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

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Christmas might be 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.

With the school holidays in full swing for the summer, the big screen is the place to find a whole heap of family-friendly flicks that are tailor-made 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 when it takes over Williamstown's Commonwealth Reserve from Thursday, January 24 to Sunday, February 17.

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, February 8 and Saturday, February 16.

INSTANT FAMILY

With more than a dash of the Daddy's Home and Bad Neighbours films as inspiration — not to mention two of their stars — Instant Family features Rose Byrne and Mark Wahlberg as a thirty-something couple who decide to become foster parents. They bring three siblings into their home and navigate quite a steep learning curve — hijinks, of course, ensue. But the movie's real basis comes from real life, and from the story of filmmaker Sean Anders. The writer behind Hot Tub Time Machine and We're the Millers, as well as the director of Horrible Bosses 2, he drew upon his own experiences becoming a carer for children in need.

Showing: Sunday, February 17.

RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET

It's been more than eight decades since Walt Disney Animation Studios 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, February 1.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD

Since first premiering back in 2010, the How to Train Your Dragon films have been hugely successful — but now they're coming to an end. The third and final movie sees the plucky Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) now chief of his village and happily overseeing a town where vikings and dragons live in harmony. With the entire series acting as a coming-of-age story, Hiccup's next chapter involves making tough decisions to do what's best for both humans and their fire-breathing companions. The voice cast also includes Cate Blanchett, Gerard Butler, Jonah Hill and Kit Harington, and if you're after a dose of animated spectacle, the film delivers in both soaring flight scenes and a colourful finale.

Showing: Sunday, February 10.

Sunset Cinema will take over Commonwealth Reserve at Williamstown from Thursday, January 24 to Sunday, February 17. Check out the full film program here.