Weekend Movie Preview 2014: 'Penguins of Madagascar','Horrible Bosses 2' To Be Released For Thanksgiving
During the Thanksgiving weekend, Hollywood will offer a number of family-friendly films, including comedies and animated films.
The box office will still have "The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1" for young adult audiences who have yet to see the film. For younger audiences, "Big Hero 6" will still be available and, with Oscar buzz and great reviews, this is definitely the film for the family.
For those science fiction fanatics, "Interstellar" is still in theaters. The movie is one of the biggest spectacles of the year and is best seen in IMAX theaters.
Focus Features will expand "The Theory of Everything" nationwide in hopes of crossing over to the mainstream after a successful limited release.
Finally, "Dumb and Dumber To" is an enjoyable comedy that family audiences are likely to enjoy.
However, if none of these holdovers interest you or you have already seen them, here are the new releases for the Holiday weekend
Horrible Bosses 2
After scoring a huge hit three years ago with "Horrible Bosses," Warner Bros. has brought back the gang that made the first film unforgettable and added new characters. The film, starring Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Chris Pine and Charlie Day, tells the story of Dale, Kurt and Nick who decide to start their own business, but things don't go as planned because of a slick investor who prompts the trio to pull off a hare-brained and misguided kidnapping scheme. Unlike the first film, which many critics raved about, this movie has scored poor reviews and has not obtained the same buzz as the original. However, the movie is tracking well at the box office and it is likely to be an alternative to "Dumb and Dumber To."
Penguins of Madagascar
For those who have already seen "Big Hero 6" and are fans of the "Madagascar" series, this new spin-off is sure to appeal to family audiences. This new spin off tells the story of Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private, who join forces with undercover organization The North Wind to stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine from destroying the world as we know it. The "Madagascar" series has been successful at the box office, and this one is likely to have the same type of response, especially since critics are actually responding positively to the film. Additionally, in the past, Penguin films such as "Happy Feet," "Surf's Up" and "March of the Penguins" have been incredibly profitable at the box office. Fox has not been successful with DreamWorks this year and it looks like the company's fate will change. The movie is tracking well and is likely to compete for the top spot.
The Imitation Game
In limited release, the Oscar frontrunner will finally come out. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley, the film tells the story of English mathematician and logician, Alan Turing, who helps crack the Enigma code during World War II. The movie is inspired by real events and has been generating buzz ever since it was bought by the Weinstein Company in February. After opening at the Telluride Film Festival and Toronto Film Festival, the movie has obtained rave reviews, with critics calling it one of the best of the year. This movie is a must-see for those audiences keeping track of the Oscar race and for those who have already seen "Birdman," "Foxcatcher," "The Theory of Everything" and "Boyhood."
In art house theaters IFC Films will offer the festival hit "The Babadook" and the SXSW Audience award winner "Before I Disappear." Both films will be released in theaters and on Demand.
Music Box will release the documentary "Antarctica: A Year on Ice" while Big World Pictures will unveil the Brazilian film "Once Upon a Time Veronica." Cinedigm will also showcase "Remote Area Medical" and China Lion will release "Women Who Flirt."