Current attractions
“Absolutely Fabulous: The
Movie”: Nostalgia can’t stretch what works as a TV sit-com-into a worthwhile feature-length film. Hard-drinking, hard-drugging pals Edina (Jennifer Saunders) and Patsy (Joanna Lumley) from the beloved 1990s Britcom are now in their 60s. Told by a publisher that her life isn’t interesting enough to warrant a memoir, Edina schemes to boost her profile. ½ (Connie Ogle, Miami Herald) R, 1:30
“Bad Moms”: The raunchy humor that often inhabits bro-centric comedies this time speaks to all the mothers who feel like they’re drowning in commitments. Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn and Kristen Bell deliver laughs as moms straining to meet the demands of work and home. A conflict arises when the friends take on the meanest girl of the PTA (Christina Applegate). ½ (Stephanie Merry, Washington Post) R, 1:41
“The BFG”: Steven Spielberg teamed up with Disney for this pretty but lethargic movie adaptation of the Roald Dahl children’s classic. For all its technical marvels, this bedtime story may be lovely to look at, but it’s far too sluggish to keep viewers from nodding off.
½ (Karen D’Souza, Staff) PG, 1:55
“Café Society”: There’s not much to Woody Allen’s 1936-set seriocomedy, located in nevernever Hollywood and grubbier, vital New York. But the stealthy acting of the central players, especially Jesse Eisenberg and Kirsten Stewart, humanizes the weak material. The story here is made up of stray stardust memories, fashioned around a fairly entertaining romantic triangle. Steve Carell also stars. ½ (Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune) PG-13, 1:36
“Captain Fantastic”: Viggo Mortensen leads a terrific ensemble of young actors in this film about a family of off-the-gridders. Ben along with his wife, Leslie (Trin Miller), have been rusticating in the dripping woods with their six kids since the birth of their now-teenage son. A family crisis sends the whole clan on bus trip punctuated by visits with relatives, where they soon realize how alienated they’ve become. Ann Hornaday, Washington Post) R 1:58 “Central Intelligence’’: Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart play high school acquaintances getting together again 20 years later. Johnson’s character, an obese wallflower then, has bulked up to intimidating size but is a pussycat at heart. Hart’s character has become an office drone. National security agents appear, shots are fired, the duo goes on the run. Colin Covert, Star Tribune) PG-13, 1:54
“Finding Dory”: Pixar’s sequel to “Finding Nemo” follows Dory, as she remembers, and tries to find, her family. The formula is the same as the original, which doesn’t stop “Dory” from being a charming film that resonates with warm emotion. Eleen DeGeneres returns as the lovable, and forgetful, fish, as does Albert Brooks as her friend Marlin. Ed’O Neil, Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton provide the voices for new, fresh characters.
½ (Tony Hicks, Staff) PG, 1:40
“Ghostbusters”: The four very funny stars (Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones and Kate McKinnon) have the comic chops to carry a reboot of this beloved comedy driven by male actors. Unfortunately, they got slimed by bad writing and a recycled concept. An encounter with a ghost brings the women enough Internet notoriety to get them canned from their jobs, so they go into business as paranormal exterminators. Tony Hicks, Staff) PG-13, 1:44
“Gleason”: Football star Steve Gleason retired from the sport in 2008, saying: “I can walk away with my health.” Fate had other plans. Have plenty of tissues on hand when you watch the moving, remarkable documentary about the ex-New Orleans Saint whose bravest days were actually ahead of him. The film captures the progression of the disease (ALS) as it robs the former athlete of his voice, use of his legs and later control of his bowels, but never his spirit. Mark Kennedy, Associated Press) R, 1:50 “Hunt For the
Wilder people”: This wacky story of the alliance between an overweight reprobate teenager (Julian Dennison) and a surly, wilderness-loving loner (Sam Neill) has a sweet and subversive sensibility that mixes adventure and comedy in surprising ways. Child Welfare wants Ricky back after his foster mother dies, but Ricky wants to stay with “Uncle” Hec. Complications ensue, and the two head into the bush.
½ (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times) PG-13, 1:41
“The Infiltrator”: Bryan Cranston stars in this true-crime story of an undercover narcotics specialist who masqueraded as “Bob Musella,” money launderer and party host to stars of the Medellin cartel. In an elaborate sting operation, Mazur weaseled his way into the good graces of the bad guys, right up to the rarefied, lethal realm of Pablo Escobar. Michael Phillips/Chicago Tribune) R, 2:07
“Jason Bourne”: Matt Damon’s fourth go-round as the memory-challenged former CIA hitman wasn’t really necessary, as the latest chapter didn’t do much to set itself apart from the other movies. The car chase in Las Vegas will impress even the most diehard “Fast & Furious” fans, though, and the finale does offer some hope that, if the franchise carries on, there might be a new direction. ½ (Tony Hicks, staff) PG-13, 2:03. “The Legend of Tarzan”: Another attempt to bring Edgar Rice Burroughs’ characters to the big screen has so-so results. This version finds John Clayton/Tarzan (Alexander Skarsgard) in London, years after leaving the jungle. A government task sends him back to the Congo, where a ruthless foreign official plans his demise. ½ (Tony Hicks, Staff) PG-13, 1:49
“Lights Out”: In this excellent horror flick, Teresa Palmer plays Rebecca. Her younger brother, Martin (Gabriel Bateman), who must contend with their mercurial mother, Sophie (Maria Bello), in the wake of his father’s violent death. Sophie has a ghostly friend, Diana, who dates back to her teenage years, when Sophie was a mental patient. Diana is possessive of Sophie. She deals with meddlers in painful, terrifying ways. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) PG-13, 1:21 “Microbe & Gasoline”: Daniel (Ange Dargent), aka Microbe, a small, artistically talented eighth-grader, becomes best friends with Théo (Théophile Baquet), aka Gasoline, a self-confident grease monkey and natural Mr. Fixit. This semi-autobiographical, heartfelt and simple film by French director Michel Gondry centers on this pair of 14-yearold misfits who embark on an unauthorized road trip in a homemade jalopy. (Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post) PG-13, 1:43 “Mike and Dave Need
Wedding Dates”: Two brothers (Adam Devine and Zac Efron) are the life of the party — but also the death of it, as they don’t know when to stop. When their sister is about to get hitched in Hawaii, the family determines female companions will keep the guys from their usual antics. But their Craigslist dates are not what they seemed in this flamboyantly raunchy comedy.
½ (Stephanie Merry, Washington Post) R, 1:38 “Our Little Sister”: Filmmaker Hirokazu Koreeda focuses initially on three sisters in their 20s who live together in a ramshackle house in a seaside town south of Tokyo. But the plot kicks in when the sisters receive the news that their estranged father has died. At the funeral, they meet Suzu, the shy half-sister they didn’t know they had. Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times) PG, 2:06 “The Secret Life of Pets”: A playful premise, endearing performances (featuring the voices of Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate and Albert Brooks) and outstanding score make “Pets” fun family fare. Two wouldbe rivals fighting for the love of their owner are forced to unite for a common cause when they get separated from their dog walker and captured by animal control. Sandy Cohen, Associated Press) PG, 1:31
“Star Trek Beyond”: This latest feature film pulled from the hallowed TV series isn’t quite up to the 2009 and 2013 movies. But it’s still fun. We still care about the people, and the effects manage to look a little more elegant and interesting. The nemesis this time is a lizard fellow named Krall, played by Idris Elba. Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto) and the rest of the gang reassemble to defeat him. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune) PG-13, 2:02