February 2024 film preview: New movies from J. Lo, a Coen brother, and Diablo Cody

Our shortest month features a slim but promising collection of releases, including Argylle, Drive-Away Dolls, Madame Web, and The Taste Of Things

By Matt Schimkowitz  |  January 31, 2024 | 1:00pm
Film Features J. Lo
February 2024 film preview: New movies from J. Lo, a Coen brother, and Diablo Cody
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Clockwise from bottom left: Cole Sprouse and Kathryn Newton in Lisa Frankenstein, Jennifer Lopez in This Is Me … Now, Orion And The Dark, Margaret Qualley in Drive-Away Dolls, and Chip in Argylle Photo: Prime

January may be in the rearview, but movie theaters are still waiting for studios to replenish their screens. Things aren’t looking much better this February. However, we here at The A.V. Club aren’t going to sit back and watch our readers waste their free time all month. We’ve picked out an eclectic mix of releases from across the Hollywood landscape: Blockbusters, indies, and international movies are on the horizon, plus a little CGI cat in a backpack that people can’t stop talking about.

Argylle (February 2)
Argylle | Official Trailer

Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Henry Cavill, Sam Rockwell, Dua Lipa, Samuel L. Jackson, Catherine O’Hara, Bryan Cranston, John Cena, Ariana DeBose, and Rob DelaneyDirector: Matthew VaughnArgylle. Argylle. Argylle. It’s the only name on people’s lips these days. Or, at least, the only name on people’s lips in the trailer. From the twisted mind of Matthew Vaughn comes a riff that audiences can’t wait to stop seeing the trailer for, which has been playing incessantly before seemingly every movie for the last 176 months. We’d also like to know what the heck is so special about this darn cat.

Orion And The Dark (February 2)
Orion and the Dark | Official Trailer | Netflix

Cast: Jacob Tremblay, Paul Walter Hauser, Carla Cugino, Angela Bassett, Werner Herzog, Colin Hanks, Ike Barinholtz, Aparna Nancherla, and Nat FaxonDirector: Sean CharmatzIn general, Dreamworks Animation projects are hit or miss, often reeking of Pixar’s leftovers. To that end, , the studio’s latest for Netflix, looks like reheated Monsters, Inc. However, it does have a thing that makes this family fantasy particularly interesting, and it’s not Paul Walter Hauser doing his best Seth Rogen impression. Orion And The Dark is the only film written by Charlie Kaufman this year. Yes, that . That has to count for something, right?

The Promised Land (February 2)
THE PROMISED LAND Official Trailer (2024)

Cast: Mads Mikkelsen, Simon Bennebjerg, Amanda Collin, Gustav Lindhm, Krstine Kujath Thorp, and Morten Hee AndersenDirector: Nikolaj ArcelDenmark’s submission for this year’s Best International Feature Film Oscar, The Promised Land is a tale as old as time. After a quarter century in the military, Captain Ludvig Kahlen (Mikkelson) wants to settle down and live out his days in the Jutland moorland. He finds himself in a land war with a local magistrate (Bennebjerg), who does his best to force Kahlen off his land and claim the property for himself. Reteaming Mikkelson with director Nikolaj Arcel (A Royal Affair), Promised Land is as much about our current economic injustices as the 18th century.

Perfect Days (February 7)
PERFECT DAYS - Official Trailer

Cast: Kōji Hashimoto, Tokio Emoto, Arisa Nakano, Aoi Yamada, and Yumi Asō Director: Wim WendersThe words “new Wim Wenders film” are enough to get us into the theater, especially when critics are hailing as a return to form after a string of disappointments. No surprise: It’s been nominated for an Academy Award for Best International Film—Wenders’ first. Oscars or not, the director of and always has our attention. But did we mention his latest follows a rock-music-loving Tokyo toilet cleaner (Yakusho) enjoying books, trees, and photography? Perfect Days sounds perfect.

Lisa Frankenstein (February 9)
LISA FRANKENSTEIN - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters February 9

Cast: Kathryn Newton, Cole SprouseDirector: Zelda WilliamsA throwback to the Gen X charms of and , Zelda Williams’ directorial debut is a teen rom-com for the heartsick goths of Hot Topic as Kathryn Newton falls in love with an undead Cole Sprouse. Diablo Cody’s first script since , looks like a dayglo pastiche that aims to terrify and enchant ’ loving teens and their parents. But the ever-growing cult of Cody’s is probably thrilled the screenwriter has finally returned to teen horror comedies.

The Taste Of Things (February 9)
The Taste of Things Trailer #1 (2023)

Cast: Juliette Binoche, Benoît Magimel, Emmanuel Salinger, and Patrick d’AssumçaoDirector: Anh Hung TranJust in time for Valentine’s Day, is a French romance between a cook (Binoche) and her gourmand of a boss. The film’s elegant food photography is just as much a selling point as Binoche and Magimel’s smoldering flirtations. Director Anh Hung Tran won best director for the film at Cannes, while the title was shortlisted for the Oscars. It might have come up short regarding the Academy, but reviews have been glowing for this culinary romance. The Taste Of Things is sure to leave audiences hungry and horny.

Turning Red (February 9)
Turning Red | Official Trailer

Cast: Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, Maitreyi Ramakrishnana, Orion Lee, and James HongDirector: Domee ShiAfter unceremoniously debuting three feature-length Pixar movies on streaming over the pandemic, Disney finally gives . Soul received a special theatrical release last month. This February, it’s ’s turn. Of the three, Turning Red received the warmest reception on streaming, with many arguing this one especially deserved a theatrical run. Well, now Turning Red is returning to theaters, and considering the slim pickings this month, it’s not a moment too soon.

The Monk And The Gun (February 9)
The Monk and The Gun 92024) | Official Trailer | Only In Theaters February 9

Cast: Harry Einhorn, Tandin Wangchuk, Deki Lhamo, Tandin Sonam, Tandin Phubz, Choeying Jatsho, and Pema Zangmo SherpaDirector: Pawo Choyning Dorji, Bhutanese writer/director Pawo Choyning Dorji’s follow-up to the Oscar-nominated , is already following in its predecessor’s footsteps. Shortlisted for the 96th Academy Awards, Monk explores the clashing worlds of urban and pastoral life when a monk living in a recently democratized Bhutan gets a hold of an antique gun worth $75,000. The title does not lie. This monk has a gun in what looks like a funny and unexpected comedy about democratic growing pains.

Suncoast (February 9)
Suncoast | Official Trailer | Hulu

Cast: Nico Parker, Laura Linney, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Matt Walsh, and Woody HarrelsonDirector: Laura ChinnBased on the trailer, Suncoast looks like the exact type of comedy people say they don’t make anymore: a coming-of-age family dramedy about a teen girl with an overbearing mother, a dying brother, and an eccentric activist played by Woody Harrelson for a best friend. Suncoast promises a tear-jerking comedy in the vein of or even last year’s .

Madame Web (February 14)
MADAME WEB – Official Trailer (HD)

Cast: Dakota Johnson, Sydney Sweeney, Emma Roberts, Zosia Mamet, Isabela Merced, and Adam ScottDirector: S.J. ClarksonLike all the films in Sony’s bizarre, unnecessary universe of Spider-Man villains and side characters, there’s a morbid curiosity with . Noted lime enthusiast and Ellen vanquisher Dakota Johnson takes on the role of the illustrious, universe-hopping Madame Cassandra Webb. By the looks of the trailer, it’s another attempt at a , with various amazing friends popping in to overcomplicate things for our star. Oh, who are we kidding? We want to hear Adam Scott (yes, the star of Torque) say those magic words, “With great power comes great responsibility.”

This Is Me … Now: A Love Story (February 16)
Jennifer Lopez - Amazon @PrimeVideo Original This Is Me...Now: A Love Story - Official Trailer

Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck, Sofía Vergara, Tevor Noah, Kim Petras, Fat Joe, Post Malone, Keke Palmer, Jenifer Lewis, and Neil DeGrasse TysonDirector: Dave MeyersAside from evoking Neil Breen’s 2009 parable, , Jennifer Lopez’s experimental musical promises big names and a head-spinning premise. The trailer teases a visual album akin to Beyoncé’s Lemonade to coincide with Lopez’s companion album of the same name. With its lavish effects and diverse settings, This Is Me … Now probably won’t make sense until we actually see the thing. Still, there are worse ways to spend two hours than watching J. Lo process her personal life through song and dance.

 
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