Five 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 IMB Bank Sunset Cinema program which has taken over North Sydney Oval till Saturday, March 30.

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 five all-ages flicks to watch.

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: Saturday, February 16 and Thursday, March 14.

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 15, Saturday, February 23 and Friday, March 22.

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: Friday, February 22.

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: Friday, March 1 and Friday, March 15.

Sunset Cinema will take over North Sydney Oval from Thursday, January 17 to Saturday, March 30. Check out the full film program and book tickets here.