OPENING THIS WEEK
Alimuom ng Kahapon
Directed by Rosswil H. Hilario; stars Angelo Ilagan, DM Sevilla, Sebastian Castro, Angelina Kanapi
Photographer, who comes from a well-off family, falls for a struggling activist. The director tackles sociopolitical issues in telling the story of a gorgeous gay couple. “It’s about freedom and choosing to remain in the dark, rather than play an active role in society.” Opens today.
Careful What You Wish For
Directed by Elizabeth Allen; stars Nick Jonas, Isabel Lucas, Dermot Mulroney, Paul Sorvino
Hunk gets involved with a seductress who is married to an investment banker. Filmplot.com’s Mujahid Hussain relates: “Romance and crime … make it a spicy as well as thrilling flick.” An IMDb.com reviewer calls it a “tweaked copy of ‘Body Heat’ for teenagers.” Opens today.
Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2
Directed by Andy Fickman; stars Kevin James, Raini Rodriguez, Shirley Knight, Loni Love
Duty calls while mall guard is on a holiday in Sin City. 3AW’s Jim Schembri thinks it’s “a perfectly congenial, innocuous goofball comedy.” Las Vegas Weekly’s Josh Bell says it “suffers from indifferent plotting and apathetic jokes that often don’t … have punch lines.” Opens today.
Monsters: Dark Continent
Directed by Tom Green; stars Joe Dempsie, Sofia Boutella, Sam Keeley, Johnny Harris
American soldiers slug it out with space creatures. Variety’s Peter Debruge relates: “Not so much a sequel as another stultifying character drama.” Empire magazine’s Kim Newman differs: “Works as a standalone picture with a distinctive take on alien invasion.” Opens today.
Arpeggio of Blue Steel
Directed by Seiji Kishi; with the voices of Mai Fuchigami, Kazuyuki Okitsu
Cadet teams up with enigmatic girl, to fight the Fog. Withanime.org’s Stig Hogset points out: “There is a shadow of ‘Macross’/‘Robotech’ in here … exceeds expectations.” Kotako.com’s Richard Eisenbeis agrees: “For fans of the series, this is a must-watch.” Opens today.
Big Game
Directed by Jalmari Helander; stars Samuel L. Jackson, Jim Broadbent, Onni Tommila
Finnish teen must save the US president from kidnappers. Guardian’s Paul MacInnes quips: “Big bangs, big laughs and adults looking silly.” IGN Movies’s Matt Patches concurs: “A movie young kids should watch with their parents before graduating to ‘Die Hard.’” Opens today.
Ghost Boat
Directed by Matt Lofgren; stars Jennifer Stuckert, Olivia Aaron, Griffin Daley
A woman is trapped in the family yacht, drifting in the open sea. She is doomed to relive a nightmare every day and, when she wakes up each morning, her body is riddled with scars. Originally titled “Alarmed,” this thriller was shown at the 13th Oakland IFF. Opens today.
Hot Pursuit
Directed by Anne Fletcher; stars Reese Witherspoon, Sofia Vergara, John Carroll Lynch
Stern cop grudgingly protects drug lord’s sultry widow. Screen Rant’s Sandy Schaefer asserts: It “has a sitcom flavor to it—complete with running jokes that seem strained.” Common Sense Media comments: “Reminiscent of ‘Rush Hour,’ ‘48 Hours,’ ‘The Heat.’” Opens tomorrow.