Hello and welcome to another edition of Movie Reviews 2026 – your weekly guide to film. Be it good movies, bad movies, or something in between, all are discussed and reviewed for your convenience (and occasional entertainment).
This week there is an eclectic selection of titles on offer, including animated family film, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. This is the sequel to The Super Mario Bros. Movie, which was a huge box office hit back in 2023, so expect this follow-up to be a popular release.
In addition to Mario Galaxy, this week’s movies also include Reminders of Him, and Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice. Plus, Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet is back in cinemas for a series of anniversary screenings.
—
Now streaming…
Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice (2026)
First up this week is the action comedy, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice. Written and directed by BenDavid Grabinski, and starring Vince Vaughn, James Marsden, Eiza González, Keith David, and Dolph Lundgren, the film focuses on a loan shark’s attempt to save his friend from being bumped off by a mob boss.
In the film, mob boss Sosa throws a party in honour of his son, who has recently been released from prison. However, before the celebrations can get underway, Sosa announces his main aim moving forward: To locate and kill the ‘snitch’ who got his son locked up in the first place.
Sosa believes the snitch is Mike – a former hit man. But Mike wasn’t responsible, and Sosa has the wrong man.
Mike’s friend, Nick is aware of Mike’s innocence, and thanks to the aid of a time machine, travels back to the past to save his friend. But keeping Mike alive is somewhat problematic – especially since the past version of Nick is on the scene and getting in the way.
With multiple characters in play, various twists and turns, and a dash of humour, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is a decent and fairly entertaining picture. It’s a little clunky in places, and doesn’t quite flow as well as it could, but there is some fun to be had with the premise, as well as the ensemble cast.
In fact, the main selling point of the movie is all the players who are weaved in and out the story. Some get more screen time than others, but it’s good to see the likes of Keith David and Dolph Lundgren rubbing shoulders with Vince Vaughn and James Marsden for a mostly daft action romp.
The film also benefits from a likeable soundtrack, with a number of classic songs dropped into the main action scenes, and of course there are two Vince Vaughns for the price of one, as the actor plays future Nick and present Nick. Alright, so none of this makes for essential viewing, but it’s perfectly fine for what it is.
Should you wish to take a look, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice is now streaming on Disney+.
—
Now streaming…
Reminders of Him (2026)
Over to the cinema now for the romance drama, Reminders of Him. Directed by Vanessa Caswill, and based on the novel of the same name by Colleen Hoover, the movie stars Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers, and follows the story of a young woman attempting to put her life back together following a prison sentence.
In the film, Kenna Rowan is released from prison on parole, after serving a sentence for manslaughter. Six years ago, Kenna was involved in a car accident which resulted in the death of her boyfriend.
While in prison, Kenna gave birth to a baby girl, who was taken away and placed in the care of her deceased boyfriend’s parents. Kenna hasn’t seen her daughter since she was taken away, so is desperate to reconnect.
Upon returning to her home town, Kenna tries her best to put her life back in order. She finds somewhere to live, and gains employment at the local supermarket.
But while certain aspects of her life start to fall back into place, she still isn’t able to establish a relationship with her daughter. And to complicate matters further, Kenna starts to fall in love with her ex-boyfriend’s best friend.
Each year, there are a number of movies which crop up on the big screen which beg the question: Why did this get a cinema release? Reminders of Him is one of those movies.
To be clear, this isn’t because this is a particularly bad movie, it’s not. It’s simply a case of this film being far more suited to another platform than the cinema.
If Reminders of Him had been released in the ‘90s it would have done steady business on the video rental market. These days, it would slot in quite nicely on streaming.
There’s nothing particularly spectacular or special about Reminders of Him, nor does it boast any major star power, so getting the big screen treatment does seem a trifle odd. Instead, it offers a fairly gentle story about a woman overcoming post-prison challenges while a somewhat tricky romance develops in the background.
Lead actors Maika Monroe and Tyriq Withers are fine; the story is OK; and the wrap-up is suitably pleasing. It does exactly what you expect it will do, and doesn’t really stray from a well-worn path, but it’s entertaining enough as an amiable romantic drama.
If all you want is a bit of hardship woes and romance, Reminders of Him caters accordingly. It won’t be for everyone, but those who like this sort of picture will find it meets their needs.
—
In cinemas…
William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Sticking with the cinema for the re-release of William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet – director Baz Luhrmann’s romantic crime picture based on the Shakespeare play of the same name. The film is back in cinemas for a limited time to celebrate its 30th anniversary, so if you want to catch it on the big screen you’d best hurry.
For those who haven’t seen the movie, Romeo + Juliet stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, John Leguizamo, Miriam Margolyes, and Pete Postlethwaite. The film tells the story of the titular duo as they fall in love despite being from feuding families.
During the course of the story they embark on a whirlwind romance, get together,
and marry. But the course of true love (or impetuous teenage attraction) doesn’t run smoothly and tragedy lies in their future.
Now, if you ever studied Romeo and Juliet in school, you’ll know that like all Shakespeare plays the language can be difficult to get your head around. Sometimes the general gist is there, but some of the sentences seem a bit like gobbledygook to modern eyes.
So, when adapting this play as a feature film, did Luhrmann take this on board and completely update the dialogue to make it more palatable for ‘90s audiences? Nope – he just adjusted everything else around the words.
And herein lies the beauty of his Romeo + Juliet. Luhrmann retains the general dialogue to maintain the feel and structure of Shakespeare’s work, then modernises the setting, the costumes, and everything else to help ease audiences in.
He also makes use of music to contextualise or convey certain scenes, moods, or feelings. So, even if the dialogue is getting a bit heavy, and maybe a little hard to follow, songs such as ‘Young Hearts Run Free’ or ‘When Doves Cry’ are present to help carry the essence of what is being said.
In doing this, Luhrmann’s film is arguably the most accessible version of Romeo and Juliet to date. It may not be everyone’s favourite, and some may prefer Franco Zeffirelli’s traditional version from 1968, but this one is designed to fuse together the past and present in a fairly clear and concise way and it does it rather well.
And of course it became a big success upon release in ‘97. Produced on a budget of $14.5 million the film went on to make over $147 million, and was a critical hit too, receiving plenty of praise as well as some award nominations in the process.
If you fancy taking a look, either for the first time or the 21st time, Romeo + Juliet is playing in selected cinemas now. And if you can’t get to a screening, the film is currently available on Disney+.
—
In cinemas…
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie (2026)
And finally, arriving just in time for the long Easter weekend (as well as the school holidays) is the animated adventure movie, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, and featuring the voice talents of Chris Pratt, Charlie Day, Anya Taylor-Joy, Jack Black, and Keegan-Michael Key, the movie is a sequel to 2023’s The Super Mario Bros. Movie and sees Mario and chums head off to space as they battle Bowser and his son, Bowser Jr..
In the movie, Princess Peach and Toad set out on a quest to rescue a kidnapped Rosalina. Meanwhile, Mario and Luigi (with the aid of their new pal Yoshi) face the threat of Bowser Jr. who is keen to reconnect with his dad.
OK, so when the previous Super Mario Bros. movie was released three years ago, it was a colossal hit. The film took over $1.3 billion at the worldwide box office, got a lot of bums on seats, and appeared to entertain plenty of audiences, especially young gamers.
Was I a fan of the film? Not particularly.
I felt The Super Mario Bros. Movie was a bit of a mess, it was overstuffed with in-jokes and references to the Nintendo games, and was quite simply a disappointment. And sadly, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is much of the same.
The movie is overloaded with nods to various Nintendo games (Mario Sunshine, Star Fox, Pikmin etc), it’s often quite hectic, and feels very much like a collection of scenes and ideas chucked together in quick succession. There is a plot, but it’s thinner than Paper Mario, and it all just descends into a series of noises, colours, and power ups.
On the plus side, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie clocks in at just under 100 minutes; younger audiences (those below the age of 12) will like what’s on offer; and Jack Black continues to steal the movie as the voice of Bowser. So, if the youngest film fans of the household are desperate to see this one over Easter holidays, and you’re unsure if they are going to like it, chances are they will have fun… even if you do not.
It’s not a patch on the family film, The Magic Faraway Tree, which hit cinemas last week, but I suspect The Super Mario Galaxy Movie will be the more popular choice this Easter. Mario, Luigi, Yoshi etc have a lot of pull, so whether this is a good movie or not, it probably won’t matter in the long run.
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie is now playing in UK and US cinemas.
—
Recent Releases
Not quite done yet? Want more movies? The above suggestions aren’t enough?! Well, here’s what’s also doing the rounds:
The Magic Faraway Tree (2026)
“The Magic Faraway Tree is pure magic. The cast are marvellous, the story is inspiring, and the chance to spend time lost in fantasy is too tempting to resist.”
Ready or Not 2: Here I Come (2026)
“Ready or Not 2 leaves the audience wanting more. The first film felt like a fairly self-contained affair, but now the mythology has been opened up via this sequel, there is scope for another go should the opportunity arise.”
The Good Boy
“If you can overlook the wobbly finale, there is a lot to like about The Good Boy. The performances of Stephen Graham and Anson Boon are worth the price of admission, while the core themes of redemption and rehabilitation provide food for thought.”
How to Make a Killing (2025)
“How to Make a Killing is perfectly serviceable and if you do take a look it should keep the interest levels up.”
—
Movie of the Week
Onto Movie of the Week and this week the title goes to William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet. This ‘90s classic from director Baz Luhrmann is briefly back in cinemas, so take a look if you can.
And if you like William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, then you may be interested in these other films from Baz Luhrmann:
- Strictly Ballroom (1992) – Luhrmann directs this Aussie romantic comedy about two ballroom dancers who compete in a major competition.
- Moulin Rouge! (2001) – Luhrmann’s excellent jukebox musical about a poet who falls in love with a courtesan.
- Elvis (2022) – Luhrmann takes on a music icon with this biographical drama about the legendary Elvis Presley.
—
Forthcoming attractions
That’s your lot for this week, but coming soon there’s shark trouble in Thrash; supernatural horror in Lee Cronin’s The Mummy; and college comedy in Roommates. Plus, Charlize Theron is hunted in survival thriller, Apex, and the life and times of Michael Jackson are explored in bio-pic, Michael.
Alex
—
—
Thank you for stopping by It’s A Stampede! to read this edition of Movie Reviews 2026. For more posts be sure to check out the recommended reads below.
It's A Stampede! 
Leave a comment