Two very different macho men action films are releasing in South African cinemas this week. Out one day post the Youth Day public holiday is Disney-Pixar’s animated Lightyear, the Toy Story prequel about the ‘real life’ Buzz Lightyear. Your other choice is Gerard Butler’s I-am-definitely-not-imitating-Liam-Neeson effort Last Seen Alive, about a man that goes to great pains to assure you he doesn’t have a specific set of skills, but will hunt people down anyway.
Lightyear
Disney-Pixar’s latest sci-fi action-adventure presents the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voiced by Chris Evans), the hero who inspired Toy Story’s action figure – the legendary Space Ranger who would win generations of fans.
As shallow as that synopsis is, so too is Lightyear, unfortunately. It’s perfectly fine, but it’s very light on the emotional heft we’ve come to expect from Disney and Pixar. You can read Sam’s full review here.
Last Seen Alive
In action thriller Last Seen Alive, “ordinary man” Will Spann (Gerard Butler) is driving his soon-to-be ex-wife, Lisa (Jamie Alexander), to her parentsʼ home when she mysteriously disappears without a trace during a stop at a gas station. A frantic Will engages the local police and Lisaʼs parents in a desperate attempt to find her, but, as time passes and suspicion falls on him, he must take matters into his own hands, delving into the townʼs criminal underbelly while running from the authorities in a race against time to find Lisa.
Our money’s on Butler’s latest everyman-pushed-to-his-limits hero.