The Great Gilly Hopkins
The titular Gilly Hopkins (Sophie Nélisse) hasn’t had a proper home. She’s barely a teenager and already she’s earned a reputation within the foster care system that’s best described as “difficult”.
Family
Ice Age: Collision Course
It’s hard to believe that Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, and the animals they voice are on their fifth feature-length lap with the Ice Age series – that’s a long time for any franchise. Then again, there’s always going to be a crowd for these adventurous, likeable mammals because Blue Sky Studios knows how to make a slick-and-quick movie for families. Ice Age: Collision Course is no different.
The Games Maker
By: Addison Wylie Sneaking in under the radar during this year’s final quarter is an uplifting family film called The Games Maker. For those who take a chance on it, they’ll be as pleasantly surprised as I was when Juan Pablo Buscarini’s film pulled me into a wonderful world of old-fashioned strategy. I say “pleasantly surprised” because the marketing for The Games Maker drives home its whimsy and fantastical elements a little too hard; so much…
The Journey Home
By: Addison Wylie Parents: if you feel your child is too old for those Air Bud movies but too young for Wild America and Alaska, that happy medium you’re looking for can be found in The Journey Home. A boy named Luke (played by Dakota Goyo) attempts to reunite a lost polar bear to its mother by travelling across perilous, icy terrain through flurries of snowstorms and over ice caps. The polar bear (which is eventually given…
Mercy Rule
By: Addison Wylie Mercy Rule is merciless. The film does feature a restrained Kirk Cameron aiming to be more tolerable than he’s ever been before, but I’m just trying to find the silver lining within this family film that’s been conceived by blind incompetence. Cameron is an actor devout to his personal beliefs, and has been known to carry those views through faith-based flicks. I have to give credit where credit is due, and at…
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water
By: Addison Wylie Nickelodeon’s absurdist behaviour and its brand of transgressive humour have driven some parents crazy. However, it’s a unique knack that has struck hilarity with viewers who were considered Generation Y, or 90’s kids. Nick’s bizarre reality is what gave many of their television shows their edge, and most programming were not willing to push the absurdist envelope as far as Nickelodeon would. The station has cooled its jets as of recent with…
Muppets Most Wanted
By: Addison Wylie How do the Muppets follow up their 2011 crowd pleasing resurgence? With a song titled We’re Doing a Sequel including a lyric admitting that the second film in a series isn’t nearly as good as the first. Not so fast, guys. Muppets Most Wanted actually ends up being more memorable and more clever than its predecessor. Picking up where The Muppets left off, the cheerful fleet of felt eye an upcoming tour as…
Wylie Writes @ TIFF KIDS 2014: The House of Magic
By: Addison Wylie The House of Magic is an abundantly likeable film, and will certainly be a memorable pick at this year’s TIFF Kids. On the surface, the bouncy flick has all the ingredients for a smiling good time at the theatre. There’s an adorable cat, whimsical magic, and stunning animation paired with incredible use of 3D technology. It’s to be warned that Jérémie Degruson and Ben Stassen’s film isn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the first…
Out of the Furnace
By: Addison Wylie Why is it that Out of the Furnace has so many accomplishments going for it, yet it’s an impossible recommendation? Telling someone to watch Out of the Furnace would be like telling someone to hold a bunch of wild snakes and assuring them they won’t get bit. Scott Cooper’s thriller is one of those movies you appreciate a few hours after having watched it. Viewing Out of the Furnace for the first…
August: Osage County
By: Addison Wylie As far as films with an ensemble cast go, August: Osage County is among the best. Its star studded line-up filled out by Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, Ewan McGregor, Chris Cooper, Juliette Lewis (just to name a few) is enough to get movie goers in seats. What pays off even more are the exceptional performances during the constant sparring between these highly dysfunctional family members. The Westons have a large family and…