Screen Time

with Marisa Patwa

SUPERVILLAINS, VIDEO GAME CHARACTERS AND PARTYING TEENAGERS: AUGUST CINEMA BRINGS THE CAMP

THE SUICIDE SQUAD (8/6)

While Suicide Squad was a bit disappointing when it first hit theaters in 2016 with a lackluster and confusing plot and not nearly enough Jared Leto time, movie studios are still giving this universe a chance - sans Leto. Thankfully, Margo Robbie is back after stealing the show in her own 2020 superhero film Birds of Prey. Her portrayal is so spectacular and enough to keep you hooked for the whole film. Hopefully, the other supervillains can keep up. SNL's Pete Davidson will surely bring some fun as Blackguard. Sylvester Stallone, Idris Elba and John Cena are also adding to the muscle while Joel Kinnaman is returning, too. Sadly, Cara Delevingne is not. But the truth is, no one is as bad as Harley Quinn beating up a lowlife with a baseball bat in six inch heels. Check out the carnage in theaters August 6.

THE KISSING BOOTH 3 (8/11)

While the end to this pulpy teen trilogy is nothing special, it'll give you those gooey butterflies from young love and have you reminiscing about your favorite summer days, with fan favorites Joey King and Joel Courtney - as BFFs Elle and Lee - trying to outdo themselves with an insane summer fun bucket list at a gorgeous beach house. This all while Elle tries to decide which college to go to - one closer to her hottie boyfriend Noah or the same school as homie-for-life Lee. Even the struggles she faces are similar to the third movie in the To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before series, also on Netflix, but we’re still going to watch it because it makes us feel good and it’s just great popcorn fun. Get ready for some sugary sweet cinema on Netflix August 11.

FREE GUY (8/13)

In this wacky comedy, Ryan Reynolds plays an average bank teller named Guy, who comes to the realization he is living in a Grand Theft Auto style video game as a background character. This world is called Free City, and if he doesn’t do something soon, the game will go offline - and he’ll essentially evaporate. It’s a great story about someone overcoming their limitations - like when Reynolds finally stands up to bank robbers after being held hostage for the millionth time in the video game loop. This is a meta film that really asks you to go with it and while it does have some The Truman Show vibes, I think Reynolds' comedic chops - as evidenced by Deadpool - will allow Free Guy to stand on its own. Killing Eve’s sensational Jodie Comer also stars. Get ready to grab onto that controller August 13 when it premieres in theaters.