In theaters this week

Published 8:29 am Friday, January 18, 2019

Can’t decide what to see this weekend?

Bowling Green Daily News film critic Micheal Compton is here to tell you the best – and worst – now playing at your local cineplex.

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Aquaman (B)

The latest entry to the D.C. Comics Universe is as easy and laid back as its very likable lead (Jason Momoa) – a bit clunky at times but ultimately a lot of fun. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas)

Bumblebee (B)

The Transformers franchise gets a nice overhaul in this dialed down tale that feels more like a John Hughes film than one of Michael Bay’s loud, special effects driven spectacles. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10)

A Dog’s Way Home (D)

Another annoying family movie narrated from the point of view of the dog. The dialogue is silly, the story not that interesting, and the effects (which include a CGI cougar) are amateur at best. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Highland Cinemas)

Escape Room (C)

This thriller is kind of clever for a while until the final act, when it completely comes crashing down with a series of twists that get more implausible and convoluted. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Highland Cinemas)

Glass (F)

The spin-off from “Split” and “Unbreakable” proves to be the very worst of writer/director M. Night Shyamalan – an arrogant piece of filmmaking that is nothing more than a contrived mess of comic book psychobabble that wears thin very quickly. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas)

Holmes and Watson (F)

The third teaming of Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly is the bottom of the barrel – an unfunny attempt to spoof Sherlock Holmes that made me wish for “Step Brothers 2” instead. (Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10)

Mary Poppins Returns (B-)

The lovable British nanny is back in the follow-up to the beloved 1964 children’s classic with Emily Blunt stepping into the iconic role first created by Julie Andrews.

Blunt tackles the role with great gusto, the high point of a film that is ultimately a bit uneven around its charming lead. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas)

Mary Queen of Scots (B)

Here’s a film that has all the elements in play to be a juicy bit of Elizabethan melodrama – with two of Hollywood’s brightest young actresses going head-to-head in an intriguing tale of political struggle.

And while Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie both bring the goods, “Scots” underwhelms slightly – a beautiful film that works, yet feels like it should have been better. “Scots” won’t disappoint those who seek it out, but in a crowded end-of-year market it’s not exactly one that people will be disappointed if they miss either. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12)

The Mule (B)

Clint Eastwood stars and directs this solid tale of an elderly man who became one of the most trusted drug mules for a Mexican cartel. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas)

On the Basis of Sex (C)

This bio pic about Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s early struggles before she became a Supreme Court Justice is a cookie-cutter, rubber-stamped exercise that really does nothing to shed any light into the life of Ginsburg. It’s Hollywood at its absolute worst, a film made for public consumption that seems important, but contains no substance whatsoever. (Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10)

Ralph Breaks the Internet (B+)

A delightful sequel to “Wreck It Ralph” with some wonderful animation and a smart script that plays well for adults as well as children. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10)

Replicas (F)

A sci-fi thriller that starts in a morally bankrupt place and then proceeds to get worse from there. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Highland Cinemas)

Second Act (C-)

Jennifer Lopez plays a working class woman who gets a shot at a better career in a film that starts in an unbelievable place and then just veers in a completely different direction about midway through. (Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (A-)

After six live action films since 2002, the Spider-Man franchise gets animated with “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” – a delightful excursion that is 2018’s best animated film.

Here is a movie that takes its comic book roots and embraces them with such glee the result is perhaps the quintessential Spider-Man film. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas)

The Upside (B-)

The remake of the French film “The Intouchables” is a formulaic film that really doesn’t take many chances. Sometimes the pacing feels off and the story never really has any surprises.

Even with all of that “The Upside” manages to work thanks to an ace, make that two aces, up its sleeve – Bryan Cranston and Kevin Hart. (Regal Bowling Green Stadium 12, Regal Greenwood Mall Stadium 10, Highland Cinemas)