What to Watch in the Theater:
John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (R) is in theaters now. This shoot ’em up sequel picks up right where Chapter 2 ended, during Wick’s one-hour head start before he’s declared excommunicado by the High Table, and the contract on his head is activated. The body count grows, as he tries to call in favors and establish new alliances. Winston and the Bowery King are punished for helping Wick, and there’s a major battle for control of the Continental. This movie is one long fight scene after another, stitched together by small plot points and questionable allegiances. The choreography becomes a bit tiresome after a while.
Our rating: 3.75 out of 5
Poms (PG13) is in theaters now. Martha moves to a retirement community, essentially just to die, but decides to embark on a bucket list activity – becoming a cheerleader. She enlists the help of her neighbors, and they face a lot of obstacles on their road to a competition. This movie features some amusing, although almost caricature-ish older female characters, although Diane Keaton’s lead role is a bit of a disappointment. There’s a nice blend of old and new generations, and some good messages about friendships.
Our rating: 3 out of 5
Brightburn (R) opens today. This movie turns the traditional Superman origin story into a horror, with 12-year-old Brandon discovering his superhuman powers, along with the backstory his loving adoptive parents never shared with him before. As puberty hits, he secretly goes on a violent rampage in his small town, resulting in some serious gore (not suitable for anyone who is squeamish). This film moved briskly along and the story was compelling, with some good jump scares.
Our rating: 4.5 out of 5
What to Watch at Home (Or Not):
Good Sam (TVPG) is streaming exclusively on Netflix. We follow TV news reporter, Kate, as she tries to learn the identity of the good samaritan who keeps leaving sacks of cash on the doorsteps of deserving individuals in need. In the process, she develops relationships with two men, who may or may not be directly involved in the case. Think of this as a Netflix Hallmark movie – not overly complex, but a pleasant enough watch.
Our rating: 3.33 out of 5
Plus box office results and our interview with Dreamworks animator, Simon Otto, about How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World.