By Chip Chandler — Digital Content Producer
Ticked-off birds, throwback detectives and tussling frat bros and sorority girls are all headed to theaters this weekend, as is an anniversary screening of "Top Gun."
The Angry Birds Movie
Perhaps “arbitrary” is a better adjective to use than “angry” in the title of this film, because nothing about this film adaptation of the popular app sounds necessary at all. Jason Sudeikis voices the lead bird, Red, who meets speedy Chuck (Josh Gad) and self-descriptive Bomb (Danny McBride) in an anger-management class. They’re the only ones suspicious when a group of green pigs (whose leader is voiced by Bill Hader) arrive on the birds’ islands. So really, the message of the movie is to immediately distrust strangers who don’t look like you. Because that always works so well. Review are fowl foul: “After paying good money to take your family to see this film, you may be dealing with some anger-management issues of your own,” writes Jen Chaney for the Washington Post. (PG for rude humor and action; United Artists Amarillo Star 14, 8275 W. Amarillo Blvd., and Cinemark Hollywood 16, 9100 Canyon Drive.)
Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising
As much as I enjoyed the original, I’m not sure the world was clamoring for a sequel to 2014 comedy starring Seth Rogen as a new family man, Rose Byrne as his wife and Zac Efron as the jerky frat guy next door. But reviews are really solid for this go-round, which finds Mac and Kelly (Rogen and Byrne) seeking Teddy’s (Efron) help in getting rid of a sorority that has moved in next door. It’s “a wonderfully goofy sequel, light on plot and heavy on silly set pieces, but it’s anchored by a sense of self-awareness that bro comedies often lack, poking fun at the insecurities of the millennial male without ever coming off as forced or preachy,” writes David Sims for the Atlantic. (R for crude sexual content including brief graphic nudity, language throughout, drug use and teen partying; Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16)
The Nice Guys
A pair of mismatched PIs (Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe) reluctantly team up to investigate the apparent suicide of a porn star in 1977 Los Angeles. Co-written and directed by Shane Black (Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang, Iron Man 3), this action comedy is getting solid to stellar reviews. “The Nice Guys is basically Chinatown remade by Quentin Tarantino and starring foulmouthed, updated versions of Abbott and Costello, as played by two of the most recognizable male stars of our time,” writes Andrew O’Hehir for Salon. “Make your purchasing decisions accordingly.” (R for violence, sexuality, nudity, language and brief drug use; Amarillo Star 14 and Hollywood 16)
The Shakespeare Show
An all-star cast celebrates the 400th birthday of William Shakespeare in this special filmed live at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon. The special, screening at 7 p.m. Monday, will feature appearances by Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Benedict Cumberbatch, Helen Mirren, John Lithgow, David Suchet, Joseph Fiennes, Rufus Wainwright and more. Hosts are David Tennant and Catherine Tate. (NR; Hollywood 16)
The War Comes Home
Soledad O’Brien presents a documentary about two Iraq War veterans struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The 7 p.m. Tuesday screening of the film, which originally aired on CNN, also will include one-on-one interviews with director/actor Peter Berg and actor/wounded vet JR Martinez, as well as a panel discussion with veterans, celebrity advocates and more. (NR; Hollywood 16)
Top Gun
I feel the need — the need to not acknowledge that this iconic summer blockbuster is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. That means that, when I saw it in the theaters in its original run, I was … never mind, I don’t have to answer that. Anyway, see how little Tom Cruise has aged in the subsequent three decades in screenings at 2 p.m. Sunday and 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesday. (PG; Hollywood 16)
Chip Chandler is a digital content producer for Panhandle PBS. He can be contacted at Chip.Chandler@actx.edu, at @chipchandler1 on Twitter and at www.facebook.com/chipchandlerwriter on Facebook.
