New Movies: In the Heights, Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, The Misfits, Queen Bees

This week’s new releases include a musical, a sequel to a storybook classic, a heist film and a rom-com set in a retirement community

From the LifeMinute.TV Team

June 11, 2021

In the Heights is an adaptation of the 2008 Broadway musical of the same name that won four Tony Awards including Best Musical. Based on the book written by Quiara Alegria Hudes with music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda and directed by Jon M. Chu hot off his success of 2018's Crazy Rich Asians. The film stars Anthony Ramos as Unsavi de la Vega, the owner of a bodega near the 181st St. Subway station in the tight-knit Dominican community in Washington Heights, NY.  The film follows several characters from the neighborhood who all, in their own way, are pursuing their dreams of a better life.  This adaptation has a large cast that includes Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Marc Anthony, Jimmy Smits and Daphne Rubi-Vega among others.

Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway, combines live actors with computer animation for this children's film that’s in the tradition of Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Directed by Will Gluck who also helmed the first Peter Rabbit film in 2018. Both films are based on the stories by Beatrix Potter. This sequel follows Peter as he leaves the farm behind and ventures out to the big city and naturally, hi-jinks ensue. James Corden reprises his voice role as Peter, starring alongside live actors Rose Byrne, Domhnall Gleeson and David Oyelowo. Margot Robbie and Elizabeth Debicki are also on board lending the vocal talents to other animated characters.

Action director, Renny Harlin has returned with The Misfits. This heist film stars Pierce Brosnan and master thief Richard Pace, who teams up with a ragtag group of younger thieves including Nick Cannon, Mike d'Angelo and Jamie Chung. Their mission is to steal a stockpile of gold bars being stored in an Abu Dhabi prison and is meant to be allocated for use by terrorists.  Tim Roth is also along for the ride as Schultz, the owner of the targeted prison who also has a history with Brosnan's character. As expected from a Renny Harlin film, there are a plethora of explosions, car chases and fight scenes, buckle up and hang on tight for the ride.

Queen Bees, directed by Michael Lembeck is a lighthearted romantic comedy that takes place in a retirement community. It stars Ellen Burstyn as an independent woman who has to temporarily move into a senior home and encounters a group of mean-spirited women the likes she hasn't seen since High School. There are also lust-filled widows and very available bachelors that join in on the fun. A group of iconic actors that includes Jane Curtin, Ann Margaret, Christopher Lloyd and James Caan round out the cast.