New Movies in Theaters: April 17, 2015 – Paul Blart, Monkey Kingdom, Child 44 & More

New in Theaters April 17 2015 620

New movies in theaters this week feature everyone’s favorite mall cop, loveable monkeys for Earth Day, some terrifying cyber shenanigans and lots more. Here’s a sneak peek at what’s opening wide on the big screen this week.

PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2

PG for some violence | In Theaters 4/17 | Ok for Kids 7+ | Columbia, Sony | Reel Preview: 3.5 of 5 Reels |Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 | FacebookTwitter

Paul Blart Mall Cop 2  5The first “Paul Blart: Mall Cop” movie was fun and silly (because we need that sometimes, right?), and this sequel is more of the same. After six years of keeping our malls safe, Paul Blart has earned a well-deserved vacation.

So he heads to Vegas with his teenage daughter Maya (super cute Raini Rodriguez) before she heads off to college. But safety never takes a holiday and when duty calls, Blart answers. Neal McDonough, D.B. Woodside and Nicholas Turturro also star in this movie directed by Andy Fickman (“The Game Plan”).

MONKEY KINGDOM

Rated G | In Theaters 4/17 | Ok for Kids 5+ | DisneyNature | Reel Preview: 3.5 of 5 Reels | FacebookTwitter

Monkey Kingdom 3This year’s “Earth Day” movie from Disneynature throws a spotlight on a dynamic group of monkeys who live in ancient ruins in the jungles of South Asia. Struggling to survive within the competitive social hierarchy of the Temple Troop, a newborn monkey and its mother find themselves in a constant state of hunger and peril from higher-ranking monkeys.

It’ll take a lot of ingenuity, hard work, and a little luck to change their place in the world. Narrated by Tina Fey, this movie features a colorful cast of characters in addition to the monkeys.

CHILD 44

R for violence, some disturbing images, language and a scene of sexuality | In Theaters 4/17 | Ok for Kids 17+ | Summit, Lionsgate | Reel Preview: 4.5 of 5 Reels | Child 44 | Facebook

This politically-charged thriller set in 1953 Soviet Russia chronicles the crisis of conscience for secret police agent Leo Demidov (Tom Hardy), who loses his status, power and home when he refuses to denounce his own wife, Raisa (Noomi Rapace), as a traitor.

Exiled from Moscow to a grim provincial outpost, Leo and Raisa join forces with General Mikhail Nesterov (Gary Oldman) to track down a serial killer who preys on young boys. Their quest for justice threatens a system-wide cover-up enforced by Leo’s psychopathic rival Vasil (Joel Kinnaman), who insists “There is no crime in Paradise.” Directed by Daniel Espinosa and based on a book by Tom Rob Smith, this movie also stars Vincent Cassel, Paddy Considine and Jason Clarke.

UNFRIENDED

R for violent content, pervasive language, some sexuality, and drug and alcohol use, all involving teens | In Theaters 4/17 | Ok for Kids 17+ | Universal Pictures | Reel Preview: 3.5 of 5 Reels | UnfriendedFacebookTwitter | Instagram

Unfriended 1Social media gets very anti-social in this new cyber-movie about teens online. The story unfolds over a teenager’s computer screen as she and her friends are stalked by an unseen figure who seeks vengeance for a shaming video that led a girl to kill herself a year earlier.

Don’t forget, kids. Online your memories last forever. But so do your mistakes. Directed by Levan Gabriadze, this movie stars Shelley Hennig, Moses Jacob Storm, Renee Olstead, Will Peltz, Jacob Wysocki, Courtney Halverson and Heather Sossaman.

THE ROAD WITHIN

R for language throughout, some sexual content, nudity and drug use | In Theaters 4/17) | Ok for Kids 17+ | WellGo USA, Amplify | Reel Preview: 4 of 5 Reels | The Road WithinFacebook

The Road Within 2Directed by Gren Wells, this coming-of-age tale stars Robert Sheehan as Vincent, a young man with Tourette’s Syndrome who just lost his mom. As his symptoms get worse, his dad (Robert Patrick), a frustrated politician, sends him to a behavioral clinic run by an unconventional doctor (Kyra Sedgwick).

But Vincent made his mom a promise, and with the help of a rebellious anorexic (Zoe Kravitz) and his withdrawn OCD roommate (Dev Patel), the three embark on a life-changing race to the sea that includes car theft, shoplifting, fights, self-discovery, and maybe finding a new way to live.

JANE’S REEL RATING SYSTEM
One Reel – Even the Force can’t save it.
Two Reels – Coulda been a contender
Three Reels – Something to talk about.
Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!
Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

Images in this feature used courtesy of the studios and distributors.

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