By John Corrado

New releases for the week of June 16th, 2023.

Theatrical Releases:

Elemental (Wide Release): Pixar’s latest film, which comes from director Pete Sohn, works as a charming mix of immigrant tale and forbidden love romantic comedy. Set in a place called Element City, the film is an unlikely love story between fire girl Ember (Leah Lewis) and water guy Wade (Mamoudou Athie). It’s a somewhat predictable story, but done with a lot of heart and striking animation, and Sohn’s personal influences help elevate it, being inspired by his own life as the son of Korean immigrants. The new Up short Carl’s First Date plays before it, featuring Ed Asner’s final performance. (Full Review)

The Flash (Wide Release): The latest DC movie finally arrives in theatres today after months of it being hyped as one of the greatest superhero films of all time, something that current reviews don’t really reflect. Directed by Andy Muschietti (It), the film has been pushed back several times and arrives amidst controversy around its star Ezra Miller. I’m mainly curious to check it out for the long-awaited return of Michael Keaton as Batman, but I’m truthfully not as excited for it as I once was.

The Blackening (Wide Release): If Black people are usually the first to die in horror movies, than what happens when an all-Black group of friends gather together at a cabin in the woods and start being targeted by a serial killer who draws them into playing a sadistic game? This is the question at the centre of horror satire The Blackening, which comes from director Tim Story (Barbershop, Ride Along) and is expanded from a 2018 comedy sketch. I saw this one when it played at Midnight Madness during TIFF last year, and that screening was a lot of fun. Poking fun at both horror movie and racial stereotypes (the killer draws upon pop culture tropes to determine who is “most or least” Black), it’s an enjoyable, self-aware horror comedy that is elevated by a very game cast. I’m sure it also plays well not at midnight.

More Releases: Persian Lessons (Limited), Other People’s Children (Limited)

Streaming Releases:

Stan Lee (Disney+): This officially sanctioned documentary about Marvel legend Stan “The Man” Lee arrives on the same streaming service that houses the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It’s more of a tribute than it is a deep dive documentary, but still offers a fast-paced and mostly engaging look at his impact on the world of comics. (Full Review)

More Releases: Extraction 2 (Netflix), Chevalier (Disney+)