Ratings by the Motion Picture Association of America are: (G) for general audiences; (PG) parental guidance urged because of material possibly unsuitable for children; (PG-13) parents are strongly cautioned to give guidance for attendance of children younger than 13; (R) restricted, younger than 17 admitted only with parent or adult guardian; (NC-17) no one 17 and younger admitted.
In the right hands, The Boss could skewer the brash ambition and entitled certitude of a Donald Trump type and the desire to see all that dismantled and discarded by Bernie Sanders-style supporters. But these are not the right hands. (1:39) R.
Chris Evans returns as Steve Rogers and faces off against Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man as the Avengers split into feuding factions. With Scarlett Johansson. Written by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely. Directed by Anthony & Joe Russo. Imax 3D. (2:27) PG-13.
Not even Tom Hanks can save this adaptation of the Dave Eggers novel, the story of an American salesman in Saudi Arabia that can’t hold our interest for very long. (1:37) R.
In the pale update, a dreadful sequel to 2012’s darkly appealing Snow White and the Huntsman, nearly every major character dies and comes back to life at least once and a convoluted narrative yields not a single, palpable moment of drama. (1:54) PG-13.
By turns sweetly amusing and scarily unnerving, crammed with story, song and computer-generated visual splendors, this revisiting of the old Rudyard Kipling tales aims to be a model of modern crowd pleasing entertainment. (1:51) PG.
The kidnapping of a beloved kitty forces two naive cousins to infiltrate a street gang. With Jordan Peele, Keegan-Michael Key, Tiffany Haddish. Written by Peele & Alex Rubens. Directed by Peter Atencio. (1:38) R.
A Michael Shannon-starring drama that announces the arrival of Jeff Nichols as a filmmaker in total control of his technique as well as viewers’ emotions. A bravura science fiction thriller that explores emotional areas such as parenthood and the nature of belief, it’s a riveting genre exercise as well as something more. (1:51) PG-13.
Another holiday-themed romantic comedy of ensemble stories from director Garry Marshall. With Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson. Written by Lily Hollander and Anya Kochoff Romano. (1:58) PG-13.
A lonely lombax and a tiny robot team with the Galactic Rangers to save their world in this animated adventure. Voices of Paul Giamatti, John Goodman, Bella Thorne. Written by TJ Fixman, Kevin Munroe, Gerry Swallow. Directed by Munroe; co-directed by Jericca Cleland. (1:34) PG.
Bursting with a rich blend of timely themes, superb voice work, wonderful visuals and laugh-out-loud wit, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ latest is quite simply a great time at the movies. (1:48) PG.