Four Films to See This Summer that Your Inner Child (and Actual Kiddo) Will Love

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Summer holidays might be well and truly over, and the arrival of 2019 might feel like yesterday's news now, but that doesn't mean that boring old adult life awaits. If you're still in kidult mode (or still want to be), this time of year is perfect for indulging your inner child. Just head to the movies.

To the joy of all-ages film fans everywhere, the big screen is the place to find a whole heap of family-friendly flicks that are tailormade for kidults and actual kiddos alike. Animated delights, nostalgic throwbacks, comedies based on true tales — they're all here. Specifically, they're all on the Sunset Cinema program that takes over Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens from Thursday, February 28 to Saturday, April 13.

Think bean bags, beers and bubbles for adult viewers and a lineup of movies for audiences both young and young at heart. There's your next night out all planned — and to make things even easier, here are four all-ages flicks to watch.

MARY POPPINS RETURNS

2018 was a great year for Emily Blunt. She tried not to scream in terror — all while her pregnant character gave birth — in A Quiet Place, and then picked up an umbrella and floated in a completely different direction in Mary Poppins Returns. In both, she's fantastic. In Poppins in particular, she's a treat in the most delightful way. Stepping into Julie Andrews' shoes is no easy feat, but the English actor nails the job, and so does this five-decades-later sequel to everyone's favourite childhood film. Heading back to Cherry Tree Lane to revisit the now-adult Banks siblings (Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer), as well as the next generation, the charming affair has future classic written all over it.

Showing: Friday, March 15 and Friday, April 12

RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET

It's been more than eight decades since Disney made its first full-length movie, saying "hi-ho, hi-ho" to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. All these years later, it's still delivering hits — including Tangled, Frozen, Moana and Wreck-It Ralph in the last nine years alone. Now the latter gets a sequel, Ralph Breaks the Internet, which jumps from bringing to life retro arcade games to visualising what the online world might look like. Once again, the titular character (voiced by John C. Reilly) is our guide through this bright and lively adventure — though, his small offsider Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) steals the show this time around.

Showing: Friday, March 22

A DOG'S WAY HOME

Whether you couldn't stop watching Milo & Otis, fell head over heels for Beethoven, loved Air Bud or went old school with Lassie, a dog movie played a part in everyone's childhood. Thanks to Marley & Me and the Red Dog flicks over the past decade, pictures about puppers just keep charming hearts — and A Dog's Way Home wants to join that list. Adapted from the popular book of the same name by the author of fellow pooch-focused page-to-screen adaptation A Dog's Purpose, and based on a true story as well, this is basically the US version of Red Dog in a way. Story-wise, it tells of a four-legged cutie who does whatever it takes to make its way across 400 miles to get home to its owners, with Bryce Dallas Howard giving the doggo a voice.

Showing: Friday, April 5

STORM BOY

Mr Percival flies again in the latest homegrown film to hit cinema screens. If you went to an Aussie primary school in the past four decades, you'll know what that means. Initially, a short children's novel by Colin Thiele, Storm Boy became a beloved local film back in 1976 — and now it's back in new 2019 packaging. The core tale remains the same, focusing on a pre-teen boy (an astonishingly naturalistic Finn Little) who lives with his reclusive fisherman dad (Jai Courtney) on the South Australian coast and takes in three pelican chicks when their lives are threatened by hunters. The original David Gulpilil-starring flick has remained a classic for a reason, and this version follows in its footsteps. Afterwards, if you'd like a pelican for a best friend, that's understandable.

Showing: Wednesday, April 10

Sunset Cinema will take over Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens from Thursday, February 28 to Saturday, April 13. Check out the full film program and book tickets here.