‘In the Heights’ brings life back to movie theaters
You’re not likely to find any movie this summer as full of life as “In the Heights.”
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway hit gets the big-screen treatment from director Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians”), and, after a year of pandemicrelated delays, finally makes it to theaters — including just about all of those that are open for business in Milwaukee.
A quarter of the Milwaukee area’s movie theaters remain closed since the COVID-19 pandemic began more than a year ago: the Oriental Theatre, the Times and Rosebud cinemas, Fox-Bay Cinema Grill and Marcus’ Showtime Value Cinema.
Here’s what’s new in Milwaukeearea theaters starting Friday, and which new movies are available on streaming and on demand this week.
‘In the Heights’
Short version: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical about hope and dreams and love and sadness in Washington Heights finally makes it to theaters. Anthony Ramos, who had dual roles in Miranda’s other Broadway smash (that’d be “Hamilton”) plays the part Miranda originated on Broadway, with a stellar cast including Corey Hawkins, Ariana Greenblatt, Leslie Grace, Stephanie Beatriz, Jimmy Smits and Miranda himself.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Avalon Theater; Landmark Downer Theatre; Marcus Theatres’ Bistroplex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, Saukville, Southgate, South Shore cinemas; Silverspot Cinema. (It’s also streaming on HBO Max for 31 days starting June 11.)
‘Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway’
Short version: In the live-action/ computer-animated sequel, Peter sneaks out of the garden and, surprise, gets into trouble. This time, his family risks everything to find him.
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres’ Bistroplex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Saukville, Southgate, South Shore cinemas; Silverspot Cinema.
‘The House Next Door: Meet the Blacks 2’
Short version: Mike Epps plays a bestselling author who moves his family back to his childhood home, only to discover his new neighbor (Katt Williams) is a pimp who may also be a vampire. Rick Ross, Gary Owen, Danny Trejo and Snoop Dogg also star in this comedy sequel.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Menomonee Falls, Southgate, South Shore cinemas.
‘Queen Bees’
Short version: Ellen Burstyn plays a fiercely independent senior who temporarily moves into a nearby retirement community and, despite herself, makes the best of it with new friends and possibly even romance. Jane Curtin, Loretta Devine, Ann-Margret, James Caan and Christopher Lloyd co-star.
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres’ Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Ridge cinemas. (Also available on demand starting June 11.)
‘Shiva Baby’
Short version: Rachel Sennott plays a woman who, while attending a Jewish funeral service, runs into her ex-girlfriend and her sugar daddy, who brings along his wife. The indie comedy, a festival favorite, streamed earlier this year on Milwaukee Film’s Sofa Cinema.
Where you can see it: Marcus Theatres’ North
Shore Cinema.
Ellen Burstyn (from left), Loretta Devine, Ann-Margret and Jane Curtin party hearty in “Queen Bees.”
‘The Misfits’
Short version: A legendary thief (Pierce Brosnan) joins a ragtag crew in an ambitious gold heist in this action thriller. Jamie Chung, Tim Roth and Nick Cannon co-star.
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall (also available on demand starting June 15).
Opening Wednesday: ‘The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard’
Short version: A former bodyguard (Ryan Reynolds) — who left the business to ease his nerves — is pulled back in by the volatile wife (Salma Hayek) of his former foe turned client (Samuel L. Jackson). Antonio Banderas and Morgan Freeman join the cast in this sequel to the very entertaining 2017 action comedy “The Hitman’s Bodyguard.”
Where you can see it: AMC Mayfair Mall; Marcus Theatres’ Bistroplex Southridge, Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, Movie Tavern Brookfield Square, North Shore, Ridge, Saukville, Southgate, South Shore cinemas. (Early-access screenings planned for June 1112 at the above-mentioned theaters.)
Off-the-grid picks
Milky Way Drive-In: The drive-in in the parking lot at Ballpark Commons, 7035 S. Ballpark Drive in Franklin, is showing a double feature 1980s favorites “The Goonies” and “Ghostbusters” at 6:30 p.m. June 17. Tickets are $35 per car. Info: milkwaydrivein.com.
Free “Fast and the Furious”: With the release of “F9,” the ninth “Fast and the Furious” movie, two weeks away, Universal Pictures is bringing back each of the previous eight movies for free Friday night showings. This week’s is “Furious 7” — the last movie in the series with Paul Walker, who died before filming was completed — showing June 11 at 7:30 p.m. at AMC Mayfair Mall, and 7 p.m. at Marcus Theatres’ Hillside, Majestic, Menomonee Falls, North Shore, Ridge, Southgate and South Shore cinemas. Tickets are free at the Marcus Theatres with a special passcode, available at marcustheatres.com. For the Mayfair screening, see amctheatres.com.
Free outdoor movies
Elm Grove: The village’s Friday Flicks start with “The Lion King,” showing at 8:30 p.m. June 11 in Elm Grove Village Park, 13600 Juneau Blvd. Info: elmgrovewi.org.
Glendale: Bayshore, the retail/residential complex at 5800 N. Bayshore Drive, gets its Family Flicks series going with “The Croods: A New Age,” showing at 5 p.m. June 16 on the Marquee, the big screen facing the open space called The Yard at the center of Bayshore. Info: thebayshorelife.com/events.
Greendale: The village, with help from Gift of Wings, is showing “Sonic the Hedgehog” at dusk on June 12 in Greendale Gazebo Park, 5710 Broad St.
New movies on demand
“Holler”: A young woman (Jessica Barden) seeks independence by joining a scrap-metal crew in this indie drama written and directed by Nicole Riegel. Available on demand June 11.
“The Space Between”: A young record label employee is given the task of getting a once-famous rock musician to abandon his dream project and quit the label. Kelsey Grammer, William Fichtner and Jackson White star in this comedy. Available on demand June 15.
Recent releases available on demand: “Mortal Kombat,” available on premium video on demand June 11.
New films on streaming services
“The Civil War (Or Who Do We Think We Are)”: This documentary travels around the country, finding out how Americans tell the story of the Civil War (spoiler: not all the stories are the same). On Peacock starting June 17.
“Skater Girl”: In rural India, a teenager dreams of competing in skateboarding, but she faces challenges along the way. On Netflix starting June 11.
Recent releases debuting on streaming services: “Pinocchio” (2020), on Amazon Prime starting June 11; “Come True,” on Hulu starting June 11; “City Hall,” on Mubi starting June 11; “Willy’s Wonderland,” on Hulu starting June 13; “The Obituary of Tunde Johnson,” on Hulu starting June 15; “Nasrin,” on Hulu starting June 15; “Echo Boomers,” on Roku Channel starting June 15.