Reel life: 'Shaun the Sheep' leads morning movie series
Classic Cinemas' popular Wednesday Morning Movie Series cranks up its 2016 season with the delightful animated comedy "Shaun the Sheep" at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 8, at participating theaters. The series features G- and PG-rated movies that run through Aug. 10 with doors opening at 9 a.m.
On the schedule: the numbing "Norm of the North" on June 15; "Goosebumps" on June 22; "Minions" on June 29; "Hotel Transylvania 2" on July 6; "The Peanuts Movie" on July 13; the awful "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip" on July 20; "Space Jam" on July 27; and surprise movies on both Aug. 3 and Aug. 10.
Admission: $1! Games and costumed characters will also be at the theaters, including the Charlestowne 18 in St. Charles, the Cinema 12 in Carpentersville, the Elk Grove in Elk Grove Village, the Fox Lake, the Lake in Oak Park, the Ogden 6 in Naperville, the Tivoli in Downers Grove, the Woodstock and the York in Elmhurst. classiccinemas.com.
The Chicago premiere of the locally produced comedy "My Friend's Rubber Ducky" headlines the Midwest Independent Film Festival starting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, at the Century Centre, 2828 N. Clark St., Chicago. A filmmakers panel precedes the film at 6:30 p.m.
The film's about a slightly tipsy man who kidnaps a friend because he owes him $5,000. "Rubber Ducky" has been written and directed by Josh Hyde using an all-Chicago cast and crew. Go to midwestfilm.com.
The Art@York program continues with a screening of the documentary "Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict" at 1 and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, at the York Theatre, 150 N. York St., Elmhurst. Admission costs $6.50 (matinee) and $9 (evening). Seniors can get in for $5 at the matinee. Go to classicinemas.com.
Film critic and Cary resident Peter Sobczysnki will host a special showing of Jim Henson's 1986 fantasy "Labyrinth" (on its 30th anniversary) at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, at the Elk Grove Theatre, 1050 Arlington Heights Road, Elk Grove Village. Tickets cost $6.
The presentation is sponsored by the Chicago Film Critics Association as part of Classic Cinemas' Critics Classics Series. "Labyrinth" tells the tale of teenage Sarah (Jennifer Connelly in her third motion picture) who sets out to save her baby brother, abducted by goblins under the command of the Goblin King (the late rock star David Bowie). Go to classiccinemas.com.
For something completely different, see the 23rd annual Chicago Underground Film Festival continuing through Sunday, June 5, at the Logan Theatre, 2646 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. Go to cuff.org.
Plainfield's native daughter Melissa McCarthy will debut as one of the new "Ghostbusters" July 15. Until then, we can all watch the original "Ghostbusters" (do we really need to mention the cast and plot?) when Fathom Events brings the 1984 original comedy to more than 750 movie U.S. theaters on Wednesday, June 8, and Sunday, June 12. Go to FathomEvents.com for tickets and schedules. (Psst! A sneak peek at the new "Ghostbusters" will be included!)
It's back! Cinemark Theatres will present its Summer Movie Clubhouse for 10 weeks in more than 230 theaters, including Seven Bridges in Woodridge, the Deer Park Century 16, the Evanston Century 12 and Tinseltown in North Aurora.
The Clubhouse films - to be shown on "selected mornings" - include "The Sandlot," "Max," "Pan," "The Peanuts Movie" "Home," and "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip." All features are rated G or PG. Admission is $1!
For theaters, dates and showtimes, go to cinemark.com and click the Summer Movie Clubhouse logo.