Mini Review - Shaun The Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom
Shaun The Sheep: The Beast of Mossy Bottom (out Sep 17) continues the stellar run of this fun franchise. I'll say it before and I'll say it again - it's really cool having a stop-motion animated film that is easy to understand... yet doesn't feature a single word of dialogue. Grade: A-.
Mini Review - The Last Whale Singer
The Last Whale Singer (out Sep 24) is an animated adventure about an orphaned whale trying to save the oceans of the world with his soon-to-be-discovered singing voice. It's easy-to-follow but the simple storyline needed more oomph. Grade: B-.
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 - 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.