Superhero fatigue? Try these alien-free summer movies.
Himesh Patel (l.) and British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran star in 鈥榊esterday,鈥� directed by Danny Boyle. The movie, which revolves around people not remembering The Beatles ever existed, is one of 2019鈥檚 summer releases.
Jonathan Prime/Universal Pictures/AP
This summer at the movies, exploding cars will do triple somersaults through the air. Sharks the size of Greyhound buses will menace swimmers. Supervillains will level well-known landmarks (in the new Spider-Man movie, London Bridge really is falling down). And The Rock will drive off a cliff in a vehicle that鈥檚 chained to a helicopter.
Just like any other summer, really.
But if you prefer movies where the most special effect is an unexpected laugh or tear, here are a few counter-programming options for the blockbuster season.
Why We Wrote This
Blockbusters are a part of summer, like cut grass and the ice cream truck. Sometimes, though, people want to be transported by a story that doesn't depend on special effects.
In 鈥淟ate Night,鈥� Emma Thompson plays a talk-show host with David Letterman-like acerbic wit and a Conan O鈥橞rien-like pompadour. But her schtick has grown stale. When the blame falls on her staff of all white male writers, a TV executive hires a minority woman named Molly (Mindy Kaling). But it turns out Molly lacks prior experience in comedy writing. Can she save her boss鈥檚 show? Kaling, who made her mark in 鈥淭he Office鈥� and 鈥淭he Mindy Show,鈥� also wrote the comedy, which received rave reviews at this year鈥檚 Sundance festival. (U.S. release date: June 7)
The scenario of 鈥淵esterday鈥� is so implausible that, by comparison, the upcoming blockbuster in which Godzilla battles a giant moth seems merely far-fetched. Danny Boyle鈥檚 comedy depicts a world in which The Beatles have been completely forgotten. (Help!) Only one person, aspiring songwriter Jack Malik (Himesh Patel), hasn鈥檛 been affected by the global amnesia. So he starts to pass the Fab Four鈥檚 songs off as his own compositions. In the process of becoming a huge pop star, he even fools his manager (played by Lily James) into believing that he鈥檚 a songwriting genius. (June 28)
Three years ago, Ron Howard directed a smash-hit documentary about John, Paul, George, and Ringo titled 鈥淓ight Days a Week.鈥� His latest nonfiction music film is about a man who wore a tuxedo to work: 鈥淧avarotti.鈥� It chronicles the life of the late, great Italian opera singer, including his humanitarian efforts. This is a chance to hear 鈥淣essun Dorma鈥� in Dolby surround sound. (June 7)
鈥淏linded by the Light,鈥� this summer鈥檚 other notable music-themed movie, is about Bruce Springsteen鈥檚 biggest fan. Javed (Viveik Kalra) wasn鈥檛 born in the USA 鈥� he鈥檚 British and of Pakistani heritage 鈥� but he feels a spiritual connection to The Boss. Growing up in the London suburb of Luton in 1987, the budding writer draws inspiration from the songwriter鈥檚 anthems as he tries to fit in at school and meet his own family鈥檚 expectations. Plan on a feel-good drama by director Gurinder Chadha, who also helmed 鈥淏end it Like Beckham.鈥� (August 14)
Family secrets play a large part of 鈥淲here鈥檇 You Go, Bernadette.鈥� Based on Maria Semple鈥檚 best-selling comedic novel, the Richard Linklater-directed adaptation is about a 14-year-old girl trying to solve the mystery of her mother鈥檚 disappearance. Spoiler alert! Mom (Cate Blanchett, in the titular role) absconded to Antarctica. And, no, it wasn鈥檛 because Bernadette really, really likes penguins. You鈥檒l have to see the movie to find out what drove her to the far ends of the earth. (August 16)
Last summer, comedian and rapper Awkwafina stole so many scenes in 鈥淐razy Rich Asians鈥� and 鈥淥cean鈥檚 8鈥� that she鈥檚 on Hollywood鈥檚 most-wanted list. In 鈥淭he Farewell,鈥� she may have met her match: a grandmother played by Chinese television actress Shuzhen Zhao. Awkwafina plays her Chinese-American granddaughter, Billi, who ventures to China for a family reunion. But the family has a tragic secret they鈥檝e agreed to withhold from the elderly matriarch. You may wish to stash a pack of Kleenex in your seat鈥檚 popcorn-holder for this one. (July 12)
There are plenty of icebergs, too, in 鈥淎quarela.鈥� You鈥檇 be forgiven if you said the title sounds as if it鈥檚 a superhero spinoff story about Aquaman鈥檚 sister. In fact, it鈥檚 a about the extraordinary power and beauty of vast bodies of water. It even features an ocean wave seemingly double the size of that in 鈥淭he Perfect Storm鈥� 鈥� except this one wasn鈥檛 computer generated. Not surprisingly, this well-timed aquatic extravaganza aims to make a splash in August. (August 16)