By Chris Kavan - 09/17/19 at 10:51 PM CT
As summer fades into fall, the MPAA Ratings Board isn't slowing down... or speeding up for that matter. Fall means Oscar bait, leftovers and maybe, just maybe, some diamonds in the rough. While neither of the two films this week are going to end up with major awards, both have dedicated fans and we'll see if that's enough to make them resonate with their respective audiences. We have a horror sequel to one of my favorite comedy/horror films (sadly, not Shaun of the Dead... but close enough) and a reboot of a classic - promising more kick-ass women... kicking ass. Hey, it's something to talk about, anyway.
I am an unabashed fan of all things zombie-related - and I've seen the best and also some rather terrible films based on the living dead. Zombieland was definitely one of the better entries - benefiting from an excellent cast and some whip-smart yet deadpan comedy. It's taken awhile, but the whole gang is back for Zombieland: Double Tap. That's right, Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin) are once again on the road and taking on the undead. Will there be new rules? You bet your ass! (at least I'm assuming - I mean, why not?). Plus, we're getting some new friends in the form of Nevada (Rosario Dawson), Madison (Zoey Deutch) and Albuquerque (Luke Wilson) - along with one familiar face - the esteemed Bill Murray - who had one of the greatest cameos of all time in the original film, so it will be very interesting to see how they reincorporate him, even for a short time, in this sequel. And there is also Thomas Middleditch, Avan Jogia and, joining Murray, fellow Ghostbusters alum Dan Aykroyd (also apparently playing a version of himself). In any case, from what I gather from the trailer, the group has been traveling the heartland while the zombies seem to have evolved in some form - becoming smarter, deadlier - meanwhile, Little Rock has an itch to be a typical teenager, and runs off - forcing the rest of the group to mount a rescue mission. It looks much like the first - lots of gory action, lots of comedy and an actual talented cast behind it all. If anything could put faith back into the well-tred zombie genre, this sequel will be it. Rated R for bloody violence, language throughout, some drug and sexual content.
Now, while I'm a big fan of zombies, one thing that's a bit of a hard sell for me is adapting TV to the big screen. Too often, it's either a movie only the biggest fans will watch, or a way-too generic blah adaptation that hopes to appeal to the biggest crowd. While I don't think Charlie's Angels quite falls into either camp, it's committing another egregious sin: trying to be edgy. That's right, what better way then to cast Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott and Ella Balinska as the new angels with Bosley being played by Djimon Hounsou, Patrick Stewart and Elizabeth Banks. Also, Sam Claflin, Noah Centineo and Nat Faxon are along for this ride. I wasn't a fan of the 2000 version - mostly because of McG's frantic action style of directing and not so much because of the cast. The movie already has an official music video featuring Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, and Lana Del Rey - and if that is any indication, I expect a lot of sexy action... but hopefully they keep things somewhat light and don't go full Nolan on this reboot. Rated PG-13 for action/violence, language and some suggestive material.
There you have it - your two big films earning their ratings due, but, for completionists - the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin can be found below:
THE CAVE
Rated PG-13 for disturbing war-related thematic content and images.
CHARLIE'S ANGELS
Rated PG-13 for action/violence, language and some suggestive material.
CYRANO, MY LOVE
Rated R for brief sexual content.
THE ELEPHANT QUEEN
Rated PG for some thematic material.
THE GREATEST GIFT
Rated PG-13 for thematic content and some violent/disturbing images.
HARD NIGHT FALLING
Rated R for violence and language.
I SEE YOU
Rated R for violence and language.
JOHN WYNN'S MIRROR MIRROR
Rated PG-13 for sexual references, language and some drug material.
THE LIE
Rated R for language throughout, some violence and brief sexuality.
TRAUMA CENTER
Rated R for violence and language.
WAVES
Rated R for language throughout, drug and alcohol use, some sexual content and brief violence-all involving teens.
ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP
Rated R for bloody violence, language throughout, some drug and sexual content.
