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

Every December, Hollywood unleashes its sugariest, cutesiest films for the Christmas season – the sugariest, cutesiest time of the year. While some real gems often pop-up, this year hasn’t been the kindest for Cairo cinemas – particularly this week. We wish we could tell you something different, but, well, here you go…

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

What’s it About? Taking on the new trend of ‘standalone sequels’, the spiritual follow-up to Robin Williams’ family favourite sees four teenagers transported into a jungle-set video game. Naturally, they come across all manner of danger as they try to get out.

The Good: This one’s all about the cast. With Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Karen Gillian (best known for playing Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy) all trailers and footage suggest that the foursome (who play the kids’ avatars in the video game) have bundles of chemistry. Don’t expect anything here but good ol’ wholesome fun that is said to be funnier and more intelligent than the original.

The Bad: Despite the charisma of its leads, it does seem like this is all a bit routine and does little to add anything innovative to eighties and nineties-style family movies.

Father Figures

What’s it About? When two brothers realise that they had been lied to about their supposedly deceased father, they set out to find the man they’ve longed for all their lives.

The Good: In short, the talent  – Owen Wilson, Ed Helms, J.K. Simmons, Christopher Walken and Glen Close, as well as Ving Rhames, Terry Crews and Harry Shearer, make for a cracking comedic cast. We all know this kind of comedy and there’s sure to be plenty of goofy laughs.

The Bad: It all seems a bit predictable – two damaged men go in search of some kind of missing piece of their lives, only to discover more than they bargained for. If the comedy doesn’t land, then there’s not much to bite into here.

S.M.A.R.T Chase

What’s it About? This British-Chinese action-thriller tells of a down-on-his-luck private security agent who gets ambushed while transporting a Chinese antique out of Shanghai. Whoops.

The Good: Shot primarily in China, the film looks rather picturesque, with clips of various chases through Shanghai looking particularly thrilling. That’s about it.

The Bad: It’s been a box-office bomb in China, earning just over $2.5 million against its $30 million budget. We never like to single anyone out, but Orlando Bloom has never really inspired in a leading role and this all looks like B-movie stuff.

To find out where and when you can catch these films, as well as all the other films on show in the capital, check out the Cairo 360 Cinema Guide.