The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part

Director Mike Mitchell, Trisha Gum

Genre Animation | Action | Adventure

Cast Chris Pratt, Margot Robbie, Channing Tatum, Alison Brie

Rating PG

Release Date February 8th, 2019

“It’s been five years since everything was awesome and the citizens are facing a huge new threat: LEGO DUPLO® invaders from outer space, wrecking everything faster than they can rebuild.”

From directors Mike Mitchell (Shrek Ever After, Trolls) and Trisha Gum (co-director), The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part is the follow-up to the hit film that ingrained the catchphrase "Everything Is Awesome" into our heads in 2014 (I still hear it!). The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part picks up 5 years after The Lego Movie and the citizens are facing a new threat, LEGO DUPLO® invaders from outer space, and they are wrecking everything faster than they can rebuild! Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part:

• The LEGO Movie 2 originally had a release date of May 26th, 2017, but was pushed back until 2018 for the spin-off movies.

• This is Margot Robbie's first time voicing Harley Quinn, while also playing Harley in the DC universe. Robbie is the first actress to voice Harley Quinn in the Lego franchise since Jenny Slate in The Lego Batman Movie (2017).

Cold Pursuit

Director Hans Petter Moland

Genre Action | Drama | Thriller

Cast Liam Neeson, Emmy Rossum, Tom Bateman, William Forsythe

Rating R

Release Date February 8th, 2019

“A snowplow driver seeks revenge against the drug dealers he thinks killed his son. Based on the 2014 Norwegian film ‘In Order of Disappearance’.”

“Quiet family man and hard-working snowplow driver Nels is the lifeblood of a glitzy resort town in the Rocky Mountains because he is the one who keeps the winter roads clear. He and his wife live in a comfortable cabin away from the tourists. The town has just awarded him “Citizen of the Year.” But Nels has to leave his quiet mountain life when his son is murdered by a powerful drug lord. As a man who has nothing to lose he is stoked by a drive for vengeance. This unlikely hero uses his hunting skills and transforms from an ordinary man into a skilled killer as he sets out to dismantle the cartel. Nels’ actions ignite a turf war between a manically unpredictable gangster known as Viking and a rival gang boss. Justice is served in one final spectacular confrontation that will leave (almost) no one unscathed.”

From director Hans Petter Moland, Cold Pursuit stars ageless actor Liam Neeson, who is technically 66 but you would be hard pressed to believe that. He is on yet another path of revenge and even though its been done time and time again, I am ready for it. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Cold Pursuit:

• Director Hans Petter Moland made Cold Pursuit as a remake to his 2014 film In Order of Disappearance (originally titled Kraftidioten), so even though it is a remake it feels like it is made for all of the right reasons.

• In early 2017, the film was refused a permit to shoot in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. The explanation given was that Parks Canada objected to the antagonist of the film being an aboriginal Canadian. Even the actor playing the role, popular aboriginal Canadian Tom Jackson, could not sway the government agency's opinion, and the production was moved out of the park.

What Men Want

Director Adam Shankman

Genre Comedy | Fantasy | Romance

Cast Taraji. P Henson, Max Greenfield, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Aldis Hodge

Rating Unrated

Release Date February 8th, 2019

“A woman is boxed out by the male sports agents in her profession, but gains an unexpected edge over them when she develops the ability to hear their thoughts.”

From director Adam Shankman (The Wedding Planner, A Walk to Remember), What Men Want is about a woman who is pushed out by the male sports agents in her profession, but she soon gains an advantage when she is somehow able to actually hear what men are thinking. The movie is a remake with a twist of the 18 year-old film What Women Want (2000), which starred Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. I have seen that movie a number of times so this one certainly has big shoes to fill.  The cast includes Taraji. P Henson, Max Greenfield, Wendi McLendon-Covey, and Aldis Hodge. Check out the official trailer below!!

The Prodigy

Director Nicholas McCarthy

Genre Horror | Thriller

Cast Taylor Schilling, Brittany Allen, Colm Feore, Jackson Robert Scott

Rating R

Release Date February 8th, 2019

“A mother concerned about her young son’s disturbing behavior thinks something supernatural may be affecting him.”

Directed by Nicholas McCarthy (The Pact, At the Devil’s Door) and written by Jeff Buhler who is a co-writer on the upcoming Pet Sematary, The Prodigy is a horror thriller about a young boy who behinds to demonstrate very disturbing behavior. Check out the official trailers below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, The Prodigy:

• The now infamous scene at the end of the first trailer, along with other scenes, had to be re-edited for test audiences due to their intense scare factor.

• Orange is the New Black actress Taylor Schilling has a lead role in the film.

High Flying Bird

Director Steven Soderbergh

Genre Drama | Sport

Cast Zazie Beetz, André Holland, Melvin Gregg, Zachary Quinto

Rating Unrated

Release Date February 8th, 2019 (Netflix)

“A sports agent pitches a rookie basketball client on an intriguing and controversial business opportunity during a lockout.”

From director Steven Soderbergh (Traffic, Logan Lucky) and writer Tarell Alvin McCraney (Moonlight), High Flying Bird tells the story of a sports agent who pitches a rookie basketball client on an intriguing and controversial business opportunity during a lockout. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, High Flying Bird:

• Steven Soderbergh finished the rough cut of the film three hours after principal photography wrapped.

• This is the second film Steven Soderbergh shot on an iPhone, following Unsane (2018).

Everybody Knows

Director Asghar Farhadi

Genre Crime | Drama | Mystery

Cast Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem, Jaime Lorente, Bárbara Lennie

Rating R

Release Date February 8th, 2019

“Laura, a Spanish woman living in Buenos Aires, returns to her hometown outside Madrid with her two children to attend her sister’s wedding. However, the trip is upset by unexpected events that bring secrets into the open.”

Written and directed by Asghar Farhadi (The Salesman), Everybody Knows is a crime drama that tells the story of a Spanish woman living in Buenos Aires who returns to her hometown outside Madrid with her two children to attend her sister's wedding. What was supposed to be a celebratory trip is upset by unexpected events that bring secrets into the open. Check out the official trailer below!!

Ted Takes Fun Facts, Everybody Knows:

• Only the second Spanish-language film to open Cannes, following Pedro Almodovar's "Bad Education" in 2004. It is also one of the few openers in Cannes history which is not in either English or French.

• Farhadi delayed the production of "Everybody knows" to return to Iran and shoot "The Salesman".

• Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz have been married since 2010.