By Keith Walther | Rose Law Group Reporter
After a July to remember, August is allowing audiences to collect their breath and save some money. Turtles, sharks, beetles, and dogs will dominate the box office this month, which doesn’t instill a whole lot of confidence in the big screen delivering top quality entertainment. In fact, don’t be surprised if the options are so unappealing that book sales soar in August. Let’s take a look at the biggest releases slated for this month.
August 2nd – August 4th
Opening the month is another reimagination of those popular turtles from the 1980s. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” is an animated film featuring the recognizable vocal talents of Jackie Chan, John Cena, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, and Maya Rudolph to name a few. It’s doubtful the story will stray very far from the countless other iterations, so count on more pizza eating and “cowabungas,” but hopefully it sticks as a serviceable revival for a new generation of kids.
Looking for a more adult oriented film? Releasing a couple days later is “Meg 2: The Trench.” Jason Statham returns to do battle against an enormous prehistoric shark that has a taste for human appetizers. This is an action/horror sequel to a substandard film, so don’t expect anything good from this one.
August 11th
This date starts with another horror film that has slightly more promise. “Last Voyage of the Demeter” is based on the fateful journey of the Russian schooner that transported Dracula from Carpathia to London as depicted in a chapter of Bram Stoker’s infamous novel. The movie stars Corey Hawkins, a capable actor as demonstrated in his portrayal of Dr. Dre in “Straight Outta Compton.” While this should be better than “Meg 2: The Trench,” wait for the reviews to filter in, because an immortal monster running amok aboard an 1800s ship in the middle of the ocean makes for a very limiting and predictable experience.
The other major release is another major question mark. Based on a true story, “Gran Turismo” is about a gamer who gets the opportunity to become a real-life race car driver. David Harbour (“Stranger Things”) stars alongside Orlando Bloom, who is trying to resurrect his stalled career. Oscar nominee Neill Blomkamp, who directed the outstanding sci-fi film “District 9” is back in the director’s chair for this feature. The film has potential, but movies based on video games don’t have the best track record, so approach with caution.
August 18th
DC returns to the big screen with “Blue Beetle,” in which a teenager comes into contact with an alien relic that imbues its host with a plethora of unpredictable powers. After the atrociously dismal effort of “The Flash,” the DCEU needs a big win, but it’s doubtful they will get that from this film. The fate of the production lies on the shoulders of a rookie filmmaker in Angel Manuel Soto and star Xolo Mariduena (“Cobra Kai”). Needless to say, keep your distance, this has another disastrous bomb written all over it.
Luckily, there’s another option that may be better on this day for adults at least. “Strays” is an R-rated comedy that features dogs and what they’re truly thinking. With Will Ferrell and Jamie Foxx lending their voices to these wild canines, the potential hilarity makes this movie the most anticipated of the month, which isn’t saying much.
August 25th
With a lineup of films such as this, one might need a little inspiration. “The Hill” is the remarkable true story of Ricky Hill’s dream to play Major League Baseball despite seemingly impossible physical limitations. Angelo Pizzo co-writes this screenplay, whose previous writing credits include “Rudy” and “Hoosiers,” so expect “The Hill” to be another inspirational sports drama. The biggest star of the film is Dennis Quaid, however, who has a tendency to overact his roles to the point of distracting from otherwise good films.
Pro tip: catch up on the fantastic July films you may have missed before checking out any of these.
