With March jam-packed with summer-type blockbusters, April’s slate of new theatrical releases may seem rather light in comparison. Only one April release – "The Fate of the Furious" – carries with it the box office potential that being part of a blockbuster franchise brings.
However, April will bring a number of releases pundits have been buzzing about, either because of their dramatic or indie film appeal or because of the talent involved. There’s plenty worth seeing in spring’s final month, though the real treats, of course, start in May.
Here’s a week-by-week breakdown of films to look out for through April.
April 7
Going in Style – starring Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Alan Arkin, Ann-Margret. Directed by Zach Braff. Might be easy to dismiss this one as “Grumpy Old Men” meets “Tower Heist,” but with this cast, a screenplay from Theodore Melfi (“Hidden Figures”) and Zach Braff (TV’s “Scrubs”, "Garden State") in the director’s chair, “Going in Style” might prove to be a sleeper hit.
Smurfs: The Lost Village – starring the voice talents of Ariel Winter, Michelle Rodriguez, Julia Roberts, Joe Manganiello. Directed by Kelly Asbury. With a brand-new voice cast and a return to full animation rather than mixing live action with CGI characters, the new Smurfs film represents a “re-boot” of sorts for the franchise.
That said, the most important things haven’t changed: the Smurfs are still small, blue, and cute. Parents should just go ahead and pencil this one in on their calendars.
April 14 (Easter weekend)
The Fate of the Furious – starring Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Helen Mirren, Nathalie Emmanuel, Elsa Pataky, Scott Eastwood with Kurt Russell and Charlize Theron. Directed by F. Gary Gray. The series moves on following the untimely death of series regular Paul Walker prior to the previous installment, 2015’s "Furious 7." This time, Statham and Kurt Russell return, and superstar Charlize Theron joins the mix as the femme fatale that finds a way to co-erce Diesel’s Dom Toretta into betraying the family he’s forged.
Look for this film to deliver lots more of what’s earned the series $1 billion worldwide – super-charged, CGI-enhanced car chases, bone-crushing fights, and plenty of testosterone.
Gifted – starring Chris Evans, Jenny Slate, Octavia Spencer, Mckenna Grace. Directed by Marc Webb. This collaboration between the actor most often seen these days carrying Captain America’s shield and the director behind the last two "Amazing Spider-Man" films has nary a superhero in sight. Instead, Chris Evans and Marc Webb bring battles of a different sort, between family members over a gifted child’s future.
Early buzz for this one has lots of praise for Evans in a strong performance ahead of a talented and memorable ensemble. It won’t make lots of noise at the box office, but it’s worth looking out for, especially as effective counterprogramming versus the loud, expensive “Fast and the Furious” sequel it opens against.
April 21
DisneyNature: Born in China – Narrated by John Krasinski (TV’s “The Office”, “13 Hours”), “Born in China” is the latest in DisneyNature’s animal-focused documentary series, following 2015’s “Monkey Kingdom.” This time, the narrative follows three different animal “families”: A panda bear and her cub, two golden monkey siblings, and a mother snow leopard with her cubs.
Photography and direction always stands out in these DisneyNature features – they’re always a joy to watch and reliably bankable for the studio. “Born in China” looks destined to have the same success as its predecessors.
Free Fire – starring Sharlto Copley, Armie Hammer, Brie Larson, Cillian Murphy, Jack Reynor. Directed by Ben Wheatley. With its eclectic cast, 1970’s setting Boston setting, and a director known for his talent with both dark comedy and thrillers, “Free Fire” has a sort of “Pulp Fiction” appeal to it in the broad strokes. One thing is certain: its MPAA rating – R for strong violence, pervasive language, sexual references and drug use – implies a film that will appeal to a specific audience, and perhaps not far beyond.
Unforgettable – starring Rosario Dawson, Katherine Heigl, Cheryl Ladd. Directed by Denise Di Novi. Sad to say, but this domestic thriller about an woman (Heigl) who can’t let go and decides to make life miserable for her ex-husband and his new wife (Dawson) practically screams “TV movie”, right down to its director, who only has one other directing credit to her name, an episode of FOX’s “Bones.” The marketing seems aimed at a “Fatal Attraction” type appeal, but audiences can get this kind of drama these days turning to Investigation Discovery Channel or the latest episode of “Snapped.”
April 28
The Circle – starring Emma Watson, Tom Hanks, John Boyega, Karen Gillan, Claudia O’Doherty, Glenne Headly, Patton Oswalt, and Bill Paxton. Directed by James Ponsoldt. Based on a novel, “The Circle” is worth noting for a few reasons. First and foremost, it features Tom Hanks in a rare antagonist role, as the founder of a tech giant who encourages a new employee (Watson) to push ethical boundaries as part of what could a groundbreaking experiment. The film also features the late Bill Paxton in his final film role, and a notable ensemble that includes “Star Wars” star John Boyega and “Guardians of the Galaxy” star and “Doctor Who” alum Karen Gillan.
That said, the film’s premise seems awfully familiar -- think “Antitrust” with Ryan Phillippe and Tim Robbins in 2001. When you also consider that the novelist behind this story, Dave Eggers, also wrote “A Hologram for the King,” which was also made into a film starring Hanks that ranks among his worst in terms of box office performance, and you’ve got a film that may turn up D.O.A. on opening weekend.