June
Edge of Tomorrow (Doug Liman) Rated PG-13 – June 6 – A soldier fighting in a war with aliens finds himself caught in a time loop of his last day in the battle, though he becomes better skilled along the way Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, and Lara Pulver
Groundhog Day meets Starship Troopers in Tom Cruise‘s latest sci-fi, action thriller. I think Edge of Tomorrow will be really great if the story is cohesive enough to make sense and follow its own rules. And who doesn’t love Emily Blunt? I hope this role will segue her career into a part within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. SEE IT!
The Fault in Our Stars (Josh Boone) Rated PG-13 – June 6 – Hazel and Gus are two teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a disdain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them on a journey. Their relationship is all the more miraculous given that Hazel’s other constant companion is an oxygen tank, Gus jokes about his prosthetic leg, and they met and fell in love at a cancer support group. Starring Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Willem Dafoe, and Nat Wolff
Sure you may be sick of young adult novels being adapted for the big screen – many of which have flopped – but I have been hearing positive things about The Fault in Our Stars. Like you’ll be crying every five minutes kind of good? Ansel Elgort was a bit of a wet blanket in Divergent as Shailene’s brother, but he seems nice and caring here as her love interest. And who could say no to Woodley? SEE IT!
22 Jump Street (Phil Lord and Christopher Miller) Rated R – June 13 – After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt and Jenko when they go deep undercover at a local college. Starring Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube, and Dave Franco
Chris Miller and Phil Lord already hit it big this year with The LEGO Movie and 21 Jump Street was an impressive feat to behold. So I wouldn’t expect anything less from the talented directors. The marketing is fantastic and keeps the same outrageous tone, but there will have to be new, unexpected surprises for audiences to talk about. I’m sure Miller/Lord will have no problem with that. SEE IT!
How to Train Your Dragon 2 (Dean DeBlois) Rated PG – June 13 – It’s been five years since Hiccup and Toothless successfully united dragons and vikings on the island of Berk. While Astrid, Snotlout and the rest of the gang are challenging each other to dragon races (the island’s new favorite contact sport), the now inseparable pair journey through the skies, charting unmapped territories and exploring new worlds. Starring Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett, Djimon Hounsou, Kit Harrington, Gerard Butler, Kristen Wiig, America Ferrera, and Jonah Hill
Jonah Hill is monopolizing June 13, but taking the backseat in this one as Jay Baruchel takes flight with his pal Toothless in another incredibly visual journey. How to Train Your Dragon 2 is definitely one of my most anticipated films of the year and for good reason – the teaser trailer is beautiful. The original has such an amazing chemistry between boy and dragon, the story and side characters are fun, the animation is colorful and spectacular, and the 3D is breathtaking. Plus MORE DRAGONS. SEE IT! (Watch the trailer)
Think Like a Man Too (Tim Story) Rated PG-13 – June 20 – All the couples are back for a wedding in Las Vegas, but plans for a romantic weekend go awry when their various misadventures get them into some compromising situations that threaten to derail the big event. Starring Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and La La Anthony
Another Vegas wedding related story? Stahp. SKIP IT! WATCH IT ON NETFLIX IF YOU LIKED THE ORIGINAL?
Transformers: Age of Extinction (Michael Bay) Rated PG-13 – June 27 – An automobile mechanic and his daughter make a discovery that brings down the Autobots and Decepticons – and a paranoid government official – on them. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Nicola Peltz, Jack Reynor, and Stanley Tucci
There is absolutely nothing stopping the Bayhem in Age of Extinction. Upping the ante yet again by adding Dinobots, the Transformers universe is about to bring the the pain – to my eyeballs. And I will enjoy every second of it, most likely regretting the decision thereafter. Michael Bay does not make terrible action, he creates set pieces the world has never seen before and it’s astounding to behold on the big screen. Just don’t go in expecting the next King’s Speech or something. SEE IT!