The school holidays are here and moviegoers of all ages are spoiled for choice. We round up all the big family-friendly releases playing in cinemas over the break.
Here we are again with another unbeatable Flicks school holiday guide for your post-Christmas time off. This coming break sees a bunch of big cinema releases fit for the whole whānau, from a puss in boots to a shell in shoes. Ordered by release date, these are the family features worth keeping an eye on.
Puss in Boots: The Last Wish
Having made his grand debut in 2004’s Shrek 2 before leading his 2011 standalone feature, Puss in Boots makes a mighty return to the big screen with The Last Wish. Voiced once again by the iconic Antonio Banderas, the fearless feline finds himself on his ninth and final life. Desperate to get his other eight lives back, Puss must beat Goldilocks (Florence Pugh) and the Three Bears (Ray Winstone, Olivia Colman, Samson Kayo) as well as Big Jack Horner (John Mulaney) to a fallen star that grants a wish.
Rated PG: Violence, coarse language, some scenes may scare very young children
Blueback
After befriending a magnificent wild blue groper, a young girl embarks on a life-long journey to save the world’s coral reefs in this oceanic Australian tale. An adaptation of Tim Winton’s best-selling novel, the film features Aussie screen legends Mia Wasikowska and Eric Bana as well as some stunning underwater cinematography.
Rated PG
Marcel the Shell With Shoes On
A24’s first animated family feature follows the video diaries of a walking, talking mollusc who uses the power of the internet to find his long-lost family. “Adorably cute, and unabashedly corny, Marcel is a life lesson in a shell,” we raved. “Framed as a faux documentary, this is a surprisingly touching tale, ideal for all, big and small, old and young.”
Rated PG
The Amazing Maurice
In this British animated caper, the great Hugh Laurie voices a streetwise cat named Maurice. With a dumb-looking kid and a horde of literate rats on his side, Maurice attempts to execute the perfect money-making scam. The film also features the voices of Emmy nominees Emilia Clarke (Game of Thrones), Himesh Patel (Yesterday), and David Thewlis (Enola Holmes 2) alongside BAFTA nominee Gemma Arterton (The King’s Man).
Rated PG: Some scenes may scare very young children
Tad the Explorer: The Mummy Adventure
You might not know it, but the Tad film series has been going strong for a solid decade now. This third adventure sees Tad accidentally unleash an ancient spell, prompting him on another quest to end the curse of the mummy before it’s too late.
Rated PG
Big Trip 2: Special Delivery
Following his turn as Pinocchio in Pinocchio: A True Story, Pauly Shore lends his voice to the sequel of the 2019 Russian animated film The Big Trip. This time, Patrick the bear and Oscar the rabbit find a lost cub and, with the help of a panda who knows kung fu, embark on a quest to find the little fella’s parents.
Rated PG: Violence
