By Chris Kavan - 11/07/18 at 10:28 AM CT
A quite large update once again only has a handful of wide releases, but at least they are interesting. The most interesting, of course, is the new limited-time offering of the Merc with a family-friendly mouth in a re-rated Deadpool. We're actually getting a lot of family-friendly films with a new animated bigfoot tale, an updated take on the Arthurian legend and a teen-centric romance tale. A lot to process, but it's worth it in the end and hopefully that MPAA Ratings Board doesn't slack off as the holidays approach.
In crazy news that I would have never, ever predicted, Ryan Reynolds is the gift that keeps on giving. The upcoming Once Upon a Deadpool is a new, PG-13 version of Deadpool 2, and it includes new scenes filmed with Fred Savage that riffs on his role in the classic Princess Bride. This film will only play for a short time - December 12th - 24th, but I'm going to watch it out of sheer curiosity (and because I really liked the sequel). Plus, it's going to a good cause as $1 of every ticket sold will be donated to F*@k Cancer (or Fudge Cancer as it will be called this time around). But regardless of how this does, I really hope Reynolds doesn't back down and keeps Deadpool firmly in the R-rated category for any forthcoming films - Disney be damned - because it has more than worked and I don't want to see it toned down in the future. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, crude sexual content, language, thematic elements and brief drug material.
I am a huge fan of Arthurian legend - but I have found that I appreciated it much more in novel form than almost anything that has been brought to the big screen. For whatever reason, Hollywood can't seem to make a decent version of this fantastic tale. I mean, yeah, Holy Grail is excellent but not really a serious adaptation as a loose collection of skits. That being said, I don't think this curse is going to be broken with The Kid Who Would Be King. Thing is, the Kid is Alex (Louis Ashbourne Serkis) - a nobody who finds himself thrust into greatness when he comes across the mythical sword in the stone - and pulls it out. But he is not alone, as the wizard Merlin (Patrick Stewart) is there to guide him, which is good as the wicked enchantress Morgana (Rebecca Ferguson) has designs to ruin the future. Alex isn't alone with Lance (Tom Taylor), Bedders (ean Chaumoo) and Kaye (Rhianna Dorris) helping form his core group, and helping him become a somebody for once. I mean, it has elements of Arthurian legend, but looks more like a coming-of-age type thing that happens to feature magic. I mean, the kids will like it but I don't expect it to rock the world. Rated PG for fantasy action violence, scary images, thematic elements including some bullying, and language.
We already had a reverse Yeti movie this year (Smallfoot), so why not strike while the iron is hot? Granted, Missing Link is not exactly a bigfoot movie... but close enough. The film follows Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) the foremost expert of mythic monsters - and the subject of ridicule among his more high-minded peers. But Sir Lionel has a plan - to travel to America - the Pacific Northwest - and find evidence of the fabled Missing Link, living proof of mankind's ancestry. Mr. Link (Zach Galifianakis) will probably provide him no end of trouble. The film also features the vocal talents of Zoe Saldana, Timothy Olyphant, Emma Thompson, Stephen Fry and Matt Lucas. Considering Smallfoot has hoofed it to nearly $78 million, I don't see why this film will do just as well if not better. Rated PG for action/peril and some mild rude humor.
Ah, teenage romance, a tried and true formula that (usually) works. You're going to have a few every year and 2019 is no exception with The Sun is Also a Star coming in hot in May. Based on the novel from Nicola Yoon (who also wrote Everything, Everything), the film follows two teens - Natasha (Yara Shahidi) who is about to be deported along with her family back to Jamaica, and Daniel (Charles Melton) who is on his way to an interview as part of process to get into Yale. As the old saying goes, opposites attract, and the two are drawn to each other and immediately fall in love - spending the day together. But is this romance doomed or will the two find a way to stay together? The book is told from alternating points-of-view, as well as through other characters, so it will be interesting to see how this is adapted to the big screen. Everything, Everything wound up with $34 million, we'll have to see if this Star can burn even brighter. Rated PG-13 for some suggestive content and language.
Those are the big four for this week, but be sure to check out the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:
AN ACCEPTABLE LOSS
Rated R for language and brief sexuality.
BROKEN DIAMONDS
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and a crude gesture.
CAPERNAUM
Rated R for language and some drug material.
JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. THE FATAL FIVE
Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence, some bloody images, language and partial nudity.
THE KID WHO WOULD BE KING
Rated PG for fantasy action violence, scary images, thematic elements including some bullying, and language.
THE LURKING MAN
Rated PG-13 for disturbing thematic content and some bloody images.
MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS
Rated R for some violence and sexuality.
MISSING LINK
Rated PG for action/peril and some mild rude humor.
NEVER LOOK AWAY
Rated R for graphic nudity, sexuality and brief violent images.
ONCE UPON A DEADPOOL
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, crude sexual content, language, thematic elements and brief drug material.
PEGASUS: PONY WITH A BROKEN WING
Rated G
THE QUAKE
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of peril and destruction, injury images, and brief strong language.
RUBEN BRANDT, COLLECTOR
Rated R for nude images and some violence.
STRANGE BUT TRUE
Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, some violence, suggestive material and brief strong language.
THE SUN IS ALSO A STAR
Rated PG-13 for some suggestive content and language.
TO DUST
Rated R for language and some disturbing images.
TRIPLE THREAT
Rated R for strong violence throughout, and for language.
TROUBLE
Rated R for language and some drug use.
