NEW THIS WEEK
Letter grades are listed only when a review is available.
(B) ALI AND AVA Adeel Akhtar and Claire Rushbrook deliver warm performances in the title roles in this cross-cultural romance set in the British city of Bradford. The screenplay, however, never really makes a strong case for why the two feel so attracted to each other or are a good fit. Not rated. 94 mins. At AMC Stonebriar 24 in Frisco.
(C-) BULLET TRAIN In this Quentin Tarantino knockoff directed by David Leitch, five assassins on the same train realize their respective missions might be connected. The chief pleasure in the film is seeing Brad Pitt nerding out in a bucket hat and pair of thick-rimmed glasses. Also starring Sandra Bullock, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Joey King, Brian Tyree Henry and rapper Bad Bunny. R (for strong and bloody violence, pervasive language and brief sexuality). 126 mins. In wide release.
CAVE RESCUE This film dramatizes the 2018 rescue of a boys soccer tream trapped in a flooded cave system in Thailand, with some of the real divers playing themselves. (Not to be confused with director Ron Howard’s upcoming film Thirteen Lives, which tackles the same subject.) PG-13 (for some strong language). 99 mins. In Mandarin, English and Thai, with subtitles. At Studio Movie Grill Spring Valley and on VOD platforms.
COLLIDE This thriller chronicles the intersecting stories of three couples over one night in a Los Angeles restaurant. Starring Ryan Phillippe, Kat Graham, Dylan Flashner, Aisha Dee, Jim Gaffigan, Drea de Matteo and David Cade. R (for brief sexual material and language throughout). 90 mins. At Galaxy Theatres Grandscape in The Colony and Movie Tavern Hulen in Fort Worth.
EASTER SUNDAY Stand-up comedian Jo Koy stars as a man returning home for an Easter celebration with his Filipino- American family. PG-13 (for some strong language and suggestive references.) 96 mins. In wide release.
(C) I LOVE MY DAD An estranged father (Patton Oswalt), blocked by his troubled son (writer-director James Morosini) on social media, impersonates a waitress online and “catfishes” his son in an attempt to reconnect with him. Based on the real-life experiences of Morosini, the film is gently funny and much more forgiving than viewers might expect. R (for sexual content and language). 96 mins. At the Texas Theatre.
LUCK In this animated film, an unlucky young woman (voiced by Eva Noblezada) seeks to turn her fortunes around with the help of magical creatures in the Land of Luck. G. 105 mins. At Cinemark 17 and Cinemark West Plano, and streaming on Apple TV+.
THE MOST DANGEROUS GAME In this remake of the 1932 classic, a father and son are shipwrecked on a mysterious island and become the prey of the only resident of the human hunting ground. Starring Chris “C.T.” Tamburello, Judd Nelson and Casper Van Dien. Not rated. 95 mins. At Studio Movie Grill Spring Valley.
(D) SHARP STICK A young woman (Kristine Froseth) begins an affair with her employer (Jon Bernthal) and delves into online porn in this contrived comedy from writer-director Lena Dunham in which you feel Dunham’s desire to get a rise out of you more than you actually feel connected to anything on-screen. Also starring Dunham, Luka Sabbat, Scott Speedman and Jennifer Jason Leigh. R (for strong sexual content, drug use, some nudity and language throughout). 86 mins. At Studio Movie Grill Spring Valley.
COMING NEXT WEEK
BODIES BODIES BODIES In this horror comedy, wealthy 20-somethings head to a remote mansion for a hurricane party that turns deadly. Starring Amandla Stenberg, Pete Davidson, Chase Sui Wonders, Maria Bakalova, Rachel Sennott and Lee Pace. R (for violence, bloody images, drug use, sexual references and pervasive language). 95 mins.
EMERGENCY DECLARATION Police investigate a terrorism suspect and the mysterious death of a passenger on a plane that is en route from South Korea to the United States. Not rated. 138 mins. In Korean with subtitles.
EMILY THE CRIMINAL Down on her luck and deep in debt, a woman (Aubrey Plaza) gets involved in a credit card scam that pulls her into the criminal underworld of Los Angeles. Also starring Theo Rossi. R (for brief drug use, some violence and language). 93 mins.
FALL Two friends (Grace Caroline Currey and Virginia Gardner) get stranded after climbing to the top of a 2,000-foot radio tower. Also starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan. PG-13 (for bloody images, strong language and intense peril). 107 mins.
INU-OH In this animated rock opera from director Masaaki Yuasa, a 14th-century performer overcomes an ancient curse and causes a sensation in Japan with his dance moves. PG-13. 98 mins. In Japanese with subtitles.
A LOVE SONG A woman (Dale Dickey) passes her time fishing, birding and stargazing while she awaits the arrival of an old flame (Wes Studi) at a Colorado campground. PG (for mild thematic elements). 82 mins.
MACK AND RITA After a wild weekend at a bachelorette party, a 30-year-old writer (Elizabeth Lail) awakens to find that she has transformed into a 70-year-old (Diane Keaton). Also starring Taylour Paige, Dustin Milligan and Martin Short. PG-13 (for language, some drug use and sexual references). 95 mins.
ROGUE AGENT A con man (James Norton) poses as an MI5 agent in this thriller based on a true story. Also starring Gemma Arterton. Not rated. 116 mins.
SUMMERING On the brink of starting middle school, four friends (Lia Barnett, Eden Grace Redfield, Sanai Victoria and Madalen Mills) set out to solve a mystery after finding a man’s body in the woods. Also starring Megan Mullally and Lake Bell. PG-13 (for some thematic material). 87 mins.
CURRENT RELEASES
(B) THE BLACK PHONE After being abducted by a serial killer (Ethan Hawke) and locked in a basement, a 13-year-old boy (played by newcomer Mason Thames of McKinney) starts receiving calls on a disconnected phone from the spirits of the killer’s previous victims. The Black Phone is a satisfying balancing act of a movie that has elements of supernatural, psychological suspense and horror. It also has one of the most satisfying endings of a horror-thriller in recent years. R (for violence, bloody images, language and some drug use). 102 mins.
(B-) DC LEAGUE OF SUPER-PETS In this animated tale, Superman’s dog Krypto leads a team of other superpowered animals to save the Justice League after they’re captured by Lex Luthor. It’s a funny, sweet refresh on the DC lore that should please fans old and new. PG (for action, mild violence, language and rude humor). 106 mins.
DETECTIVE VS. SLEUTHS A disgraced former police detective seeks to help a police task force find the killer behind a series of gruesome murders in Hong Kong that seem to be targeting suspects in cold cases. Not rated. 101 mins. In Cantonese with subtitles.
(A-) ELVIS In this sprawling pop epic, director Baz Luhrmann takes Elvis Presley’s legacy, relegated to a Las Vegas gag, and reminds us just how dangerous, sexy and downright revolutionary the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll was. At the center of the film, Austin Butler delivers a fully transformed, star-making turn as Presley. PG-13 (for substance abuse, strong language, suggestive material and smoking). 159 mins.
(A-) EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE In this madcap sci-fi adventure comedy, a Chinese immigrant (Michelle Yeoh) struggles with an IRS tax audit while being pulled into a violent multiverse clash. It’s a preposterous and tasteless ode to the messy, nonsensical struggle and bliss of being human. R (for language, some violence and sexual material). 139 mins. In English, Mandarin and Cantonese, with subtitles.
(A) FIRE OF LOVE This spellbinding documentary examines French researchers Katia and Maurice Krafft, who spent 25 years capturing the most amazing volcano footage ever shot before their 1991 deaths in an eruption. The film is powerful enough to convince you that they died happy. PG (for thematic material, including some unsettling images and brief smoking). 93 mins. In French and English, with subtitles.
(D) GONE IN THE NIGHT When Kath (Winona Ryder) and her boyfriend (John Gallagher Jr.) arrive at a remote rental cabin, they find a younger couple (Owen Teague and Brianne Tju) staying there. They agree to share the double-booked cabin, but then Kath’s boyfriend and the younger woman mysteriously disappear, sending Kath on a search for answers in this disposable thriller that coasts on Ryder’s charisma while offering little else for viewers. Also starring Dermot Mulroney. R (for language throughout and brief bloody images). 90 mins.
(B-) HALLELUJAH: LEONARD COHEN, A JOURNEY, A SONG This illuminating — if occasionally too obliging — documentary explores the life of singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen and the impact of his hit song “Hallelujah.” PG-13 (for brief strong language and some sexual material). 115 mins.
HANSAN: RISING DRAGON This prequel to the South Korean hit movie The Admiral: Roaring Currents depicts the Battle of Hansan Island in 1592. Not rated. 130 mins. In Korean with subtitles.
(B-) JURASSIC WORLD DOMINION The casts from two generations of Jurassic Park films — Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum and Sam Neill — unite for the first time in a world where dinosaurs now live and hunt alongside humans all over the globe. The film is laden with nostalgia, made up of nods to the original films and other action-adventure classics. As a goodbye note to the franchise, it’s heartfelt — if a bit limpid — giving preference to references over storytelling. PG-13 (for intense sequences of action, some violence and language). 146 mins.
(C) LIGHTYEAR In this animated Toy Story spinoff, Buzz Lightyear (the non-toy version, voiced by Chris Evans) sets out on a space adventure with a group of recruits and his robot companion. With its classic science-fiction framework, Lightyear isn’t ambitious or existential or likely to make you cry. It’s just a flavorless movie, not much different from others. PG (for action/peril). 100 mins.
(A) MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON The tiny mollusk named Marcel, who gained internet fame with a series of stop-motion animated shorts, learns the high price of internet stardom in his big-screen debut. Watching this winsome bit of family-friendly whimsy, it’s hard not to smile. PG (for some suggestive material and thematic elements). 89 mins.
(B-) MINIONS: THE RISE OF GRU The fifth entry in the animated Despicable Me franchise offers a slight but satisfying origin story for 12-year-old Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) as he seeks to become the world’s greatest supervillain. This is a perfectly painless romp that should enthrall kids, entertain adults and keep Minions cosplayers employed for many a birthday party to come. PG (for some action/violence and rude humor). 87 mins.
(B-) MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS A widowed cleaning lady (Lesley Manville) in 1950s London scrimps and saves to travel to Paris to buy her dream Dior dress in this feel-good fashion fairy tale. The narrative is gossamer thin, and the characterizations at times feel facile and patronizing. But Manville is a pleasure to watch. PG (for language, suggestive material and smoking). 115 mins.
(A-) NOPE Writer-director Jordan Peele delivers another genre-disrupting masterpiece in this story of a small California town encountering a mysterious force that affects human and animal behavior. Peele’s intellectual, curious and playful perspective has become vital, and necessary, for the horror and sci-fi genre to evolve. R (for language throughout and some violence/bloody images). 130 mins.
PAWS OF FURY: THE LEGEND OF HANK A dog in a town full of cats pursues his dream of becoming a samurai in this animated film. Featuring the voices of Michael Cera, Samuel L. Jackson, Ricky Gervais, Mel Brooks and George Takei. PG (for action, violence, rude and suggestive humor, and some language). 97 mins.
(C) THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Facing the threat of Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale), Thor (Chris Hemsworth) enlists the help of Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson) and ex-girlfriend Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), who can now wield Thor’s magical hammer. The best thing to say about this middling installment is that its heart is in the right place. But co-writer and director Taika Waititi’s brand of humor and his “twee Thor” have worn out their welcome. PG-13 (for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, language, some suggestive material and partial nudity). 125 mins.
(A) TOP GUN: MAVERICK In the long-delayed sequel to 1986′s Top Gun, Tom Cruise returns as Navy aviator Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, who has been trying not to advance in rank for 30 years so he can continue satiating his need for speed. There might be new pilots on deck, but make no mistake: This is a Maverick movie through and through, featuring the kind of nostalgia that delivers everything expected. PG-13 (for sequences of intense action and some strong language). 131 mins.
(B) VENGEANCE B.J. Novak wrote, directed and stars in this surprising, original comedy-thriller about a New York City writer who heads to West Texas for the funeral of a woman with whom he had a casual affair — and then decides to stay. Even when the plot goes off the deep end, viewers can’t help but appreciate Novak’s audacity. R (for language and brief violence). 107 mins.
(C) WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING A young, isolated woman named Kya (Daisy Edgar-Jones), who raised herself in the marshes of North Carolina, becomes a murder suspect in this faithful yet unfulfilling adaptation of the bestselling novel. In checking off all the plot points, the movie version loses what makes the book work, which is the time we spend with Kya. PG-13 (for sexual content and some violence including a sexual assault). 125 mins.
Compiled from staff and wire reports
