Major Theatrical Releases August 2019

Major Theatrical Releases August 2019

Typically August brings about a slew of subpar films that the production companies want to throw out there before the fall, and this year looks to be no different.  While there's some really good gems in the bunch, it looks like it'll be another subpar month at the theaters.

Here are the major theatrical releases for August 2019...

**THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS**

**DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

 Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw

August 2

"The Fast and the Furious" franchise has managed to maintain its popularity and provide action-packed films for over a decade, and now they're branching out and presenting a spinoff film.  Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham return as their "Fast and the Furious" characters Luke Hobbs and Deckard Shaw as the two adversaries must come together to stop a ruthless international terrorist who's become cyber-genetically enhanced.  Idris Elba stars as the villain, and this looks like everything you'd expect to see from a "Fast and the Furious" film, without the constant mention of Family.

Dora and the Lost City of Gold

August 9

Based on the wildly popular television series, someone decided it was a great idea to make it into a full-length live-action film, and I'm still wondering who was that dumb to think it was a good idea.  Isabela Moner (who's a fantastic young actress in her own right, starring in "Transformers: The Last Knight," "Instant Family," and "Sicario: Day of the Soldado") dons the iconic outfit and first has to endure the wilds of high school before venturing to the wilderness with her friends (and also Boots and Diego) to rescue her family.  The effects in the trailer looks laughable at best, and the script seems as thin as you could imagine.

 Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark

August 9

Based on the novels that's scared children for generations, "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" centers around the mysterious Sarah Bellows and the terrifying stories she wrote, and how her stories appear to be coming true.  Produced by creature-feature icon Guillermo del Toro, this looks to be a viscerally terrifying film that will continue the novel's legacy.

The Kitchen

 August 9

The film is interesting in itself - three housewives in 1978 Hell's Kitchen who come together after their mobster husbands are sent to prison and decide to take control of the Irish mafia themselves - but it's all the more intriguing in the three actresses cast for the roles.  Elizabeth Moss (best known for her award-winning performance in "The Handmaid's Tale") is the most obvious, but the other two come as real surprises: Melissa McCarthy (who's known for comedy but has also given some thought-provoking dramatic performances, especially last year's "Can You Ever Forgive Me" which she earned an Oscar nomination), and Tiffany Haddish (who, until this moment, has never appeared in a serious film).  I think these three actresses have what it takes to deliver a grounded, compelling, dramatic film and I'm very excited to see how it plays out.

The Art of Racing in the Rain

 August 9

I don't know how many more of these incredibly moving, tear-jerking dog films I can take this year.  Even the trailer had me in tears.  Maybe I'm just too sensitive when it comes to animals.  Anyway, this looks to be another heartwarming tale of the bonds between man and man's best friend, but I'm always weary of films like this since "Marley and Me" totally wrecked me.  Milo Ventimiglia stars as a race car driver who takes in a puppy (voiced by Kevin Coster) and learns the values of life and love as the two travel life together.  I'll have the tissues ready.

 The Angry Birds Movie 2

August 14

The first "Angry Birds" film (the movie based on an app game that hasn't been popular since the iPhone 3) was a surprise modest success, so of course they had to follow it up with a sequel - three years after the original.  This time the birds and pigs must come together to stop a new threat - a purple bird who's tired of living in the frozen arctic and wants her own spot in the sun.  Looks funny enough, and it's got a good vocal cast, but I just don't see it being any sort of a success, especially coming out so late in the summer after much better kids movies have been out.

Blinded by the Light

August 14

Much like "Yesterday" which came out last month, "Blinded by the Light" focuses on the story of a young man who's heavily influenced by a rock legend's music - this time it's the Boss, Bruce Springsteen.  This looks to be another one of those moving films that tells the power of music and how it influences - or sometimes even mirrors - our own lives.

 Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

August 16

Directed by Richard Linklater ("Dazed and Confused," "Boyhood"), "Where'd You Go, Bernadette" centers around eccentric Bernadette, who doesn't really much care for anyone other than her husband and daughter, who mysteriously goes missing at a party.  Her daughter and husband embark on an adventure of their own to find their missing loved one, which looks to be a great blend of comedy and drama delivered by an impeccable cast including Cate Blanchett, Billy Crudup, Kristen Wiig and newcomer Emma Nelson.

 47 Meters Down: Uncaged

August 16

Not since "Jaws 2" have people not been afraid at all to enter the water due to the nonexistent threat of sharks.  The first "47 Meters Down" was a modest success since it was basically filmed for nothing, so they decide to try their hand again with a sequel that no one asked for or needed.

 Good Boys

August 16

The other raunchy comedy coming out this summer is the Seth Rogen-produced "Good Boys," about three young friends who want to learn how to kiss, so they use their dad's drone to spy on a teenage couple, but gets the drone confiscated.  The ensuing adventure to get it back leads to hilarious hi-jinks and sexually-toned humor.  The film's marketing ploy is fantastic, as they mention the young actors can't even see the trailer for the movie they're in, and it features young Jacob Tremblay (from the award-winning "Room") in his most raunchy movie yet.

 Overcomer

August 23

There seems to be a growing "Christian Universe" film franchise, but unlike pretty much any other film franchises in the history of the world, no one watches them.  Set in the same world as "War Room" and "Courageous" (haven't heard of them?  You're probably not a Christian then, since that's the only audience they get), "Overcomer" centers on a young girl who seemingly couldn't run to save her life become a champion, and of course we all know how it's all going to turn out.

Angel Has Fallen

August 23

Gerard Butler has given us two fantastic action spectacles in "Olympus Has Fallen" and "London Has Fallen," and continues the trend with the third installment in the franchise - "Angel Has Fallen."  Taking a premise seemingly from films like "The Fugitive," this film finds our hero on the run from the law, falsely accused of trying to murder the President (which I hope they explain more in the film, since I don't think anyone would believe the man who saved the President twice would then try to kill him).  His running leads him to his estranged father, played by Nick Nolte.  This looks to be another action-packed film that'll be a welcome addition to the franchise.

There are the major theatrical releases for August 2019.
Here is the order in which I'm excited to see them, from least to most:

#12 - Dora and the Lost City of Gold

#11 - Overcomer

#10 - The Angry Birds Movie 2

#9 - 47 Meters Down: Uncaged

#8 - The Art of Racing in the Rain

#7 - Blinded by the Light

#6 - Good Boys

#5 - Where'd You Go, Bernadette?
#4 - Angel Has Fallen

#3 - Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw

#2 - The Kitchen

#1 - Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark