Heart of Stone is a generically plotted but nonetheless engaging spy action-thriller that bucks the trend of recent Netflix blockbusters by feeling like it was made with some semblance of a soul, thanks to some lively filmmaking, charismatic performances, and a script that injects some humanity into the formulaic structure.
You Hurt My Feelings is a smart and calculated look at the lies we all tell to support and validate one another, which writer-director Nicole Holofcener handles delicately along with some neatly understated turns from the likes of Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Tobias Menzies.
Gran Turismo is a mostly entertaining wish-fulfilment sports movie that doesn’t attempt to hide its blatant commercialism nor its various storytelling tropes, but is well-executed enough to serve as a wholly decent crowd-pleaser.
Meg 2: The Trench is a gloriously dumb B-movie monster sequel that, critically speaking, is perhaps too stupid to fathom, but thanks to some playful filmmaking by Ben Wheatley and a cast led by Jason Statham who are similarly refusing to take this material seriously, it’s a brainless blast that’s best experienced with a bit of booze in your system.
Joy Ride is a largely amusing raunchy comedy that, in addition to some very funny set-pieces and gags, offers a liberating perspective on female sexuality as well as intriguing commentary on racial identity, and is held together by four dedicated lead turns, even when the film starts to fall apart in the third act.
Certificate: PG Running Time: 100 mins UK Distributor: Paramount Pictures WHO’S IN TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM? Nicolas Cantu, Brady...
The Beanie Bubble is a lively and competently made account of the meteoritic popularity of Beanie Babies that features some strong central performances, but much like the toys themselves it is slightly under-stuffed, thanks to conventional storytelling and bland cinematography.
They Cloned Tyrone has a fun retro Blaxploitation style, and some lively central performances, but it disappointingly comes up short on its ability to provide fresh and entertaining commentary.
Barbie is a highly intelligent and often very funny dissection of the iconic doll and her contribution to both popular culture and general society, which Greta Gerwig handles with such care and joy that makes it hard to resist playing with.