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VALENTINE’S DAY DATE MOVIES
by Sandra Olmsted
The movies that are released around Valentine’s Day are all about the studios releasing films that can make date night easier for everyone. Romantic films, especially in the form of romantic comedies, will top the marque because laughter is an aphrodisiac. However, other films will also be released also, such as at least one kid film, some action adventures, and, surprisingly, a scary movie or two. Some will have already opened and others are yet to be released, so what follows is a recap and preview rolled into one.
In theaters now and worth a look:
Director Jon S. Baird’s ‘Stan & Ollie’ follows Laurel and Hardy, the famous comedy team who made the transition from silents to talkies. This gentle and emotional film focuses on Laurel (Steve Coogan) and Hardy (John C. Reilly) tour of Great Britain in 1953. For those interested in the type of love that true friendship brings into one’s life, Sony Picture Classic’s ‘Stan & Ollie’ provides a delightful and interesting examination of friendship and creative partnership with a chocolate kiss of Hollywood history. (PG, 97 minutes)
‘Capernaum,’ another Sony Pictures Classics release, is a nominated for an Academy Award® as Foreign Language Film. If a story of overcoming the lack of love will make your Valentine’s Day meaningful, then director Nadine Labaki’s story of Zain (Zain al-Rafeea), a Lebanese boy who sues his parents for the “crime” of giving him life, will work. After the struggles of surviving a transition from gutsy, streetwise child to hardened 12-year-old “adult” ex-con while still fleeing his negligent parents, Zain seeks justice in the courts. Zain gets help, food, and shelter from Rahil (Yordanos Shiferaw), an Ethiopian migrant worker. (R for language and some drug material, 126 minutes.)
For those history lovers, Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson’s documentary, ‘They Shall Not Grow Old,’ will provide a trip through the end of WWI on the centenary of the end of “The Great War.” Using state-of-the-art restoration, colorization, and 3D technologies applied to century-old footage and with narration only from Great War veterans themselves, Jackson creates an intensely gripping, immersive, and authentic cinematic experience. Footage and narration interviews come from Jackson diligent searching and selecting from the Imperial War Museum archives and BBC and IWM archived interviews, resulting in a gripping account of “The War to End All Wars.” (Warner Bros. Pictures release, R for disturbing war images, 99 minutes).
The desire for justice drives director Hans Petter Moland’s ‘Cold Pursuit.’ This Lionsgate release stars Liam Neeson and Laura Dern as Nels and Grace, the parents of a son who is murdered by a powerful drug lord. Although Nels, who plows the roads and streets of the Rocky Mountian resort town’s snowy road, is the “Citizen of the Year,” he finds he must seek justice for his son’s murder through revenge. Neeson claimed this was his final action movie role even before his recent controversial revelation. Based on the 2014 Norwegian film ‘In Order of Disappearance’/’Kraftidioten.’ (R for strong violence, drug material, and some language including sexual references, 118 minutes.)
The romantic comedy and hilarious aphrodisiac, ‘What Men Want,’ a Paramount release, which opens February 8, follows Ali Davis (Taraji P. Henson), a successful sports agent, who’s constantly push aside by her male colleagues. When she’s passed over for a deserved promotion, she drinks some magic tea that gives her the ability to hear men’s thoughts. Director Adam Shankman guides the comedy through Ali’s plan to use her new power to succeed and through those power’s testing of friends and a potential new love interest (Aldis Hodge). (R for language and sexual content throughout, and some drug material, 117 Minutes).
Opening on Valentine’s Day, ‘Isn’t It Romantic,’ a Warner Bros. release, is another aphrodisiac for a romantic date night. New York City architect Natalie (Rebel Wilson) works hard to get noticed at her job but never gets a break. She’s also a lifelong cynic when it comes to love. Then, a mugger renders her unconscious, and she wakes up stuck in her worst nightmare—a romantic comedy—and she is the leading lady. Director Todd Strauss-Schulson’s comedy also stars Liam Hemsworth as Blake, a handsome client; Adam Devine as Josh, her co-worker and best friend; and Priyanka Chopra as Isabella, a yoga-loving model. (PG-13 for language, some sexual material, and a brief drug reference, 88 minutes).
Opening February 15, director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s ‘Never Look Away’ a Sony Pictures Classic release, spans three eras of German history and was inspired by real events. When Kurt (Tom Schilling), a young art student, falls in love with fellow student, Ellie (Paula Beer), Ellie’s father, Professor Seeband (Sebastian Koch), a famous doctor, vows to destroy the relationship. What neither of Kurt or Ellis know is that their lives are already connected through a terrible crime Prof. Seeband committed decades ago. ‘Never Look Away’ has a romantic but dramatic story for those who need a weepy Valentine’s Day aphrodisiac. To cover so much history, the film runs an epic 188 minutes, covering many movie desires for one price. (R for graphic nudity, sexuality, and brief violent images).
The kid film, ‘The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part,’ a Warner Bros. release, reunites the heroes of Bricksburg in an all-new, action-packed adventure to save their beloved city. While adults enjoy something for them, the kids can watch this much-anticipated sequel to the critically acclaimed first Lego movie. When LEGO DUPLO® invaders from outer space, the battle to defeat the invaders and restore harmony to the LEGO universe will take Emmet, Lucy, Batman, and their friends to far away, unexplored worlds, including a strange galaxy where everything is musical. Directed by Mike Mitchell. Opens February 8. (PG for some rude humor, 106 minutes).
For older kids, opening February 15, there’s director Robert Rodriguez’s ‘Alita: Battle Angel,’ a Fox release, is based on Yukito Kishiro’s ‘Battle Angel Alita’ manga classic. In the distant future, where cyborgs and robots are commonplace. a floating city, called Tiphares, holds a dark secret and it dumps its trash onto the world below. In the junkyard beneath, a cyborg doctor, Ido, scavenges for extra parts when he runs into the head and torso of a young cyborg girl, still alive. Only her brain is human, as the rest of her body is a machine. Named Alita, she embarks on a journey to discover the truth of who she is and her fight to change the world. (Unofficially, PG-13 for some mild nudity, sexuality, drugs, or profanity, and moderate violence, gore, or intense scenes, 122 minutes).
Those scary movies are useful when one person on a date wants to give the other person a hug in the theater because who doesn’t love a protective and romantic hug during a scary movie. Opening February 13, Director Christopher Landon’s ‘Happy Death Day 2 U,’ a Universal Pictures release, provides just that opportunity and provides comic twists, too. It’s a double aphrodisiac. The hero Tree (Jessica Rothe) discovers that dying over and over was surprisingly easier than the dangers that lie ahead. The film opens on February 13. (PG-13 for violence, language, sexual material, and thematic elements. Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some Material May Be Inappropriate for Children Under 13, 100 minutes).
Head to the movies and find you aphrodisiac and fulfill your desires for a Valentine Date!
PHOTO CAPTIONS:
‘Stan & Ollie’ stars Steve Coogan as Laurel and John C. Reilly as Hardy recreate the Comic’s routines.
‘What Men Want,’ follows Ali Davis (Taraji P. Henson) quest for success as a successful sports agent in an mostly-male profession.
New York City architect Natalie (Rebel Wilson) searches for success and struggles with love in ‘Isn’t It Romantic’
