MOVIE MINIS

NEW IN THEATERS “Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie”

B Edina and Patsy reunite and create an international incident while trying to snag a big model for Eddie’s flagging PR firm. It’s a needed dose of escapism with these two lovable and wickedly funny dames. Starring Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley. Directed by Mandie Fletcher. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated R for language including sexual references, and some drug use. At Lefont Sandy Springs, Regal Hollywood, GTC Merchants Walk. 1 hour, 30 minutes.

“Captain Fantastic”

B+ Ben is raising is six children in a rural compound, but when they go visit family, questions are raised about how they cope with the world. This is an original and compelling take on the well-worn territory of family ties. Starring Viggo Mortensen, Frank Langella and George MacKay. Directed by Matt Ross. (Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times) Rated R for language and brief graphic nudity. At AMC Phipps and Landmark’s Midtown Art. 1 hour, 58 minutes.

“Equals”

C+ Messy emotions have been genetically modified out of humans, but two people fall in love and the only way they can be together is to run away. It’s thoughtfully and carefully crafted but has no message so ends up not saying anything at all. Starring Nicholas Hoult, Kristen Stewart and Jacki Weaver. Directed by Drake Doremus. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for thematic content, sensuality, partial nudity and disturbing images. At AMC North DeKalb and AMC Southlake. 1 hour, 41 minutes.

“Ice Age: Collision Course”

D As the wooly mammoths prepare to marry off their daughter, the ancient animals also must find magnetic crystals to use to set an asteroid off course. This installment is a perfunctory, watered-down film. Starring Ray Romano, Denis Leary and John Leguizamo. Directed by Mike Thurmeier and Galen T. Chu. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for mild rude humor and some action/peril. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 34 minutes. PARENTS

GUIDE This is an animated adventure film that’s appropriate for the whole family. There is some action and peril, but nothing too scary for little kids.

“Lights Out”

B Mom has a ghostly friend and the kids try to fight the demon that terrorizes their mother and threatens their lives. It’s smart and stripped down and will make you scared of the dark. Starring Teresa Palmer, Maria Bello and Gabriel Bateman. Directed by David F. Sandberg. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for terror throughout, violence including disturbing images, some thematic material and brief drug content. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 21 minutes.

“Microbe and Gasoline”

Not reviewed in time for

publication. Two outcasts hatch a plan to build a car and spend their summer on a road trip across France. Starring Ange Dargent and Theophile Baquet. Directed by Michel Gondry. Rated PG-13 for some sex-related material involving young teens. At Landmark’s Midtown Art. 1 hour, 43 minutes.

“Star Trek Beyond”

B The crew of The Enterprise fights nemesis Krall during an alien warrior race. It’s fun, you care about the people and the effects look elegant and interesting. Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Karl Urban. Directed by Justin Lin. (Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune) Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 2 minutes.

STILL SHOWING “Angry Birds”

B The angriest of the birds, Red, tries to warn his fellow fowls that the pigs are bad news, but they don’t listen until the pirate pigs begin carrying off their eggs for a feast on Piggy Island. The film is more than just a gimmick and doesn’t skimp on the quirky wackiness that’s expected. Starring Jason Sudeikis, Josh Gad, Danny McBride and Maya Rudolph. Directed by Clay Kittis and Fergal Reilly. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for rude humor and action. At Picture Show at Merchants Exchange. 1 hour, 37 minutes.

“The BFG”

B The Big Friendly Giant spirits away a precocious orphan to his Giant Country. The BFG must protect his charge from child-hungry giants. The book adaptation hit homes in spots with wistful emotion and a softness to the dramatic arc of the film. Starring Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill and Penelope Wilton. Directed by Steven Spielberg. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for action/peril, some scary moments and brief rude humor. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 57 minutes.

“Central Intelligence”

C A CIA agent drags a high school acquaintance into a “top-secret case” and there are shots fired and the duo is on the run. It’s a chase movie that goes nowhere and from which there is no escape. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart and Amy Ryan. Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber. (Colin Covert, Star Tribune-Minneapolis) Rated PG-13 for crude and suggestive humor, some nudity, action violence and brief strong language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 54 minutes.

“Finding Dory”

B+ Nemo and his dad work to help Dory find her long-lost parents who she barely remembers. The animation is spectacular and it’s impressive how the film celebrates those who are differently-abled. Starring the voices of Ellen DeGeneres, Albert Brooks and Ed O’Neill. Directed by Andrew Stanton and Angus MacLane. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Services) Rated PG for mild thematic elements. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 40 minutes.

“Ghostbusters”

B This reboot with female characters shares the same story as the original — fighting ghosts in comic ways. It’s hilarious, spooky and manages to capture the irreverent fun of the original. Starring Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. Directed by Paul Feig. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for supernatural action and some crude humor. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 56 minutes.

“Hunt for the Wilderpeople”

B An orphaned juvenile delinquent is sent to live with foster parents in the New Zealand bush, where he finds out what it takes to make a family. The film possesses a goofy irreverence and the added bonus of spectacular scenery. Starring Julian Dennison, Sam Neill and Rima Te Wiata. Directed by Taika Waititi. (Ann Hornaday, Washington Post) Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, violence and some coarse language. At Landmark Midtown Art and AMC Colonial. 1 hour, 41 minutes.

“The Infiltrator”

BA U.S. Customs agent goes undercover and weasels his way into the good graces of the Medellin cartel, eventually into the realm of Pablo Escobar. It’s a true-crime story, adapted from an autobiographical account, that sometimes crackles with nervous suspense. Starring Bryan Cranston and Diane Kruger. Directed by Ellen Brown Furman. (Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune) Rated R for strong violence, language throughout, some sexual content and drug material. At metro theaters. 2 hours, 7 minutes.

“The Innocents”

A In December 1945, Poland is occupied by Russian troops and convent was the site of multiple rapes, which results in more than a half dozen nuns becoming pregnant. Only one doctor is allowed in to treat the nuns. It explores a number of compelling moral issues. Starring Lou de Laage, Agata Buzek and Janna Kulig. Directed by Anne Fontaine. In French, Polish and Russian with English subtitles. (Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times) Not rated. At Lefont Sandy Springs and Landmark Midtown Art. 1 hour, 55 minutes.

“Life, Animated”

C+ A boy who was diagnosed with autism comes out of his shell with the help of Disney movies. The documentary makes fascinating points about the power of cinema and who gets to decide what constitutes a meaningful life. Starring Owen Suskind and Ron Suskind. Directed by Roger Ross Williams. (Ann Hornaday, Washington Post) Rated PG for mature thematic elements and strong language including a suggestive reference. At Tara Theatre. 1 hour, 31 minutes.

“Love & Friendship”

A Two women in 1790s England navigate the stratified class system while searching for husbands. The film, adapted from the Jane Austen’s “Lady Susan,” is immensely charming and laugh-out-loud funny. Starring Kate Beckinsale and Chloe Sevigny. Directed by Whit Stillman. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for some thematic elements. At Lefont Sandy Springs and AMC Mansell Crossing. 1 hour, 32 minutes.

“The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble”

B The documentary looks at cellist Yo-Yo Ma and how he assembles a collective of musicians from around the world to share their traditions and make something fresh. It offers an inspiring look at creative people from different walks of life, but it seemed to want to cover more ground than it can in an hour-and-a-half. Starring Yo-Yo Ma, Cristina Pato and Wu Man. Directed by Morgan Neville. (Stephanie Merry, Washington Post) Rated PG-13 but contains brief strong language. At Tara Theatre. 1 hour, 36 minutes.

“Now You See Me 2”

C The four magicians are abducted to help a tech entrepreneur steal a computer chip. Many questions aren’t answered, but it’s almost sinfully fun, assuming you have a taste for self-indulgently logic-free hedonism. Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo and Woody Harrelson. Directed by Jon M. Chu. (Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post) Rated PG-13 for violence and some coarse language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 55 minutes.

“Our Kind of Traitor”

C+ A couple is on vacation when they meet a Russian money-launderer and agree to help the criminal get his family to England. The look of the film is slick, but not quite right for the story and the actors, for the most part, struggle. Starring Naomie Harris, Ewan McGregor and Stellan Skarsgard. Directed by Susanna White. (Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune) Rated R for violence, language throughout, some sexuality, nudity and brief drug use. At Lefont Sandy Springs. 1 hour, 47 minutes.

“Secret Life of Pets”

C+ Katie’s mutt is unhappy when she brings a new dog home, but they bond after becoming separated from the pack during a walk. It’s a cute and funny film, but there’s not much going on, thematically or emotionally below the surface. Starring Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart and Jenny Slate. Directed by Chris Renaud and Yarrow Cheney. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG for action and some rude humor. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 30 minutes.

“The Shallows”

C+ A med student goes surfing alone and is stalked by a great white shark. It’s a splash of cheesiness, but it’s just silly enough to be the perfect summer thriller. Starring Blake Lively, Oscar Jaenada and Brett Cullen. Directed by Jaume Collet-Serra. (Katie Walsh, Tribune News Service) Rated PG-13 for bloody images, intense sequences of peril, and brief strong language. At metro theaters. 1 hour, 27 minutes.

“Swiss Army Man”

C A man stranded on a desert island finds a friend when a corpse washes up on shore. The film has a rare degree of gofor-broke weirdness, but not in a good way. Starring Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe. Directed by Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan. (Colin Covert, Star Tribune-Minneapolis) Rated R for language and sexual material. At AMC Mansell Crossing. 1 hour, 35 minutes.