6 films to see on the week of May 17 — May 23, 2019
John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum
SUPER-ASSASSIN John Wick is excommunicado after killing a member of an international assassin’s guild. With a price on his head, he is the target of the world’s most ruthless hit men and women. Directed by Chad Stahelski, the film stars Keanu Reeves, Ian McShane, and Halle Berry, and Mark Dacascos. “A work of pop cinema so blissfully, albeit brutally, entertaining that you come out of it feeling even more resentful of its multiplex neighbors for not making a similar effort,” writes www.rogerebert.com’s Robert Sobczynski. The film has a rating of 95% on the Rotten Tomatoes film aggregate site.
MTRCB Rating: R-16
The Queen’s Corgi
ONE of the Queen’s beloved corgis escapes from the palace and gets lost. With the help of a group of scrappy dogs, Rex journeys not just back to the palace but to self-discovery. Directed by Ben Stassen, the animated movie features the voices of Jack Whitehall, Julie Walters, and Tom Courtenay. “The film is an illustration of a problem in our times: The obsession with introducing incentives for adults in films meant for children,” writes Jordi Costa in El Pais.
MTRCB Rating: PG
UglyDolls
IN THIS animated film, the weird and different are celebrated in the town of Uglyville. The, free-spirited Moxy and her friends go on a journey to discover what lies beyond Uglyville and confront what it means to be different and be loved. Directed by Kelly Asbury, the film features the voices of Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, and Janelle Monae. IndieWire’s David Ehrlich writes, “[Of course] it’s important for kids to recognize their own value and embrace what makes them different, but if the last 100 movies didn’t sufficiently condition them to think that way, it’s not like this one is gonna do the trick.” This film has a score of just 30% on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes.
MTRCB Rating: G
A Dog’s Journey
THE sequel to A Dog’s Purpose, Bailey the dog is living happily with his boy, Ethan, Ethan’s wife, Hannah, and the couple’s granddaughter, CJ. When the baby’s mother arrives to take the child away, Bailey begins an adventure to protect CJ at any cost. Directed by Gail Mancuso, the film features the voice of Josh Gad, and stars Jake Manley, Betty Gilpin, Dennis Quaid, and Henry Lau. The Hollywood Reporter’s Leslie Felperin writes, “They’re easy films to sneer and snark at, especially given that both, and the first one especially, trade in a certain kind of wholesome, backlit, wheat-field-swathed image of America (actually shot in Manitoba, Canada). Even worse, both films are ruthlessly efficient when it comes to jerking tears. Some prideful viewers are likely to feel resentful over how well the pain of losing a beloved animal companion is evoked.”
MTRCB Rating: PG
Between Maybes
ACTRESS Hazel Ilagan takes a break for her hectic schedule and goes on a vacation in Japan. While there, she meets Louie Puyat who is currently dealing with the deportation of his parents. They start a romance, but their relationship takes a turn when Hazel suddenly has to come home. Directed by Jason Paul Laxamana, the film stars Julia Barretto and Gerald Anderson.
MTRCB Rating: PG
Kuwaresma
AFTER a couple loses their youngest daughter, their son comes home to pay his last respects and asks about her death. When his sister’s ghost haunts him, and since his parents are both tight-lipped about the incident, he hires a psychic to uncover the mystery of his sister’s death. Directed by Erik Matti, the film stars Sharon Cuneta and John Arcilla.
MTRCB Rating: R-13
