THE TOP
The top five movies at the North American box office:
Venom: Tom Hardy stars as Eddie Brock, a muckraking journalist who picks up a parasitic alien passenger after visiting an evil entrepreneur’s lab. There are problems with plot and motivation, but on the plus side some solid banter — Hardy also does the deep voice of Venom. Still, not quite up to Marvel’s or D.C.’s latest. ★★★ (Chris Knight)
A Star Is Born: Starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper (who also directs) as star-crossed lovers, this is the fifth incarnation of a familiar tale, but it’s never been better. The two leads have genuine chemistry that receives full melodramatic expression in several spectacular musical performances. Sure it’s maudlin and overly earnest, but it’s also an ecstatic re-telling of a love story that we never can say goodbye to. ★★★★1/2 (Calum Marsh)
Smallfoot: Those with the smallest feet (kids!) will most enjoy this story of yeti-meets-human, although parents may be alternately bored by the musical-laced plot — and worried about the “question authority in all its forms” subtext. Channing Tatum voices the main yeti, with James Corden as his human pal. ★★1/2 (Chris Knight)
Night School: While the humour in Night School gets a resounding C+ for its intermittent greatness, the film’s storyline is actually well written — for a dumb comedy, at least. While Night School passes the grade, the film’s undeveloped potential is not the greatest use of its top talent. And that’s a shame. ★★★ (Tina Hassannia) The House with a Clock in Its Walls: Jack Black and Cate Blanchett star, and Eli Roth directs, which sounds like the recipe for a horrible movie. In fact, this family-friendly fright-fest is pretty fun, as an orphaned 10-yearold moves in with his uncle and must fight demonic horological forces; alarming clocks, if you will. ★★★ (Chris Knight)