A sideways look at the films currently on general release that we think might secretly be about Singapore.Bad Teacher—Trouble ensues when a classroom assistant goes rogue and lets some fun into school. Denied access to rote learning and multiplication tables, the kids’ futures slowly begin to evaporate.Cars 2—A full week in the making, this sequel to the smash-hit documentary about the ECP has divided critics, with many complaining about being charged more for their tickets than they were for the original just six months ago.The City of Our Final Destination—Set in a traffic jam on the dark side of the Tuas link, we follow the travails of a family of five as they attempt to make it back to Singapore before Monday morning.Contagion—Some inconsiderate schmuck comes into work with sniffle, and causes a panic in the coffee corner. The film’s denouement sees President Tan take to the airwaves and channel his best impression of that guy in Independence Day (is it Bill Pullman? Or Bill Paxton? Does it matter?), as he announces that failing to take MC will hereafter be the most severe of crimes against humanity.The Hanged Man—Heavy-handed and with an all-too-obvious “moral” at the end, this is one educational drama that ought to be avoided.Love in Space—A far-fetched and totally unrealistic fantasy drama in which a young woman dreams of having somewhere to go with her boyfriend that’s not her parents’ living room.Spy Kids 4D—A dark and brooding masterpiece touching on themes of filial piety in the Chinese community. At issue, the question of whether it’s OK to report your folks for blowing your inheritance on weekend trips to Bali and blow-out dinners at MBS.
