D @ noon, 3:00, 6:00, & 9:00 p.m.
Much Ado About Nothing (The Art Theater Co-Op): Joss Whedon puts a modern twist on the classic Shakespeare tale about mistaken identity, true love, and delicious wordplay.
Why to Watch: Just knowing that this film was shot over the span of a few days in Whedon’s own home makes it a first-rate curiosity. Add to that the starry roster of Whedon’s favorite recurring company members (Amy Acker, Sean Maher, Clark Gregg, and Nathan Fillion among them), and come on! It’s a modern version of Shakespeare from the man behind The Avengers!
Showing July 19 & 20 @ 5:00 & 7:30 p.m., and July 20 @ 12:30 p.m.
White House Down (Savoy 16 IMAX ): While on a tour of the White House with his young daughter (and missing out on a job opportunity with the Secret Service, sigh…), a Capitol policeman springs into action to save his child and protect the President from a heavily armed group of paramilitary invaders.
Why to Watch: It’s Channing Tatum saving Jamie Foxx. And Jamie Foxx is…kinda…Obama. What else do you need? In all seriousness, this is the perfect action movie to get the adrenaline pumping in male or female audience members for all manner of reasons. Tatum’s career is on an impressive roll at the moment, and this attempt to fill Bruce Willis’ undershirt is another interesting step up the ladder for him.
Showing daily @ 12:40, 3:40, 6:40, & 9:40 p.m.
Mud (The Art Theater Co-Op): Two teenage boys encounter a fugitive and form a pact to help him evade the bounty hunters on his trail and reunite him with his true love.
Why to Watch: I’ve seen Matthew McConaughey play villainous roles before, but this film offers something deeper, something more nuanced. The real surprise of this movie is that it’s impossible to tell whether the boys are doing the right thing by helping Mud. This film is fascinating to watch and engaging on so many levels.
Showing: July 15 & 16 @ 7:30 p.m. and July 17 & 18 @ 4:00 & 7:00 p.m.
Grown Ups 2 (Savoy 16 IMAX ): This imaginatively named sequel picks up after the original film, with Lenny (Adam Sandler) moving back to his hometown to be with his friends and all of their kids. Which makes it an interesting metaphor for Sandler’s entire career…
Why to Watch: The first film was critically panned, but I liked it. It was a guilty pleasure. Maybe the guiltiest. Okay, it was the Funyuns of filmmaking. This movie is watchable only because of how bad it is. See it for that reason. Or to try to figure out how Salma Hayek keeps getting paired up with these guys, since she played Kevin James’ love interest in between gigs as Sandler’s screen wife. Or watch it because Andy Samberg plays a carwash cheerleader. Or … I don’t know, because it’s hot out and the Savoy 16 has air conditioning.
Showing daily @ 11:25 a.m., 12:15, 2:15, 2:45, 4:35, 5:05, 7:00, 7:25, 9:20, & 9:45 p.m.