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Comedy is hit or miss, it’s true but if a creator gets it right, then on the soul-lightening joys that await!
Life is so damn serious, dark and a thousand kinds of terrible all jostling for a place in our crowded slate of existential angst, and yet there are moments, blissfully funny and often surprisingly touching cinematic moments that can lift us out of the morass and towards something that feel lighter, brighter and yes, better.
Is that a lot to put on a film? Maybe but these three films might just elicit a laugh, trigger a guffaw, tickle a chortle and may life feel not quite as onerously heavy as it did just seconds before …
(courtesy First Showing)
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Sam (Rebel Wilson) is a world-class secret agent… and a pretty terrible maid of honor. After blowing off bridal duties for an international spy mission, she’s demoted to bridesmaid at her childhood best friend’s wedding. What should’ve been a weekend of reconnecting and celebration turns into a five-star death trap when armed mercenaries crash the big day. Sam’s the only one who can save the bride, and hopefully earn back the trust she lost along the way. Dodging bullets and trying not to ruin the floral arrangements, Sam takes on the ultimate wedding crasher, realizing that sometimes the toughest mission isn’t taking down the bad guys, but showing up for the people who matter. Bride Hard is directed by British filmmaker Simon West, director of the movies Con Air, The General’s Daughter, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, When a Stranger Calls, The Mechanic, The Expendables 2, Stolen, Wild Card, Stratton, Gun Shy, Skyfire, Legend Hunters, and Old Guy previously. The screenplay is by Shaina Steinberg; from a story by Shaina Steinberg and Cece Pleasants. Produced by Colleen Camp, Cassian Elwes, Jason Ross Jallet, Joel David Moore, Max Osswald, Bob Yari. (courtesy First Showing)
Bride Hard releases 20 June in USA and 17 July in Australia.
(courtesy First Showing)
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In the action-comedy Heads of State, the UK Prime Minister Sam Clarke (Idris Elba) and U.S. President Will Derringer (John Cena) have a not-so-friendly and very public rivalry that jeopardizes their countries’ “special relationship.” But when they become the targets of a powerful and ruthless foreign adversary—who proves more than a match for the two leaders’ security forces—they are begrudgingly forced to rely on the only two people they can trust: each other. Allied with brilliant MI6 agent Noel Bisset (Priyanka Chopra Jonas), they must go on the run and find a way to work together long enough to thwart a global conspiracy that threatens everyone. Heads of State is directed by the Russian filmmaker Ilya Naishuller, director of the films Hardcore Henry and Nobody, plus lots of shorts and Danila Poperechniy: FUN/LIFE doc. The screenplay is written by Josh Appelbaum & André Nemec and Harrison Query; from a story by Harrison Query. Produced by John Rickard and Peter Safran. (courtesy First Showing)
Heads of State premieres on Prime Video on 2 July.
(courtesy First Showing)
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Screwball comedies feel like something from a bygone era, which makes it even more impressive that Jess Plus None understands the formula so well. When Jess, a reluctant maid of honor, finds herself at her best friend’s “middle of the woods” wedding, she is confronted by her ex-girlfriend, her ultra successful friend from college, her gay friend and his new partner, and every bad choice she’s made throughout her life. Jess Plus None is written and directed by American indie filmmaker Mandy Fabian, making her feature directorial debut after many short films and other projects previously. Produced by Sarah Chaney, Heather Olt, and Mandy June Turpin. This initially premiered at the 2023 BFI Flare & Frameline Film Festivals a few years ago. (courtesy First Showing)
Jess Plus None releases on video-on-demand on 29 April.