There is a little bit of everything for movie buffs to choose from this February, with releases the genres of family fare, suspense-thrillers, comedy, and fantasy hitting theaters. Grab your popcorn, soda, and Raisinets and settle in at your favorite cineplex or art house to catch any (or all) of the following recommendations.
Birds of Prey (Feb. 5)
Subtitled “and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn,” Birds of Prey is a spin-off of the 2016 film hit Suicide Squad. Oscar nominee Margot Robbie returns as Quinn, a psychiatrist-turned-criminal-turned-vigilante. In this film, written by Christina Hodson, Harley Quinn joins forces with a band of daring ladies who take-on a crime boss known as “The Black Mask” (Ewan McGregor) in an effort to save a young girl from becoming a casualty of his vile agenda.
Fantasy Island (Feb. 14)
In late 1970s, a TV series called Fantasy Island found guests visiting a tropical resort island where their host, the mysterious Mr. Roarke, granted them their deepest desires. Now this series has been turned into a feature film, but the story comes with a twist. Fantasies turn into nightmares, lived out with terror until the guests can solve the island’s mysteries in order to escape. Michael Peña stars is this suspenseful take on the horror genre.
Sonic the Hedgehog (Feb. 14)
Inspired by the iconic video game of the same name by Sega, Sonic the Hedgehog brings to life the adventures of an anthropomorphic hedgehog from outer space who comes to Earth to hide from those who would seek to capture him and harness his incredible power. When he accidentally causes a massive power outage, he also finds himself sought after by the United States government. With capture a possibility at every turn, a small-town sheriff decides to help the little guy. James Marsden and Jim Carrey star in this film that will certainly appeal to kids and fans of the video game franchise.
Downhill (Feb. 14)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell team up in this dark comedy about a married couple on a ski vacation in the Alps who find their marriage unraveling following an avalanche. A remake of the motion picture Force Majeure, Downhill takes a humorous, and often pointed, look at how life-changing, traumatic events can alter relationships and make us search for something more.
Buffaloed (Feb. 14)
The type of film where we can all revel in sweet revenge, Buffaloed is a comedy-drama where comeuppance is delivered upon the most unlikely villains: debt collectors. Peg Dahl, a hustler who finds herself in debt, just wants to escape Buffalo, NY. With money an issue, she assumes the role of a debt collector, using what she learns to take on the city’s debt-collecting kingpin. Zooey Deutch stars.
VFW (Feb. 14)
Martin Kove, William Sadler and Stephen Lang star is this gripping action film about a VFW hall that is threatened by a band of angry punks. A teenage girl runs into the establishment with a bag of stolen drugs, in hot pursuit by a posse of violent young thugs. Who better than a band of war veterans to protect her (and the bar) from the attack? The film also stars David Patrick Kelly, Sierra McCormick and George Wendt.
The Call of the Wild (Feb. 21)
Jack London’s perennial classic novel The Call of the Wild receives a new, big screen treatment courtesy of Disney this February. Harrison Ford stars as John Thornton, a man who is befriended by a St. Bernard/Scotch Collie dog. Together, the two share harrowing adventures in the Yukon Territory. Man and beast become best friends in this action-packed film perfect for the whole family.
The Night Clerk (Feb. 21)
February is often a great month for fans of murder mystery, as this is when many of them premiere. The Night Clerk, starring Tye Sheridan, will have you guessing when the front desk clerk of a hotel witnesses a murder on his shift, then becomes the chief suspect in the case. Helen Hunt and John Leguizamo are also in the cast of the film, which was written and directed by Michael Cristofer.
Wendy (Feb. 28)
We all know the classic children’s story Peter Pan by James M. Barrie. There have been many film adaptations of this tale, but Wendy, written by Behn and Eliza Zeitlin, reimagines the story. A young girl is kidnapped and taken away to an island where a mysterious pollen has altered the structure of time. No one seems to get older. However, as this strange ecosystem evolves, Wendy and her friend Peter Pan find themselves moving in and out of youth, thrust back and forth between childhood play and adult responsibility.
The Invisible Man (Feb. 28)
Another modern retake on a classic novel is The Invisible Man, inspired by H.G. Wells’ novel. Now a psychological thriller and horror film, the story concerns Cecilia Kass (Elizabeth Moss), the wife of a brilliant but abusive scientist. Cecilia escapes into the night and goes into hiding. When her husband suddenly dies and leaves her his fortune, she believes it is a ruse to lure her back. She begins to lose her mind as she fears she is being stalked by someone everyone believes is dead.
Mark Robinson is the author of the two-volume encyclopedia The World of Musicals, The Disney Song Encyclopedia, and The Encyclopedia of Television Theme Songs. His latest book, Sitcommentary: The Television Comedies That Changed America, was released on Oct. 15. He maintains a theater and entertainment blog at markrobinsonwrites.com.
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