“Juliet, Naked” (Comedy/Drama: 1 hour, 38 minutes)

Starring: Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke, Azhy Robertson and Chris O’Dowd

Director: Jesse Peretz

Rated: R (Profanity)

 

Movie Review: First nudity is not a part of this comedy. The setup appears a romance, but it does not become that genre. Instead, the movie becomes an engaging dramedy, a nice mix of comedy and drama.

Annie Platt (Byrne) suffers through a long-term relationship with Duncan Thomson (O’Dowd) in England. They have dated for about 15 years, and their relationship is diminishing. She begins a transatlantic pen-pal friendship with Tucker Crowe (Hawke), an obsolete singer-songwriter and a father of five living in the United States. 

Duncan, who operates a Crowe-themed website, is obsessed with Crowe’s music. Duncan is utterly surprised and jealous when he realizes Annie has a genuine friendship with Crowe. 

Nick Hornby’s novel forms the basis for this engaging movie directed by Jesse Peretz, who is known for comedies such as “Our Idiot Brother,” 2011. Here, Peretz and several writers of whom his sister, Evgenia Peretz, is one give audiences enjoyable entertainment.

The cast appears to enjoy itself. Rose Byrne is the lead, really, and she deserves it. She plays Annie earnestly in a manner that makes one sympathetic toward her. Chris O’Dowd plays opposite her well. He is an attention-getter as Duncan, a professor. Together, they are intriguing as a couple, although their characters are clearly in a state of boredom with each other.

Ethan Hawke plays one of his better roles, following his superb performance in “First Reformed” (2017). He is inspirational as Tucker Crowe. Hawke plays the role as if it is a retrospective of his life. His character is a man who regrets his past and is learning from it to be a better man in the future.

“Juliet, Naked” is a subtle piece that becomes more as it continues. It is a fun movie for moviegoers wanting a quick getaway. It involves a swell cast, music and fun moments.

Grade: B (Worth serenading …)

*Playing in larger cities

“Peppermint” (Action: 1 hour, 42 minutes)

Starring: Jennifer Garner, John Gallagher Jr., John Ortiz and Juan Pablo Raba

Director: Pierre Morel

Rated: R (Violence, gore and profanity)

 

Movie Review: “Peppermint” is a movie with revenge as its plot. Its concentration is mostly action, where it engages by offering only abundant violence. Despite a nice turn by Jennifer Garner, the story does not allow audiences to savor the revenge. 

Garner plays Riley North, a woman who watches as her husband and daughter are gunned down by henchmen of a Mexican cartel. After three murderers are set free, Riley disappears for five years, only to return as a well-trained vigilante. She vows to avenge her family’s death. 

Pierre Morel (“Taken,” 2008) directs this movie about a woman who kills many people to avenge her family. Most scenes consist of Garner killing with passion. While Garner is good, the story needs help.

The plot moves quickly. Often, it exhibits scenes in a disjointed manner.

When Garner’s character kills those who killed her family, the movie does not allow one to see how she captures and kills all three. Audiences only get a short glimpse of one of the murders. Part of a revenge movie is that one gets a chance to see the protagonist get revenge. This is mostly absent here.

“Peppermint” also has some unbelievable moments. Apparently, Riley North can move incredibly fast, even after several severe injuries. Revenge apparently increases one’s ability to move at superhero speeds.

Grade: C- (Spicy but not sweet.)

“The Nun” (Horror: 1 hour, 36 minutes)

Starring: Demián Bichir, Taissa Farmiga and Jonas Bloquet

Director: Corin Hardy

Rated: R (Violence, gore, terror and thematic elements)

 

Movie Review: Sometimes, a malevolent character is much scarier when little is known about the entity. This is the case with this unimpressive horror. The demonic nun that first terrorized audiences in “The Conjuring 2” (Director James Wan, 2016) is just another monster in “The Nun,” a movie with thrills but no intellect.

Father Burke (Bichir), a Catholic priest, Sister Irene (Farmiga), a novitiate, and Frenchie (Bloquet), a local man, travel to Romania to investigate the death of a young nun. Once there, they face a demon that takes the form of a nun (Bonnie Aarons).

One of the more interesting parts of this horror is the use of Taissa Farmiga, the younger sister of “The Conjuring 2’s” Vera Farmiga, who played Lorraine Warren. This familial connection may explain why Warren has similar visions. The connection leaves plenty to contemplate. 

Beyond that, “The Nun” plays on passé stereotypes. It is a formulaic horror: a dark large building, characters committing stupid acts and an unconvincing plot.

Grade: D (Nun-thing to see here; keep moving.)

“God Bless the Broken Road” (Drama: 1 hour, 51 minutes)

Starring: Lindsay Pulsipher, Andrew W. Walker, Makenzie Moss and Gary Grubbs

Director: Harold Cronk

Rated: PG (Thematic elements and some combat action)

 

Movie Review: “God Bless the Broken Road” is a likable movie. It involves faith, patriotism and inviting characters. These items make the movie easily watchable but these elements have a juxtaposition to a few negatives, including being overly preachy, that counter the good.

Still grieving the loss of her husband, an Army sergeant who died serving in Afghanistan, Amber Hill (Pulsipher), a singer and musician at her church, faces grave consequences. 

The widow’s relationship with her daughter, Bree (Moss), is waning. She is financially struggling, and her contact with others is minor, including the church she once attended regularly. Not all is bad, the widow meets a handsome racecar driver, Cody Jackson (Walker), who is facing his own struggle.

The drama overdoes emotive elements, often diverting for lesser formulaic characters who are not as interesting. Additionally, the secondary players are less effective because of poor acting. Harold Cronk (“God’s Not Dead,” 2014) directs them trying to get his cast to milk audiences for as many tears as possible with romantic, tragic and patriotic platitudes.

Gary Grubbs is a standout. He at least offers nice humor when needed. He breaks up the overly played emotive moments.

Despite some drawbacks, “God Bless the Broken Road” is a nice movie for viewers wanting a decent movie. It is a look at faith in the heartland of the United States. For those looking for good faithful inspiration, the message is appealing. For others, the road is only partially broken, but it could use a repaving.

Grade: C+ (A blessing disrupted by cinematic overcast.)