(via Shutterstock)
Another year, another mass of amazing movies coming our way!
Will we have time to watch them all? Likely not. But will we attempt to watch them all anyway? Abso-cinematically-lutely!
These five films all have a bit of weirdness and whimsy about them, and while life can feel very serious and a little scary and just plain off-putting, movies such as these remind us that life can be absurd and funny and meaningful strange too, which is no bad thing.
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
What if everything you believed as a kid was real? From the imagination of John Krasinski, enter a world you have to believe to see. From writer and director John Krasinski, IF is about a girl who discovers that she can see everyone’s imaginary friends — and what she does with that superpower — as she embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids. IF, also known as Imaginary Friends, is both written and directed by acclaimed American actor / filmmaker John Krasinski, director of the films Brief Interviews with Hideous Men, The Hollars, A Quiet Place, and A Quiet Place Part II previously, plus a few episodes of The Office. It’s produced by Andrew Form, John Krasinski, Ryan Reynolds, and Allyson Seeger. (courtesy First Showing)
IF opens in Australia on 16 May 2024 and U.S. on 17 May 2024.
Go behind the scenes of the magical worlds of the IFs …
(courtesy IMP Awards)
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Two romantic burnouts, Jane and Will (Lucy Hale and Nat Wolff), are immediately drawn to each other at a mutual friend’s wedding. After a disastrous hookup in the coatroom, the two spend the next 24 hours together, trading candid confessions of messy histories and heartbreak, on the off chance that this fling might be the real thing. Which Brings Me To You is directed by the writer / filmmaker Peter Hutchings, director of the other fun films Rhymes with Banana, The Outcasts, Then Came You, and The Hating Game previously. The screenplay is written by Keith Bunin. Adapted from the novel of the same name written by Julianna Baggott and Steve Almond. Produced by Claude Dal Farra and Brian Keady. (courtesy First Showing)
Which Brings Me to You opens in U.S. on 19 January 2024 and in UK via DVD on 5 April 2024.
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
After three death-defying adventures defeating villains with his unmatched courage and mad martial arts skills, Po, the Dragon Warrior (Jack Black), is called upon by destiny to … give it a rest already. He’s tapped to become the Spiritual Leader of the Valley of Peace. That poses a couple of obvious problems. First, Po knows as much about spiritual leadership as he does about the paleo diet, and second, he needs to quickly find and train a new Dragon Warrior before he can assume his new lofty position. Even worse, there’s been a recent sighting of a wicked, powerful sorceress, Chameleon (Viola Davis), a tiny lizard who can shapeshift into any creature, large or small. And Chameleon has her greedy, beady little eyes on Po’s Staff of Wisdom, which would give her the power to re-summon all the villains whom Po has vanquished to the spirit realm. So, Po’s going to need some help. He finds it (kinda?) in the form of crafty, quick-witted thief Zhen (Awkwafina), a corsac fox who really gets under Po’s fur but whose skills will prove invaluable. In their quest to protect the Valley of Peace from Chameleon’s reptilian claws, this comedic odd-couple duo will have to work together. In the process, Po discovers heroes can be found in the most unexpected places.Kung Fu Panda 4 is directed by American comedy filmmaker Mike Mitchell, director of the movies Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, Surviving Christmas, Sky High, Shrek Forever After, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, Trolls, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, plus work on The Barbarian and the Troll series most recently. Co-directed by Stephanie Ma Stine, a storyboard artist and director of episodes of She-Ra and the Princesses of Power previously. Produced by Rebecca Huntley. It’s created and animated by DreamWorks Animation (DWA) based in Burbank, CA. (courtesy First Showing)
Kung Fu Panda 4 opens 8 March 2024 in U.S. and UK and 28 March 2024 in Australia.
(courtesy IMP Awards)
SNAPSHOT
The film will explore the continuing journey of Paul Atreides, now united with the Fremen on Arrakis. A boy becomes the Messiah of nomads on a desert planet that has giant worms that protect a commodity called Spice. Spice changes people into travelers, mystics and madmen. What price will he pay to become the new ruler of their universe? Dune: Part Two, or Dune 2, is once again directed by acclaimed Quebecois filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, director of movies Maelstrom, Polytechnique, Incendies, Prisoners, Enemy, Sicario, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and the first Dune movie previously. The screenplay is written by Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve. Adapted from Frank Herbert’s iconic novel of the same name first published in 1965. Produced by Cale Boyter, Tanya Lapointe, Patrick McCormick, Mary Parent, and Denis Villeneuve. (courtesy First Showing)
Dune Part Two opens in U.S. and UK on 1 March 2024, and Australia on 14 March 2024.
(courtesy IMDb)
SNAPSHOT
When a middle-aged man (Jake Johnson) is invited into a limo by famous actor Andy Samberg, his dull life takes a thrilling turn. Johnson is offered a chance to win a million dollars in a dark web reality TV show, where assassins from all over the world attempt to kill him for 30 days. The catch? He cannot be killed if he’s not entirely alone, leading him to recruit an unlikely team to help him survive. Self Reliance is written & directed by American actor / comedian / writer / filmmaker Jake Johnson, making his feature directorial debut after one episode of New Girl previously, and writing scripts for films including Digging for Fire, Win It All, and Ride the Eagle. It’s produced by Ali Bell, Joe Hardesty, and Jake Johnson; and by Lonely Island and Walcott Productions. (courtesy First Showing)
Self Reliance opens on Hulu on 12 January 2024.