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Elastigirl (voiced by Holly Hunter) is back — as is her superhero family — in Pixar’s “Incredibles 2,” the biggest release in an impressive slate hitting movie theaters this week. Early buzz has been outstanding and with Catherine Keener joining the animated derring-do, it’s certain to be another hit for the Emeryville-based company.
The other major releases this week include “SuperFly,” a stylized update of the 1972 blaxploitation action flick with Trevor Jackson as Youngblood Priest, who tangles with a drug cartel. It’s directed by Director X and opens Wednesday.
Meanwhile, “Tag” is a goofball dramedy with serious touches. It’s about a pack of friends, who carry a childhood game of tag into adulthood. From the trailers, it looks like the cast — which includes Jon Hamm and Jeremy Renner — will be on their game.
And “Gotti” is a bounced-around biopic starring John Travolta as the mob boss. This one, we hear, takes a soft focus look at Gotti’s criminal life. Critics clobbered it when it screened at Cannes.
Indie releases
Over on the indie side, there is much to recommend, starting with “Hearts Beat Loud,” a stirring and sweet drama about a record-store owner (Nick Offerman), who records a tune written and sung by his talented, leaving-for-college daughter (Kiersey Clemons). The song turns into an online hit. Toni Collette, Blythe Danner and Ted Danson costar in Brett Haley’s soulful story, which celebrates life’s challenges, joys and dusted-off dreams. Can’t wait to get the soundtrack.
If you like nonfiction stories, catch “Nossa Chape,” one of the best documentaries I’ve seen this year. Jeff and Michael Zimbalist’s film revisits the shocking 2016 plane crash that claimed the lives of most of the Chapecoense soccer team. Their film doesn’t follow the standard inspirational format, as it delves into the internal and external pressures of re-forming and delivering a winning season, along with the grief and emotional fallout of being survivors and the family and friends of those killed.
Another film that doesn’t go where you expect it will is “Nancy,” a dour psychological character study anchored by another fine performance from Andrea Riseborough, playing a seriously troubled woman who insinuates herself into the lives of two parents. Christina Choe’s film is a tricky downer, but it’s also worth the watch.
International flicks
On the international scene, Spain’s “Summer 1993” movingly captures what life looks like from the prism of a sad 6-year-old girl (Laia Artigas) who gets shuttled off to live with her aunt and uncle in the country after her mother dies. Carla Simon has done something special with this naturalistic take on a crucial, defining time in a child’s life. I loved it.
And finally there’s “The Texture of Falling,” a genre-defiant first feature set around the lives and passions of two couples. Maria Allred directs and stars.
Streaming the rom-com
On the streaming side of things, Netflix continues to champion the rom-com with its original film programming. “Set It Up” stars Taye Diggs and Lucy Liu as demanding, workaholic bosses, unknowingly set up by their sick-of-their-tirades assistants (Glen Powell and Zoey Deutch). Of course, the plan has a hitch or two, along with unexpected attractions. It drops June 15.
Randy Myers is a freelance film writer and president of the San Francisco Film Critics Circle.
