This has been the summer of movie-watching for me. Whenever I am looking to get out and do something in my free time, I head to the movies. The summer blockbusters have been popping out like items on an assembly line, and I happen to possess a bad case of "FOMO" (fear of missing out) when I miss a movie that I was interested in seeing.
There are still so many I want to see ("Minions," anyone? The new "Terminator"?). In the meantime, here are five movies you either need to see or can probably pass on.
1. "Pitch Perfect 2"
Can you say hilarious? If you were mildly obsessed with the first "Pitch Perfect" movie like me, you can't miss this one. This time, the Bellas try to regain their once-stellar reputation as the best American a cappella group before they graduate. Fat Amy cracks jokes so funny, your sides will throb from laughing. The special "musical" appearance from the Greenbay Packers defensive line is only the cherry on the cake. Interestingly enough, there seems to be a sense of closure at the end of the movie, but Universal Pictures just announced the release of "Pitch Perfect 3," set for July 2017. The second installment is equally as funny as the first, and arguably just as classic.
2. "Tomorrowland"
To preface, this Disney-produced movie's storyline is intriguing. As Earth is heading towards eventual disaster, a teenager discovers a place that exists in another time and space that could be the key to saving the world. But while George Clooney is far from an eye sore, his performance in "Tomorrowland" does not rank up there with some of his best. In fact, all of the acting in the film was sub-par overall. There were fascinating aspects of the story and fantastic special effects, but the movie ultimately failed to dive deeper than the stereotypical "Save the World" plot line. This movie was not one of Disney's modern-day bests, and I would not recommend racing to the theater to see it.
3. "Jurassic World"
As a long-time "Jurassic Park" fan (I remember watching the movies on VHS growing up and still stop to watch it every time I see it on TV), I had high hopes for this movie. I unashamedly saw "Jurassic World" twice in the first week it hit theaters, and it did not disappoint. In this movie, two boys travel to the theme park/island called Jurassic World, but are soon in grave danger as dinosaurs escape their cages and begin attacking everything and everyone on the island. The dinosaur graphics were incredible, the action was intense, and the storyline was heartwarming. There were even small references here and there to the original "Jurassic Park" to make it even better. Also, can we talk about Chris Pratt (from "Parks and Recreation") for a second? Not only is he an overwhelmingly attractive human, but he is also a stellar actor. Without a doubt, I would see "Jurassic World" again, again, again and again.
4. "Ted 2"
We can all agree that the first "Ted" was hysterically funny, and became somewhat of a contemporary classic. Unfortunately, the "thunder buddies" failed to hit it out of the (Red Sox) park this time around. While the movie had funny parts and some clever scenes, the storyline was cliché, at best. The funniest lines were in the previews, and the last 15 minutes of the movie were uncomfortably cheesy. If you're looking for a dumb, crude comedy to rent from Redbox on a Friday night, then this might be the one for you. I would not recommending seeing it in theaters.
5. "Inside Out"
Drop everything you're doing right now, and drive to the movie theater. "Inside Out" is one of the most brilliant movies I've seen in a long time (which is why I just returned to see it for the second time). It focuses on an 11-year-old girl named Riley, whose family moves from her childhood home in Minnesota to the unfamiliar city of San Francisco. All the "voices" inside her head (Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Anger and Fear) that guide her thoughts and actions enter a crisis as everything Riley knew and loved changes after the move. Disney Pixar crafts a genius plot with hilarious characters (voiced by stars like Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Phyllis Smith and Lewis Black). It's the type of movie that you'll watch and wonder, "How did they THINK of that?" The first time I saw it with my middle-aged parents and the second time I saw it with two elementary-age girls; they all loved it, which shows that "Inside Out" is truly a movie that people of all ages can enjoy.





















