The Boxing Day Morning Movie and Other Summer Holiday Cinema Excursions

Sounds Good!

I’m just back from the cinema – fresh from seeing Sing 2 – my first time at the movies in a while. But a tradition of sorts. We started the Boxing Day Morning Movie probably around the time we first saw Sing – or maybe even a year or two before it. I had a very wee child, and a slightly older than wee nephew. And we quickly worked out that after the madness of Christmas Day and all its bustle it was a great way to start Boxing Day. Someone took the hit for all the parents and grandparents – and that someone was me. Always pleased to be in a cinema – and maybe never more so than when in the scorching Hawke’s Bay summer heat. The chance reprieve of a movie in an air-conditioned theatre is like an ice-block that lasts for 90 minutes.

Also, it keeps the cousins from bickering – as they’ve grown older – and gives them a good start to the day. Home after for a swim at Nanny and Poppa’s – and to rediscover anew the toys and books and devices and things from the Christmas stocking or from the holiday suitcase in general.

This year we had the addition of meeting a brand new nephew/cousin – so the Boxing Day Morning Movie was delayed until today. It’s all one big time-warped weekend from Xmas Eve through until about January 2 or 3 anyway, right?

So.

Sing 2.

I liked it. A lot. I maybe didn’t love it quite as much as the original but I feel a good job was done in keeping the same characters, sticking with the formula and just added a few new characters to the mix – and top shelf voice talent as with the original cast.

Bono is great in his cameo. And though the brad new U2 song for the end is nothing special at all, and possibly worse when isolated from the film, I never thought I’d be so happy to hear new renditions of Where The Streets Have No Name, I Still Haven’t Found What I Was Looking For and Stuck In A Moment.

Gosh, I might even have to play some U2 later today – just the good stuff, mind. A bit of Unforgettable Fire. Maybe some Joshua Tree too eh…

I’d recommend Sing 2 then, as fun family fare, as the movie you take your brother’s kids to, or any spare family of kids of family-friends; if you’re the baby-sitting type then anyone over the age of four with enough attention span for a 110-minute movie can handle this. There’s some good songs, some decent set pieces, some laughs and it’s all very easy. No big message beyond trying your best and believing in yourself. And hey, that’s always something.

You could pick holes in a movie like this all day. And that pretty much makes you a jerk.

So, there you go – an easy summer holiday family movie recommendation.

At the local cinema I got excited about House of Gucci – which starts in the new year, and might be the first thing I see on a big screen in 2022 if I can sweet-talk the Wellington-based grandparents into doing some baby-sitting. This looks like a mess of a film – but in the best kind of way. Also interested in the new West Side Story as it’s one of the only musicals I really do love.

Summer holiday movies are a great thing for me – I love a good walk first, often walking to the cinema and home for starters. A bit of exercise and some fresh air and then a reprieve from the world. Nothing better.

Have you seen any summer holiday movies at the cinema yet? Or do you have any plans to if not any immediate recommendations?

Oscar got to see the new Spiderman and loved it; wants me to go with him for a repeat trip. So I’m up for that. I am a tourist of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. There as a driver. But I’ve kept up with the franchise enough to not be staring at my phone while the movie is happening.

We are also very excited about season four of Cobra Kai dropping on NYE. That’ll be our New Year’s Day watching…fun or our whole family.

And, since I have you here – I hope you had a great Christmas. I got some movie soundtracks on vinyl – something I was very happy about. See below.

All best to you and I’ll try keep up with the newsletter as best I can over the next week or two.