“The Intruder” (Thriller: 1 hour, 42 minutes)

Starring: Dennis Quaid, Meagan Good and Michael Ealy

Director: Deon Taylor

Rated: PG-13 (Violence terror, sexuality, strong language and thematic elements)

 

Movie Review: Deon Taylor (“Traffik,” 2018; “Meet the Blacks,” 2016) directs this thriller. Like his other movies, his characters’ actions are over-the-top behavior. Similarly, “The Intruder” features uneven characters in an unconvincing plot.

Scott and Annie Russell (Ealy and Good) are a young professional married couple. They buy a beautiful countryside house with ample land. They quickly find out that the previous owner, Charlie Peck (Quaid), refuses to relinquish ownership of the property.

If only characters did the correct thing, these types of movies would be over within 30 minutes. “The Intruder” features a beautiful Megan Good playing a naive character. Despite pleas from her husband, she fails to see the evil nature of an older and more conniving Charlie Peck. This is strike one.

The fact the characters do not act on their suspicions is strike two. A man keeps showing up at his previous house, and no one calls the police.

The characters appear to have shifts that appear unreasonable. For example, a woman’s head was blown off in the house, yet the Russells keep the house. They act as if this is an everyday occurrence for them.

The Russells are just an ordinary suburban couple until the end, and then they become something different. Both Good and Ealy’s characters change in an unusual manner, one not fitting their personas displayed earlier.

The irrational actions of players are only a small part of why this movie fails. These characters also never become convincing in a manner that makes one care about them. Again, this is because their actions are nonsensical mostly.

Grade: C (It intrudes on wallets.)

“Ugly Dolls” (Animated/Comedy: 1 hour, 27 minutes)

Starring: Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Janelle Monáe and Blake Shelton

Director: Kelly Asbury

Rated: PG (Thematic elements and brief action)

 

Movie Review: It’s OK for a person to be ugly is the grand message of this animated comedy. That is probably not what audiences are supposed to derive from this narrative, but that is the premise of “Ugly Dolls.” 

While these characters become more appealing as their story unfolds, but the admiration is not enough to make “Ugly Dolls” memorable.

Eccentricity is a noteworthy, quaint town of Uglyville. There, Moxy (Clarkson) and her UglyDoll live. Moxy is an adventurer and wants to leave Uglyville. 

She ventures to the other side of the mountain with several friends to Perfection, a training town where dolls that are more conventional train before they become the toy of some child. 

Perfection’s leader is Lou (Jonas), who values flawlessness. Lou dislikes Moxy and other Uglydolls because of their imperfections. Soon, a personal adventure, Moxy becomes an ideological war between Uglyville and Perfection.

“Ugly Dolls” is more musical than comical. While the characters are interesting, they also appear temporary. The movie treats Uglyville and Perfection as if they are the only types of toys.

How would teddy bears fare in Perfection? Would their cuddliness work as perfection although their appearance does not always match?

Well, this movie tries to place dolls in a competitive atmosphere that fails as good entertainment. The comedy and energetic scenes may keep small fries entertained for a bit but they will be more hyped by previews showing the upcoming “Toy Story” sequel.

Grade: C+ (They are slightly likable, but they are still ugly.)

“Long Shot” (Romantic Comedy: 2 hours, 5 minutes)

Starring: Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron and O’Shea Jackson Jr.

Director: Jonathan Levine

Rated: R (Strong sexual content, profanity and some drug use)

 

Movie Review: They do not know how to make good romcoms without making it more comedic and less romantic. “Longshot” is such a movie; one should not expect less from funnyman Seth Rogen. However, “Long Shot” is a good movie, even if Rogen’s brand of comedy goes overboard at times.

Journalist Fred Flarsky (Rogen) has just resigned from his job over creative differences. He reunites with his boyhood crush, Charlotte Field (Theron), the youngest appointed United States’ Secretary of State. Field is an influential woman with hopes of becoming the next president. 

She hires Flarsky to write her speeches. Along the way the two become romantically involved.

“Long Shot” is engaging enough to be worthy. This is due mainly to the brilliant talents Charlize Theron. She exudes confidence, beauty, intelligence and regality as a politician. Her poise is one of elegance, and she easily convinces one that she would be a good leader as Charlotte Field.

Directed by Jonathan Levine (“50/50,” 2011), Liz Hannah and Dan Sterling’s screenplay offers plenty of laughs. Some intelligent humor dispersed, despite Rogen’s sometimes juvenile, over-the-top antics.

Grade: B- (It shoots its shot and scores.)

 

“Poms” (Comedy: 1 hour, 31 minutes)

Starring: Diane Keaton, Jacki Weaver, Pam Grier, and Rhea Perlman

Director: Zara Hayes

Rated: PG-13 (Profanity, mature themes and sexual references)

 

Movie Review: Although this comedy involves senior citizens, think of this as the “Golden Girls” but not golden. The laughs are present, but the narrative never inspires one to care enough about these women. 

A clumsy execution obscures an encouraging message about aging.

Martha (Keaton) moves into a retirement community, looking for a quiet life. After she meets Sheryl (Weaver), her life is anything but quiet. Martha realizes one day that she still has plenty of life left and decides to start a cheerleading group at the retirement center. She and several other women begin chasing their dream of cheerleading.

Keaton appears out of place here, as if she wants to be somewhere else. This leaves Jacki Weaver as the scene-stealer. She scores laughs when other parts of the movie fail. Other characters barely scratch the surface to allow audiences to get to know them, so they matter little.

Director Zara Hayes’ directorial debut was “The Battle of the Sexes” (2013), a documentary examining Bobby Riggs and Billie Jean King’s 1973 tennis match. Hayes was more effective there. “Poms” for all its engaging moments lacks a lasting energy.

Grade: C (Give them an “N.” Give them an “O.” What’s that spell?)

 

Adann-Kennn Alexxandar lives and works in Valdosta.