PLANNING ON HEADING to the cinema this weekend?

There are a few new movies out, but which is a must-watch, and are there any you should avoid? We take a look.

Paddington 2

What we know

He’s back, and he’s still wearing his cute little duffel coat. This time, Paddington the bear wants to buy a book for his Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday – but then the book gets stolen by a local actor, played by Hugh Grant… yes, it’s that simple and sweet.

What the critics say

• “When tangled universes, complex mythologies and dystopian malaise are still the running trend in sequels, it’s a breath of fresh air that the plot of Paddington 2 is, in essence: Paddington tries to buy a nice birthday present and it goes wrong.” – Empire
• “His brand of slapstick and sweetness remains just as addictive as those sandwiches he keeps about his person – you joining in the fun is a match marmalade in Heaven.” – RTÉ

What’s it rated?

• RottenTomatoes: 9.3/10
• IMDB: 8.8/10

Thank You For Your Service

What we know

This film, starring Whiplash’s  Miles Teller, explores what happens to Iraq veterans when they return home to the USA.

What the critics say

• “Striving for the elusive goal of political neutrality, Mr. Hall has made a less jingoistic film than “American Sniper” (in the combat sequences, villainous Iraqis have been replaced with faceless ones). Instead, “Thank You for Your Service” is a macho weepie, whose message — that wars are permanent for those who fight in them — has broad appeal.” – New York Times 
• “ But rather than chalk it up to a general post-traumatic miasma, as other films have done, Thank You for Your Service wastes no time getting clinical, as its characters seek out mental-health services and rehabilitation, and frequently run into stalls and red tape in doing so.” – Vulture

What’s it rated?

• RottenTomatoes: 6.7/10
• IMDB: 6.5/10

The Florida Project

What we know

Director Sean Baker’s breakthrough was Tangerine (about transgender sex workers), which was shot using an iPhone. In this, he again looks at people on the margins – a mother and daughter who live in a motel in Florida. Stars Willem Dafoe not as a baddy.

What the critics say

• “His latest film is an intelligent, unpatronizing look at life on the margins, told from a child’s-eye view without ignoring the bleak realities she faces.” – The Atlantic 
• “As a filmmaker, Baker is a graceful neorealist voyeur who thrives on improvisation, and his storytelling, in “The Florida Project,” is mostly just a series of anecdotes. But that turns out to be enough.” – Variety

What’s it rated?

• RottenTomatoes: 8.6/10
• IMDB: 8.1/10

Which one would you go see first?

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