Five must-see films of summer 2013

The weather may be predictably unpredictable, but British summer can always be relied upon to bring us a host of decent films. Here are five to catch for when the rain is pouring and you've tired of tennis.

Monsters University

Friday 12^th July

Director: Dan Scanlon

Starring: Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi

It’s been twelve years since Sulley and Mike first appeared on our screens in Monsters, Inc., allowing young fans of that film to grow up and reach a new life stage scarier than any monster: university. In Toy Story 3, Andy’s departure for university was timed just as those of us who grew up with the series were packing our bags, books and saucepans and leaving home ourselves. The result was cinemas full of weeping eighteen year-olds, nostalgic adults, and young children still laughing at Mr Potato Head wobbling about as a tortilla wrap. Hoping to draw a similarly diverse audience, the new prequel goes back to Sulley and Mike’s university days, where their initial impressions of each other are anything but favourable as they learns the tricks of the scare trade. By resorting to familiar characters in a situation now relevant to their old audience, Pixar are playing it safe in a bid to move on from the relative failure of Cars 2 and Brave. Will it be a roaring success or just scarily bad? With Finding Dory in the pipeline, let's hope this new run of sequels live up to expectations.

Despicable Me 2

Friday 28^th June

Director: Chris Renaud and Pierre Coffin

Starring: Steve Carrell, Ken Jeong, Kristen Wiig

Unlike Pixar, Universal waited only three years to release a sequel to their surprise hit Despicable Me, in which super villain Gru (voiced by Steve Carrell) found himself adopting three orphans in a bid to outdo his arch nemesis Vector (Jason Segel) by becoming the most notorious force of evil in the world. The whacky plot, witty script and fabulously memorable characters produced one of those rare films that makes you laugh more than is strictly appropriate in a public setting, and leaves you wondering what happens next. Now Gru and his dysfunctional crew are back, including the scene-stealing, dungaree-clad minions, but this time he’s using his evil skills for good, working with the Anti-Villain League to save the world. It’s a tall order, but if the sequel can produce the same high quality, quirky humour, we’re in for a treat.

Man of Steel

Friday 14^th June

Director: Zack Snyder

Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe, Michael Shannon

Following Chris Nolan’s moody Batman reboot, superhero films are no longer just fast, fun, quip-filled epics. Now, it’s all about the angst and burden that comes with having awesome powers. Traditionally, Superman has always been the ultimate good guy, unfailingly moral and bordering on indestructible, so naturally everyone scoffed at the thought of this primary-colour-clad icon as a troubled, isolated figure. And then the trailers came out, and we all stopped laughing and stared open-mouthed at a stubble-bedecked Superman apparently working on an oilrig. We may even have drooled a little. But we certainly put aside our doubts and got on board. Let’s hope it’s as tough as the name suggests.

The Bling Ring

Friday 5^th July

Director: Sophia Coppola

Starring: Emma Watson, Katie Chang, Israel Broussard

If the plot wasn’t based on real events, it would sound too ridiculous for a film. Fascinated with the hedonistic celebrity lifestyle that surrounds them, a group of wealthy LA teens decide to literally bag themselves a piece of it, by burgling the homes of the rich and famous. Having proved she can actually act in last year’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Emma Watson continues in her mission to shed her Harry Potter image as one of the bad girl burglars. However, early reviews are commending the performances of the relative unknowns who make up the gang, particularly Katie Chang and Israel Broussard. The gang’s obsession with fame, and their use of social media and the internet to target their victims makes for a pertinent look at the attractions and issues of modern celebrity culture.  

Now You See Me

Wednesday 3^rd July

Director: Louis Leterrier

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Morgan Freeman, Woody Harrelson

Let’s forget that Movie 43 has conclusively proved that a talented cast does not guarantee a great film, and ogle what has got to be one of the best line ups this year. The dream team includes rising stars Isla Fisher, Dave Franco (James’ younger brother), and Jesse Eisenberg (yes, he’s definitely there somewhere behind the beard), alongside reliable regulars Woody Harrelson and Mark Ruffalo, and acting heavyweights Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine. Apparently burglars are the fashionable profession this summer: this gang relies not on the magic of the internet, but of, er, magic, to rob banks, giving their ill-gotten gains to their audiences in a charming Robin Hood-esque gesture. A weird meeting of The Prestige and Hustle, don’t expect subtlety, but marvel instead at the sorcery on offer in this summer blockbuster.

The World’s End

Friday 19^th July

Director: Edgar Wright

Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Rosamund Pike

The third and possibly final collaboration between Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz writers Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright sees a group of old friends reunite in their home town to finish off a bar crawl started years before. However, judging by the huge explosions and glowing blue eyes observable in the trailer, all is not what it seems. Former collaborator Nick Frost is back, along with Martin Freeman, Paddy Considine and Eddie Marson, who head a stellar British cast. Judging by previous offerings, we can look forward to loopy characters, brilliant humour, true bromance and plenty of melodramatic action sequences.

Does Gru make you grin, or do you like Mike? Magic fan or man of steel? Share your thoughts and the films you're looking forward to in the comments below. Make sure that cinema trip happens, and send a subtle hint to your friends by sharing this post on Twitter or Facebook, and follow the blog for more film articles, summer posts and general snippets of joy.

Three perks of The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Despite being set in a ‘90s American high school and featuring Paul Rudd as an English teacher, the similarities between Perks and all typical teenage comedies end there. Adapted by writer Stephen Chbosky from his own novel, this film follows troubled sixteen-year-old Charlie as he enters his freshman year of high school. Complete with shots of Emma Watson in a corset and lines such as 'Welcome to the island of misfit toys', the trailer really undersells this sincere and moving portrayal of friendship as a kind of hipster dramedy. There are far more sombre themes at play here than a bit of teenage angst, and they are mediated through a moving and funny script that brushes aside all preconceptions and goes right for the heartstrings.

Ezra Miller, Logan Lerman and Emma Watson

While each deserves their own place on this list, I’ve uncharitably decided to lump these three stars together into a Megazord of talent. Anyone who cringed through Watson’s wooden Harry Potter years will be left gobsmacked by her intelligent portrayal of flawed but kind-hearted Sam. In fairness, there is more depth to this character than there was to Hermione, not to mention better clothes and an edgy new haircut, but rather than flounder with a complex and entirely different character, Watson rises to this new challenge.

Another star who managed to escape typecasting is Ezra Miller, who earned rave reviews as the eponymous teen in dark drama We Need to Talk About Kevin. Miller steals every scene as outgoing Patrick in a sensitive performance that flits between mischievous humour and raw emotion. This subtle but powerful handling of intense subject matter is also seen in Lerman, who makes Charlie seem endearing and naive as he negotiates the tricky world of high school along with darker problems. In Lerman’s capable hands, Charlie’s wide-eyed revelation that ‘We are infinite’ comes across not as shallow, meaningless drivel, but as a poignant moment of clarity in the muddled life of this lonely teenager. What could have been a tacky and superficial tale of teenage angst rings true through thanks to the intelligent performances of the three leads.

It’s all about the music

Although the film is set in the '90s, Sam and Charlie’s love of old songs means the soundtrack draws frequently on the music of earlier decades, including The Smiths, David Bowie and Dexys Midnight Runners. One of the highlights of the film sees Charlie, Sam and Patrick discover Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ for the first time: the tentative yet defiant positivity of the song perfectly captures the heady mix of fear and courage that defines teenage years. Not only do the songs compliment the ups and downs in the narrative, but the importance of music also leads to many moments of fond nostalgia for those of us who remember the hazy days of cassettes and making mix tapes with hand-written labels. Of course, I was listening to Liberty X and audio books at the time (Sophie’s Snail does not make an appearance here), and you never see anyone having to wind the film back in, but this little reminder of nineties tech puts Perks firmly in one era, reminding us of the ethereal nature of our teenage years.

It makes The Breakfast Club look like Mean Girls

It may be set in high school, but much of the subject matter here is far from juvenile. While Charlie experiences typical teenage problems, such as romantic entanglements, drug experimentation and some highly witty name-calling, Perks also addresses depression, suicide, domestic violence, homophobia, and child abuse. Far from shoving these themes down the audience’s throat, the film posits them as aspects of characters’ lives, but not their defining feature. As a result, while each character faces personal demons, they are relatable beyond these as realistic people. These issues are not used for their shock-factor but to explain the flaws of the characters, and the film is more moving for it.

If you're looking for a film that evokes the silliness of teenage years through screwball comedy and vaguely detestable characters, look elsewhere. Perks may look like a shallow, angst-ridden and moody hipster flick, but strong performances and a clever script, along with some well-chosen music, make this a moving and poignant reminder of the perks and pitfalls of being a teenager.