By Chris Kavan - 12/14/16 at 10:54 AM CT
Greetings fellow film fans - it's finally cold outside (here anyway) so the only thing that can warm my heart are some great ratings updates. I can't say this week is providing the most heat, but it is suitable enough to ward of the chill, for now. Up front is a side-quel to one of the most unexpectedly awesome animated movies to come out in recent memory - The Lego Movie gets a spinoff featuring everyone's favorite "dark" hero, Batman. While Batman will likely lighten up in this iteration, the other wide release getting a rating looks pretty serious - corruption, criminal underworld, a kidnapped son - Jamie Foxx better get his big-boy boots on for this one. As for the rest - well, it's there, just not anything as big.
First up, we get to return to the wonderful, wacky and just plain fun world of LEGO. I admit, I didn't think much when The Lego Movie was announced, but it really was a great trip. From the ear-worm friendly "Everything is Awesome" to the pitch-perfect talent involved, it was one of the more memorable animated films to come out in the last few years. Now Will Arnett returns to voice the darkest of dark knights in The Lego Batman Movie. The film follows Wayne/Batman as he takes on a boy he has adopted (Dick Grayson, better known as Robin), voiced by Michael Cera. The rest of the cast looks like a lot of fun - Zach Galifianakis takes on the role of The Joker, Ralph Fiennes as the world's most patient butler, Alfred Pennyworth, Jenny Slate is Harley Quinn, Billy Dee Williams is Two-Face, Rosario Dawson is Batgirl and Mariah Carey plays the mayor. I'm sure more will be announced, but up front, it looks fun - and the trailers seem to agree. Will this make as much as The Lego Movie? That will be tough to match, but I have a feeling this will do just fine on its own. Rated PG for rude humor and some action.
If you would rather have some gritty crime thriller on your menu, good thing that you can also look forward to Sleepless. Jamie Foxx plays a cop who has a connection with the criminal underworld and, guess what, it bites him in the ass. His son is kidnapped and he has to find him at a local nightclub. I'm thinking a bit of John Wick mixed in with a little Collateral (hey, which also starred Jamie Foxx!) and maybe a dash of Training Day grit. Or maybe it will be a big, cliched mess. In any case, we won't have to wait long as this drops in January. Michelle Monaghan, Dermot Mulroney, Gabrielle Union, Scoot McNairy, T.I. and David Harbour will also help things along. Rated R for strong violence and language throughout.
That's the big two, but fret not, the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin can be found below:
THE ASSIGNMENT
Rated R for graphic nudity, violence, sexuality, language and drug use.
CAR DOGS
Rated R for language throughout, including some sexual references.
DUNKIRK: PROLOGUE
Rated PG for thematic elements involving peril and impending violence.
IN DUBIOUS BATTLE
Rated R for some violence and brief sexuality.
THE INSTITUTE
Rated R for disturbing content/bloody violence, and graphic nudity.
THE LEGO BATMAN MOVIE
Rated PG for rude humor and some action.
A MONTH OF SUNDAYS
Rated PG-13 for some language and thematic elements.
SLEEPLESS
Rated R for strong violence and language throughout.
