By Kurt Jensen A lack of originality, treacly sentiment and a wholly unjustified two-hour, 36-minute running time combine to weigh down the sci-fi adventure Project Hail Mary (Amazon MGM). While it does include themes that might prove too frightening for little kids, the film is nonetheless sufficiently free of objectionable content to make it appropriate for teens as well as grown-ups. ...

By Joseph McAleer Moviegoers can count on consuming quite a few Kleenex while watching Reminders of Him (Universal) a romantic drama that, when not taxing the tear ducts, offers a compelling take on loss, grief and reconciliation. Based on the bestselling novel by Colleen Hoover (who co-wrote the screenplay with Lauren Levine), the film is reminiscent of a Nicholas Sparks adaptation, a t...

By John Mulderig Although the environmentally themed animated comedy Hoppers (Disney) has everything to do with animals, it has little to do with rabbits. Instead, the title refers to an imaginary technology that allows humans to infuse their consciousness into robots disguised as various fauna and to communicate with real animals. The main person doing such ‘hopping’ throughout the film...

Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi star in a scene from the movie “Wuthering Heights." Photo: OSV/Warner Bros. Pictures. By Joseph McAleer “Barbie” meets “Bridgerton” in "Wuthering Heights," the latest screen version of the beloved 1847 novel by Emily Bronte. Writer-director Emerald Fennell has placed those quotation marks around the film’s title to indicate that this is not a faithful ad...

By John Mulderig With apologies to pulp fiction crime writer Mickey Spillane, the dystopian thriller "Mercy" (Amazon MGM) might more aptly be called AI the Jury. That’s because, in the film’s near-future setting, artificial intelligence is empowered to fight crime by generating a rough sort of justice. As explained in the opening scenes, societal breakdown has led to the establishment of...

By Kurt Jensen There is not one ounce of cynicism in "Song Sung Blue" (Focus), the fact-based tale of a Neil Diamond cover band from Milwaukee. And therein lies immense power. The example set by Mike Sardina (Hugh Jackman) and his wife Claire (Kate Hudson), both of whom struggle with the legacy of a difficult past, is one of unswerving perseverance. Nor are they grimly stoic about their ...

Bereaved by the sudden demise of his parents, Elio is also at odds with his new guardian, his Aunt Olga (voice of Zoe Saldaña).

Tom Cruise stars in a scene from the movie "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation." The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. Photo: OSV News/Paramount. Tom Cruise takes his eighth turn as infinitely resourceful spy Ethan Hunt in the grand-scale...

This is a scene from the movie “Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé.” The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association. Photo: OSV News photo/Mason Poole, Renaissance. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR USE OF THIS PHOTO IN CONJUNCTION WITH COVERAGE OF THE RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR. NO OTHER USE OF THIS PHOTO IS APPROVED. Beyoncé Knowles-Carter has a lot she wants to say...

Assessed for its morality, Disney’s new The Marvels is being considered a quirky, sometimes humorous but more often confusing superhero adventure, presenting a mixed bag of ingredients that will likely appeal to some viewers but not others.