wknd-20260507

Summer movie season is

Here’s what’s coming to a theater near you in the months ahead. Page D2

From superheroes and sequels to the return of Grogu and ‘Toy Story’

Clockwise from top left: Spider-Man and Boomerang in a scene from “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”; Catherina Laga’aia as Moana in Disney’s live-action “Moana”; characters Lucky, voiced by Gaten Matarazzo, right, and Boxer, voiced by Woody Harrelson, in a scene from “Animal Farm”; Milly Alcock in a scene from “Supergirl”; and the Mandalorian, portrayed by Pedro Pascal, right, and Grogu in a scene from Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu.”

Summer movie season is

By L INDSEy BAHR

Associated Press

This summer at the movies, the Minions are filmmakers, the Mandalorian is working for the good guys, Matt Damon tries to find his way home (again), Anne Hathaway, Zendaya and Tom Holland are everywhere and no one remembers Peter Parker. Well, at least in the movie. The hope is that audiences not only remember but want to know what comes next for Spider-Man.

ON!

Hollywood’s summer movie season kicked off this month with a superhero movie but with “The Devil Wears Prada 2,” though one might argue that Miranda Priestly might be the Iron Man of fashion. May also brings a Billie Eilish concert film, the first “Star Wars” movie in seven years and

a D-Day drama with Brendan Fraser as Dwight D. Eisenhower. June kicks off with a live-action HeMan, a John Carney musical (with Nick Jonas and Paul Rudd!), an original Steven Spielberg sci-fi spectacle, the return of Supergirl and Woody

and Buzz as well.

July brings a dose of Minions in 1920s Hollywood, Moana and a back-to-back dose of Holland and Zendaya, first in “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” and then in Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of “The Odyssey” where Holland plays Odysseus’ son Telemachus and Zendaya is the goddess Athena.

August ends the season with some comedy (“Super Troopers 3”), a supernatural horror (“The End of Oak Street”), a new Jane Schoenbrun film and two very different dog movies for two very different audiences. One is “PAW Patrol.” The other is a Ridley Scott-directed postapocalyptic survival movie.

And that’s not even counting the myriad streaming options, including a Ben Stiller pickleball movie, the return of Enola Holmes and a John Krasinski Jack Ryan movie.

Here’s The Associated Press’ guide to help make sense of the many, many options in theaters and at home.

Editor’s Note: Not all films may be screened at all cinemas. It is best to call ahead or check online to double check screenings and times.

MAY

Now playing

“The Devil Wears Prada 2” (20th Century Studios, theaters): A sequel to one of the most rewatchable movies of the century? Groundbreaking. But it’s not just replaying the hits. Filmmaker David Frankel told the AP that “one of the reasons we were motivated to even attempt a sequel was to explore how the world of journalism and media at large had changed so dramatically over the 20 years since we made the first movie.”

“Animal Farm” (Angel Studios, theaters): Andy Serkis directs an animated adaptation of George Orwell’s classic political allegory, featuring the voices of Seth Rogen, Woody Harrelson, Glenn Close and Laverne Cox.

“Deep Water” (Magenta Light Studios, theaters): Gene Sim-

Nolan, ‘Spider-Man’ and ‘Toy Story’ light up cinemas

By L INDSEy BAHR Associated Press

The movies always feel bigger in the summer. The budgets. The ambition. The names. The stakes. This summer, Hollywood has many of the regulars on the lineup: “Spider-Man,” “Minions,” “Star Wars” and “Toy Story.” But the most eagerly anticipated is not a superhero, toy, or franchise: It’s a 3,000-year-old epic poem.

For filmmaker Christopher Nolan, “The Odyssey,” out July 17, isn’t just a story. It’s

the story: A foundational piece that deserved to be done on the biggest possible scale, with all the resources modern Hollywood had to offer.

“There’s a massive amount of pressure,” Nolan told The Associated Press. “Anyone taking on ‘The Odyssey’ is taking on the hopes and dreams of people for epic movies everywhere and that comes with a huge responsibility.”

It’s a familiar feeling,

“What people want from a movie about a beloved story, a beloved set of characters, is they want a strong and sincere interpretation.”

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN, DIRECTOR

mons (yes, that Gene Simmons) produced this Renny Harlin survival pic about an airplane crash in shark-filled waters, starring Aaron Eckhart and Ben Kingsley.

“Hokum” (Neon, theaters): Adam Scott visits a haunted Irish hotel in this supernatural thriller.

“Swapped” (Netflix, streaming): Michael B. Jordan lends his voice to this animated body swap film about a tiny woodland creature who switches places with a bird.

“The Last One for the Road” (Music Box Films, theaters): This Italian comedy follows two penniless, and perpetually buzzed, 50-somethings on a road trip.

“An Autumn Summer” (Blue Harbor Entertainment, theaters): The summer before college is full of romance, sunsets and lazy days on the lake for a few friends.

NIGHTCLUBS

THURSDAY

The Drake: The Wailers. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst

Theodores’: Rockstar Karaoke. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

Uno Chicago Grill: Country Music. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield

FRIDAY

MGM Springfield: New England’s Funniest Comics. 1 MGM Way, Springfield

Tangle Chocolate Lounge: Open Mic!. 5 Main St. Route 9, Williamsburg

Wyckoff Country Club: Sympatico Jazz Collective. Heritage Greens, 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke.

The Drake: Jackson Whalan & Friends. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst

Theodores’: The Amplifiers. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

Uno Chicago Grill: Roots, Blues and Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield

West Springfield’s Irish House

Restaurant & Pub: Brothers by Law. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield

SATURDAY

MGM Springfield: New England’s Funniest Comics. 1 MGM Way, Springfield

Tangle Chocolate Lounge: Singalong!. 5 Main St. Route 9, Williamsburg

The Drake: Vundabar “Gawk” 10 Year Anniversary Tour. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst

Theodores’: Slam Allen Band. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

Uno Chicago Grill: Modern, Contemporary Rock. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield

West Springfield’s Irish House

Restaurant & Pub: Kilashandra. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield

SUNDAY

Tangle Chocolate Lounge: Live Music: Alexa Flinker. 5 Main St. Route 9, Williamsburg

Uno Chicago Grill: Jazz. 820 West Columbus Ave., Springfield

The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. Listings must be received two weeks before the date of the event

Longmeadow musician writes ‘love letter’ to Northampton via Los Angeles

SINGER-SONGWRIT-

er Jake Manzi grew up in Longmeadow and now lives in Los Angeles, but he somehow wound up writing a song about Northampton.

“When I was growing up, we were only about 20-25 minutes from Northampton, and it was always like a special event whenever we went up there with my parents,” Manzi said in a recent interview with The Republican. “Even though I was right next door to Springfield, Northampton always seemed like the big city to me when I was younger.”

The song, “It’s Northampton,” will be released on May 15 as the first single from Manzi’s upcoming album, “Getting Somewhere.” The album will drop on June 12 and Manzi will play a homecoming record release show at Northampton’s Parlor Room on June 13.

Manzi said several other factors led to the song’s creation.

“I just moved back to Los Angeles about a year and a half ago, and I suppose this song came out of a little homesickness,” he said.

The title, however, stemmed from a funnier story: A while back, Manzi received voicemail from a Western Massachusetts booking agent trying to book him at a Northampton venue. The agent said that the gig wouldn’t pay a lot, but he promised that the show would offer all sorts of other benefits — such as a sandwich, one alcoholic beverage and unlimited soft drinks.

“And he said, ‘It’s Northampton. You know what can happen there,’” Manzi said with a laugh. “He was really trying to sell me on this gig where I wasn’t going to make much money, but because it was in Northampton, I was going to get discovered there. Not to say that that kind of stuff can’t happen in Northamp -

ton, but he was really reaching.”

Manzi ended up not doing that gig, but took the line, “It’s Northampton” and turned it into what he calls “a love letter” to the city.

Manzi has had quite a meteoric rise through the music industry. While he’s not famous, he is working steadily after starting to play just a dozen years or so ago.

Although he is the son of local music standout Frank Manzi, the younger Manzi was a stellar basketball player in high school and didn’t follow in his father’s footsteps at first. Manzi said he almost played hoops for a Division III college.

Instead, he started pursuing music more ardently and released his first EP in 2016 and has been playing and recording ever since.

Although the upcoming album was recorded in Los Angeles, it features plenty of Western Massachusetts musicians who have also relocated to the West Coast. The record includes Northampton’s Eli Salus-Kleiner (of The Sun Parade) and Jack DeMeo, and Easthampton’s Gabriel Bernini, who co-produced the album with Manzi.

Manzi describes the album as being recorded mostly live and having a loose feel.

“So, it sounds like a live band playing,” he said.

The album will be released first on Bandcamp then go to streaming services in August. While juggling all this, Manzi is also booking shows throughout the U.S. and Europe for later in the year. Although he enjoys recording, playing gigs seems closer to his heart.

He moved to Los Angeles right before the pandemic hit and ended up back in Western Massachusetts for a while, but then decided to head back to L.A. Over the years, he has opened for artists such as Dawes, NRBQ, M. Ward and Lori McKenna.

“It’s just that in this digital age, getting out there and playing live music just feels right to me,” he said.

For more information on the upcoming single, video, album and show, go online to jake manzi.com.

‘Cinderella ... With A Twist’

By K eith O ’C onnor

Special to The Republican

It’s not just Cinderella who has family problems in “Cinderella ... With A Twist.”

So does the Prince, who is at odds with his family in a new interpretation of the classic to be performed by Pioneer Valley Ballet on Saturday at the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton.

Pioneer Valley Ballet.

from $25 to $56 including service fees, can be purchased online at www. aomtheatre.com, in person at 274 Main St. in downtown Northampton, or by phone at 413-584-9032, ext. 105. The box office is open Tuesday through Friday from 3-6 p.m. as well as one hour before each performance. It’s not just Cinderella with family problems in this Pioneer Valley Ballet production

Showtimes are 1 and 4:30 p.m.

“Cinderella” is on rotation with three other ballets performed each spring by Pioneer Valley Ballet — including “Aladdin,” “The Little Mermaid,” and “Beauty and the Beast.”

“Even though we perform these ballets on rotation every four years, it still tends to be a little tedious for us to do the same show every time. For me, personally, I really needed this year to approach ‘Cinderella’ in different ways from the past, so it wasn’t as tedious for me and for Maryanne. I began to wonder what it would be like if the Prince, in some ways, had difficulties with his family, too, instead of living in a castle with the King and Queen and having this ‘perfect’ life that many of us aspire to,” said Tom Vacanti, co-director with Maryanne Kodzis of

Still set to the same beloved score by Sergei Prokofiev, Vacanti’s playful reinterpretation introduces audiences to a kindhearted Cinderella living under the watchful eye of her cruel stepmother and stepsisters — and a bookish, introverted Prince struggling to live up to royal expectations. When a magical Fairy Godmother intervenes, Cinderella and the Prince are both transformed, and the two unlikely heroes meet and fall in love at the royal ball. After the clock strikes midnight, a single glass slipper sparks a kingdom-wide search filled with adventure, laughter, and the triumph of kindness over cruelty.

“I think audiences will enjoy the twists that we’ve made, and there is still the pumpkin turned into a carriage and all the special things people expect to see in ‘Cinderella.’ The old fairytale is still there except that we have turned the story upside down and added a lot of humor,” Vacanti said.

Reimagining the “Cinderella” story also required a few additional changes to the show.

“We did have to change

the choreography and really start from scratch. With every show we are always overhauling our costumes, along with making some new ones as needed for this year, and scenery to make each production fresh. And this year we are adding a lot of video elements into the performance,” Vacanti said.

The cast of nearly 100 includes professional dancers alongside Pioneer Valley Ballet students, including PVB faculty and board members, as well as community performers from across Western Massachusetts ranging in age from four through adult.

Danielle Quenneville is one of the school’s faculty members participating in “Cinderella ... With A Test” in the main role of Cinderella.

Quenneville, 27, noted she “began dancing around the house” before beginning ballet training at PVB with her first teacher, Maryanne Kodzis. She later went on to perform leading roles with the company such as Clara in “The Nutcracker” and Aurora in “Sleeping Beauty” before attending Mercyhurst University in Erie, Penn-

sylvania, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. She returned to the area and PVB after dancing professionally with Stavna Ballet in Richmond, Virginia.

“Pioneer Valley Ballet is amazing at making classical ballet accessible for all ages to enjoy,” Quenneville said.

Tickets, ranging in price

“We still have a very robust theatrical industry at a time when it was kind of almost pronounced dead.”

JAMES CAMERON, DIRECTOR, ‘BILLIE EILISH — HIT ME HARD AND SOFT: THE

& Monsters” (July 1) and a live action “Moana” (July 10), which could all very well hit a billion dollars each.

One non-franchise family friendly film is “The Sheep Detectives” (May 8), in which the animals (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bryan Cranston) investigate the death of their beloved owner (Hugh Jackman).

Writer Craig Mazin understands the hurdle: There have been a lot of stupid talking animal movies. But this one is different, he said, it’s not just silly sheep doing silly things.

CONTINUES FROM PAGE D3

though. He did three Batman films after all.

“What I learned from that experience is that what people want from a movie about a beloved story, a beloved set of characters, is they want a strong and sincere interpretation,” Nolan said. “They want to know that a filmmaker has gone to the mat for it. I really tried to make the best film possible.”

Three summers ago, “Oppenheimer” made nearly a billion dollars. “The Odyssey” has battles, gods, creatures and an army of movie stars — Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya and Tom Holland included. It’s also the first movie shot entirely on IMAX film. Tickets for some IMAX 70 mm showings sold out in under an hour a full year in advance.

“The Odyssey” will be shorter than “Oppenheimer.” Three hours is the longest they’ve been able to get onto an IMAX film projector, after all.

“It’s an epic film, as the subject matter demands,” Nolan said. “But it is shorter.”

The $4 billion question

The movie industry is also adjusting to a new paradigm. Box office is down over 20% from pre-COVID levels. The

rise in streaming, the pandemic and shifting theatrical windows altered people’s moviegoing habits, perhaps permanently. And there may be one less major studio if Paramount acquires Warner Bros.

But, as James Cameron said, “hope springs eternal.”

“We still have a very robust theatrical industry at a time when it was kind of almost pronounced dead,” Cameron said.

The gap is not widening. Studios are committing to longer exclusive theatrical windows. Original movies and premium formats are drawing crowds. And the market continues to expand globally.

Cameron is behind one of those only-in-a-theater experiences with the 3D Billie Eilish concert film (May 8). Using new technology, they used 17 camera systems to capture four nights of her Manchester shows last year.

“Seeing it in 3D is astonishing,” Cameron said. “You really feel an intimacy with her and yet you feel the scale of the spectacle.”

A summer for heavyweights

Nolan isn’t Universal’s only giant of cinema on its summer roster: Steven Spielberg is also returning to one of his most beloved genres with “Disclosure Day” (June 12).

There are superhero movies as well, with “Supergirl” (June 26), which DC Studios co-head Peter Safran said “is something cool and original and we haven’t seen before,” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” (July 31). The last Spidey film, which made over $1.9 billion, ended with Holland’s Peter Parker erasing himself from everyone’s memory.

“This is a blockbuster action movie with all the humor and emotion we love about Spider-Man,” director Destin Daniel Cretton said. “But at its heart, it’s a story about learning how to reconnect with the ones you love.”

A lot of power recently has shifted to PG-rated offerings. This summer has “Toy Story 5” (June 19), “Minions

“There are some really beautiful moments and themes and things that parents can talk about with their kids,” Mazin said. “And most importantly, it is legitimately a movie that is meant for everyone.”

Then there’s “Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu” (May 22), which is rated PG-13 but has an impossibly cute alien going for it. It’s also one of several made for IMAX.

“People have got great TVs at home,” said director Jon

TUESDAY

Chicopee Elks #1849

431 Granby Road, Chicopee 413-592-1849

Bingo Tuesday

Doors Open at 4PM

2 Progressive Jackpots

6:15PM Early Bird

6:20PM Start

Min. Entry Package $15

Open Seating

2 Halls for Players

Handicap Restroom 1st Floor

WEDNESDAY

Polish American Citizens Club 355 East Street, Ludlow, 583-6385

Bingo Wednesdays 6:30-9:30pm

Doors Open at 4pm.

Minimum Admission $50

1 - 1199 Progressive Betty Boop 50/50 Prize $900

2 - $500 Cover Alls

3 - $400 Special Games All regular games $100 with 80 people or More. All Cards are included with Admission. Prizes climb with additional attendence. Full Kitchen 4-6:30pm.

THURSDAY

Fairview Knights of Columbus 1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee (413) 532-2011

DOORS OPEN 4:30PM

MASKS OPTIONAL Progressive Jackpot 6:15pm Early Bird 6:20pm Start

Electronic Bingo Aval. Snack Bar, Open Seating, Handicap Restrooms

Min. Entry Package $15

May 7

“My Dearest Assassin” (Netflix, streaming): This Thai action film is about a girl with a rare and hunted blood type and her adopted assassin family.

May 8

“Billie Eilish — Hit Me Hard and Soft: The Tour (Live in 3D)” (Paramount, theaters): James Cameron shares co-directing credits with Eilish for this unique concert film, constructed from her Manchester performances last summer. “It is totally spectacular,” Cameron told the AP. “Seeing it in 3D is astonishing. You really feel an intimacy with her and yet you feel the scale of the spectacle.”

“Mortal Kombat II” (Warner Bros., theaters): Karl Urban takes on the starring role of Johnny Cage in this video game-inspired film.

“The Sheep Detectives” (Amazon MGM Studios, theaters): Hugh Jackman plays a loving farmer who reads detective stories to his sheep at night. When he ends up dead, the animals (voices include Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Bryan Cranston) set out to help the town’s dim-witted police officer (Nicholas Braun, with an English accent) solve the mystery in this star-studded comedy. Writer Craig Mazin told the AP that, “Seeing this movie is a purely positive experience. There is no downside. There is just sort of a delight and a joy and emotions but all of them, I think, in the end, quite positive and beautiful.”

“Remarkably Bright Creatures” (Netflix, streaming): Sally Field and Lewis Pullman star in this adaptation of Shelby Van Pelt’s bestseller about a widow and an octopus (voiced by Alfred Molina) who team up (yes, her and the octopus) to solve the mystery of her missing son.

May 15

“In the Grey” (Black Bear, theaters): Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza González star in this Guy Ritchie action pic about elite operatives on an impossible heist.

“Is God Is” (Amazon MGM Studios, theaters): Twin sisters (Kara Young and Mallori Johnson) are out for revenge in Aleshea Harris’ adaptation of her Obie-winning play.

“It’s an epic road trip, it’s a Greek tragedy. It’s a love story between two sisters,” Young told the AP.

“Obsession” (Focus Features, theaters): Horror master Jason Blum produced this movie about a

crush and the sinister downsides of a wish that comes too true.

“The Wizard of the Kremlin” (Vertical, theaters): Jude Law transforms into Vladimir Putin in Olivier Assayas’ historical drama charting the Russian president’s rise to power alongside a character inspired by the real political strategist Vladislav Surkov. Paul Dano plays the fictionalized adviser.

“Mobile Suit Gundam Hathaway: The Sorcery of Nymph Circe” (Bandai Namco Filmworks, theaters): Gundam fans will finally get to see the latest installment, which has been out in Japan for months.

“Decorado” (GKIDS, theaters): Not many animated movies reference “The Truman Show” and “Scenes from a Marriage” as inspirations, but it’s fitting for this Spanish-language drama about a mouse in the throes of an existential crisis.

“LifeHack” (Iconic Events Releasing, theaters): Inspired by true events, a group of good-hearted hackers try to take down a crypto billionaire from their bedrooms.

“Magic Hour” (Greenwich Entertainment, theaters): Katie Aselton directs herself and Daveed Diggs in this drama about a couple navigating relationship challenges in a new desert home.

“The Crash” (Netflix, streaming): This documentary looks at the suspicious circumstances surrounding a crash in Ohio that killed two of three young adults in the car.

May 20

“Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan: Ghost War” (Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video, streaming): John Krasinski’s Jack Ryan finally gets a movie of his own.

May 22

“The Mandalorian and Grogu” (Walt Disney Studios, theaters): Pedro Pascal’s bounty hunter

makes his big-screen debut, alongside his adorable green counterpart. “He’s a bit different from when we first met him, but he’s still, at his heart, a gunfighter and a warrior,” filmmaker Jon Favreau told the AP.

“Tuner” (Black Bear, theaters): Leo Woodall plays a gifted piano tuner who finds out he also has a knack for cracking safes in this character-driven thriller (with romance! Drama! Heists!) from Daniel Roher (who won an Oscar for his documentary “Navalny”). Woodall, Roher told the AP, “has this boyish charm, this absolute hunkish, dreamy quality, but there’s also the melancholy there … that he deputizes to great effect.”

“I Love Boosters” (Neon, theaters): Keke Palmer stars in Boots Riley’s new comedy about a group of professional shoplifters who call themselves the Velvet Gang.

Demi Moore, LaKeith Stanfield, Don Cheadle, Taylour Paige, Eiza González and Will Poulter also star.

“Passenger” (Paramount Pictures, theaters): A van life adventure turns terrifying in this horror, with Melissa Leo.

“Ladies First” (Netflix, streaming): Sacha Baron Cohen plays a chauvinist who turns up in an alternate world where the gender dynamics are reversed. It’s based on a French film, and Rosamund Pike co-stars.

“Saccharine” (Independent Film Company and Shudder, theaters): A medical student takes part in a wild weight-loss experiment. Side effects may include terror at the hands of a sinister force.

May 29

“The Breadwinner” (Sony Pictures, theaters): Nate Bargatze is

in over his head as a stay-at-home dad to three daughters while mom (Mandy Moore) is away in this family comedy.

“Backrooms” (A24, theaters): YouTube phenomenon Kane Parsons adapts his popular horror shorts into a feature starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Renate Reinsve. The concept, Parsons told the AP, is “like the exaggerated idea of being stuck in an atomizing monospace for the rest of your life ... like the back space of a Sears or something.”

“Pressure” (Focus Features, theaters): Brendan Fraser plays Dwight D. Eisenhower in the tense 72 hours before D-Day in this historical drama, with Andrew Scott, Kerry Condon, Chris Messina and Damian Lewis.

CELEBRATE MOM in Western Mass.

Ashley Potter | apotter@repub.com

Whether you’re looking for a way to celebrate your mother, grandmother, sister or aunt, Western Massachusetts has no shortage of opportunities to celebrate the mom in your life this weekend.

From buffets and banquets to specially priced admission at local museums and outings.

Here is a look at some of the special Mother’s Day happenings in the region.

People ride on Six Flags New England's new roller coaster Quantum Accelerator in Agawam last month.

Editor’s note: This is not an all-inclusive list of every Mother’s Day special in the area. If you have a certain restaurant or venue in mind, it is best to check the official website or call the company to see if any Mother’s Day deals will be offered.

Six Flags New England: Six Flags New England, located in Agawam, will be open for Mother’s Day weekend, May 9-10. Passholders can purchase a “Bring-A-Friend Ticket” online for $29 to treat mom out to a day at the park. New this season is the opening of the Quantum Accelerator, New England’s first dual-launch straddle coaster.

Old Sturbridge Village: Old Sturbridge Village will be hosting a Mother’s Day afternoon tea on May 9 and 10. The village’s Ox & Yoke Café will be transformed for an event that will include an assortment of teas and a variety of small bites, including sandwiches like pimento cheese on white bread and tuna salad with capers on olive bread and desserts like lemon shortbread with whipped cream and chocolate espresso mousse. Tickets are $60.95 per person and $54.86 for Village members, including tax and gratuity. For more information and to make reservations, go online to osv.org.

Munich Haus Restaurant: The Munich Haus German Restaurant, located in Chicopee, is offering two meal options for moms this Mother’s Day. On May 10, the restaurant will offer brunch in the banquet hall at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Cost is $32 per person for the brunch, $15 for children 5 to 12, and free for children under 5. Dinner in the restaurant will also be offered from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Cost is $29.95 per person, and a kid’s menu will also be available. To make reservations, go online to MunichHaus.com or call 413594-8788.

Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory: The butterfly conservatory located in South Deerfield is offering a special Mother’s Day brunch celebration on Sunday, May 10. The brunch buffet will be offered in the Monarch Restaurant, and tickets — priced at $100 for adults and $50 children 3-17 — include the brunch buffet, free admission to the conservatory, and two drink tickets. Mothers will receive a

George Lenker Beer Nut

THE POET ALFRED, Lord Tennyson, once wrote, “In the spring, a young man’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love.”

That may well be true, but in the spring, this old man’s fancy turns to thoughts of another “L” word: lager. I’ve been quaffing a bunch of different lagers since the weather started warming up, and I’d like to feature four of them — two local and two regional — in today’s column. So let’s get to it.

Up first is the Mãrzen Madness lager from New City Brewery in Easthampton. If you like the mãrzen style, I think this one will hit a sweet spot with you. While it has the

Four lagers perfect for spring

about before but suffice it to say that it’s a great example of the style.

But the brewery also has Living Room Lager, an easy-drinking light pilsner that’s perfect for quaffing on a hot summer day or after your local softball game or when you just need something cool and refreshing. It’s not on tap yet, but should be soon, according to what I was told on a recent visit.

lager style and made a consistent line of lagers since 2011.

Shipping Out of Boston is an amber lager that pours a clear and clean amber hue that will please traditionalists. It’s definitely malt-forward, but the hop profile punches a little harder than with most amber lagers. I usually prefer golden lagers, but this one goes down very easily — maybe too easily.

typical Mãrzen malt structure, it also attaches a decent amount of hop character into the mix. It also finishes a bit cleaner and dryer than the typical Mãrzen.

Although Mãrzen isn’t my favorite style, I certainly could see myself drinking a couple of these on a warm, but

breezy spring afternoon. But beware, this is a bit boozier than your average Mãrzen, coming in at 7.5%.

Just down the parking lot in Easthampton, Abandoned Building Brewing has two pilsners that you might want to check out. The first one, Curbside Pilsner, is one I wrote

Living Room Lager is particularly local, brewed with pilsner malt from Valley Malt in Holyoke, and hopped with locally-grown hops by Four Star Farms in Northfield. It is then cold fermented using Abandoned Building’s house lager yeast.

The first of the two regional offerings comes from the renowned Jack’s Abby in Framingham. Shipping Out of Boston Amber Lager. Jack’s Abby, of course, is beloved by lager fans in this age of IPAs.

The brewery has embraced the

The second regional beer is from Notch Brewing out of Salem, Massachusetts: French Disko Pilsner (4.9%). It’s described as an “Alsatian style” using French Pils malt, corn — and Strisselspalt hops that give the beer some spicier notes than the usual Czech or German pilsner offer.

It took me a pint to two to get used to this alternative hop character, but I now love it. It’s clean and flavorful, if not as traditional as most pilsners. But it’s definitely worth seeking out. It gets extra points for being named after a Stereolab song.

special gift bag including a plant from the conservatory’s greenhouse, a butterfly wing vial, and a Richardson’s Candy Kitchen chocolate butterfly lollipop. Special Mother’s Day butterfly releases will be held at 12:30 and 3 p.m. For more information, visit magicwings.com.

Zoo in Forest Park: On Sunday, May 10, mothers will receive free admission to the Zoo in Forest Park in Springfield with the purchase of a children’s ticket. The zoo is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with last admission at 3:30 p.m., weather permitting. For more information, visit forestparkzoo.org

The Student Prince: The Student Prince Restaurant, located on Fort Street in Springfield, is offering a day of Mother’s Day specials on May 10, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. The specials include Oysters Casino, the Fort Omelet, a Brunch Plate, Salmon Piccata, and Peppercorn Crusted Filet Mignon. Indoor and outdoor dining options will be available. Reservations, which are highly suggested, can be made by calling 413-734-7475.

Sole Syndicate Brewing Co.: Sole Syndicate Brewing Co., located in Ludlow, is hosting a special Mother’s Day breakfast buffet on May 10 from 10 a.m. to noon. The menu will include a spread of brunch favorites like eggs, bacon, waffles, bagels, fresh fruit and pastries, as well as specialty drinks for mom like beer-mosas, lavender lemonade spritz, and a Mom-osa flight. The day will begin with a pre-bunch yoga session in the taproom, for which separate tickets are required. Reservations can be made by calling Sole Syndicate at 413-624-6258.

Notch 8 Grille: The Notch 8 Grille, located in Northampton, is offering a Mother’s Day brunch buffet on May 10, with seatings from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The buffet will feature “bottomless” (2-hour) mimosas and bellinis; chef-attended carving and omelet stations; a fresh salad station; sweets and pastries; and a variety of brunch favorites and hot selections. Ticket prices are $56 adults, $22 kids 5 to 12, and free for children under 5. Reservations, which can be made by calling 413326-4151 or by going online to notch8grille.com, are required.

The Log Cabin/Delaney House:

Brunch by the water

The Boathouse at Brunelle’s Marina in South Hadley is hosting a Mother’s Day brunch buffet on Sunday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets to the brunch, which will include views of the Connecticut River at the Marina, are priced at $48 adults and $18 children. To reserve a table, call 413-536-2342 or go online to boathousedining.com/calendar/mothersday2026

(THE REPUBLICAN, FILE PHOTO)

The Log Cabin and Delaney House in Holyoke are offering Mother’s Day brunches on May 10. Reservations at both the Log Cabin and Delaney House are available starting at 10 a.m., with

the last spots at 3 p.m. Ticket prices are $59.95 for adults, $25.95 for children 3 to 10 years old, and free for children 2 and under. For more information and to make reservations, go online to

logcabin-delaney.com

The Boathouse at Brunelle’s Marina: The Boathouse at Brunelle’s Marina in South Hadley is hosting a Mother’s Day brunch buffet on Sunday, May 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets to the brunch, which will include views of the Connecticut River at the Marina, are priced at $48 adults and $18 children. To reserve a table, call 413-536-2342 or go online to boathousedining.com/calendar/mothersday2026

Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel: The Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel will host a Mother’s Day brunch on Sunday, May 10, with seatings available from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event is being described by the venue as an “18 item grand buffet extravaganza featuring bottomless mimosas” and will feature a carving station, chilled shrimp cocktail, a chef-attended omelet station, and an assorted sweets table. The Ethel Lee Jazz Band will perform live music. Tickets to the brunch are $59 for adults, $54 for seniors 65 and older and military, $27 for children 4 to 12, and free for children under 3. To make a reservation, call 413781-1010.

JUNE

June 4

“Toxic” (Prime Media, theaters): Indian star Yash plays two roles in this period gangster film, reportedly the most expensive Indian film ever made.

June 5

“Masters of the Universe” (Amazon MGM Studios, theaters): By the power of Grayskull, will a new generation embrace the 1980s toy in movie form? Nicholas Galitzine stars as He-Man.

“Power Ballad” (Lionsgate, theaters): Paul Rudd plays Rick, a washed-up wedding singer who bonds with fading boy band star Danny (Nick Jonas) — but things get a little tricky when Danny finds new success with one of Rick’s songs in this film from writer-director John Carney (“Once”).

“Scary Movie 6” (Paramount, theaters): Everything from “M3GAN” to “Get Out” and “Sinners” is on the table in the first “Scary Movie” movie since 2013.

“Office Romance” (Netflix, streaming): Jennifer Lopez stars opposite Brett Goldstein in a (raunchy) romantic comedy about a couple of workaholics.

“Carolina Caroline” (Magnolia, theaters): Samara Weaving and Kyle Gallner go “Bonnie and Clyde” in this romantic crime thriller.

“Mexico 86” (Netflix, streaming): Diego Luna stars in this satiric comedy about Mexico’s bid to host the 1986 World Cup.

June 12

“Disclosure Day” (Universal Pictures, theaters): Fifty years after he made “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” Steven Spielberg returns with another film that will have audiences questioning whether we’re alone in the universe. Starring Emily Blunt, Josh O’Connor and Colman Domingo, Spielberg has kept the plot quite secret. “All I can say is it’s an experience,” Spielberg said at CinemaCon. “And all you need to get from the beginning to the end is a seat belt.”

“Stop! That! Train!” (Bleecker Street, theaters): RuPaul plays the U.S. president in this colorful action comedy about a runaway train (the Glamazonian Express), featuring “Drag Race” alums Ginger Minj and Jujubee as well as Matt Rogers, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Rachel Bloom, Lisa Rinna and Nicole

SUMMER MOVIE GUIDE

aters): Kara Zor-El (Milly Alcock) has more of an antihero edge than her straightlaced cousin, Superman.

“It’s kind of an interstellar odyssey,”

DC Studios co-chair and co-CEO

Peter Safran told the AP. “It’s just a great movie for audiences. It’s not just for superhero fans.”

“The Invite” (A24, theaters): Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen play a couple on the edge who host their more uninhibited upstairs neighbors (Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton) in their apartment for dinner. The truths start to come out in this shrewd adult dramedy. Olivia Wilde told the AP that, “the whole project for me is really tipping my hat to Mike Nichols.”

estate agent whose world is made a little chaotic when his “little brother” (Eric André) comes back into his life.

JULY

July 1

“Minions & Monsters” (Universal Pictures, theaters): This time, the yellow creatures are making a monster movie in 1920s Hollywood, as sound starts to enter the picture. Think “Singin’ in the Rain,” but with Minions.

“Enola Holmes 3” (Netflix, streaming): Sherlock’s little sister (Millie Bobby Brown) is back, solving mysteries and debating marriage.

Richie.

“The Furious” (Lionsgate, theaters): An ordinary man must save his daughter from a violent criminal empire in this English-language action pic hailing from Hong Kong. It’s directed by Japanese stuntman and action choreographer Kenji Tanigaki and produced by Bill Kong (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”).

“Maddie’s Secret” (Magnolia Pictures, theaters): John Early directs, writes and stars in this movie about a food influencer with an eating disorder. He’s said he wanted to play an ingenue in a “lurid, tawdry, melodrama.”

June 19

“Toy Story 5” (Walt Disney, theaters): Woody comes back to Bonnie’s room to help Jessie and Buzz deal with the arrival of a new threat: screentime. Filmmaker Andrew Stanton said the trick is thinking about it from a toy’s perspective, which he told the AP was “juicy material.”

“The Death of Robin Hood” (A24, theaters): Hugh Jackman plays a very different kind of Robin Hood in this dark and bloody tale inspired by a ballad from the 17th century and directed by “A Quiet Place: Day One” filmmaker Michael Sarnoski.

“Leviticus” (Neon, theaters): This “conversion therapy” horror about two teen boys trying to escape a violent entity, from Australian filmmaker Adrian Chiarella, was a breakout at the Sundance Film Festival. “It is about growing up queer and how the fear of growing up queer can block someone mentally from acting on their desires, and physically,” actor Stacy Clausen told the AP. “But I think that there is something in it for everyone.”

“Rose of Nevada” (1-2 Special, theaters): Callum Turner and

George MacKay take a mysterious fishing vessel out and return from the voyage to find everything has changed in this mesmerizing film, shot entirely on 16mm.

“Girls Like Girls” (Focus Features, theaters): Hayley Kiyoko adapts her hit song-turned-novel into a feature film, a coming-of-age summer love story starring Maya da Costa and Myra Molloy.

“Voicemails for Isabelle” (Netflix, streaming): In this romantic comedy, Jill (Zoey Deutch) leaves voicemails for her dead sister, not knowing that they’re going to another person, Austin (Nick Robinson).

June 26

“Supergirl” (Warner Bros., the-

“jackass best and last” (Paramount, theaters): Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Chris Pontius and Wee Man return for more pain. But this is the last time. Really.

“Lucky Strike” (Roadside Attractions, theaters): This World War II film starring Scott Eastwood, Colin Hanks and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor is set in the aftermath of the Battle of the Bulge.

“Romería” (Janus Films, theaters): Newcomer Llúcia Garcia plays a young, orphaned woman searching for her paternal grandparents in this semi-autobiographical film from Spanish filmmaker Carla Simón. “Bouchra” (Film Movement, theaters): The coyote wears Prada in this animated movie for adults about a queer Moroccan animal in Manhattan.

“Little Brother” (Netflix, streaming): John Cena plays a top real

July 3

“Young Washington” (Angel Studios, theaters): That’s young George Washington, who is played by William Franklyn-Miller, in a cast that includes Ben Kingsley, Andy Serkis, Kelsey Grammer and Mary-Louise Parker.

July 10

“Moana” (Disney, theaters): Catherine Laga’aia makes her film debut as Moana, alongside Dwayne Johnson as Maui, in this live-action adaptation of Disney Animation’s 2016 hit. “It isn’t just watching the animated with real faces,” Laga’aia told the AP. “But I think all the stuff that people wanna see and people loved about the 2016 are all definitely still there.”

“Barrio Triste” (Film Movement, theaters): Bad Bunny music video director Stillz directs this youth-

Turner, make it work in the comedy directed by Will Gluck (“Anyone But You”)?

“Teenage Sex and Death and Camp Miasma” (Mubi, theaters):

“I Saw the TV Glow” filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun returns with their third feature, about a queer filmmaker and her “final girl” star, with Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson.

“Super Troopers 3” (Searchlight Pictures, theaters): Jay Chandrasekhar and the Vermont State Troopers are back in a new comedy.

“Ice Cream Man” (The Horror Section, theaters): Eli Roth writes and directs a new horror about, yes, an ice cream man whose products send an idyllic town into chaos.

“Late Fame” (Magnolia Pictures, theaters): In this Manhattan-set film, Willem Dafoe plays a poet who is “rediscovered” by a group of downtown 20-somethings. Greta Lee also stars.

Jared Harris is Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev in this retelling of the tense Reykjavik Summit in 1986.

“The Rivals of Amziah King” (Black Bear, theaters): Matthew McConaughey stars as a bluegrass-playing Oklahoma honey maker whose empire is under threat in this crime thriller, co-starring Kurt Russell and Cole Sprouse.

Aug. 21

“Insidious: Out of the Further” (Sony Pictures, theaters): The “further” is the “purgatorial realm of lost souls.”

“Mutiny” (Lionsgate, theaters): Jason Statham tries to clear his name and avenge his dead billionaire boss.

“Spa Weekend” (Black Bear, theaters): Leslie Mann, Isla Fisher, Michelle Buteau and Anna Faris star in this comedy about a girls’ weekend.

Aug. 28

CONTINUES FROM PAGE D10

focused film set in Medellín, 1987.

July 17

“The Odyssey” (Universal Pictures, theaters): Neither Christopher Nolan nor Homer’s 3,000-year-old epic need any sort of introduction. But it was a gap the Oscar-winner spotted in modern cinematic culture. “To see Greek mythology brought to the big screen with all of the resources that Hollywood has bringing that to bear on the story, it feels like something that is long overdue. And I’m really excited to be able to do it,” Nolan told the AP.

July 24

“Evil Dead Burn” (Warner Bros., theaters): Sam Raimi produces this sixth “Evil Dead” film, directed by Sébastien Vaniček.

“The Dink” (Apple TV, streaming): Ben Stiller takes on pickleball in a new sports comedy with Jake Johnson, Mary Steenburgen, Ed Harris, Chloe Fineman and Patton Oswalt. It worked for dodgeball!

“Rosebush Pruning” (MUBI, theaters): An outsider (Elle Fanning) comes into a wealthy family living in hedonistic isolation in this wild satire directed by Karim Aïnouz and co-starring Callum Turner, Riley Keough and Jamie Bell.

“Motor City” (RLJE Films, theaters): Alan Ritchson is out for revenge in 1970s Detroit after being framed by a local gangster (Ben Foster).

“72 Hours” (Netflix, streaming):

Kevin Hart and Marcello Hernández star in this comedy about a 40-something who joins his 20-something colleagues at a bachelor party weekend.

“Hadestown: The Musical” (Crosswalk/LD Entertainment): A West End production of the Tony-winning musical featuring some of the original Broadway cast.

July 31

“Spider-Man: Brand New Day” (Sony, theaters): Four years after Tom Holland’s Peter Parker erased himself from everyone’s memory in “No Way Home,” he continues the fight for good in New York City, completely alone.

“I Want Your Sex” (Magnolia, theaters): Filmmaker Gregg Araki cast Olivia Wilde as a renowned art world provocateur who begins an affair with a 20-something intern (Cooper Hoffman) in this sex-positive comedy. “It’s fun, it’s colorful, it’s sexy. And it’s a ride,” he said at the Sundance Film Festival.

AUGUST

Aug. 7

“One Night Only” (Universal Pictures, theaters): Premarital sex is only legal once a year in this script, which got a place on The Black List. Will two beautiful people, Monica Barbaro and Callum

“Fall 2” (Lionsgate, theaters): Two women are stranded on a plank 3,000 feet in the air in this survival thriller.

Aug. 14

“The End of Oak Street” (Warner Bros., theaters): Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor star in this supernatural thriller in which a cosmic event transports their sleepy suburban street … elsewhere.

“PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie” (Paramount, theaters): It’s rumored that Chase is on the case.

“The Brink of War” (Angel Studios, theaters): Jeff Daniels plays U.S. President Ronald Reagan and

“Coyote vs. Acme” (Ketchup Entertainment, theaters): Three years after it was unceremoniously shelved by Warner Bros., the Looney Tunes movie about Wile E. Coyote’s lawsuit against the Acme Corporation (inspired by a 1990 New Yorker article) is finally making its way to theaters.

“The Dog Stars” (20th Century Studios, theaters): Jacob Elordi and Josh Brolin lead Ridley Scott’s adaptation of Peter Heller’s “The Dog Stars,” a thriller set in the aftermath of a devastating flu that wipes out most of humanity.

“Finding Emily” (Focus Features, theaters): This British rom-com is about an American psychology student (Angourie Rice) who decides to help a lonely musician (Spike Fearn) find the girl of his dreams after he’s given the wrong number at the club.

“Idiots” (Independent Film Company, theaters): Dave Franco and O’Shea Jackson Jr. must transport a mischievous teen (Mason Thames) to rehab in this wild road trip comedy that got a more PG name after Sundance.

“Colony” (Well Go USA, theaters): Korean filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho (“Train to Busan”) made a zombie thriller.

“Legend of the White Dragon” (Well Go USA Entertainment, theaters): Originally planned for a 2020 release, this Kickstarter-funded superhero movie starring the late actor Jason David Frank was delayed by COVID-19, the Hollywood strikes and other reasons, but is finally coming out.

Favreau. “You’ve got to give them a reason to go out.”

The scary movies

Movie studios also continue to lean into horror and this summer has both franchises, like “Evil Dead Burn”(July 10) and “Insidious: Out of the Further” (Aug. 21) and unnerving indies, including the “conversion therapy” horror “Leviticus,” “Rose of Nevada” (both June 19), “Backrooms” (May 29) and a new Jane Schoenbrun, “Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma” (Aug. 7).

And then there is “Scary Movie 6” (June 5), which sees the return of Regina Hall and Anna Faris, as well as Marlon and Shawn Wayans, who haven’t been involved in the franchise they helped create since the 2001 sequel. And there were so many movies ripe for parody, like “M3GAN,” “Get Out,” “Weapons,” the just-released “Michael,” and “Sinners,” which Marlon Wayans was most excited about.

“Mockery is the greatest form of flattery,” Wayans said. “Sending up their movie was definitely tipping our hat to them.”

Festival darlings and other gems

Audiences want more than brands and blockbusters though. This year moviegoers have already proven they’ll turn out when the buzz is right, whether it’s

“The audience really likes to recognize risk. There’s something exciting about that.”

Olivia Wilde

for a big crowd pleaser like “Project Hail Mary” or for something more challenging like “The Drama.”

One that has the potential to break through is Olivia Wilde’s “The Invite” (June 26), a chamber dramedy about two very different couples (Wilde, Seth Rogen, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton) over one wine-filled night that sparked a bidding war at the Sundance Film Festival. Wilde was heartened that most studios were offering theatrical releases, and ultimately chose A24. They’ve even made a 35 mm print.

“The whole project for me is really tipping my hat to Mike Nichols,” Wilde said. There are plenty of indies and originals to choose from throughout the summer, including Daniel Roher’s “Tuner,” about a piano prodigy turned safecracker, Boots Riley’s colorful shoplifting movie “I Love Boosters,” (both May 22) and David Wain’s wholesomely raunchy comedy “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass” (July 10).

“The audience really likes to recognize risk,” she said. “There’s something exciting about that.”