“To all the Boys I’ve Loved Before”
Cast: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish
Synopsis: What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them…all at once? Lara Jean Song Covey’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control when the love letters for every boy she’s ever loved-five in all– are mysteriously mailed out.
What You Need To Know: The Netflix original films are shockingly hit or miss, ranging between masterpieces such as “Mudbound” and “Okja” to uninspired and forgettable drivel like “The Do Over” and “The Kissing Booth.” “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before,” adapted from Jenny Han’s popular novel of the same name, seems to fall in the in-between category with the likes of this year’s similarly charming “Set it Up.” It looks unlikely to break any storytelling barriers, but it also looks like a delightful way to spend a night in. What’s even better is it’s giving Susan Johnson the helm, making August a fantastic month to seek out female directed independent films.
Release Date: August 17
“The HappyTime Murders”
Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Maya Rudolph, Joel Mchale, Elizabeth Banks
Synopsis: In the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles, two clashing detectives — one human and the other a puppet — must work together to solve the brutal murders of former cast members of a beloved puppet TV show.
What You Need To Know: Is there a general consensus yet on how we think this is all going to turn out? Do we have faith that it will be at least be entertaining due to the talent on board or do we think it’s going to be little more than crude attempts at shock value? Melissa McCarthy is almost always a joy to watch, even in her lesser efforts, which helps, but the cast and crew have a lot to prove in showing audiences that gross-out humor and a hard R-rating can work with a puppet comedy. Either way, it’ll definitely be worth a watch.
Release Date: August 24
“Support the Girls”
Cast: Regina Hill, Haley Lu Richardson, Brooklyn Decker
Synopsis: Lisa Conroy is the last person you’d expect to find in a highway-side “sports bar with curves,” but as general manager at Double Whammies, she’s come to love the place and its customers. An incurable den mother, she nurtures and protects her girls fiercely, but over the course of one trying day, her optimism is battered from every direction…Double Whammies sells a big, weird American fantasy, but what happens when reality pokes a bunch of holes in it.
What You Need To Know: Director Andrew Bujalski returns with his familiar and distinct vision with “Support the Girls.” Starring Haley Lu Richardson, one of the most exciting young talents working today, and the always in need of a bigger spotlight Regina Hall, the film looks to follow the lead of Bujalski’s previous films by not relying strictly on an obvious tone.
Release Date: August 24