FILM | SHORTS
Wish Upon
OPENING FILMS THE BIG SICK
Inspired by the unlikely but true courtship of Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon (who also wrote the script), this is the rare rom-com that’s both consistently funny and genuinely emotional. Nanjiani plays himself, a struggling stand-up comedian who meets and falls in love with Gordon (played by Zoe Kazan). There’s only one problem: He’s keeping their relationship a secret from his traditional Pakistani parents. This is further complicated when Emily is put into a medically induced coma. (SS) Rated R
WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES
Who would have ever thought that a reboot of Planet of the Apes would have spawned one of the best blockbuster franchises of the 21st century? This third installment is another sophisticated science-fiction epic, with super-intelligent primate Caesar
(Andy Serkis) and his simian army taking on a human warlord known only as the Colonel (Woody Harrelson). Despite its militaristic title, director Matt Reeves’ film is more focused on its nuanced characters than action, and it’s amazing how emotionally involved we get in the trials of CGI apes. (ES) Rated PG-13
WISH UPON
Here’s a tip: If you ever come across a mysterious box that promises to fulfill your most outlandish desires, maybe don’t take it up on its offer. That’s some advice that could have helped the teenage heroine of the awkwardly titled Wish Upon, who finds the obviously cursed object in a trash can (maybe there’s a reason it ended up there?) and immediately goes about improving her life with the kind of reckless abandon that suggests she’s never read The Monkey’s Paw. (NW) Rated PG-13
NOW PLAYING BABY DRIVER
The latest genre deconstruction from writer-director Edgar Wright is a highenergy heist thriller starring Ansel Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars) as a for-hire getaway driver who scores all of his jobs to personal playlists. Just as he’s settling into a relationship with a charming waitress (Lily James), he’s pulled deeper into the criminal underworld, getting wrapped up in a plan that’s destined to self-destruct. The car
chases are stellar and the soundtrack is fully loaded; no surprises there. But the key to Baby Driver’s success turns out to be its deceptively sweet love story. (SS) Rated R
BEATRIZ AT DINNER
Salma Hayek stars as a lower-middleclass masseuse who’s invited to a wealthy dinner party out of kindness, only to find her ultra-liberal beliefs ...continued on next page
JULY 13, 2017 INLANDER 51