ONE- MINUTE MOVIE CRITIC

This massively enjoyable thrill ride adventure brings in the Guardians of the Galaxy to help hold off a villain ( Josh Brolin) with a richly dramatic background. It’s not the best Marvel movie, but it’s certainly the biggest. ( PG- 13, 156 min.) — Richard Roeper Jon Hamm delivers one of his best film roles as an alcoholic former diplomat summoned to negotiate the rescue of a friend taken hostage in the title city. This is an ever- twisting, old- fashioned spy thriller, and as such it succeeds. ( R, 109 min.) — Richard Roeper Even if you’re not normally into the superhero genre, if you appreciate finely honed storytelling, winning performances and tons of whiz- bang action sequences, then you should see “Black Panther.” It’s one of the best times I’ve had at the movies this decade. ( PG- 13, 140 min.) — Richard Roeper On the night of the senior prom, parents of three teens try to thwart the girls’ vow to lose their virginity. Despite the best efforts of John Cena, Leslie Mann and Ike Barinholtz, “Blockers” becomes less interesting and funny as the onscreen hijinks grow more outlandish. ( R, 102 min.) — Richard Roeper This flashback to the night in 1969 when Ted Kennedy ( Jason Clarke) drove his car off a bridge, killing a woman ( Kate Mara), reminds us the outrage should be directed toward the senator and everyone who helped him minimize and excuse his unforgivable actions. ( PG- 13, 101 min.) — Richard Roeper Director Armando Iannucci delivers an audacious and hilarious send- up of the grab for power that followed the Soviet leader’s demise in 1953. But as in the case of all satires that resonate, “The Death of Stalin” goes deeper than balloon- popping punch lines. ( R, 97 min.) — Richard Roeper More inclusive than most faith- based films, this powerful drama tells the true story of MercyMe singer Bart Millard’s relationship with his father. Not subtle, it features strong performances and assured directing. ( PG, 110 min.) — James Ward, USA TODAY Network A blow to the head deludes a cosmetics company staffer ( Amy Schumer) into thinking she’s supermodel beautiful, enhancing her confidence. Schumer is clearly in her comfort zone and she eventually wins us over in this uneven, hit- and- miss, broad comedy. ( PG- 13, 107 min.) — Richard Roeper In a work of stunning stop- motion animation, a boy tries to rescue his pet from an island of garbage where a Japanese mayor has quarantined all dogs. It’s smart and really funny in a smile- and- nod- I- get- the- joke kind of way. In other words, it’s a Wes Anderson movie. ( PG- 13, 94 min.) — Richard Roeper

How did the makers of this terribly uneven film, about the acquittal of cops who beat Rodney King in 1991, think it was a good idea to intersperse realistic scenes of the resulting violence with a wacky, rom- com subplot starring Halle Berry and Daniel Craig? ( R, 92 min.) — Richard Roeper A charismatic but closeted teenager shares his secret with an anonymous classmate online in this uplifting, thoroughly entertaining story. From the comfortable suburban setting to the likable protagonist, it feels like a 21st century John Hughes movie. ( PG- 13, 110 min.) — Richard Roeper Based on a true story, this inspirational movie is about a winning girls high- school volleyball team whose best player was killed just before the season started. It earns its tears, and certainly works hard enough for them. ( PG, 99 min.) — Bill Goodykoontz, USA TODAY Network In the sequel to the entertaining “Pacific Rim,” humans again are piloting giant robots to defeat sea monsters. Whenever there’s a chance to do something unique or original, this clunky paint- by- the- CGI- numbers actioner passes it up to embrace the cliché. ( PG- 13, 111 min.) — Richard Roeper This PG- 13 Bible story is an impressively staged, well- acted, thoughtful and faithful telling of the last days of the Apostle Paul — and how Luke ( Jim Caviezel) risked his life again and again to visit his mentor in prison and record his teachings. ( PG- 13, 107 min.) — Richard Roeper John Krasinski is director and co- star ( with his wife, Emily Blunt) of this neatly spun and well- crafted thriller about a family that must maintain complete silence to avoid rousing monsters. That’s a nifty setup to keep the tension going from moment to moment. ( PG- 13, 90 min.) — Richard Roeper In this really loud, extremely dumb CGI showcase starring Dwayne Johnson, an evil corporation loses its samples of a growth and aggression serum. It’s bad luck for America that these capsules are discovered by a wolf, a crocodile and a silverback gorilla. ( PG- 13, 107 min.) — Richard Roeper In a dystopian future, everyone spends as much time as they can in a virtual- reality universe. Adapting Ernest Cline’s sci- fi novel, Steven Spielberg has created an eye- popping, fantastically entertaining ( albeit slightly exhausting) fantasy adventure. ( PG- 13, 140 min.) — Richard Roeper Chloe Zhao cements her status as one of the most promising and human filmmakers out there with this story of a Lakota rodeo cowboy adjusting, poorly, to a new life of caution after suffering a devastating brain trauma during competition. ( R, 103 min.) — Lindsey Bahr, AP In this sequel, 17 years after the original, the hapless lawmen patrol a piece of Quebec newly transferred to America. While there’s something kind of endearing about the disjointed chaos behind the comedy, there are too many flat gags to carry a full- length feature. ( R, 100 min.) — Richard Roeper Teens play a deadly game in this lame, scare- free horror film that neither shocks nor repulses. Instead it just mopes along from one challenge to the next, never making you care much about the bodies or the friendships left behind. ( PG- 13, 100 min.) — Bill Goodykoontz, USA TODAY Network Based on the beloved novel by Madeleine L’Engle, the bold film takes big chances from start to finish in a courageous effort to be something special. Alas, not even Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon nor Mindy Kaling can conjure enough magic to accomplish the task. ( PG, 115 min.) — Richard Roeper Joaquin Phoenix has never been shy about going big, but his performance here as a hitman with a disturbing past ranks as one of his best because of what happens between the outbursts. It’s a feverish and gripping and disturbing drama. ( R, 89 min.) — Richard Roeper