The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

This week, New in Cairo Cinemas comes bearings gifts of happy returns. Jennifer Garner returns with the thriller Peppermint, Kevin Hart also returns with the comedy film Night School, while Cate Blanchett and Jack Black share the spotlight in the thrilling fantasy, The House with a Clock in Its Walls. 

Peppermint

What’s it about? Riley North (Jennifer Garner) awakens from a coma after surviving a brutal attack that killed her husband and daughter. When the system shields the murderers from justice, Riley sets out to transform herself from citizen to urban guerrilla. Eluding the underworld, police, and the FBI, Riley embarks on a deadly quest to deliver her own personal brand of punishment.

The good: Jennifer Garner is a seasoned actress, and it is honestly quite refreshing to see a female actor take the lead role in an action film that takes the concept of vigilante justice as one of its main themes. 

The bad: The film’s preliminary reviews indicate that there is nothing original nor groundbreaking about the film’s plot and/or its action sequences. 

Night School

What’s it about? Teddy Walker (Kevin Hart) is a successful salesman whose life is turned upside down after a huge mishap at work. Walker finds himself forced to attend night school, with the aim of obtaining his GED. Accordingly, Walker finds himself among a group of misfits, his former high school nemesis, and a teacher who does not believe in him. 

The good: It’s a Kevin Hart film; we know to expect nothing short of laugh-out-loud moments from start to finish. 

The bad: It seems that Hart keeps playing the same role over and over again. Indeed, in the films Central Intelligence (2016), Ride Along (2014), and Get Hard (2015), as well as this film, Hart plays an average guy who finds himself wrapped up in the oddest of situations. 

The House with a Clock in Its Walls

What’s it about? Lewis (Owen Vaccaro) goes to live with his uncle (Jack Black) in a creaky old house that contains a mysterious `tick tock’ noise. Lewis learns that Uncle Jonathan and his neighbour, Mrs Zimmerman (Cate Blanchett), are practitioners of the magic arts. When Lewis accidentally awakens the dead, a dangerous and secret world is revealed. 

The good: Cate Blanchett is a drama actor, while Jack Black is renowned for his comedy roles. That said, we expect nothing short of great acting performances. 

The bad:  From the film’s trailer, it seems that there is nothing groundbreaking nor original. In other words, it is no Harry Potter. 

To find out where and when you can catch these films, check out the Cairo 360 Cinema Guide.