The prospect of England winning Euro 2024 is set to fill many bars and pubs in good time for Sunday evening’s 8pm kick-off for the final with Spain.
But if you want to make a full day of it, don’t forget that Westside’s family attractions include the Legoland Discovery Centre and the National Sea Life Centre – plus there are plenty of big films on show at Odeon Broadway Plaza and Cineworld Broad Street to put you in the mood.
They include the latest instalment of the world’s highest grossing animation franchise Despicable Me, which has so far netted some £3.5 billion at the global box office.
There’s also an all-star moon landing drama harking back to life behind the scenes on the Apollo 11 mission as well as an ultra-violent adult thriller.
DESPICABLE ME 4 (U, 94 mins)
Originally launched in 2010, this is the sixth movie in the family-friendly franchise if you include two spin-offs with the Minions.
After adopting three daughters, the series has seen super villain Gru (Steve Carell) turning to fighting crime instead.
Gru Jr is now the newest member of the family – but will dad be able to cope with his son’s antics when the family goes on the run thanks to bad boy Maxime Le Mal (Will Ferrell)?
The verdict: ***
There’s lots of slapstick, chaotic noise, vibrant colours and set piece spectacle as well as a topical game of tennis and random musical nods to everything from Boy George to Terminator 2.
Which means there’s plenty for children to enjoy at the start of the school holidays.
IN A VIOLENT NATURE (18, 104 mins)
Teenagers inadvertently resurrect a rotting corpse when they remove a locket from a collapsed fire tower in a wood. It then proceeds to try to slaughter them all one by one in a film shot in the old TV-style 4:3 (nearly square) ratio. Ooops!
The verdict: ***
With one particularly inventive killing in store, the younger generation which hasn’t seen the likes of Driller Killer or Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer on the big screen might be popping their eyeballs.
Former Liverpool star Alan Hansen once made a BBC documentary where the camera was glued to his shoulders. The point of view effect is repeated here, with the back of the plodding monster’s head on show at every turn.
Now that’s overkill, even though the film doesn’t have an over-reliance on jump-scare sound effects.
The violence is extreme, but older viewers won’t find their neck hairs lifting.
FLY ME TO THE MOON (12A, 132 mins)
After JFK promises a manned moon landing by the end of the 1960s, Apollo 11 is set for take-off in July, 1969.
Marketing guru Kelly Jones (Scarlett Johansson) is generating publicity. A back-up fake film is deemed essential in case the real venture fails for launch director Cole Davis (Channing Tatum). How will they get along?
The verdict: ***
Archive footage clearly explains why JFK made space his all-important frontier ambition, but there’s insufficient jeopardy for this to match fellow space thrillers Apollo 13 or Gravity and, for reasons unknown, Tatum is in a Tommy Lee Jones-style full-barking mode.
Still, after a decade being pointlessly submerged in the world of Marvel, it’s great to see the now 39-year-old Johansson reminding us that she’s a very talented actress even when faced with a human wardrobe.
And, after the brilliant puss in A Quite Place: Day One, there’s another leading role for a cat, too!
Picture credits
Despicable Me 4 / Universal
Fly Me To The Moon / Sony Pictures
In a Violent Nature / Altitude
