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Posted June 23, 2016 by Scott Davis in Features
 
 

The Preview Reel: Aliens, Sharks, and McConaughey

Welcome to another “Preview Reel” column, where we look at the week’s upcoming wide-release movies. We wrote last week that this summer has seen very little originality, and this week continues that trend as another sequel to a beloved film finally hits theaters. The Will Smith-less Independence Day: Resurgence debuts twenty years after the original became a summer blockbuster phenomenon. There are two original films hitting screens this week as well, the Matthew McConaughey starring Free State of Jones and the Blake Lively versus shark thriller The Shallows.

 

Independence Day: Resurgence

Independence Day: Resurgence PosterWhat we are excited about:
Independence Day is one of the more beloved summer blockbusters of the last twenty years, and there have always been murmurs of a sequel for some time now. Fans have been patiently waiting, and after twenty years, the wait is finally over. It does seem like the perfect time to release another Independence Day as it clearly is not being rushed, they incorporate the two-decade gap into the story, and “nostalgic sequels” are all the craze right now. Finding Dory just dominated the box office, and Jurassic World did the same this time last year. Resurgence can continue that trend and deliver a nice blockbuster throwback this summer needs. If the trailers are any indication, it looks like it can be a fun, action-packed ride.

What we are worried about:
Obviously one of the highlights of the first film was the presence of Will Smith, who brought a fun and cool attitude to the alien invasion flick. Smith is not in this installment (supposedly because of scheduling conflicts with Suicide Squad and Concussion), and Emerich decided to kill his character off screen which means he will not be in any future installments (should there be any). So who did 20th Century Fox get to replace Smith? Liam Hemsworth, Maika Moore, and Travis Tope. They are bringing back fan favorites Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman, but no one in this movie has anywhere near the star power of Will Smith. Without his charm, this could end up being just another disaster porn flick from the director of 2012.

Critical reception (if any):
In a very strange move, Independence Day: Resurgence will have very few press screenings prior to the release and there are very few reviews available. From the reviews it has received, it has a 44% on RottenTomatoes and 49 on MetaCritic. Reviews are saying it is pretty much what you’d come to expect, for better or worse.

Box office expectations:
Independence Day debuted to $50.2 million on its way to $817 million worldwide in 1996. Since then, the film has held up surprisingly well and is still thought of positively twenty years later. There have been many “nostalgic sequels” released over the past year or so, and while they have varying degree of success, the obvious comparison for this movie is Jurassic World. That was a sequel to a beloved 1990s action blockbuster that was able to capture the attention of fans of the original film and intrigue new filmgoers. No one thinks Resurgence will reach $208.8 million its first weekend, but look for around a $60 million opening weekend.

Final thoughts:
This is one of the more intriguing releases this summer, as it carries a lot of nostalgia and a big price tag, much like Jurassic World did last year, but the buzz around it is not nearly as big. Hopefully Emerich is able to capture the blockbuster magic he was able to capture twenty years ago.

Free State of Jones

Free State of Jones PosterWhat we are excited about:
Alright, it’s pretty easy to say what we are most excited about for this movie. On most of the posters, it’s just him and the words “Academy Award Winner” above his name. Matthew McConaughey dominated the pop culture landscape a couple years ago when he won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in Dallas Buyers Club and starred alongside Woody Harrelson in the critically acclaimed True Detective. Throw in some interesting Lincoln commercials, and the McConaissance is real. The trailers for this film seem to show another great performance coming from the talented actor, let’s just hope the rest of the movie delivers.

What we are worried about:
Honestly, not much outside of the release date gives us a cause to be concerned. This kind of movie is usually slated to come out in October or November, during award season. The middle of June going up against other huge summer blockbusters might be an attempt at counter-programming, but usually higher quality films avoid the summer so they are not forgotten about by the time award season rolls around. That might be nitpicking, but the release date is a little curious.

Critical reception (if any):
Surprisingly, very negative. The film currently sits at 17% on RottenTomatoes and 50 on MetaCritic. Most critics are saying it is an overlong, dull, and somewhat inaccurate history lesson.

Box office expectations:
This is a little hard to predict, but due to strong competition, Free State of Jones is unlikely to breakout. It could find an adult audience and have strong legs, but it won’t have a huge opening weekend. Look for around a $10 million opening.

Final thoughts:
Given the star power attached and the decent looking trailers, it is surprising the negative reviews Free State of Jones is receiving. With all of the competition and lack of buzz, the film is very unlikely to breakout.

The Shallows

The Shallows PosterWhat we are excited about:
Sure, it looks like a modern-day Jaws, but it seems to have all of the basic ingredients to make a decent thriller. It looks like it could follow in the footsteps of Locke or Buried (which starred Blake Lively’s husband, Ryan Reynolds) where it takes a basic setup and is able to be entertaining for an hour and a half or so.

What we are worried about:
Director Jaume Collet-Serra has directed many thrillers over the last couple of years, the problem is that they have been mediocre at best. His resume includes Orphan, Unknown, Non-Stop, and Run All Night. None of those are particularly terrible, problem is none of them are particularly memorable. Hopefully he finds his footing with The Shallows.

Critical reception (if any):
The film has yet to receive any reviews. I have been bad at predicating whether that has been a good or bad thing all summer, so I am not going to say anything here.

Box office expectations:
The lack of simple thrillers in theaters right now will give The Shallows some respectable business. Look for an opening around $8 million, which is good given its $17 million budget.

Final thoughts:
The Shallows could be a fun summer thriller, but with no reviews and hardly any buzz, it’s hard to tell if this will simply be another forgettable Jaws rip-off.

Scott Davis

Scott Davis

Scott Davis is a recent graduate of Oakland University where he earned a degree in journalism. He worked for the student newspaper on campus, The Oakland Post, where he became the paper's managing editor. He also earned a minor in Cinema Studies at OU. Scott enjoys all things film and TV related, especially the blockbuster kind. He might be the biggest Christopher Nolan fan you know.