Special Screenings, June 23-30

Rules of the Trade. It’s the Orange County premiere of writer/director (and former Weekly intern) Patrick Chavis’ new feature film, which was shot in Orange and Los Angeles counties over 15 days on a budget of $10,000. Chavis’ comical farce is about a drug dealer who meets the love of his life on an online dating site and must rethink everything. The Frida Cinema, 305 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana; thefridacinema.org. Thurs., June 23, 7 p.m. $8-$10.

Jaws. Cinema’s first summer blockbuster, Steven Spielberg’s 1975 adventure/thriller is timely all over again thanks to the multiple shark sightings off the Orange County coast. It’s just unclear who our Quint is. The Frida Cinema hosts the outdoor screening. 4th Street Market, outdoor patio, 201 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana; thefridacinema.org. Thurs., June 23, 8 p.m. Free; also at Regency South Coast Village, 1561 Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 557-5701. Wed., 7:30 p.m. $9.

Norm of the North. You’ve heard of a drive-in movie, but how about a dive-in movie? This is the first of three animated family flicks to roll the last Friday of each summer month on a screen facing a pool. Norm is a polar bear (Rob Schneider) who brings three lemming friends to New York to thwart a real-estate development being built over their Arctic homes. As if global warming has not screwed them already. . . . La Habra High School, Stadium Pool, 801 W. Highlander Ave., La Habra, (562) 383-4205. Fri., 6 p.m. (movie starts at dusk). $5; ages 2 and younger, free.

Bringing Up Baby. “Screwball comedy” is claimed to have been coined by director Howard Hawks, who thought all the characters in this movie were “screwballs.” That would include Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn and, presumably, Nissa, the leopard who plays the titular Baby. Orange County Great Park, Marine Way and Sand Canyon, Irvine, (866) 829-3829. Fri., 8 p.m. Free.

Despicable Me 2. The animated franchise has Steve Carell returning as a former evil villain who is constantly asked if he prefers the British Office. Arovista Park, 415 W. Elm St., Brea, (714) 990-7112. Fri., 8 p.m. (movie starts at dusk). Free.

Minions. Yo, Steve! Steve Carell! Down here! It’s another Despicable movie, this one based on the characters who speak in tongues. Lantern Bay Park, 25111 Park Lantern Rd., Dana Point, (949) 248-3530. Fri., 8 p.m. Free.

The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Proving that the Frida Cinema is not ignorant of its upstairs neighbor LGBT center or this weekend’s OC Pride Fest returning to downtown Santa Ana, the community movie house presents director Stephan Elliott’s hilarious, poignant 1994 comedy about drag queens on a road trip. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Fri., 11 p.m. $8-$10.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Thanks to Beachfront Cinema, which presents cinema on the beachfront (duh!), you can smell sea spray as Han Solo finally (spoiler alert) stops grimacing. Huntington State Beach, Beach Boulevard and Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach; beachfrontcinema.com. Sat., 5 p.m. $11-$49. Also at Downtown Garden Grove, Main Street, Garden Grove, (714) 741-5200. Thurs., June 30, 7 p.m. (movie starts at dusk). Free.

The Peanuts Movie. Love is on the mind of Charlie Brown, thanks to the arrival of a new girl with red hair, and Snoopy, who is trying to write a song about a beautiful dog. Orange County Great Park, (866) 829-3829. Sat., 8 p.m. Free.

Madonna: Truth or Dare. Close out OC LGBT Pride with a stunning new 4K transfer of this documentary, celebrating its 25th anniversary (and yes, we are so old). Filmmaker Alek Keshishian followed the bleached blonde on- and off-stage during her 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour. Al Pacino, Antonio Banderas, Sandra Bernhard, Kevin Costner and Mad’s then-boyfriend, Warren Beatty, pop in. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Sat., 10 p.m. $8-$10.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Shadow casters Midnight Insanity strip down for Lingerie Night. Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St., Long Beach, (562) 438-5435. Sat., 11:55 p.m. $8-$11.

Modern Times. Filmmaker Steve Elkins introduces the 1936 film that was filled with sound effects, even though Charlie Chaplin’s character the Tramp did not speak. Ask Elkins during the post-screening discussion if that still qualifies it as a silent movie. Hibbleton Gallery, 223 W. Santa Fe Ave., Fullerton; www.hibbleton.com. Mon., 8 p.m. Free.

Goosebumps. All aboard the Summer Movie Express—which donates a portion of proceeds to the Will Rogers Institute—for the creepy family film starring Jack Black. Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, 26701 Aliso Creek Rd., Aliso Viejo, (949) 425-3861; also at Anaheim Hills 14, 8030 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd., Anaheim Hills, (714) 282-5953; Brea Stadium West 10, 255 W. Birch St., Brea, (714) 672-4136; Edwards Market Place Stadium 10, 13782 Jamboree Rd., Irvine, (844) 462-7342; Foothill Towne Center Stadium 22, 26602 Towne Center Dr., Foothill Ranch, (949) 588-9402; Kaleidoscope Stadium 10, 27741 Crown Valley Pkwy., Mission Viejo, (949) 582-4078; Metro Pointe Stadium 12, 901 South Coast Dr., Costa Mesa, (714) 428-0962. Tues., 10 a.m. $1.

Pan. A 12-year-old orphan boy is spirited away to Neverland, but worry not: It’s not Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch. Century Stadium 25, 1701 W. Katella Ave., Orange; www.cinemark.com. Tues., 10 a.m. $1; also at Century 20 Huntington Beach, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach; www.cinemark.com. Tues.-Thurs., June 23, 10 a.m. $1; La Habra Stadium 16, 1351 W. Imperial Hwy., La Habra, (562) 690-4909. Tues., 10 a.m. $1.

The SpongeBob Movie. Do you suppose this movie would have done better in theaters if the core audience of stoners possessed the ability to get off their couches? Krikorian’s Buena Park Metroplex 18, 8290 La Palma Ave., Buena Park, (714) 826-2152. Tues., 10 a.m. Free (sponsored by Buena Park Downtown); also at Krikorian’s San Clemente Cinema 6, 641B Camino De Los Mares, San Clemente, (949) 661-7469. Tues., 10 a.m. $1.

RiffTrax LIVE: MST3K Reunion Show. For RiffTrax’s 10th anniversary, it’s a reunion of past, even more past and future Mystery Science Theater 3000 cast members, beamed live from Minneapolis to movie screens around the country. Yes, creator and original MST3K host Joel Hodgson will be there, as will Jonah Ray (the host of the revived MST3K), Michael J. Nelson (Mike Nelson), Kevin Murphy (Tom Servo), Bill Corbett (Crow T. Robot), Frank Conniff (TV’s Frank), Trace Beaulieu (Dr. Clayton Forrester, Crow T. Robot), Mary Jo Pehl (Pearl Forrester) and Bridget Nelson (Nuveena, Mr. B Natural). They’ll start by riffing on educational short films before moving on to a—yes, in all caps—SUPER RIFF-A-PALOOZA. Thank you, Kickstarter campaigners. Various theaters; RiffTrax.com/MST3KReunion. Tues., 0x000A8 p.m. $10.50-$15

The Iron Giant: Signature Edition. Summer Movie Express chugs on with Brad Bird’s animated story about a young boy who befriends a giant robot from outer space. Based on a true story. Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, (949) 425-3861; also at Anaheim Hills 14, (714) 282-5953; Brea Stadium West 10, (714) 672-4136; Edwards Market Place Stadium 10, (844) 462-7342; Foothill Towne Center Stadium 22, (949) 588-9402; Kaleidoscope Stadium 10, (949) 582-4078; Metro Pointe Stadium 12, (714) 428-0962. Wed., 10 a.m. $1.

The Smurfs 2. Gargamel kidnaps Smurfette and brings her to Paris, and as the movie’s actual marketing motto suggests, “nice gets naughty.” Boww-chica-bow-bow. La Habra Stadium 16, 1351 W. Imperial Hwy., La Habra, (562) 690-4909. Wed., 10 a.m. $1.

Inside Out. Digesting a great blue-cheese hamburger from a food truck at the last Gatehouse Properties-sponsored screening I attended at this park did not—I repeat, did not—make my insides come out. TeWinkle Park, Angels Playground, 885 Junipero Ave., Costa Mesa. Wed., 5:45 p.m. (movie starts at dusk). Free.

Surf’s Up. Bring a blankie and enjoy an animated movie that takes you to the beach, without you having to go to a beach. Orange Public Library & History Center, 407 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, (714) 288-2420. Thurs., June 30, 2 p.m. Free.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *