MOVIE MINIS STILL SHOWING

NOW PLAYING “Ferdinand”

CA peaceful bull and his friend realize they are being sent to the “chop shop” if they don’t perform for the matador so they hatch an escape plan. Based on the beloved children’s book, the film contains resonant messages about prioritizing gentleness and love over competition and violence, but the rest of the story filler is mostly forgettable. Starring John Cena, Kate McKinnon and Jeremy Sisto. Directed by Carlos Saldanha. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for rude humor, action and some thematic elements. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 46 minutes.

“The Other Side of Hope”

CTwo men leave their homes to go to a new land and before long their paths cross and there’s a clash-andblend of new culture for the refugees. The film is not overly long, but it’s not for the impatient. It’s a bit mundane. Starring Sherwan Haji and Sakari Kuosmanen. Directed by Aki Kaurismaki. In Finnish, English and Arabic with subtitles. (Kristen Page-Kirby, Washington Post) Unrated but contains mild violence. At Landmark’s Midtown Art. 1 hour, 38 minutes.

“Star Wars: The Last Jedi”

B+ This sequel picks up where “The Force Awakens” left off, with the heroes scattered to the wind, all performing their necessary tasks. It’s a grandiose film, far funnier than any other “Star Wars” film with a blend of reverence for its roots and embrace of the new. Starring Daisy Ridley, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega and Mark Hamill. Directed by Rian Johnson. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 32 minutes.

“Wonder Wheel”

D+ One man strings along two women, until mobsters arrive, looking for one of the women and the love triangle looks like it will be broken apart. The story itself is repetitive and the symbolism heavy. Starring Jim Belushi, Justin Timberlake and Kate Winslet. Directed by Woody Allen. (Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post) Rated PG-13 for coarse language, smoking and mature thematic material, including some sexuality. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 41 minutes.

“A Bad Moms Christmas”

D+ The moms of the moms from the first film come for the holidays and now there’s even more naughty mommies. The shoddily-made film seems to spring from a single inspirational scene. Starring Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn. Directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for crude sexual content and language throughout, and some drug use. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 44 minutes.

“Coco”

ACentered on Dia de los Muertos, when families memorialize their ancestors, “Coco” tells the story of Miguel, who desperately wants his family to understand his passion for music. It’s not until he unearths the truth about his family history that they are able to understand why it’s so important to him. The film uses the vibrant colors and style of the holiday to spin an imaginative tale, while using the themes of family history, memory and legacy to create a tremendously moving story, with an important message about honoring one’s roots. With the voices of: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach and Renee Victor. Directed by Lee Unkrich and Adrian Molina. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for thematic elements. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 49 minutes.

“Daddy’s Home 2”

C+ The sequel brings the granddads in for the holidays. The film is deliriously silly and delightful, but also lacks the consistency of the first film. Starring Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Mel Gibson and Jon Lithgow. Directed by Sean Anders. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for suggestive material and some language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 40 minutes.

“Darkest Hour”

AA biopic about Winston Churchill that starts in May 1940 when the war is already underway in Europe.

It is handsomely filmed, intelligently written and accented with just a dash of outright hokum. It ends the year with a crowd-pleasing bow. Starring Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas and Lily James. Directed by Joe Wright. (Ann Hornaday, Washington Post) Rated PG13 for some mature thematic material. At Lefont Sandy Springs and Tara Theatre. 2 hours, 5 minutes.

“The Disaster Artist”

B+ This film is about the making of what became a cult hit, but started out as possible the worst movie ever called “The Room.” The intentionally funny film is a celebration of effort and follow-through. Starring James Franco, Dave Franco and Seth Rogen. Directed by James Franco. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for language throughout and some sexuality/ nudity. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 43 minutes.

“Geostorm”

C+ A satellite designer hurries to avert disaster when the planet’s climate control satellites begin to malfunction. The film keeps slowing down for political moments and the writing comes across like the half-baked plot lines of a low-grade TV show. Starring Gerard Butler and Jim Sturgess. Directed by Dean Devlin. Rated PG-13 for destruction and action and violence. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 49 minutes.

“It”

BChildren begin to disappear in the small town of Derry and a group of teens face off against Pennywise, the creepy clown killer. Based on Stephen King’s novel, the film works not because of its supernatural scares, but because of the characters at the center of its tale. Starring Sophia Lillis, Bill Skarsgård and Finn Wolfhard. Directed by Andy Muschietti. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for violence/horror, bloody images, and for language. At Picture Show at Merchants Exchange and Regal Cherokee 16. 2 hours, 15 minutes.

“Jigsaw”

Review not available in time for publication. Police chase the ghost of a man dead for more than a decade and wonder whether he’s back or if it’s a trap set by a killer with an idea of their own. Starring Matt Passmore and Callum Keith Rennie. Directed by Michael and Peter Spierig. Rated R for sequences of grisly bloody violence and torture, and for language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 31 minutes.

“Just Getting Started”

Review unavailable. An ex-FBI agent and an ex-mob lawyer in the Witness Protection Program have to put aside their petty rivalry on the golf course to fend off a mob hit while trying to woo a beauty. Starring Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones and Rene Russo. Directed by Ron Shelton. Rated PG-13 for language, suggestive material and brief violence. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 31 minutes.

“Justice League”

D+ The superheroes all get together to stop a space monster from getting the three thingamajigs he needs to end the world. There’s a blur of horrible CGI that never lets up and the action is insane and impossible to follow. Starring Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot and Ezra Miller. Directed by Zack Snyder. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 1 minute.

“Kingsman: The Golden Circle”

DA drug lord in the Cambodian jungle decides to hold the world hostage by infecting drug users with a mysterious virus in order to push through legalization of all drugs. The film is flippant, fueled by pop references, a nonsensical plot and adolescent body humor. Starring Taron Egerton, Colin Firth and Julianne Moore. Directed by Matthew Vaughn. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for sequences of strong violence, drug content, language throughout and some sexual material. At Regal Town Center. 2 hours, 21 minutes.

“Lady Bird”

AA self-consciously eccentric teen is trying to find herself in a Catholic high school. It puts equal weight on the dark parts as it does the joyous, euphoric moments. Starring Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf and Tracy Letts. Directed by Greta Gerwig. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for language, sexual content, brief graphic nudity and teen partying. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 33 minutes.

“The Lego Ninjago Movie”

C+ A Lego ninja crew battles the evil villain in an attempt to save their town. The emotional story isn’t there and this one doesn’t come close to the high-key antics of the first two films in the series. Starring Dave Franco, Justin Theroux and Jackie Chan. Directed by Charlie Bean, Paul Fisher, and Bob Logan. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for some mild action and rude humor. At Picture Show at Merchants Exchange. 1 hour, 41 minutes.

“The Man Who Invented Christmas”

BThis film has taken “A Christmas Carol” and blended it with biographical material to look at the journey Charles Dickens made from being mired in a writing funk to creating one of the greatest pieces of literature. His companion is a manifestation of Scrooge (Christopher Plummer), who serves as both a writing guide as Dickens finds his way through the novel and as a personification of all that Dickens sees wrong with the world and himself. This fresh look at a familiar story is worthy of becoming a holiday classic. (Rick Bentley, Tribune News Service) Starring Dan Stevens, Christopher Plummer, Jonathan Pryce, Justin Edwards. Directed by Bharat Nulluri. Rated PG for thematic elements, mild language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 24 minutes.

“Murder on the Orient Express”

BA murder happens aboard a sleeper train. Based on Agatha Christie’s mystery novel, the film starts out with a pop and a fizz, but grows darker and ultimately cold to the touch. Starring Kenneth Branagh, Johnny Depp and Judi Dench. Directed by Kenneth Branagh. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for violence and thematic elements. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 54 minutes.

“My Little Pony: The Movie”

D+ The ponies want to throw a festival, but their happy kingdom is invaded by the Storm King. It feels like four episodes of a cartoon strung together and there are times where it truly drags. Starring the voices of Tara Stong, Liev Schreiber and Emily Blunt. Directed by Jayson Thiessen. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for mild action. At Picture Show at Merchants Exchange. 1 hour, 39 minutes.

“Roman J. Israel, Esq.”

CDenzel Washington buries himself deep in the role of a savant lawyer who finds himself at a major junction in his life when his mentor dies. But his portrayal so obliterates everyone else on the screen the film comes across less as an examination of a man trying to deal with the shifting quicksand of time and more as a vanity project for Washington. Starring Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Carmen Ejogo and Tony Plana. Directed by Dan Gilroy. (Rick Bentley, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for mild language, violence. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 9 minutes.

“The Shape of Water”

B+ A mute woman who works nights cleaning a government facility forges a relationship with a greenish-gold fish-man the lab is trying to turn into their “space dog” to beat the Russians. The film hits that sweet spot between Starring Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer and Richard Jenkins. Directed by Guillermo del Toro. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, violence and language. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 3 minutes.