What to Watch in the Theater:
Life of the Party (PG13) is in theaters now. Melissa McCarthy faces mean girls and frat boys  in this comedy about a divorced mom heading back to her alma mater for senior year. Her daughter is also a senior there, and if the premise sounds familiar, think “Back to School” from 1986, but from a female perspective. It’s a funny, feel-good film about believing in yourself and having fun.
Our rating: 4.17 out of 5

Breaking In (PG13) is in theaters now. Shaun (well-played by Gabrielle Union) takes her two kids to prep her late dad’s house for sale. They discover the house is like a fortress, full of the latest high-tech security. They also find a pack of dangerous guys trying to rob it. Shaun does everything in her power – and then some – in an attempt to save her kids. This is a great action film, without foul language or much gore, that shows just how strong a mother can be.
Our rating: 4 out of 5

What to Watch at Home (Or Not):
Mary and the Witch’s Flower (PG) is on DVD. This anime is the first for Studio Ponoc, which was started by a former Studio Ghibli producer, and the similarities are apparent. Mary gets temporary magic from a mysterious flower, and is transported to a school for witches. When her new friend is kidnapped, she must figure out how to save the day. The animation and characters feel familiar, with fantastic creatures, family secrets and a whole lot of fun!
Our rating: 4.33 out of 5

The Commuter (PG13) is on DVD. Liam Neeson is still doing action films, and that still works for us. This one is like “Non-Stop,” but on a train instead of a plane. A mysterious woman offers Mike $100,000 for doing a small thing. He just lost his job, so he needs the money, but as his ex-cop investigative skills kick in, he realizes the consequences are much higher than he thought. It’s a mystery and action film all in one, and a thrilling ride, without the gore and language you’d normally find in this type of movie. (We commend Liam for continuing this trend of  PG13 action films.)
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

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What to Watch in the Theater:
Overboard (PG13) is in theaters now. This bilingual comedy, which is a remake of the 1987 movie with the roles reversed, is a fun watch. Single mom, Kate (Anna Faris), convinces amnesiac rich playboy, Leo (Eugenio Derbez), that he’s husband and father to her three girls. It’s a fish out of water story that morphs into a rom com. The role reversal really works, the personalities are quirky and interesting, and even if you know how it’s going to end, it’s still an exciting and heartwarming ride.
Our rating: 4.17 out of 5

Tully (R) is in theaters now. Charlize Theron does a great job portraying a mother who’s completely overwhelmed as she welcomes her third child. She begrudgingly accepts help in the form of a night nanny, and a new voyage of self discovery begins. There’s a rollercoaster of emotions here, as we watch her deal with everything life throws her way. A great supporting cast makes this a well-rounded watch, which brings up some interesting issues.
Our rating: 4.25 out of 5

What to Watch at Home (Or Not):
Father Figures (R) is on DVD. This movie feels familiar – like Mamma Mia for men, but without all the production numbers, with a little bit of Delivery Man thrown in. Twins Kyle (Owen Wilson) and Pete (Ed Helms) go on a journey to find their real dad, following clues from their mother (Glenn Close) and each potential candidate. Along the way, they hear A LOT about their mother’s sex life, which is part funny and part creepy. They also learn about each other and themselves, and rediscover their relationship as brothers.
Our rating: 3.5 out of 5

The Great British Baking Show is on Netflix. Love cooking contests, but hate keeping track of when the next show is going to air? There are seasons upon seasons of this one for you to binge watch at your leisure (pronounce LEH-zhur, not LEE-zhur, because this is a British show, after all!). It’s fun and quirky, and full of interesting confections you don’t normally see in the US.
We recommend you check it out!

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What to Watch in the Theater:
Isle of Dogs (PG13) is in theaters now. This stop-motion animation is about dogs exiled to a Japanese island full of garbage, and the boy who attempts to rescue his dog. It’s presented in an interesting way, with the pairing of English-speaking dogs and subtitled/translated humans speaking Japanese, with a taiko drum soundtrack. The adventure is full of twists and turns, and some great artistry. We just wish we knew what the little pilot was saying!
Our rating: 4 out of 5

Super Troopers 2 (R) is in theaters now. We didn’t feel we missed too much by not seeing the first installment. There were plenty of funny bits here (and some naughty bits as well), although the American/Canadian rivalry wore a little thin by the end. The slapstick, pranks and adolescent humor won’t be for everyone, but if you’re a fan of the genre, go for it – eh?
Our rating: 3.5 out of 5

What to Watch at Home (Or Not):
Call Me By Your Name (R) This film may has been lauded for its groundbreaking subject matter in mainstream film, but it’s not the easiest watch. The romance is at times sweet and sometimes bordering on creepy. It feels like a European film – with beautiful scenery and an incredibly slow pace (clocking in at a painful 2 hours and 12 minutes). It’s not something to watch for entertainment, but more for the messages. Though nudity was limited and situations were handled with discretion, it could be an uncomfortable watch for some.
Our rating: 3 out of 5

The Week Of (TV14) Oh Netflix, please stop throwing money at Adam Sandler! There are some funny situations and characters here, but it just feels forced. The premise is that Long Island small-time remodeler Sandler’s daughter is marrying Beverly Hills surgeon Chris Rock’s son. There’s a lot of class- and race-based stuff here. If this were the first Adam Sandler movie we watched, we would probably not watch another. Luckily, we’ve seen his earlier, really good stuff, so we keep hanging on, hoping for more of that.
Our rating: 2 out of 5

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What to Watch in the Theater:
I Feel Pretty (PG13) is in theaters now. It’s a funny film about a woman who turns her life around when a bump on the head causes her to see herself differently. Amy Schumer, as Renee, is at her best here, both when her character is lacking in confidence and then over-confident. It’s fun to see how Renee’s new-found love of herself affects others – from their initial reactions of disbelief, to an infectious belief in her. Good messages here about the way you look at other people, and yourself.
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5

Avengers: Infinity War (PG13) opens today. Better hurry and see this one, before the spoilers get to you! This is the biggest Marvel movie ever  – everything we’ve seen so far has led up to this one (#19). There’s a lot going on here, but one main story line – Thanos is trying to obtain all the infinity stones and take over the universe. It’s up to our heroes – in some fun new combinations – to fight their hardest for everything and everyone they care about. Of course there’s lots of action, some of it quite devastating, and some good comedic bits as well. We are now officially counting the days to Avengers 4, and it can’t come soon enough.
Our rating: 5 out of 5 (though Max actually gave it a 6)

What to Watch at Home (Or Not):
Heist (R) This heist movie had more heart than we expected, and less violence than usual. Luke Vaughn (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) resorts to robbing the casino where he works, to pay for his daughter’s operation. He finds himself on the run – with hostages on a city bus – not only from the police, but also from his boss (Robert De Niro). The story and characters are relatively complex, and there are some very entertaining twists.
Our rating: 4 out of 5

Friend Request (R) It’s another scary movie about a group of college students, with a supernatural element that’s picking them off one by one. It seems like a blend of other movies, but the social media element adds some extra stuff we haven’t seen before. We wanted a little more in the evil backstory, but it’s got some good scares and is an entertaining watch, if you like this type of movie.
Our rating: 3.75 out of 5

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