Everything to Watch in June – 2017
Baywatch
IN CINEMAS june 1
Take David Hasselhoff and swap him out for Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnston and you have the rehash of the 90s classic… but with a comedy twist. With the Baywatch unit needing an image facelift, the powers that be enlist the shredded and bronzed Matt Brody (Zac Efron) to help liven things up. Mitch Buchanan (Johnston) is the sensible patriarch of the beach and together they combine to battle a criminal element set to throw the beach into turmoil. Lots of bikini skin, biceps and throwbacks to the original series.
McLaren
IN CINEMAS june 1
Often underrated here in New Zealand, Kiwi motorsport legend Bruce McLaren was a bona fide pioneer in the field of motor racing, and his lively but short (dying aged 32) story is retold by director, Roger Donaldson. With stunning footage from the 1950s and 60s, McLaren’s remarkably full life and achievements are remembered by racing colleagues, family members and media invested in his technological and mechanical breakthroughs. A winner of many a Grand Prix, McLaren’s racing ability matched his construction nous and his name is still at the forefront of Formula One today. A documentary for all Kiwis, even those not interested in F1.
The Mummy
IN CINEMAS june 8
Below the Egyptian desert, an ancient princess and her pent-up vengeance, built up over thousands of years, are uncovered in her crypt by paramilitary soldier Nick Morton (Tom Cruise). Morton’s curiosity gets the better of him, and he inadvertently releases an evil curse. Mummified Ahmanet is awakened and her power builds; she returns to terrorise the living. Russell Crowe stars as Dr Henry Jekyll and sheds light on Morton’s folly as he deals with the squeamish fallout of his actions.
Despicable Me 3
IN CINEMAS June 29
Steve Carrell returns as the voice of awkward Russian villain-cum-hero Gru, who has his hands full trying to thwart Balthazar Bratt, the quintessential 1980s super villain. Adorned with shoulder pads, 80s-inspired gadgetry and questionably slick dance moves, Bratt is hell-bent on world domination. To complicate matters, Gru runs into his long-lost twin Dru, but there’s no love lost. As with the previous two incarnations, Despicable Me 3 is full of zany, embarrassing moments, not to mention the crazy minions.
Transformers: The Last Knight
IN CINEMAS June 22
Ten years after the first instalment, Transformers: The Last Knight is #5 in the 3D series and is especially made for IMAX audiences. With Optimus Prime gone to find his home planet, the autobots and humans are at war with the decepticons and to defeat them, they must delve into the past. Watch closely as there are curious hints at the transformers’ history and how their presence on Earth may not be restricted to the recent past. Mark Wahlberg, as Cade Yeager, is again at the coalface as director Michael Bay takes the Transformers visual experience up a notch.
Wonder Woman
IN CINEMAS June 1
If you ever wondered where the legend of Wonder Woman came from, director Patty Jenkins takes the viewer deep into the genesis of Diana Prince, Amazon princess (Gal Gadot) in this DC comic adaptation. An offspring of the god Zeus, she is drawn into World War 1 after an allied soldier, Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) washes ashore on her all-female island. She reveals her true warrior powers and destiny as she goes on an epic mission to beat the Germans. Full of eye-catching fight scenes and, of course, a romance with Trevor.
The House
IN CINEMAS june 29
Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler team up as hapless parents of a teenage daughter accepted into a top university, but the only problem is, they haven’t got the tuition fees. Unwilling to go back on their promise, it seems the only way to find quick money is start an illegal casino in their own home. To ‘be Las Vegas’ they have to ‘look Las Vegas’ and the family home takes on bare knuckle fights, clumsy extortion attempts and Ferrell’s own brand of hilariously misinformed authority as a casino boss.