Friends, movie goers, assembled geeks, the summer movie season is upon us. It is a time of hype, anticipation, jubilation, and at times unfortunate disappointment. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if a movie is going to be good even when the reviews start rolling in… if they come in time for you to make your decision at all. Luckily, we’re here to help you with your decision.
In this installment of the summer movie guide, we’re going over all the June releases to figure out if they’ll be worth your hard earned cash and, more importantly, your time.
Entourage
- Release Date: June 3rd
- Director: Doug Ellin
- Writer: Doug Ellin
Will it be good? Well, the good news is if you love Entourage it seems you’re getting more of the same. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of bad news, the first of which is the film is two days away from release and not a single review has been released, which means no one has seen it or the reviews are under embargo. Either way, the studio doesn’t want people knowing how the movie is, which is a very bad sign. Also, while the show’s first six seasons were pretty strong, seasons seven and eight were not. If the film keeps up with that trend… well… it won’t be good for the critical reception.
Verdict: See it only if you’re a huge Entourage fan. Everyone else can skip it or watch it when it comes to HBO.
Spy
- Release Date: June 5th
- Director: Paul Feig
- Writer: Paul Feig
Will it be good? Love him or hate him, Paul Feig has become a powerhouse for female driven Hollywood comedies. He’s done some good stuff, but according to the very early reviews Spy may just be his best work yet. The cast is great and the concept is clever. The fact that the critics have seen the film so early is an extremely strong sign, but an even stronger one is that those 34 early reviews have the film at a 94% on rotten tomatoes.
Verdict: See it, unless you can’t stand Melissa McCarthy for some reason.
Insidious: Chapter 3
- Release Date: June 5th
- Director: Leigh Whannell
- Writer: Leigh Whannell
Will it be good? James Wan may not be directing anymore, but the writer of the first two installments, Leigh Whannell, is stepping up to fill his chair. Therefore, you’re probably getting the same kind of movie you’re used to. However, getting the writer in the director’s chair isn’t always the best thing for a franchise *cough* Blade Trinity! *cough*. While there are no reviews to speak of, it’s a safe bet the film will, more or less, feel like the same franchise.
Verdict: Wait for the reviews, but if you’re a fan you’ll probably want to see it regardless.
Jurassic World
- Release Date: June 12th
- Director: Colin Trevorrow
- Writers: Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Colin Trevorrow, and Derek Connolly.
Will it be good? Well, we all certainly want it to be good. Colin Trevorrow’s Safety Not Guaranteed was a very strong debut. However, all the footage we’ve seen of the film, from trailers to clips, has been underwhelming to say the least. The over reliance on CGI, the cliché and trite dialogue, and the reliance on series troupes such as kids being in peril are discouraging. Also, if we don’t see reviews within the next week that’s going to be a bad sign.
Verdict: Unfortunately, signs are pointing to this one not being so good. Hopefully it’s just a marketing snafu, but don’t hold out hope. You might be inclined to see it because it’s a Jurassic Park movie… but it may be best to skip it.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
- Release Date: June 12th
- Director: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon
- Writer: Jesse Andrews
Will it be good? The film premiered at Sundance this year to a standing ovation. It won the Sundance U.S. Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award in the drama category for the Festival. The first 13 reviews for the film also have it at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. It’s safe to say this one is a winner.
Verdict: See it. This will probably be an Oscar contender, at least in some categories.
Dope
- Release Date: June 19th
- Director: Rick Famuyiwa
- Writer: Rick Famuyiwa
Will it be good? Another strong contender from Sundance 2015. A coming of age story in the rougher parts of Los Angeles, it’s a strong bet it’ll certainly be worth your time. Early reviews have been strong, with the film at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes with 11 reviews.
Verdict: See it. Hopefully this one will also be a player at the Oscars as well.
Inside Out
- Release Date: June 19th
- Directors: Pete Docter, Ronaldo Del Carmen
- Writers: Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, and Josh Cooley.
Will it be good? First off, it’s Pixar and it isn’t a Cars movie so chances are it’ll be worth your time. Second, the concept is original and clever. The cast is also fantastic and the early reviews have been very strong.
Verdict: See it. The reviews are strong and Pixar very rarely lets us down.
Max
- Release Date: June 26th
- Director: Boaz Yakin
- Writer: Boaz Yakin, Sheldon Lettich
Will it be good? The film will probably be decent, but with a pitch like Max’s it doesn’t even need to be. It’s a film about a dog, which automatically draws families into the theater. It’s also about a military dog, which means the same crowds from the Midwest that made American Sniper such a hit are probably a lock as well. Boaz Yakin has had many more misses than hits, with his most recognizable success being Remember the Titans from 15 years ago. Our best guess is that the movie will be mediocre but do good business, but at this point it’s too early to tell.
Verdict: Unless the reviews are stellar, it probably won’t be worth seeing.
Ted 2
- Release Date: June 26th
- Director: Seth MacFarlane
- Writer: Seth MacFarlane, Alec Sulkin, and Wellesley Wild
Will it be good? Seth MacFarlane can be very hit or miss. He may have done some great episodes of Family Guy and brought Cosmos back… but he also made A Million Ways to Die in the West. The first Ted had some great moments and also had a surprising amount of heart… not to mention some great Flash Gordon references. However, Ted 2 seems to be making some odd creative choices such as turning the film into a road trip/court room story, not to mention ditching Mila Kunis’ character.
Verdict: If you love Seth MacFarline no matter what, you’ll probably like this one. If you’re on the fence, the movie may surprise us… but it probably won’t. Signs are pointing to this one not living up to the original, but here’s hoping we’re wrong.
So, what will be the best movie of June?
I’m going to predict this one being a tie. If you want a good mainstream movie, it’ll probably be Spy. If you want a straight drama, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.
