Mini Review - Heart of the Beast
Heart of the Beast (out Sep 24) is pitched as a tribute to military working dogs. A retired special Forces officer (Brad Pitt) and his loyal dog find must try to navigate their way out of the Alaskan wilderness after a plane crash. I wanted more action but I liked the characters and visuals. Grade: B.
Mini Review - Forgotten Island
Forgotten Island (out Sep 17) creatively blends different styles of animation and is an action-packed story about friendship and memories. It'll be too heavy/confusing for younger kids but it'll work perfectly for the teen and adult crowd. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Resident Evil (2026)
Resident Evil (out Sep 17) is the best entry in the long-running franchise... by a wide margin. Director Zach Cregger (Weapons) finds the right balance of gore and laughs, Austin Abrams is terrific as a medical courier giving off stoner vibes, and the production values (cinematography, music, practical/visual effects) are superb. Grade: A-.
Mini Review - The Weight
The Weight (out Sep 17) is a 1930s drama about an impoverished man (Ethan Hawke) who, to be reunited with his young daughter, takes on a dangerous assignment transporting gold through the forests of Oregon. Familiar themes but liked the performances. Grade: B.
Mini Review - Coyote vs. Acme
Coyote vs. Acme (out Sep 17) is a cool idea for a movie! Inspired by films including A Few Good Men and Erin Brockovich, Coyote vs Acme is a witty comedy that takes the antics of Wile E. Coyote and The Road Runner into a court room. As the Acme devices constantly malfunction, Coyote has teamed up with a struggling lawyer to sue them for damages. It's impressive how much humour the writers have extracted from the concept. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger
Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger (out Sep 10) is not what you might expect. Instead of delving into their rise to fame and subsequent break-up, it's a 2-hour documentary focused on their 2025 comeback tour. It's a positive, affirming film that highlights the power of music in bringing people together. Grade: A-.
Mini Review - Practical Magic 2
Practical Magic 2 (out Sep 10) surprised me (in a good way) and is better than the 1998 original. Stars Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock make it work as they humorously bicker and talk over one another. Further, director Susanne Bier (In a Better World) deftly blends comedy and drama. It's heavy material in places but there are many great one-liners (especially from Kidman) to generate laughs. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Runner
Runner (out Sep 10) is set in South East Queensland and follows two men trying to outrun drug cartel goons and deliver a life-saving liver to the Gold Coast Hospital. This is trashy action... but not in a fun kind of way. Far too many clichés and I wasn't sold on the "buddy cop" banter between stars Owen Wilson and Alan Ritchson. Grade: C.
Mini Review - Super Troopers 3
Super Troopers 3 (out Aug 6) is a disappointing instalment to the film series which began in 2001. If you like repetitive, low-brow toilet humour, maybe you’ll get some laughs from it. Grade: C.