Let’s get away from the everyday!
How so, you ask? Why with movies, I say, and especially these three movies which give you a chance to live out three impactful stories from the comfort of your own bed or loungeroom chair.
Or even, heaven forbid, your commute on public transport where escape is especially necessary!
LUCA
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Set in Italy, Luca is a fun and heartwarming story about friendship, stepping out of your comfort zone and two teenage sea monsters who experience a life-changing summer. This coming-of-age adventure will tell the story of a young boy experiencing an unforgettable summer with his newfound best friend in a seaside town on the Italian Riviera. But all the fun is threatened by a deeply-held secret: they are sea monsters from another world just below the water’s surface.The animated film will feature the voices of: Jacob Tremblay (Room, The Little Mermaid) as Luca Paguro, a bright and inventive 13-year-old sea monster with endless curiosity—especially when it comes to the mysterious world above the sea; Jack Dylan Grazer (Shazam!) as Alberto Scorfano, an independent, free-spirited teenage sea monster with unbridled enthusiasm for the human world.; and Emma Berman as Giulia, an outgoing and charming adventurer who befriends Luca and Alberto.
Joining them are Maya Rudolph (Big Hero 6, The Willoughbys) as Luca’s mother Daniela, Marco Barricelli as Giulia’s father Massimo, and Jim Gaffigan as Luca’s father’s Lorenzo. (synopsis via Coming Soon)
Luca releases on 18 June by Disney Plus.
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In The Tomorrow War, the world is stunned when a group of time travelers arrives from the year 2051 to deliver an urgent message: Thirty years in the future, humanity is losing a global war against a deadly alien species. The only hope for survival is for soldiers and civilians from the present to be transported to the future and join the fight. Among those recruited is a high school teacher and family man Dan Forester. Determined to save the world for his young daughter, Dan teams up with a brilliant scientist and his estranged father in a desperate quest to rewrite the fate of the planet.Joining Guardians of the Galaxy star Chris Pratt as Dan Forester are J.K. Simmons (Whiplash), Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale), and Betty Gilpin (G.LO.W.). This project marks Pratt’s latest collaboration with the streamer as he is currently in production for Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming thriller drama series adaptation of The Terminal List.
It will also feature Sam Richardson, Theo Von, Jasmine Matthews, Keith Powers, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Edwin Hodge, Mike Mitchell, Seychelle Gabriel, Alan Trong, Chibuikem Uche and Alexis Louder. (synopsis via Coming Soon)
The Tomorrow War premiers on Prime Video on 23 July.
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An animated musical adventure that follows Vivo, a one-of-kind kinkajou (aka a rainforest “honey bear,” voiced by Miranda), who must find his way from Havana to Miami in order to deliver a song on behalf of his beloved owner and mentor Andres (Buena Vista Social Club’s Juan de Marcos Gonzáles).The film features original songs by Miranda, a score by Alex Lacamoire, and a screenplay by Quiara Alegría Hudes and director Kirk DeMicco (The Croods). Vivo is also co-directed by Brandon Jeffords (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2).
The voice cast includes three-time Grammy-winning Latin pop legend Gloria Estefan as Marta, the love of Andres’ life, newcomer Ynairaly Simo as Gabi, Andres’ grand-niece, Zoe Saldana as Rosa, Gabi’s mother, Michael Rooker as Lutador, a villainous Everglades python, Brian Tyree Henry and Nicole Byer as a pair of star-crossed spoonbills, Leslie David Baker as a Florida bus driver, and Katie Lowes, Olivia Trujillo, and Lidya Jewett as a trio of well-meaning but overzealous scout troopers. (synopsis via Flickering Myth)
Vivo release date TBC; initially scheduled for 4 June in cinemas but Netflix has bought the film off Sony Animation with no set release date yet.