Wednesday, Nov. 26: Horrible Bosses 2 & The Penguins of Madagascar open in wide release
Check local listings for showtimes/pricing.
The Hunger Games fallout continues, with few films looking to go head-to-head with that box office behemoth, even in its second week. You do get two pieces of counter-programming, though, with the raucous comedy sequel Horrible Bosses 2 and the kid-friendly Penguins of Madagascar. I liked the original Horrible Bosses well enough upon initial release, although I’d be hard-pressed to remember anything in particular about it (beyond a general sense of warmth regarding Charlie Day’s performance and Jamie Foxx’s character name, too vulgar for this blog). The plot appears to revolve around the hapless trio of Charlie Day and Jasons Bateman and Sudeikis getting into the kidnapping game, with new cast additions of Chrises Pine and Toph Waltz in addition to many of the titular ‘horrible bosses’ of the first film. The lack of any advance screenings doesn’t foretell a comedy masterpiece, but these are good performers who can elevate feckless material.
It was just a matter of time before the penguins from the Madagascar movie series got their own feature-length adventure, having already been given their own short films and an ongoing Nickelodeon television series since stealing the show in the original film. Immediately following the events of the third picture, this spin-off finds the penguins embroiled in an international spy thriller, joining a covert animal operation meant to save the world from an evil octopus (voiced by, of course, John Malkovich). I don’t have much affinity for the Madagascar series, but the penguins have proven charming in small doses. If you’re a parent this holiday week/weekend, I hope nothing but the best for you and laud your sacrifice in taking your young ones to check this out.
Wednesday, Nov. 26: Wild Style
6 p.m. @ TRUE Skool – 161 W. Wisconsin Ave, Suite 1000 (FREE!)
TRUE Skool wraps up its 10th anniversary film festival program that has run throughout this year with the landmark movie Wild Style (a film that celebrated its 30th anniversary last year). The plot, revolving around graffiti artist Zoro and his run-ins with a journalist, is almost incidental. This film is best known for featuring key figures in the early-80’s hip-hop movement (including Grandmaster Flash and The Chief Rocker Busy Bee) as well as the intersection of art, music and dance in forming that culture with graffiti artists, b-boys and a massive climactic outdoor jam. It’s a strong choice to wrap up TRUE Skool’s anniversary programming.
Wednesday, Nov. 26: Remember the Day
7:30 p.m. @ Charles Allis Art Museum ($7/Adults, $5/Seniors & Students, Free/museum members)
Also wrapping up this week is Charles Allis’ World War I-themed programming, ending with the Claudette Colbert melodrama Remember the Day. Tracking the romance between herself and another small-town teacher as well as the young student who is enamored with her, the film is told through a series of flashbacks with Colbert’s romantic partner being sent off to war and the young boy eventually growing up to be a Presidential nominee. Only recently made available on DVD, this movie has a sentimental streak a mile wide and would be a charming pre-Thanksgiving family outing to be sure.
Saturday, Nov. 29: Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
6:30 p.m. @ The Milwaukee Public Museum’s Daniel M. Soref Dome Theater and Planetarium (Purchase tickets here!)
Continuing the running theme of film series wrapping up their runs this week, we get the final film of MPM’s Sci-Fi Fest in Attack of the Killer Tomatoes. Garnering the most votes in a poll to determine the “Greatest Sci-Fi Turkey of All Time,” MPM President and CEO Dennis Kois has given this particular turkey his very own presidential pardon in order for it to screen this weekend. What better treat to give yourself post-Black Friday than a ticket to a movie about tomatoes gaining sentience, growing in size, and revolting against humanity?
