Cafè Society

☆☆☆1/2

+
Directed by Woody Allen, "Cafè Society" is an engaging romantic comedy that takes viewers back to old Hollywood where Bobby (Jesse Eisenberg) moves from New York to L.A. to find work in the entertainment business with Uncle Phil (Steve Carell).
_
Less comedy...and more tragic romance.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 25 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie

☆☆☆1/2

+
Finally Ab Fab has made it to the big screen with the entertaining story of Edina (Jennifer Saunders) and Patsy (Joanna Lumley) on the run to the French Riviera.

Starring Kate Moss (as herself) and Chris Colfer ("Glee") as Edina's hair and make-up person.
_
Fans of the T.V. show will appreciate this film MUCH more than people meeting these two characters for the first time.

Rated R
1 hr. 26 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Ghostbusters

☆☆☆☆

+
Thirty years after the original, "Ghostbusters" returns with some of today's best comedic actresses including Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live), and Leslie Jones (Saturday Night Live).

Better special affects, funnier cast, and scarier ghosts.
_
Entertaining...but a so-so script holds it back.

The hilarious Kate McKinnon missed her chance to shine because her character was so poorly written.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 45 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

The Lobster

☆☆

+
In a film tied with "Swiss Army Man" for most original...Colin Farrell stars as David, a man who finds himself single in a world where single people have 45 days to find love or else be turned into an animal of their choice.
_
Starts as an interesting idea, and then makes a dive into just plain bizarre.

Rated R
1 hr. 58 min.

Visit the movie website and see the trailer.

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates

☆☆☆☆

+
"Mike and Dave..." is the laugh out loud funny story of two out of control brothers who are required by their parents to bring wedding dates to their sister's wedding...to help keep them in line.

Adam Devine ("Pitch Perfect" and "Modern Family") and Aubrey Plaza ("The Office") really deliver the comedy.
_
This film comes very close to crossing the line into "silly," but good performances keep that from happening.

Rated R
1 hr. 38 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

The BFG

☆☆☆☆

+
Directed by Steven Spielberg, "The BFG" (Big Friendly Giant) is the charming story of a young girl who is captured by a friendly giant with an endearing smile.
The two (with the help of the Queen of England) take-on the unfriendly (man eating) giants.

Extra ☆ for some of the best (and most seamless) animation to date.
-
Could use a little more magic.

Rated PG
1 hr. 55 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Swiss Army Man

☆☆☆

+
In this off-beat, wacky drama (some say comedy) Hank (Paul Dano) appears to be stranded on a desert island when Manny (corpse played by Daniel Radcliffe) washes up on shore...and becomes Hank's "friend."

The most original movie in years...with two actors that completely "commit" to their performances.
_
Most critics refer to Hank's "journey" with Manny as imagination.
This critic sees Hank as a troubled young man dealing with serious mental illness.

Way too much focus on the gas in Manny's body.

Rated R
1 hr. 35 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

The Shallows

☆☆☆☆

+
In this tense thriller, Blake Lively (well-cast) gives a strong ("tough") performance as a med student who takes time off to surf a secluded Mexican beach where a great white shark is defending his feeding ground.
-
The ending is questionable.

Rated: PG-13
1 hr. 27 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.