OPENING
Anaconda (PG-13) B- if you haven’t seen the original, B if you have. Paul Rudd stars as a struggling Hollywood actor who boasts to his friends back in Buffalo about acquiring the rights to the notoriously bad 1997 film and organizes a trip to the Amazon to shoot a remake. Director and co-writer Tom Gormican (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent) cleverly pokes fun at the original, and Jack Black, playing the remake’s director, elevates this film into a more enjoyable comedy than either The Minecraft Movie or any Jumanji sequel. Selton Mello, known for the Oscar-winning I’m Still Here, plays a riverboat captain with a delightful sense of humor in English. The cast also features Thandiwe Newton, Steve Zahn, Daniela Melchior, Ione Skye, John Billingsley, Ice Cube, and an uncredited Jennifer Lopez. (Opens Thursday)
Champion (NR) This sports drama centers on an Indian soccer player (Roshann Meka) striving to achieve his dream of playing professionally in London before 1948. The film also stars Anaswara Rajan, Bhavani Neerati, Hyper Aadi, Santosh Prathap, and Edward Sonnenblick. (Opens Thursday)
Dhandoraa (NR) This Indian drama explores the impact of caste prejudice on a murder investigation in a secluded village. It features performances by Mounika, Nandu Vijay Krishna, Rajasekhar Aningi, Navdeep, Sivaji, and Ravi Krishna. (Opens Thursday)
45 (NR) This Kannada-language action-comedy follows a man whose actions attract the wrath of a mysterious adversary. The film stars Shivarajkumar, Upendra, Raj B. Shetty, Rangayana Raghu, and Jagapathi Babu. (Opens Thursday at AMC Grapevine Mills)
Gezhi Town (NR) In this Chinese war film, Xiao Zhan portrays a craftsman who takes up arms to protect his hometown from Japanese invaders during World War II. The cast also includes Peng Yuchang, Zhou Yiran, Yang Xinming, Gan Yunchen, Yan Zhidu, Zhou Siyu, and Alan Aruna. (Opens Thursday)
Shambhala (NR) Not to be confused with the Nepalese film of the same title from last year, this Indian film features Aadi Sai Kumar as a scientist who experiences supernatural occurrences following a meteor strike in a remote village. The film also stars Swasika Vijay, Archana Iyer, Ravi Varma, Laxman Meesala, and Madhunandan. (Opens Thursday)
Song Sung Blue (PG-13) Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson play Mike and Claire Sardina, a real-life married couple who overcame personal tragedies to form a celebrated Neil Diamond tribute band in Milwaukee during the 1990s. Unfortunately, writer-director Craig Brewer simplifies their story into inspirational cliché, although he does touch on what motivates ordinary people to become cover band musicians and celebrity impersonators. While Jackman and Hudson manage to perform Diamond’s songs adequately, the film lacks dramatic intensity. The cast also includes Ella Anderson, King Princess, Fisher Stevens, Mustafa Shakir, John Beckwith, Shyaporn Theerakulstit, Jim Belushi, and Michael Imperioli. (Opens Thursday)
Tu Meri Main Tera Main Tera Tu (NR) This Indian romantic comedy stars Kartik Aaryan and Ananya Panday as a couple who meet during a chaotic summer in Croatia. The film also features Neena Gupta, Arjan Panwar, Mohit Nehra, Karan Singh Lamba, Gaurav Pandey, and Jackie Shroff. (Opens Thursday)
NOW PLAYING
Avatar: Fire and Ash (PG-13) This installment proves to be more engaging than its predecessors, although it still falls short of greatness. Human character Spider (Jack Champion) gains the ability to breathe Pandora’s atmosphere, complicating his situation as he becomes a target for humans seeking a test subject. The film introduces a new Na’vi clan that allies with humans for access to Earth weapons, offering a more compelling villain than seen in previous entries. While the franchise continues to grapple with its issues, a more skilled writer than James Cameron could potentially revitalize this world. The film includes performances from Zoe Saldaña, Sigourney Weaver, Oona Chaplin, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Brendan Cowell, Giovanni Ribisi, Jemaine Clement, David Thewlis, and Kate Winslet.
David (PG) This animated musical aims to resonate with both Jewish and Christian audiences, but ultimately feels formulaic. The story follows the Biblical figure David (voiced by Brandon Engman as a boy and Phil Wickham as a young man), who is anointed as Israel’s future king, provoking King Saul’s (voiced by Adam Michael Gold) jealousy. Although Saul is portrayed as a complex antagonist, the animation lacks visual appeal, and the songs by Jonas Myrin fail to engage. The narrative trivializes David’s extraordinary feats and concludes before addressing the complexities of his adulthood. Additional voices include Mark Jacobson, Asim Chaudhry, Ashley Boettcher, Mark Whitten, Katie Bernstein, Mick Wingert, Brian Stivale, Lauren Daigle, and Kamran Nikhad.
Dhurandhar (NR) Ranveer Singh stars in this crime thriller where he plays a secret agent infiltrating India’s underworld. The film also features Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, R. Madhavan, Arjun Rampal, and Krystle D’Souza.
Ella McCay (PG-13) This political comedy from James L. Brooks struggles with pacing and humor. Emma Mackey plays a 34-year-old woman who unexpectedly inherits her state’s governorship. The film is characterized by sluggish pacing, as each character feels the need to make one last statement. While Mackey’s character could have been compelling, it fails to come through, leaving the talented cast, including Jamie Lee Curtis, Woody Harrelson, Kumail Nanjiani, Rebecca Hall, Spike Fearn, Ayo Edebiri, Julie Kavner, and Albert Brooks, underwhelmed.
Eternity (PG-13) A lighthearted exploration of reincarnation, this film follows an elderly couple (Barry Primus and Betty Buckley) who pass away in the same week and find themselves reborn as younger versions (Miles Teller and Elizabeth Olsen). The comedic portrayal of the afterlife as a convention center provides some entertaining moments, although the story falters in its final act. Teller and Olsen deliver strong performances, yet the film’s conclusion feels lackluster. Additional cast members include Da’Vine Joy Randolph, John Early, Danny Mac, Christie Burke, and Olga Merediz.
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (PG-13) This sequel appears hastily assembled, lacking the tension that characterized its predecessor. Abby (Piper Rubio) inadvertently unleashes animatronic characters from Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza, causing chaos in the town. Despite the introduction of multiple animatronics, director Emma Tammi fails to instill fear. The performances are uninspired, contributing to a lackluster narrative. The cast also includes Mckenna Grace, Wayne Knight, Han Soto, Teo Briones, Freddy Carter, Skeet Ulrich, and Matthew Lillard.
Hamnet (R) Based on Maggie O’Farrell’s speculative fiction, this beautifully crafted film delves into Shakespeare’s (Paul Mescal) grief following the death of his son Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe) during a plague outbreak. Unlike O’Farrell’s novel, the film adopts a linear narrative focused on Agnes (Jessie Buckley) as she raises their children while Will pursues a career in London. The film shines during a theatrical production of Hamlet, showcasing the emotional weight of Will’s grief. Strong performances from the leads convey the tragedy of the story. Additional cast includes Joe Alwyn, Freya Hannan-Mills, David Wilmot, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Olivia Lynes, Noah Jupe, and Emily Watson.
The Housemaid (R) This thriller, based on Freida McFadden’s best-selling novel, presents a female perspective on the psychological thriller genre. Sydney Sweeney plays an ex-convict who becomes a live-in maid for a wealthy woman (Amanda Seyfried), only to face danger from her employer’s erratic behavior. The film escalates the violence of the source material but lacks strong acting overall, with Seyfried delivering a standout performance as the volatile housewife. Also featuring Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone, Indiana Elle, Alexandra Seal, and Elizabeth Perkins.
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