What to Watch in the Theater:
Miss Bala (PG13) is in theaters now. This story is about Gloria, an American of Mexican descent, who travels to Tijuana to help her best friend with a pageant. She ends up being kidnapped by a gang of drug and arms dealers, and learns that even the DEA and local police can’t (or won’t) help her. The syndicate leader, Lino, takes a liking to her, and she reluctantly works to gain his trust, so he will help her find her friend. In the process, she learns things like gun skills and just how far she’s willing to go to survive. Gloria is an empowering female protagonist, and although there is some violence, keeping it PG13 was appreciated, and allows this cautionary tale a wider audience.
Our rating: 4.25 out of 5
The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (PG) opens today. The Bricksburg gang is back, but the years have not been kind to them, with an alien invasion causing destruction and distrust. Everything is NOT awesome, but plucky Emmet is still optimistic, much to Lucy’s chagrin. We get more glimpses into the human world, as invaders from the Sistar System kidnap many of the characters, and Emmet journeys to save them. Along the way, we meet Rex Dangervest and find a happy, colorful world full of fun new characters, including their ruler, Queen Watevra Wa’Nabi. We feel we need to watch again, for the jokes we missed when the audience was laughing so hard, but we’re looking forward to it, as this sequel is just as much fun as the original.
Our rating: 4.83 out of 5
What to Watch at Home (Or Not):
Peppermint (R) is on DVD. Jennifer Garner goes back to her action roots (and then some), as Riley North, a mom turned vigilante. She returns from hiding (and training) five years after the murder of her family, to exact vengeance on every criminal and corrupt official responsible for the crime and lack of punishment for the murderers. Though extremely violent, it’s inspiring to see how much planning and training she’s put in to getting justice for her husband and daughter. There are some twists, and she’s an avenging angel for more than just her lost loved ones. Although somewhat predictable, it was a thrilling ride with a seriously butt-kicking female lead.
Our rating: 4.25 out of 5
IO (TV14) is a Netlix original movie. This story takes place in the not too distant future, where most of earth’s inhabitants have died or fled to space colonies. The planet’s air is almost gone, and Sam lives on a hill overlooking a dead city, where she does science experiments, continuing her father’s work, and raises her own vegetables. She refuses to join her beau on a colony, keeping up hope for a better future on earth, and then a stranger shows up. The movie is very slow, sometimes confusing, and has some scientific inaccuracies. There are some interesting parts and a determined, though very flawed, female lead.
Our rating: 3 out of 5
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