Summertime means school is out and movies are in! While the sunny weather is good for plenty of outdoor activities, movies offer a fun indoor option when you need a break from the heat. Check out these family flicks in a theater near you.
In Theaters
Winnie the Pooh
Release Date: July 15
Description: Sweet-as-honey adventures from the Hundred Acre Wood are coming to a theater near you with Disney’s new movie “Winnie the Pooh.” Inspired by three classic A.A. Milne stories with loveable hand-drawn characters such as Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Roo, Eeyore, Christopher Robin – and of course Pooh, this movie is sure to prove just as popular with children as it will with nostalgic adults.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins
Release Date: In Theaters Now
Description: Actor, Jim Carey tones down his signature over-the-top comedy to let six penguins steal the show and our hearts. Mr. Popper’s Penguins, based on a classic book of the same title, is about a divorced father of two who values work over family until the unexpected and at first, very much unwanted gift of six live penguins take over his New York apartment and teach him what’s important.
Cars 2
Release Date: June 24
Description: When star race car Lightning McQueen, (voice of Owen Wilson), and tow truck Mater, (voice of Larry the Cable Guy), head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix, Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage!
Zookeeper
Release Date: July 8
Description: Kevin James plays Griffin, a lonely but devoted zoo keeper at Franklin Park Zoo who needs a little help in the romance department. When he decides that quitting his job and finding a more glamorous one would help his chances of attracting a girl, the zoo animals decide to break their code of silence and give him a hand, (paw?)
Judy Moody and The Not Bummer Summer
Release Date: In Theaters Now
Description: Based on the popular book series, Judy Moody is an imaginative third grade girl who sets out to have the best summer ever. With her best friends and parents away, she’s stuck with her Aunt Opal and brother “Stink” – but even that won’t deter her from seeking out mischievous adventures.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II
Release Date: July 15
Description: This is the moment devoted muggles around the world have all been simultaneously anticipating, and dreading – the last movie in the series based on J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter. If you read the books, you know how it ends, but re-live the magic as Harry, Ron and Hermione continue their search for the Horcruxes that hold pieces of Voldemort’s soul, as well as the final battle at Hogwarts.
(Note: This movie is not yet rated, but if previous movies in the series are any indication, this one is not for small children due to violence and scary themes.)
The Smurfs
Release Date: July 29
Description: Here’s another nostalgia-inducing one for parents – Smurfs! Now those little blue guys you so fondly remember are coming to the big screen but will look much more realistic thanks to 3D live action and CGI animation. Set in the Middle Ages, anti-Smurf villain, Gargamel, chases the Smurfs into a forbidden grotto where they discover a portal which takes them to present-day New York City.
Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World
Release Date: August 19
Description: Marissa is a retired spy who gets called back into service to stop a villain from taking over the planet. The only problem? She’s now a stepmother to several kids and she has to take them with her.
Kung Fu Panda 2
Release Date: In Theaters Now
Description: Po, voiced by Jack Black, is now “The Dragon Warrior,” along with his friends and fellow kung fu masters, must protect the Valley of Peace from a new villain with a secret, unstoppable weapon which threatens to conquer China and destroy kung fu. Other celebrities lending their voice talents to this star-studded film: Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, James Hong, Gary Oldman, Michelle Yeoh, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Victor Garber.
Special Mention
Okay, this isn’t quite a summer movie, but worth looking out for!
The Lion King 3D
Release Date: September 16
Description: Over a decade ago you saw Simba, Mufasa, Nala, Timon and Pumbaa on the big screen – now they’re back and in 3D. This new 3D version of Disney’s The Lion King, an Oscar and Golden Globe winning film, will be in theaters for only two weeks – so don’t miss your chance!
Home Viewing
Looking for a more affordable way to spend time as a family, or just feeling like you want to stay home? Pop some popcorn and rent or buy one of these movies to watch with the niños this summer!
Rango
Release date: July 15
Description: Johnny Depp is the voice of Rango, a chameleon whose dreams are much bigger than his reality as an ordinary family pet, until the day he becomes sheriff of a lawless desert town called Dirt.
Rio
Release date: August 2
Description: From the makers of Ice Age, RIO is a comedy adventure directed by Brazilian-native Carlos Saldanha. The story follows Blu, a domesticated Macaw who never learned to fly and lives a comfortable life as a pet parrot in small-town Minnesota. When Blu’s owner finds out he may be the last male of his species, they head to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with hopes that he’ll pair up with Jewel, a female Macaw. Before love can spark between the two, Blu and Jewel are kidnapped. Now relying on Jewel’s street smarts and with the help of some other city birds, they plan their escape so Blu can return to the owner he loves.
Share: Which family summer movie have you seen and/or are looking forward to seeing?
I was thoroughly immersed in this movie from beginning to end and while leaving the cinema (twice in the last 24hours) I could only hear the numerous chat of comments like “That was great” and “Brilliant way to close the series”.
Though, I believe, some main reasons were missing or needed more exploration I think you’ll find it’s easy to clue on whether you’ve read the novels or not. Some previously main characters were lucky to slip in a line or two whilst several of the more minor characters sneaked their way up to the top.
The film was remarkably directed. Audio, lighting, script; everything was flawless. Various moments had my body crawling and heart beating faster for virtually no reason other then the fact that it was utterly eerie, it was hard not to grip the armrests in anticipation.
Dramatic musical build up mixed perfectly with lingering silences in all the right places. Spots that would usually host a soft violin were left with the honest and real quiet so that you could wrap your head around everything.
My emotions were chewed up and spit out over and over, I didn’t know whether to grieve, cheer, try to laugh or scream and neither did the audience I was with.
By the end I couldn’t think of the fact that it was the end of an era, I couldn’t even grasp everything that had happened which is why I’ll be going to see it for the third time soon.
Have nice day!
Sarajah