As an action-adventure film, this one is adequate but there is a sense that the production should be more special than “adequate.”

Run Time: 1:31
U.S. Release Date: 2023-06-30
MPAA Rating: "PG"
Genre: Animated
Director: Kirk DeMicco
Cast: Lana Condor, Toni Collette, Annie Murphy, ...

Although the movie has the capacity to engage and entertain young children, its bland storyline and cut-rate animation will not impress many adults.

Run Time: 1:44
U.S. Release Date: 2023-06-16
MPAA Rating: "PG-13" (Nudity)
Genre: Comedy
Director: Wes Anderson
Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, ...

An occasionally enjoyable diversion that offers enough low-key laughs to paper over a few the filmmaker’s annoying tendencies.

Lawrence and Feldman play well off one another, but the movie needs more than that chemistry to be an unqualified success.

Beneath all the gags, jokes, and one-liners, it dissects not only the role of Black characters in horror movies but the perception of Black viewers of those characters.

Run Time: 1:43
U.S. Release Date: 2023-06-16
MPAA Rating: "PG"
Genre: Animated
Director: Peter Sohn
Cast: Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen, Shila Ommi, Catherine O’Hara, Wendi McLendon-Covey

A romantic comedy that uses allegory to touch on issues as wide-ranging as bigotry, immigration, and children trying to live up to parental expectations.

Run Time: 2:24
U.S. Release Date: 2023-06-16
MPAA Rating: "PG-13" (Violence)
Genre: Action/Science Fiction
Director: Andy Muschietti
Cast: Ezra Miller, Michael Keaton, Ben Affleck, Sasha Calle, Michael Shannon, Ron Livingston

The best things – or at least the most memorable ones – are rooted in fan service and nostalgia. The movie, although too long by about 45 minutes, is enjoyable on that level.

There’s nothing remotely adult to be found here, even for those deep in the grip of nostalgia.

As horror movies go, this one lacks much to distinguish it; despite the “based on the work of Stephen King” tag, it is generic in approach and result.

Just as rambunctious, psychedelic, and occasionally spastic as its precursor, but it may not have the same impact following in the footsteps of a trailblazer.