By Chris Kavan - 01/25/17 at 11:18 AM CT
Someone must have finally listened as this week is finally a worthy update with plenty of films to cover. One of my more anticipated movies of this year is Hugh Jackman's final appearance (barring cameos or some such) as everyone's favorite mutant, Wolverine in Logan. We also have the return of Keanu Reeves in full action mode in John Wick 2. We also have to deal with the return of the Smurfs yet again along with a great ensemble cast in an as-of-yet unknown plot-wise Girls Trip. All told, I wish every week could be just like this - four movies is, as Goldilocks would agree, just right.
When Deadpool came out with an R rating, there was much talk around town about if other superhero movies would follow suit. Suicide Squad (which probably would have been better as an R-rated movie) wimped out with a PG-13, but Logan is not - getting tagged with an R. Unlike Deadpool, Logan doesn't look like a fun romp with a talkative scoundrel. Instead, taking a cue from the Old Man Logan comic series, we find a future in which almost all mutants have been killed, save for a run-down Wolverine and Professor X (Patrick Stewart) who has much diminished powers and sometimes forgets who Logan is. While being hunted by a group known as the Reavers, led by Donald Pierce (Boyd Holbrook), Logan rescues a young girl, Laura Kinney, who has powers that mirror those of Wolverine himself. Logan seems to be quite a grim picture for a superhero film but, unlike, say Man of Steel, I think Logan is meant to be taken more seriously. With an R rating (strong brutal violence and language throughout and for brief nudity), I'm hoping this sends Jackman out on a high note in an iconic role that, if they do plan on more X-men movies in the future (and why not?) is going to be one of the hardest to re-cast.
I admit, for most of my movie-watching life, Keaun Reeves has seemed pretty dull. Even in The Matrix (his shining moment) he was a bit stiff. However, I really liked him in John Wick - when he turned that stoic nature into a violent power. John Wick was very violent - but I saw it as a comeback for the actor and when a sequel was announced, I hoped for the best. The aptly titled John Wick: Chapter 2 finds out anti-hero trying to leave that old life behind but, due to an outstanding oath, being dragged back in one more time. This time he finds himself in Rome, at the behest of that oath, and facing off against some of the world's most deadly assassins and hitmen. I'm guessing there will be blood... again and again and again. I just hope it has a story behind all that violence - it is what kept the original from being better than most other action films. No surprise here - Rated R for strong violence throughout, some language and brief nudity.
If you don't like the boys club, why not join a Girls Trip? Honestly, though, I don't have much to comment as the plot has yet to be revealed on this one. But we do know about the cast and it looks to be shaping up nicely with Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, Larenz Tate and Tiffany Haddish on board. It's also listed as a straight-up comedy so I'm guessing they are going after the same target audience as Ride Along - but the opposite gender. They are also going for adult laughs as this earns an R Rating for R for crude and sexual content throughout, pervasive language, brief graphic nudity and drug material.
Finally, we come to Smurfs: The Lost Village. Unlike the previous movies that combined live action with animation, this one is going to be fully animated and seemingly going to reboot this beloved childhood classic. In any case, Smurfette (Demi Lovato), with a mysterious map in hand, finds herself on a journey though the Forbidden Forest with Hefty (Joe Manganiello), Brainy (Danny Pudi) and Clumsy (Jack McBrayer). She is seeking out a purported Lost Village - one that holds a long-lost secret, and one that Smurf villain Gargamel (Rainn Wilson) is seeking for himself. The cast does include a lot of talent - Ellie Kemper, Julia Roberts, Michelle Rodriguez, Mandy Patinkin, Jake Johnson, Ariel Winter, Tituss Burgess, Gabriel Iglesias, Jeff Dunham and even Gordon Ramsay all join the fray. I just can't will myself to be excited about a Smurfs movie (much like the Alvin and the Chipmunks or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for that matter) but I'm sure the kids will love it. Rated PG for some mild action
and rude humor.
Those are the big winners this week, but be sure the check out the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:
ALTITUDE
Rated R for language and some violence.
GIRLS TRIP
Rated R for crude and sexual content throughout, pervasive language, brief graphic nudity, and drug material.
GLASS CASTLE
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content involving family dysfunction, and for some language and smoking.
GREY LADY
Rated R for violence and brief language.
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 2
Rated R for strong violence throughout, some language and brief nudity.
LOGAN
Rated R for strong brutal violence and language throughout, and for brief nudity.
THE LOST CITY OF Z
Rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images, brief strong language and some nudity. This is a Re-Rating - the previous R rating (Bulletin 2450 from 11/06/16 is voided).
MINDGAMES
Rated R for violence, language, some sexuality and drug use.
MY LIFE AS A ZUCCHINI
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and suggestive material.
PARIS CAN WAIT
Rated PG for thematic elements, smoking and some language.
SMURFS: THE LOST VILLAGE
Rated PG for some mild action and rude humor.
TEEN TITANS: THE JUDAS CONTACT
Rated PG-13 for some violence, suggestive material and language.
TIM TIMMERMAN, HOPE OF AMERICA
Rated PG-13 for brief drug content and suggestive material.
TOMMY'S HONOUR
Rated PG for thematic elements, some suggestive material, language and smoking.
