This week at the movies: The delightful reboot Pete’s Dragon hits theaters; and Meryl Streep lights up the screen as Florence Foster Jenkins, a not-so-talented opera singer.
Pete’s Dragon
Mr. Meacham (Robert Redford), a woodcarver, delights local children with stories of a mysterious dragon that lives deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest. His daughter Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) believes these are just tall tales, until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley), a 10-year-old orphan who says he lives in the woods with a giant, friendly dragon. With help from a young girl named Natalie (Oona Laurence), Grace sets out to investigate if this fantastic claim can be true.
Rated PG. Directed by David Lowery. Fantasy/Adventure. 1h 43m.
What the Critics Say:
“One of the year's most delightful moviegoing surprises, a quality family film that rewards young people's imaginations and reminds us of a time when the term ‘Disney movie’ meant something.” – Variety
“A cute but not cutesy boy-and-his-dog story, with the dog played by a very big green dragon. Strong performances and direction make the most of a lightweight tale.” – Empire
Our Take: This remake sounds very well done (rare for a reboot!) and enchantingly nostalgic (the original Pete’s Dragon came out in 1977). Definitely take the whole family to see this one!
Florence Foster Jenkins
In the 1940s, New York socialite Florence Foster Jenkins (Meryl Streep) dreams of becoming a great opera singer. Unfortunately, her ambition far exceeds her talent. The voice Florence hears in her head is beautiful, but to everyone else it is quite lousy. Her husband St. Clair (Hugh Grant) goes to extreme lengths to make sure his wife never finds out how awful she truly is. When Florence announces her plans for a concert at Carnegie Hall, St. Clair soon realizes that he's facing his greatest challenge yet. Based on a true story.
Rated PG-13. Directed by Stephen Frears. Drama/Romance. 1h 50m.
What the Critics Say:
“A fizzy, funny, period dramedy with top-notch performances, Florence Foster Jenkins doesn't take many risks but it's a very entertaining experience. And yes, she was that bad.” – Empire
“Stephen Frears’s enjoyable, sentimental biopic gives Streep a role to relish, while Hugh Grant provides a touching foil in a genuine paean to mediocrity.” – The Guardian
Our Take: Meryl Streep? Enough said! Any film starring Meryl is worth seeing!