With the arrival of the June holidays, a favourite family activity is to catch a film in theatres together. But it’s tough to navigate the sea of duds and inappropriate content out there, especially if your child is at an impression young age.
So here’s a guide to some of the most enjoyable and, most importantly, family friendly movies out there for you and your family. You won’t have to worry about explaining errant expletives or reproductive reasons in these movies, and you’ll get to enjoy them too!
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 (in cinemas now)
Set to the all-new sonic backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” continues the team’s adventures as they traverse the outer reaches of the cosmos. The Guardians must fight to keep their newfound family together as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage. Old foes become new allies and fan-favorite characters from the classic comics will come to our heroes’ aid as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to expand.
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is still going strong in cinemas, and you’re likely to find a time slot that suits your schedule during the school holidays. Besides having cute little Groot (everyone loves Groot), “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” is fast-paced and funny, meaning that it’ll be a laugh-a-minute for your family.
Lucky Boy (in cinemas now)
Lucky Boy chronicles several decades of the lives of Lin Yu (Wang Weiliang), his family, friends and Qingqing (Venus Wong) – the girl whom he falls in love with in primary school and continues pinning for throughout his tumultuous and eventful life. Lin Yu is always one step behind others and surrounded by misfortune… Will Lin Yu, the destined “unlucky” boy, be able to change his fate?
Love stories, especially those about childhood sweethearts, always resonate among the ages. Since it’s partially set in a school, it’s relatable for children and it also affords them a glimpse into the schools of the good old days. The nostalgic element will also appeal to parents, who can point at retro objects and tell children “that was what it was like in my time!”
Admit it, parents, you secretly like doing that.
Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge (in cinemas now)
Johnny Depp returns to the big screen as the iconic, swashbuckling anti-hero Jack Sparrow in the all-new “Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge,” a rip-roaring adventure that finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar, escape from the Devil’s Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea—notably Jack.
Which kid doesn’t like pirates? As a Disney movie, you know it’s going to be fun and family friendly. Plus for adults who are longtime fans of the series, you’re finally going to get some closure on the Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) and Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) storyline. Of course, this being the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series, you know that something is just bound to happen…
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (out in cinemas now)
In DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE LONG HAUL, based on the record-breaking book series, a family road trip to attend Meemaw’s 90th birthday party goes hilariously off course—thanks to Greg’s newest scheme to (finally!) become famous.
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul” is an adaptation of the ninth book in the series, with some twists of course. It features a different cast (but the same characters) from the original, since kids do grow up in real life. Still, we get to see the irrepressible Greg again, played by newcomer Jason Drucker, and his new pet… pig.
Wonder Woman (out 31 May)
Before she was Wonder Woman, she was Diana, princess of the Amazons, trained to be an unconquerable warrior. Raised on a sheltered island paradise, when an American pilot crashes on their shores and tells of a massive conflict raging in the outside world, Diana leaves her home, convinced she can stop the threat. Fighting alongside man in a war to end all wars, Diana will discover her full powers… and her true destiny.
“Wonder Woman” is the superhero(ine) movie we never knew that we were looking forward to. Unlike the brooding, angsty Superman and Batman that we’ve seen, Wonder Woman thoroughly relishes her role as a superhero. That doesn’t mean that she doesn’t face her own set of moral quandaries, but this is a DC Extended Universe film that’s reminiscent of the very first Superman film.
Napping Princess (out 1 June)
Kokone Morikawa lives with her father in Okayama Prefecture. She’s a typical high school senior with no special talents except one: she can fall asleep anytime, anywhere. Recently she’s been having a series of strange dreams. Her father Momotaro, a gruff man of few words, doesn’t seem to pay much attention to his daughter.The year is 2020, three days before the opening of the Tokyo Olympics. Without warning, Momotaro is arrested and taken to far-off Tokyo for questioning. With help from college student and childhood friend Morio, Kokone is determined to make her way to Tokyo and free her father, as well as unravel the mystery of her dreams. Along the way, she discovers that those dreams are the key to facing her challenges in the real world. Kokone uses her only talent—napping—to embark on a mysterious journey that straddles dreams and reality. And waiting for her at the end of her adventure is a small but precious truth…
This sweet, poignant anime takes place across parallel worlds — a fantasy, steampunk world of dreams, and the real-life Tokyo (which is pretty much a fantasy, steampunk dream world if you’re in Akihabara). While the fantasy aspect appeals to children, the detailed, real-life world of Tokyo caters to parents who’ve travelled to Japan. It’s a beautiful story for all ages.
Doraemon The Movie: Kachikochi Nobita’s Antarctic Big Adventure (15 June)
Unable to endure the midsummer heat, Doraemon transports Nobita and his friends to a huge iceberg floating in the South Pacific. While creating an amusement parks with the secret tool “Ice-working Iron” the group finds a mysterious golden ring in the ice. Upon closer examination, they determine that the ring was buried in Antarctica 100,000 years ago – before people could have lived there. Doraemon and friends head to Antarctica looking for the owner of the ring and come across the ruins of a huge city buried in the ice. Using Doraemon’s Time Belt, the group travels back 100,000 years ago and meets the young girl Kara who is connected to the mysterious ring. But now the group must fight for survival as Doraemon faces the crisis of the entire Earth freezing.
Doraemon is back with another adventure that sends Nobita and friends into the past. What’s great about Doraemon is that he’s evergreen (he’s technically blue, but you know what I mean). Everyone recognises Doraemon from their childhood, and his pouch of amazing inventions is something every child has fantasised about.
Despicable Me 3 (15 June)
If your child can’t get enough of the Minions, then “Despicable Me 3” is just perfect for him or her! Unlike the “Minions” movie which focused entirely on the Minions, “Despicable Me 3” has them in just the right doses. Adults will also get to see Gru’s parenting techniques (and identify or copy them, depending on the sort of parent you are), meaning that the whole family has something to look forward to in the film.
Transformers: The Last Knight (22 June)
Optimus Prime returns to his home planet, Cybertron, which is now a dead planet, and learns that he was the one responsible for killing it. Back on Earth, in his absence, humans and Transformers are at war. The key to saving the future lies in the past. Now, Cade Yeager and Bumblebee form an unlikely alliance with a British Lord and an Oxford professor to find the answers that can help save the earth.
Fathers and sons can bond over the next clash of everyone’s favourite transforming robots. Things just keep getting wackier in the “Transformers” universe, with a British Lord and an Oxford professor joining the cast of characters. However, what everyone wants to know is what happened to Optimus Prime, and why does he seem hell bent on ending Bumblebee?
The June holidays will be a fun time at the cinemas!
This article was written for and first published on Yahoo Singapore.
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I’m a a Singapore television scriptwriter who’s written for Crimewatch, Police & Thief, Incredible Tales, and Point of Entry. I’m also a Transformers enthusiast and avid pop culture scholar. You can find me on social media as Optimarcus and on my site.
Send me an email if you’re bored!
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