Reviews

The Odyssey (2 1/2 stars out of 4)



Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" is a good movie that should have been better.



Based on Homer's epic poem of the same name--with some key bits of The Iliad thrown in for good measure--"The Odyssey" delivers in the areas you would expect from a Nolan film. The IMAX scale and cinematography are engaging, the

The Invite (2 stars out of 4)



Your capacity to get through Olivia Wilde's "The Invite" should be measured by your interest in spending almost two hours watching miserable people argue and/or conduct lengthy graphic discussions of their dysfunctional sex lives.



The premise is pretty simple: an unhappy married couple in San Francisco invites their bohemian upstairs neighbors over for a

Maybe you heard, but there is a new Toy Story film in theaters and it's here to make a billion dollars and show that Pixar has still got it. This franchise turned 30 last year and if it was not already clear, Toy Story continues to be one of the more inventive and consistent cultural touchstones happening in movie culture.

The Death of Robin Hood (2 stars out of 4)



Anyone who goes to see Michael Sarnoski's "The Death of Robin Hood" should abandon any connection to past movies about the legendary outlaw. If you're expecting something along the lines of Kevin Costner's "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," Disney's animated feature, or the classic adventure with Errol Flynn, you're in for

Disclosure Day (3 stars out of 4)



Lots of directors have put aliens on the big screen. But it's something else to capture the wonder of encountering an alien in person. That's where Steven Spielberg stands alone. Films like "ET: The Extra-Terrestrial" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" added a human element to science fiction that made them truly unforgettable.



This

Power Ballad (3 stars out of 4)



Few directors have captured the joy of music as effectively as John Carney. Specifically, Carney's films--"Once," "Begin Again," and especially 2016's "Sing Street"--capture the joy of making music. So for musicians, people who appreciate musicians, and people who are somewhere in-between, "Power Ballad" marks the next welcome installment in Carney's portfolio.



"Power Ballad" is

Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu (2 1/2 stars out of 4)



There isn't much wrong with Jon Favreau's "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu," but there isn't enough right to give it an enthusiastic recommendation. To its credit, it feels like more than just an extended episode of the Disney+ streaming series on which it is based, but it still

The Devil Wears Prada 2 (2 1/2 stars out of 4)



As a showcase for the creative world of modern fashion, "The Devil Wears Prada 2" works just fine. As a commentary on the impact of modern technology on traditional field like journalism, it's OK. As an attempt to humanize its elitist characters, it struggles.



It's been 20 years now since the

I Swear - 3 1/2 stars out of 4



It's nice when a film lives up to the hype.



I feel a little late to the party with "I Swear," the based-on-a-true-story biopic about a Scottish man's lifelong battle with Tourette's Syndrome. Director Kirk Jones's film was released in the UK last year to wide acclaim, and already netted awards (as well

Standout: The Ben Kjar Story (3 1/2 stars out of 4)



Tanner Christensen's documentary "Standout: The Ben Kjar Story" is a showcase for an inspirational story and a welcome option for anyone looking for something different from the mainstream offerings at the multiplex.



"Standout" follows the true story of a young man from Centerville, Utah as he navigates difficult physical and social