What to Watch in the Theater:
Playing with Fire (PG) is in theaters now. This movie is a double “fish out of water” story. When three young siblings end up stranded at a firehouse, not only are THEY out of their element, but so is Supe (played by John Cena), the very serious, dedicated leader of the Smokejumpers. His crew more easily welcomes the distraction of the kids, although they cause all kinds of trouble. There are lots of laugh out loud moments, with physical comedy and gross-out gags, plus some comedic personalities. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a fun family film without a significant helping of heartwarming.
Our rating: 4.17 out of 5
Charlie’s Angels (PG13) opens today. I don’t know if we needed another film in this franchise, but this one is a wild adventure that fulfills all the needs we never knew we had. A global Townsend Agency with multiple Bosleys takes what originated as a successful 70s TV show, and skyrockets that into James Bond-like territory. These ladies are female action heroes, with the wardrobe and gadgets of Super Spies! While the fighting features much more weaponry than the 70s or 2000s versions of the franchise, it’s thrilling to watch these women get the job done. AND the plot is twisty, which is always a bonus!
Our rating: 5 out of 5 (Max actually gave it a 6.5)
Doctor Sleep (R) is in theaters now. This sequel to the Shining features a grown-up Dan (Ewan McGregor), who’s been trying to avoid his “Shine.” He meets a girl with similar powers, and must help her avoid capture by the True Knot, a cult of beings that feed on the Shine. Bad things happen to good people, and there’s a lot of creepiness here, although it’s not as scary as the original. The psychic connections offer an interesting premise, and the True Knot is definitely evil, but the movie doesn’t get super scary until Dan and his new friend take a step back into his past.
Our rating: 4.125 out of 5
What to Watch at Home (Or Not):
Let It Snow (PG13) is streaming exclusively on Netflix. From the get go, this movie felt like another teen angst piece, with a holiday setting. We meet several teens in a small town, whose lives are intertwined because it’s a small town, and they have different storylines ranging from unrequited love to best friend crush to accidental meeting with celebrity. There’s a bit of originality here and there, but the material is pretty formulaic.
Our rating: 2.67 out of 5
Plus box office results, movie news, the latest movie trailers and what’s new on DVD and Blu-Ray.