What’s it about?
Writer and star Kumail Nanjiani brings the story of his burgeoning relationship with his now wife to the big screen, illustrating the ups and downs they faced with their cross-cultural connection, not least of which was Emily being in a coma.

What we thought
Angela Young says: This film is brilliant, go see it. It’s properly funny and properly real. Kumail plays himself, so we know we we’re getting the truth there, but Zoe Kazan is fantastic as down-to-earth and bubbly Emily. You will love all the characters in this film, literally – there’s not a baddie (or bad acting) among them. Even Ray Romano as Dad! You’ll laugh, you’ll cry (but only a little bit), and you’ll only just notice the subtle lessons you’re learning about cultural integration and the hilarious nuances at play within a Pakistani muslim family in modern America.

What’s it about?
A troubled young boy (Lewis MacDougall) is visited by a storytelling monster (Liam Neeson). Emotional growth ensues.

What did we think?
Amy Currie says: At first glance, this tale featuring an enchanted tree, a stern grandmother and fantastical revenge on a schoolyard bully seems a Dahl-esque children’s story. However, in an interesting twist on the genre, A Monster Calls takes place in the real world of divorce, chemotherapy and lawsuits, where good and evil aren’t clear-cut and endings are often imperfect. It’s not a subtle film, but the performances are decent, the animation in the storytelling sequences is gorgeous and the ending will make you cry.

What’s it about?
An escalating war between Caesar’s (Andy Serkis) apes and a renegade army colonel (Woody Harrelson) forces Caesar to choose between his desire for revenge and his quest for a better world for ape-kind.

What did we think?
Lisa Clifford says: For the first time in the new series, apes are unapologetically placed front-and-centre as protagonists, and Serkis is utterly brilliant in his third turn as the messianic ape leader. A stark and arresting study of morality in war and how it influences our actions, War for the Planet of the Apes is visually stunning with great action sequences, and a satisfying conclusion to Caesar’s story – forming an interesting bridge between the modern reboot and the original films.

What’s it about?
An intense depiction of WW2’s Battle of Dunkirk.

What did we think?
Amy Currie says: Two hours of pure tension. Dunkirk does away with preamble – there are no names, backstories or wistful talk of sweethearts back home. We barely even see the enemy. Instead, we’re plunged straight into urgent, up-close chaos. The strong performances (yes, even from that ‘one’ guy), minimal dialogue, and spectacular soundtrack moved my stoic companion to a masculine tear. See it.

What’s it about?
Charlize Theron goes bananas as an MI6 agent who investigates the death of a fellow agent in Berlin.

What did we think?
Nick says: Putting aside the possible John Wick comparisons, Atomic Blonde is driven by some truly kinetic action that won’t induce seizures, and a great performance from Charlize Theron who asserts herself as a total-badass action-movie star.

What’s it about?
Really, it’s all about the music. But ostensibly it’s about a young guy who’s a demon behind the wheel stuck driving for a big-time heist boss. For him to drive at his best, his soundtrack has to be just right.

What we thought
Angela says: You don’t have to be a music nerd to appreciate the musical quality of this surprising little action-packed gem. You also don’t have to understand dance to appreciate Ryan Heffington’s outstanding choreography, seamlessly blending hops, skips, hand taps and explosions with lyrics and melody. Ansel Elgort brings a beautiful charm to Baby, getaway driver extraordinaire, while Jamie Foxx as unhinged bad guy Bats is genuinely terrifying. Jon Hamm’s Buddy is slightly OTT and Kevin Spacey’s Doc is only a monotone psychopath, nothing more, but this is a great little romp, with action, occasional belly laughs and, of course, that wonderful music.

What’s it about?
Flash McQueen is back with his friends racing, learning and interacting with a world OBVIOUSLY made for characters who have hands despite the fact that NOBODY has any hands. I mean seriously! Doesn’t this bother anyone else?!

What we thought
Dan says: Nascar itself isn’t this boring. At least it’s supposed to go around and around without actually getting anywhere. Part of the story involves embracing the love of what you do and rejecting selling out. The irony was not lost on me.

What’s it about?
The story of successful nineties gangster rapper Tupac Shakur before he became a hologram.

What did we think?
Dan Beeston says: The tale told here is so one-sided it feels like the other two sections of the Rashomon went missing. Tupac is portrayed as a cultural leader for whom butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth, and then justifying his abuse of the trappings of his success. Like that one kid who’d plead “I was hanging out with the bad kids sure, but I’ve never done anything bad myself”.

There’s a lot of information and swearing to get through. Tonally it often feels cartoonish. You could almost cast Samuel L. Jackson in every single part and it would only make it slightly more comical. But the viewers job isn’t to cast judgement. It’s to delight in the tale of this version of Tupac. To revel in his heroism. Add an extra star if you’re West Coast 4 EVR.

What’s it about?
Greg is a typical millennial with a knack for getting himself into trouble. His loving mother forces the family on a road trip to Grandma’s house.

What we thought
Dan says: The problem with road trip films is that they end up feeling like a bunch of sketches all lined up. Only four of the scenes in the film are required to understand the story and the rest could be shuffled or removed and it wouldn’t be noticed. Some of these scenes are funny. Some are needlessly scatological. Perhaps vomiting on someone’s face is funnier on the page than in full technicolour. At the end of the day this just doesn’t feel like proper movie.

What’s it about?
Welcome to a world of gods and monsters! It’s Tom Cruise and ‘our’ Rusty helming Universal Studios own interpretation of a “Marvel Universe” cash-cow using the old (classic horror aka the curse of the mummy) and the new (shit-loads of CGI).

What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: Just like a one-night-stand, you get exactly what you expect: a good time that’s quickly forgotten. Tom is Indiana Jones reincarnated as a sledgehammer that’s been born into a Michael Bay wet dream of ACTION ACTION ACTION! It’s a great way to spend a couple of hours (the plane flight sequence is worth admission alone) with some fun twists, and plot holes as large as the archeological pits they skip over.