Last week, 14 movies released on DVD and 7 additional films dropped this week. With 21 movies hitting the shelves in the past 2 weeks, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here’s what MHT recommends you buy, rent, stream and skip for the last 2 weeks:
Buy It!
Beatriz at Dinner —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: What if Donald Trump wasn’t President and he came to dinner at the client whose house you got stuck at? Oh and in this scenario, you’re originally from Mexico.
Why Buy?
Both Salma Hayek and John Lithgow turn in world class performances and the film is one of the most interesting of the first half of the year. It has faults but Beatriz at Dinner is worth a watch.
Rent It!
Band Aid –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: Husband and wife work out their marital problems by forming a band and singing songs about their arguments.
Why Rent?
Zoe Lister-Jones wrote, directed and starred in Band Aid which also features Adam Pally who is an up-and-coming actor with some winning roles under his belt already.
Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: George and Harold hypnotize the principal of the school into believing he is their made up superhero Captain Underpants.
Why Rent?
Easily the best animated film of the summer.
It Comes At Night —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: A highly contagious outbreak has forced Paul, Sarah and Travis into seclusion. Soon after Sarah’s father dies they make contact with another family and decide to work together to survive.
Why Rent?
Unnerving and tense, It Comes At Night is a little uneven but good work from A24.
Lowriders —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: A fictionalized look at the lowrider culture of Southern California.
Why Rent?
I’m as shocked as you are at how much I enjoyed this film. A well told story with some solid performances and a look at a part of the culture I was not very familiar with.
Megan Leavey —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: The true life story of a Marine becomes attached to her combat dog who saves her life and fights to keep him from being put down after she’s honorably discharged from the military.
Why Rent?
Kate Mara does an excellent job as Megan Leavey and the film is solid.
Raw –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: A vegetarian goes off to veterinary school and eats raw meat to fit in which comes with terrible and unexpected consequences.
Why Rent?
Raw has one of the strangest trailers of 2017 and I haven’t seen it so I’m really not sure why other than it looks intriguing and received a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Stream It!
All Eyez On Me –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: Tupac Shakur biopic.
Why Stream?
Shakur’s life and death provide for an interesting tale even if the movie can’t live up to real life. Rapper biopics have done well in the past including last year’s huge hit Straight Outta Compton but All Eyez On Me wasn’t nearly as good or well received.
Chronically Metropolitan –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: A novelist returns to NYC unannounced to reclaim his lost love only to find out she’s engaged. He tries to win her back.
Why Stream?
Ashley Benson (Pretty Little Liars) stars as the lost love. Probably not a good enough reason but it’s a reason.
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: True story of Henrietta Lacks, a woman with cervical cancer whose cells would change the course of cancer treatment.
Why Stream?
I saw Oprah was in it and that’s enough for me.
Paris Can Wait —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: A married woman takes a ride through Europe with her husband’s business partner.
Why Stream?
You can play the game “Will they? Won’t they? Or will you fall asleep before either happens?”
Rough Night —MOVIE HOT TAKE REVIEW—
Super Simple Synopsis: Engaged politician goes away for a bachelorette party in Miami but a night of partying leads to the death of a stripper and a crazy cover up.
Why Stream?
Remember Very Bad Things? If you ever imagined Very Bad Things with a female cast and not as good, you’d have Rough Night.
The Wedding Plan –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: After her fiancee calls off the wedding, a woman decides to not cancel the wedding and puts her faith in God to find her a husband before the date.
Why Stream?
The Jewish film (with subtitles) was a critical hit earlier this year.
Skip It!
Austin Found –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: A woman, her ex-boyfriend and an ex-con kidnap her 11-year-old daughter for publicity.
Why Skip?
As promising as the cast looks (Linda Cardellini, Skeet Ulrich, Craig Robinson, Patrick Warburton, Chris Parnell), the reviews say otherwise.
Dead Again in Tombstone –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: A cowboy returns from the dead to protect a relic from a band of soldiers.
Why Skip?
The film is 0-for-16 on Rotten Tomatoes… and that’s the Audience Score!!!
First Kill –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: A Wall Street broker tries to reconnect with his son by taking him hunting but they stumble upon some robbers and witness a murder which leads to the kidnapping of his son.
Why Skip?
Hayden Christensen keeps trying but even Bruce Willis can’t save this one. (Christensen is the Wall Street broker, if you want to feel old.)
Fun Mom Dinner –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: Four women who share a preschool class in common get together for a dinner but alcohol, karaoke and a hot bartender lead to an unforgettable night.
Why Skip?
Just see Bad Moms… or wait for Bad Moms 2.
The Hatred –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: Four young women travel to their professor’s country home only to discover the home has a dark past.
Why Skip?
Doesn’t this sound like 10 other horror flicks you’ve seen?
The Last Face –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: A Spanish doctor and a spokeswoman for an organization that provides funding for medical assistance have a torrid affair.
Why Skip?
When a movie is directed by Sean Penn, stars Javier Bardem and Charlize Theron and you’ve never heard of it, run the other way.
The Mummy –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: A futile attempt to launch a Movie Monster Cinematic Universe.
Why Skip?
In two weeks, Tom Cruise will be in a good movie.
Security –NO REVIEW–
Super Simple Synopsis: A mall security guard has to protect a female witness from a gang.
Why Skip?
Sorry but Paul Blart has ruined mall cops forever.