Adam Gunton
Are you there, God? It’s Me, Margaret
Released: 28 April
Please, just do this one thing for me. Just let me be normal and regular like everybody else. Just please, please, please, please, please, please, please.
Based on the 1970 classic children’s novel by Judy Blume, this is the ultimate coming-of-age story. Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson), aged 11, is just desperate to be normal. She finds her life changing as her family moves from New York City to suburban New Jersey. Margaret’s mother (Rachel McAdams) is Christian, and her father (Benny Safdie) is Jewish and Margaret feels stuck in-between. Margaret is frequently praying to God and she hopes he’ll answer because Margaret feels like she needs all the help she can get. New house, new school, new friends and puberty on the horizon. Margaret is on a journey to discover who she is. A journey that her mother and grandmother (Kathy Bates) are still on. This is a story which is timeless and relatable for so many young girls out there. Both heart-warming and hilarious. Don’t miss this.
Watch the trailer here
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
Released: 31 March
I don’t want to see you die. Which is why I’m going to leave the room.
I could say that the table-top roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons has recently become cool thanks to shows like Stranger Things and Critical Role but the truth is, it’s always been cool. The world is just finally catching up with the rest of us geeks. The world of D&D is being brought to life in this new film from the minds behind Spider-man: Homecoming and the hilarious Game Night. A group of adventurers (including Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Regé-Jean Page and Sophia Lillis from IT) head out on a quest to find a mysterious treasure. Of course, the task is anything but simple and it’s up to them to save the realm from certain destruction. This is like The Lord Of The Rings with no limits, and it looks like it’s going to capture the fun of D&D. Plus it’s got Hugh Grant playing a mysterious character against his usual type, which is always brilliant.
Watch the trailer here
Renfield
Released: 14 April
I need to get out of a toxic relationship
I think we’ve probably all experienced relationships with bosses that weren’t super-positive and that’s what Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) is trying to move away from. He wants to focus on himself and embrace life in New Orleans. That’s easier said than done because Renfield’s boss is Dracula (Nicolas Cage). The Count is having a bit of trouble letting go of Renfield after centuries of servitude. Written by Robert Kirkman (creator of The Walking Dead) and Ryan Ridley (one of the writers of Rick and Morty) and directed by Chris McKay (director of The Lego Batman Movie) this dark comedy sounds great but the real headline is the perfect casting of Nicolas Cage as Dracula. The level of intensisty he could bring to this role is worth the ticket price alone.
Watch the trailer here
The Super Mario Bros. Movie
Released: 7 April
Mushroom Kingdom, here we come!
It’s-a-him, Mario! It was only a matter of time before Super Mario got the animated film treatment. You might be wondering how they’ve made a movie based on a game where a plumber runs from left to right, eating mushrooms, throwing fireballs, jumping on turtles and racing karts but there’s a lot of stories to be found in Mario’s 42 years of history. Mario (Chris Pratt) and his brother Luigi (Charlie Day) find themselves separated as they’re thrown into the Mushroom Kingdom. Mario meets up with the lovable Toad (Keegan-Michael Key) and the fearless Princess Peach (Anya Taylor-Joy) who explain that the evil King of Koopas, Bowser (Jack Black), is on a mission to destroy the Mushroom Kingdom and he’s got Mario’s brother Luigi hostage! Mario will have to team up with Peach, Toad and even Donkey Kong (Seth Rogen) to save the day. Perfect for an Easter holiday trip to the cinema.
Watch the trailer here