Monthly Movie Madness: April

Well as per the usual April is a slow month for movies... But don't worry! Even though all the major studios are holding back their major draws for the summer months, that doesn't mean there aren't some gems to watch in April...

5. Rio 2: Alright, so I've never actually seen the first... Or at least I don't remember watching it. My girlfriend swears that I've seen it however so I'm not sure if it just wasn't memorable or if my girlfriend is making things up. Either way I needed a fifth for this list so Rio got the call so to speak.

Synopsis: It's a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel and their three kids in Rio 2, after they're hurtled from that magical city to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful Nigel, and meets the most fearsome adversary of all - his father-in-law. All our favorite RIO characters are back, and they're joined by Oscar nominee Andy Garcia, Grammy winner Bruno Mars, Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth and Oscar/Emmy/Tony winner Rita Moreno. RIO 2 also features new Brazilian artists and original music by Janelle Monae and Wondaland.

4. Locke: So Tom Hardy can act yeah? Yeah. Steven Knight is one of the premier art house directors yeah? Yeah. So what is not to like about Locke. Every year there is one or two brilliant films that come out early in the year that gets completely forgotten by the time awards season hits in the fall. I'm guessing Locke gets that treatment, through 16 early reviews, 15 have been overwhelmingly positive.

Synopsis: Ivan Locke (Hardy) has worked diligently to craft the life he has envisioned, dedicating himself to the job that he loves and the family he adores. On the eve of the biggest challenge of his career, Ivan receives a phone call that sets in motion a series of events that will unravel his family, job, and soul. All taking place over the course of one absolutely riveting car ride, Locke is an exploration of how one decision can lead to the complete collapse of a life. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Steven Knight (Eastern Promises, Dirty Pretty Things) and driven by an unforgettable performance by Tom Hardy, Locke is a thrillingly unique cinematic experience of a man fighting to salvage all that is important to him.

3. Alan Partridge: Steve Coogan is zany and funny. This film shall be a treat.

Synopsis: Alan Partridge (Steve Coogan) has had many ups and downs in his life. National television broadcaster. Responsible for killing a guest on live TV. Local radio broadcaster. A nervous breakdown in Dundee. His self-published book, 'Bouncing Back', subsequently remaindered and pulped. ALAN PARTRIDGE finds Alan at the center of a siege, when a disgruntled fellow DJ (Colm Meaney) decides to hold their station hostage after learning that he's getting sacked by the new management. The character Alan Partridge first appeared over twenty years ago as a BBC sports reporter on the radio show, On The Hour. Since then, this wonderfully conceited, petty, anal, idiosyncratic comic creation has flourished across virtually every medium you can think of. He's been a sports reporter (again) on the seminal TV news spoof, The Day Today, host of his own TV chat show, Knowing Me, Knowing You, star of the fly-on-the-wall sitcom I'm Alan Partridge, and most recently Mid-Morning Matters.

2. Transcendence: A gripping sci-fi thriller from that director you've never heard off starring that guy everyone knows. It's been a while since an original sci-fi film generated much attention but Transcendence plans to buck that trend.

Synopsis: Dr. Will Caster (Johnny Depp) is the foremost researcher in the field of Artificial Intelligence, working to create a sentient machine that combines the collective intelligence of everything ever known with the full range of human emotions. His highly controversial experiments have made him famous, but they have also made him the prime target of anti-technology extremists who will do whatever it takes to stop him. However, in their attempt to destroy Will, they inadvertently become the catalyst for him to succeed-to be a participant in his own transcendence. For his wife Evelyn (Rebecca Hall) and best friend Max Waters (Paul Bettany), both fellow researchers, the question is not if they can...but if they should. Their worst fears are realized as Will's thirst for knowledge evolves into a seemingly omnipresent quest for power, to what end is unknown. The only thing that is becoming terrifyingly clear is there may be no way to stop him.

1. Captain America: The Winter Soldier: I love Chris Evans, I also love that he has starred in nearly as many comic book movies as Stan Lee at this point (Avengers, Captain America, The Losers, Fantastic Four, ect.) Now saying that you would come to expect that I being a comic book fan, though not particularly enamored with Cap, I would at least watch the movie, especially with it starring Evans right? WRONG! As of this writing I am yet to watch it and although it is on my "to watch list" before Friday I can't help but marvel (heh) at the glorious steps forward Marvel has been making in their cinematic universe. Captain America 2 has the potential to be the best film yet (take that Iron Man and The Avengers) let's just hope my hopes aren't too high.

Synopsis: Steve Rogers continues his journey as the super-powered American soldier who's grasping to find his place in a modern world after being frozen in ice since WWII with this Marvel Studios sequel. Chris Evans returns to star, with Community director/producers Joe and Anthony Russo helming.