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“Spider-Man: Far From Home”
PG-13, 2:15, sci-fi/action
Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man is a charming, nimble, physical presence in a film that goes out of its way to salute the visual effects armies that have made the Marvel universe what it is today. Peter Parker goes on a European tour with classmates, including the sullen, brainy, charismatic MJ (Zendaya). But Peter must rewrite his itinerary and work through his insecurities, at the orders of Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). Our boy joins forces with the newbie superhero, known as Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal), to save Earth from the Elementals. The movie’s somewhat risky conception of its true adversary comes down to a trippy, large-scale illustration of “illusion tech.” — Michael Phillips
“Toy Story 4”
G, 1:40, animation
In a simple stroke of do-it-yourself genius, “Toy Story 4” introduces a pip of a character made out of a spork, named Forky. He has been created by little Bonnie, whose fraught first day of kindergarten provides the highly relatable starting point of this enormously winning sequel. Fished out of the trash by Woody (Tom Hanks, better than ever), Forky (voice by Tony Hale) initially knows nothing beyond an impulse to return to the garbage from whence it came. The narrative deals with various challenges of letting go, and learning to move on, and when to remind yourself that — as we know from Arthur Miller — there’s “a universe of people outside, and you’re responsible to it.” — Michael Phillips
“Crawl”
R, 1:27, action-adventure
Though a handful of supporting characters come and go, usually in a pool of blood while screaming, “Crawl” is a two-human movie. Kaya Scodelario plays Haley, a University of Florida swimmer who finds her dad (Barry Pepper) in the fast-flooding crawlspace, the victim of an alligator chomp during a hurricane. Much of the first half confines the action to the muck and thrashings in the crawlspace. Once they get out, the screenwriters create an amusingly abrupt way to throw them back into the house. It’s more of a wincer than a thriller. Nonetheless “Crawl” is a pleasantly unpleasant respite from the bloated stockholder movies dominating the marketplace. — Michael Phillips
“Stuber”
R, 1:33, action-comedy
You know what’s just a laugh riot? The hero, Stu (Kumail Nanjiani), drives Uber on the side because he doesn’t make enough at his lowwage gig at a big-box sporting goods store while also trying to open a business with his BFF/crush (Betty Gilpin). You know what’s even funnier? When he’s kidnapped by an off-duty LAPD officer, Vic (Dave Bautista), who is on a vengeance mission and conscripts Stu into the torture and murder of civilians. Ha, ha, ha, those murderous off-duty cops sure are hilarious. There is no reason to catch a ride with this nasty, brutish and shrill film about America’s current state of unchecked law enforcement masquerading as an “action comedy.” — Katie Walsh
“Yesterday”
PG-13, 1:56, comedy/fantasy
Danny Boyle’s latest requires viewers to take a few leaps of faith. First, you have to buy into the rule that, categorically, the best songs ever written are by the Beatles. This magical dramedy presents the idea that a weird electrical blip/solar flare causes electricity all over the world to go out, while simultaneously wiping our collective consciousness clean of all traces of the Beatles. Jack (Himesh Patel) is the only person in the world who remembers the band, so he decides to capitalize on it. Everything in the film is high-concept, high-pressure, highstakes, nothing makes any sense and is never explained. The songs? Great, of course. The story? Strange at best. — Katie Walsh