INSTANT FAMILY (12)
THE 12th film in the sprawling X-Men series is a disjointed gallop through genre tropes and predictable narrative twists. There are plenty of tears on screen but not a single droplet from us as superpowered characters make bold sacrifices for people they love and writer-director Simon Kinberg unleashes a blitzkrieg of spectacular but soulless action sequences.
Two-time Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain is squandered in a pivotal but thankless supporting role as an otherworldly puppet master, who intends to eradicate mankind from the third rock from the Sun.
Jennifer Lawrence is also poorly served as a blueskinned mother hen of the dysfunctional brood but she does pickpocket the film’s best line. “The women are always saving the men around here. You might want to change the name to X-Women,” she snarls.
Nine years have passed since the events of X-Men: Apocalypse when Professor X (James McAvoy) and Magneto (Michael Fassbender)
unlocked the telekinetic powers of Jean Grey (Sophie Turner).
The X-Men are now on speed-dial to the White House, and are called on to rescue the stricken crew of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which is spinning violently out of control after a close encounter with a solar flare.
During the rescue mission, Jean absorbs dangerous levels of energy and the near-death experience unleashes years of pent-up rage and frustration.
A shape-shifting alien (Chastain) exploits Jean’s inner turmoil to rebuild her species’ fallen empire.
“It’s your destiny to evolve into the greatest force on the galaxy,” the scheming extra-terrestrial informs Jean.
Turner works hard to channel her beleaguered heroine’s confusion and despair.
She may rise like a flaming phoenix but Kinberg’s film never takes off and certainly doesn’t catch fire. ★★★★★
TOUCHING comedy drama. Pete Wagner (Mark Wahlberg) and wife Ellie (Rose Byrne) have never seriously discussed raising children until an argument between Ellie and her sister prompts a debate about foster parenting. Pete and Ellie undergo a training course run by social workers Sharon (Tig Notaro) and Karen (Octavia Spencer), who hammer home the emotional toll that lies ahead. Once Pete and Ellie qualify, they offer a home to 15-year-old Lizzy (Isabela Moner) and her two younger siblings. After a blissful honeymoon period, the Wagners clash with Lizzy and relatives of the couple rally round.
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