Long awaited ‘Eighth Grade,’ ‘Christopher Robin’ among new films in Lubbock

Aug. 02--MOVIES OPENING FRIDAY

Christopher Robin

In this combination of live action and animation, Ewan McGregor plays Christopher Robin, a businessman who has reached adulthood. Having lost track of his sense of imagination, Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher's other friends from the Hundred Acre Wood re-enter his life to help him find it again. Co-starring: Hayley Atwell as Evelyn, Christopher's wife; Bronte Carmichael as Madeline, their daughter; Mark Gatiss as Christopher's boss; and Orton O'Brien as young Christopher Robin. Vocal talents include Jim Cummings as Pooh and Tigger; Brad Garrett as Eeyore; Toby Jones as Owl; Nick Mohammed as Piglet; Peter Capaldi as Rabbit; Sophie Okonedo as Kanga; and Sara Sheen as young Roo. Marc Forster directs. Based on characters conceived by A.A. Milne and illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard. Not to be confused with the 2017 drama "Goodbye Christopher Robin."

PG: Action -- Premiere Cinemas, Alamo Drafthouse, Tinseltown 17 and Stars & Stripes Drive-In.

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The Darkest Minds

Ruby Day (Amandla Stenberg) lives in a future America where a pandemic has killed 98 percent of children under age 20. Survivors develop psychic powers, are declared a threat by the government and placed in internment camps. After Ruby wakes up on her 10th birthday with these same powers, her frightened mother Molly (Golden Brooks) has her sent off to a government rehabilitation camp. Five years later, Ruby is one of the most powerful teenagers ever encountered, classified as an "Orange." After the truth of her strength comes out, Ruby is barely able to escape with her life, helped by anti-government doctor Cate Connor (Mandy Moore). Now on the run from a bounty hunter known as Lady Jane (Gwendoline Christie), Ruby is desperate to find the only safe-haven for children like her, eventually stumbling upon more on the run who are led by Liam (Harris Dickinson).

PG-13: Violence including disturbing images, and thematic elements -- Premiere Cinemas, Tinseltown 17 and Movies 16.

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Death of a Nation: Can We Save America a Second Time?

Filmmaker Dinesh D'Souza's followup to his "2016: Obama's America," filmed in 2012, and "Hillary's America: The Secret History of the Democratic Party" four years later. D'Souza positively compares U.S. President Donald Trump with Abraham Lincoln, and indicates that the Democratic party was critical of both.

PG-13: Strong thematic material including violence/disturbing images, language anddrug use -- Premiere Cinemas and Tinseltown 17.

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Eighth Grade

Earning raves is writer-director Bo Burnham's cinematic debut in which Kayla Day (Elsie Fisher) is an eighth-grader in her final week of middle school. She posts motivational videos on YouTube about confidence and self-image that get almost no views, while struggling at school to make friends. Mark (Josh Hamilton), her single father, struggles to connect with her and break her reliance on social media. A number of journalists encourage parents to take their children to see the movie -- which may be the only way some can legally enter the auditorium because of the picture being rated R. Some anguish and decisions made by Kayla, 13, while trying to fit in, could lead to important post-screening discussions. As for that rating, Burnham told Salon, "The truth is, 'Eighth Grade' is R-rated because eighth grade is R-rated. I can promise parents that this movie is not exposing anything to kids that kids aren't very, very aware of."

R: Language and sexual material -- Alamo Drafthouse and Movies 16.

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Hearts Beat Loud

Kerns rating: HHH1/2

A surprising little gem by Brett Haley from earlier this year is being given a second chance. The movie is about Brooklyn widower, former musician and record store owner Frank (Nick Offerman), whose plans include happily sending daughter Sam (Kiersey Clemons) off to college. Well, maybe not so happily. They share a passion for music, but each is stunned when one of their original songs goes viral, and they earn internet recognition. Frank would not mind seeing Sam put college on hold so they can spend more time together as a father-and-daughter live act. But is he considering how much that asks of Sam, already balancing enough stress after having found love just as she is about to move cross-country to pursue her own dreams? Superb performances by Clemons and Offerman make all the difference. Nifty costarring performances are by Sasha Lane, Toni Collette, Ted Danson and Blythe Danner.

PG-13: Crug references and brief language -- Alamo Drafthouse.

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The Spy Who Dumped Me

Audrey (Mila Kunis) and her best friend Morgan (Kate McKinnon) find themselves embroiled in a major international conspiracy when the former's ex-boyfriend, Drew (Justin Theroux), unexpectedly re-enters her life with a team of assassins on his trail. At this time, she learns he is actually a spy working for the CIA. Co-written and directed by Susanna Fogel.

R: Violence, language, crude sexual material and graphic nudity -- Premiere Cinemas, Alamo Drafthouse, Tinseltown 17 and Movies 16.

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MOVIES CONTINUING

Ant-Man and the Wasp (3-D/2-D)

Kerns Rating: Two and one-half stars

Perhaps we should have, but just didn't, see the surprise coming within the expected final credits sequence. It reinvests "Ant-Man and the Wasp" as Marvel Comics Universe citizens. Nevertheless, I don't buy the story kept so lightweight (i.e., boring) on purpose. It soon becomes reminiscent of Disney live action in the 1960s and '70s, hardly shining moments for non-animated Disney. Ordered not to leave the premises, an incident of course brings him back in contact with a bitter Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) and her father, brilliant inventor Pym, again played by Michael Douglas. Now we have repeated shrinkings of a huge laboratory to the size of carry-on, and easily stolen, luggage. Good Guys pull out a Hot Wheels carrying case when choosing getaway cars. So cue the cliched car crashes. Kudos to Michael Pena, who makes silliness work for him. On the heels of "Black Panther" and "Infinity Wars," however, this is Marvel for small children. At least until the final few seconds of an ending we cannot talk about.

PG-13: Sci-fi action violence -- Alamo Drafthouse, Tinseltown 17 and Movies 16.

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Book Club

A comedy about four successful women in their 60s. Diane (Diane Keaton) is widowed after 40 years of marriage. Vivian (Jane Fonda) enjoys men with no strings attached. Sharon (Candice Bergen) is still working through her decades-old divorce, and Carol's (Mary Steenburgen) marriage is in a slump after 35 years. The lives of these four lifelong friends are turned upside down after reading British author E.L.James controversial and erotic "Fifty Shades of Grey" for their book club, catapulting them into a series of outrageous life choices.

PG-13: Sex-related material and for language -- Movies 16.

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Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far On Foot

Gus Van Sant wrote and directed a biographical film about alcoholic cartoonist and Oregon slacker John Callahan; Van Sant adapts the artist's memoir, also called "Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot." Joaquin Phoenix has the lead role, introducing Callahan after he survives a car accident, enters a drug treatment program and first discovers his own knack for drawing. Callahan's drawings soon gain a national following. Cast members also include Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara and Jack Black, as the film and follows recently paralyzed alcoholic Callahan, who develops a passion for drawing off-color newspaper cartoons.

R: Language, sexual content, some nudity and alcohol abuse -- Movies 16.

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The Equalizer 2

Kerns rating: One and one-half stars

Horrid moviemaking. The fourth film -- following "Training Day," "The Equalizer" and "The Magnificent Seven" -- teaming actor Denzel Washington with director Antoine Fuqua ranks as the actor's first sequel, but never explains why he found it important to return. Sure, viewers won't be bored while Washington doles out vengeance. Despite this, the screenplay never bothers to answer a bevy of questions that arise, concluding that killing bad guys should be reason enough for anyone attending action movies.

R: Violence, language and drug content -- Alamo Drafthouse, Tinseltown 17, Movies 16 and Stars & Stripes Drive-In.

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The First Purge

Kerns rating: One star.

The "purge" makes legal all crime, including murder, for one 12-hour period, from midnight to noon. Not much differs from its predecessorts.

R: Violence, pervasive language, sexuality and drug use -- Premiere Cinemas and Tinseltown 17.

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Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (3-D/2-D)

Kerns rating: Two stars

A computer-animated comedy sequel aimed specifically at children, with even an attempt to poison Dracula with garlic resulting in nothing more than a flatulence joke. To his credit, director Genndy Tartakovsky brings back all of the fan favorites from the first two films, but the thinly-sliced plot gives viewers nothing to laugh at, with the possible exception of werewolves Wayne and Wanda (voiced by Steve Bucemi and Molly Shannon) shocked to find out there is free babysitting for their brood aboard a cruise ship. But did the writers have to find a way to bring back the "Macarena?"

PG: Some action and rude humor -- Premiere Cinemas, Tinseltown 17, Movies 16 and Stars & Stripes Drive-In.

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Incredibles 2 (3-D/2-D)

Kerns rating: Three and one-half stars

Little new is introduced, but there's fun regardless. Three months after Syndrome's defeat, the Parr family -- Bob/Mr. Incredible (voiced by Craig T. Nelson), Helen/Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), Violet (Sarah Vowell), Dash (Huck Milner) and Jack-Jack -- continue operating under their collective superhero identity, The Incredibles. They successfully prevent Underminer from robbing a bank, but authorities are concerned about the level of damage. So their program is shut down, forcing superheroes to adhere once more to secret identities. Elastigirl, assumed to be the least destructive, takes part in a publicity stunt to regain the general public's support, only to fall victim to a rather predictable villain. Bob and Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson) also wind up brainwashed, so it's up to the Parr kids to save the day.

PG: Action sequences and brief mild language -- Premiere Cinemas (includes D-Box) and Tinseltown 17.

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Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (3-D/2-D)

Kerns rating: Three stars

There are some fun dinosaur pursuits and narrow escapes, but the beasts seem to be around just to set up the story for the next sequel. Regardless, the CGI is often incredible, and the dinosaurs are what fans are coming to see, right? Never mind a major secret revealed about one character, and then just dropped from the story.

PG-13: Sc-fi violence and peril -- Premiere Cinemas (includes D-Box), Tinseltown 17 and Movies 16.

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Mama Mia: Here We Go Again

What is Meryl Streep's status in the sequel. There may be opportunities a'plenty to see her, if only because the new film -- which focuses on the pregnancy of Donna's daughter, Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) -- appears written as both a prequel and sequel. Lily James is said to shine in flashbacks to 1979, cast as a younger Donna who visits Europe and winds up enjoying the company of ... how to put this ... Hugh Skinner as the young Colin Firth, Jeremy Irvine as the young Pierce Brosnan, and Josh Dylan as the young Stellan Skarsgard. All three dads remain in Sophie's life, and more friends and family head her way as she spends part of her pregnancy restoring her mom's Hotel Bella Donna on the Greek island of Kalokairi. "Angeleyes," "When I Kissed the Teacher," "I Wonder (Departure)" and "Super Trouper" are but a handful of the more than two dozen songs by ABBA on the soundtrack, and the identity of the person cast as Sophie's grandmother stopped being a surprise months ago. Still... The jukebox musical was written and directed by Ol Parker, arriving a full decade after a film with a $52 million budget that grossed more than $600 million.

PG-13: Suggestive material -- Premiere Cinemas, Alamo Drafthouse, Tinseltown 17 and Movies 16.

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Mission Impossible: Fallout (3-D/2-D)

Kerns rating: Four and one-half stars.

There is plenty of tension within the writing, but, be assured: One of Tom Cruise's greatest assets is an ability to recognize the roles that are right for him, and IMF (Impossible Missions Force) agent Ethan Hunt is a role that ages well. With this, the sixth "Mission Impossible" chapter, either the best or the next thing to it, director Christopher McQuarrie and stunt coordinator Scott Eastwood, also adhere to Cruise's expectations to be allowed to master everything from leaping across buildings (a broken ankle resulted) to motorcycle crashes and on to climbing up a rope inside a helicopter in flight and then initiating a crash. The picture keeps Hunt with his same, dependable team, yet also finds a way for them to be suspected by their own government while trying to stop an anarchist's followers from setting off nuclear explosions. There is an incredible physical fight involving, at the start, three men in a rest room, and a well-choreographed escape involving Cruise and black market arms dealer Vanessa Kirby. The script finds Hunt pursued by a CIA assassin (future "Superman" Henry Cavill), finds a way to reintroduce former character Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) -- and humanizes Cruise's Hunt still more by socking audiences with the person he may care most about. The lengthy film finds ways to keep audiences involved throughout.

PG-13: Violence and action, and strong language -- Premiere Cinemas (includes IMAX and D-Box), Alamo Drafthouse, Tinseltown 17 (includes XD), Movies 16 (includes XD) and Stars & Stripes Drive-In.

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Ocean's 8

A heist comedy directed by Gary Ross as a spinoff from Steven Soderbergh's "Oceans's trilogy. It stars Sandra Bullock as Debbie Ocean, estranged sister of Danny Ocean (George Clooney). Inspired by Danny, Debbie devoted her years in prison to planning a huge robbery. Upon her release, she partners again with Lou Miller (Cate Blanchett) and, together, they recruit a crew of specialists: Amita (Mindy Kaling), the jeweler; street con Constance (Awkwafina); Tammy (Sarah Paulson), a suburban mom with skills; the hacker Nine Ball (Rihanna); and fashion designer Rose Weil (Helena Bonham Carter). Debbie's plan is to rob the annual Metropolitan Museum of Art Gala in New York City, and she also has her eyes on a diamond necklace valued at more than $150 million, expected to be worn at the gala by celebrity Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway).

PG-13: Language, drug use and suggestive content -- Movies 16.

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Skyscraper (3-D/2-D)

Kerns rating: One and one-half stars.

One of the more idiotic summertime action films in recent memory. But the film again stars Dwayne Johnson, aka former professional wrestler The Rock, as yet another cinematic Super Dad, so there is not a moment when his heroism is in doubt. Not even when he has to use one arm to pull himself closer to the top of a skyscraper, climbing girders on the outside of the building. Or -- did I mention he lost a leg in a prior on-the-job explosion? -- when he makes a mighty leap from a collapsing bridge to the building. The plot could not be more convoluted but, suffice it to say that a builder has enough information to bring down a criminal. The latter's employees set fire to the 96th floor, stalling fire-fighting measures and threatening more damage. Oh, and guess what floor Johnson's family is on. Plenty of bad guys take the long fall, and there's a reason the film's opening scene finds Neve Campbell, as Johnson's wife, mastering rebooting her computer.

PG-13: Gun violence and action, and f strong language -- Premiere Cinemas (includes D-Box), Tinseltown 17 and Movies 16.

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Sorry to Bother You

A wildly original science fiction comedy written and directed by Boots Riley. In an alternate reality of present-day Oakland, California, black telemarketer Cassius Green (Lakeith Stanfield) finds himself in a macabre universe after he discovers a magical key -- a white voice supplied by David Cross -- that leads to material glory. As Green's career begins to take off, he loses sight of his morals while his friends and co-workers organize a protest against corporate oppression. The upswing in his career raises serious red flags with his girlfriend Detroit (Tessa Thompson), a performance artist who secretly is part of a Banksy-style activist collective.

R: Pervasive language, some strong sexual content, graphic nudity, and drug use -- Movies 16.

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Teen Titans Go to the Movies

A villain's maniacal plan for world domination sidetracks five teenage superheroes who dream of Hollywood stardom. The Teen Titans discover every other hero in the DC Universe has their own films, ranging from Batman to Superman. So they search for a director who will make them superheroes.

PG: Action and rude humor -- Premiere Cinemas, Alamo Drafthouse, Tinseltown 17, Movies 16 and Stars & Stripes Drive-In.

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Three Identical Strangers

British filmmaker Tim Wardle examines American triplets adopted at a young age by separate families unaware that each child had brothers. Separations were conducted as part of a scientific "nature versus nurture" study to track the development of genetically identical siblings raised in differing circumstances. The documentary reveals how the brothers discovered one another at age 19, and thereafter sought to understand the circumstances of their separation.

PG-13: Mature thematic material -- Premiere Cinemas.

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Uncle Drew

Kerns rating: Three stars

While this movie dates back to the 1970s in terms of being predictable, corny and dependent upon old age makeup and prosthetics, there is a charming theme about a group of former street ball kings and queens, now senior citizens, lured into a tournament to teach today's cocky youngbloods a thing or two about the spirit of basketball. Uncle Drew (that's actually Kyrie Irving) is the first convinced to return to the court. But he insists on his team being his roster, and a road trip introduces us to former team members Big Fella (Shaquille O'Neal), now running a martial arts dojo; Preacher (Chris Webber), a church minister; Lights (Reggie Miller), assumed to be legally blind; Boots (Nate Robinson), found in a retirement home; and Betty Lou (Lisa Leslie), Preacher's wife.

PG-13: Suggestive material, language and brief nudity -- Premiere Cinemas.

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Unfriended: Dark Web

A found footage horror film from Stephen Susco, starring Colin Woodell, Rebecca Rittenhouse, Betty Gabriel and Andrew Lees. Twenty-something Matias (Woodell) opens up a laptop he found in a lost-and-found bin, and finds a cache of secret files on it. While on a video call with friends, they discover that the previous owner has been watching them, and will do anything to get the laptop's files back.

R: Disturbing violence, language and sexual references -- Premiere Cinemas, Tinseltown 17 and Movies 16.

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Ratings, from one to five stars, and reviews are by A-J Media film critic William Kerns.

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