Two gigantic franchises look set to divide a substantial chunk of April’s box office between them, but that’s not all that is on offer – or that we are excited about – in the month of movies. Documentary, drama, animation, and a killer horror also vie for attention, meaning there’s plenty for those not enamoured with costumes or cars….
The Spongebob Movie: Sponge Out of Water – April 2nd in 2D and 3D
The second SpongeBob movie, a mix of live-action and animation, sees Nickelodeon’s sea dwelling invertebrate take to land in order to stop Burger Beard the Pirate (Antonio Banderas) from obtaining a missing page of a recipe book – a recipe book that has the power to grant Burger his evil wishes. Which is fine and all, but don’t worry too much about the plot, and instead revel in the unabashed silliness.
Movie times and info (Also in 3D)
Fast & Furious 7 – April 2nd
What’s left to say about this series that hasn’t already been said? Every synonym for “awesome”, “ridiculous” and “awesomely ridiculous” has been used up, and that’s before we saw instalment 7 drive a bunch of cars out of a cargo plane. We’re stupidly excited about seeing this, and expect to tear up at Paul Walker just as much as the rest of the cast tear up whatever settings they’re thrust into – particularly the promised scrap between Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham.
While We’re Young – April 16th
New pic from Noah Baumbach (Frances Ha) features an all-star cast which Ben Stiller and his wife Naomi Watts livening up when they meet a spontaneous younger couple (Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried). Moving on from the minimalist screwball feel of his previous film, Baumbach digs comedically into generational differences and the plight of the creative classes.
Banksy Does New York – April 23rd
New York’s been on the receiving end of all manner of treatment in movies, but perhaps nothing like the real-life events of October 2013, when enfant terrible Banksy arrived in town with a thrilling proposition – to create 31 pieces of art within the month. Part scavenger hunt, part public spectacle, and part cat-and-mouse game with the cops, Banksy’s month-long NYC residency wasn’t just conceptually audacious but also delivered thrilling work – of which this documentary is itself a part.
Avengers: Age of Ultron – April 23rd in 2D and 3D
Wow. It’s almost here. After teasers and trailers and sneak peeks and posters and images and way too much analysis of the around 2% of movie Marvel have shared, we finally get to see the much-loved Avengers suit up again under the watchful eye of Joss Whedon. With Marvel continuing to kick much movie ass in the wake of the first team-up film there’s a lot to live up to – but we expect Whedon to bow out with a hiss and a roar before handing over the next two films to the Russo brothers (Captain America: The Winter Soldier).
Movie times and info (Also in 3D)
Child 44 – April 30th
Crime mystery set during the Stalinist era of the Soviet Union boasts a great concept – a child murderer runs free, a serial killer in a society that officially states they can’t exist. Only a sick society produces such sickness, goes the official thinking, yet a disgraced member of the military police takes it upon himself to track the killer down – no matter the consequences to himself or his family. All-star cast boasts Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises), Joel Kinnaman (RoboCop), Noomi Rapace (Prometheus), Gary Oldman (Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy) and Charles Dance (The Imitation Game).
