“Missing Link” (Animation/Comedy: 1 hour, 34 minutes)

Starring: Hugh Jackman, Zach Galifianakis, Zoe Saldana and Stephen Fry

Director: Chris Butler

Rated: PG (Action and peril, rude humor, violence and suggestive language)

Movie Review: “Missing Link” is an adventurous animated movie. It has all the elements of entertainment to satisfy most audiences.

Explorer Sir Lionel Frost (Jackman) decides to aid Mr. Link (Galifianakis) with his quest to find his long-lost relatives, the Yeti, who live in the legendary valley of Shangri-La. They along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight (Saldana) travel the world to find Mr. Link’s distant relatives.

“Missing Link” is not a grand movie, but it is a kind enough movie to view as engagingly touching. It is comedic, well animated and exciting. It is a visual treat via stop-motion animation, offering entertainment and intriguing cerebral moments.

Grade: B (It is adventurous if nothing else.)

“Penguins” (Documentary: 1 hour, 16 minutes)

Narrator: Ed Helms

Directors: Alastair Fothergill and Jeff Wilson

Rated: G (Moments of peril)

Movie Review: Following other good movies from Disneynature, “Penguins” is a pleasing, energetic tale of a penguin named Steve, an Adélie penguin. 

He joins millions of other male penguins trying to establish a home for their families. Steve’s quest to stay on task is not easy. Killer whales, leopard seals and changing environmental conditions threaten Steve and fellow Adélie penguins, yet Steve continues to survive. 

This amiable documentary, which was released on this year’s Earth Day, is fascinating. Alastair Fothergill, Jeff Wilson and their team make Steve a personable being, not just an animal. 

Narrated by Ed Helms (“The Hangover,” 2009), who is the de facto voice of Steve, make this movie worth following. Steve and other penguins are fascinating animals. 

Fothergill and Wilson give their subjects character. They take penguins who all appear identical on multiple levels and give each penguin its own sense of style and character. This perspective carries this flick and allows audiences to see the penguins as important beings and not just birds.

Grade: B (Steve is much more than just a black and white life.)

“Breakthrough” (Biography/Drama: 1 hour, 56 minutes)

Starring: Chrissy Metz, Topher Grace, Josh Lucas and Marcel Ruiz

Director: Roxann Dawson

Rated: PG (Thematic content including peril and some language)

Movie Review: One does not want to be a part of this movie’s audience if you are depressed. “Breakthrough” is weep-fest for nearly three-fourths of its runtime. 

That aside, it is a good film about faith, family and community.

Joyce Smith (Metz) is a dedicated mother and a faithful member of her church. When 14-year-old son John Smith (Ruiz) drowns in an ice-covered Lake Saint Louis, the event becomes a test of Joyce’s faith.

Despite two hospital staffs, the faithful mother prays to Father Jehovah for the return of her son who was under the water for nearly 15 minutes and reportedly had no heartbeat for 43 minutes. John faces an uphill battle, but his mother has faith her son will make a speedy recovery.

Roxann Dawson directs this faith-based drama. Dawson was a cast member of “Star Trek: Voyager” (1995). She now spends a great deal of time behind the camera, directing mostly teleplays. Here, she delivers an impactful drama.

The application of sad moments is thicker than necessary. Audiences are placed in a setting to experience the Smith family’s pain. The screenplay milks the sadness to keep audiences emotional. However, Dawson and writers do this well.

The movie thrives on the talents of several of the cast. Chrissy Metz is a potent actress. She is sound and is the highlight as the movie’s lead. Metz has a realistic appeal. She comes across as authentic and convincing.

The story of the Smiths miraculously inspirational event is adapted from Joyce Smith’s book. The fact John survived and fully recovered is awe-inspiring. His story is touching, and it should make the toughest soul’s eyes become teary.

Grade: B (Breakout performances are a breakthrough.)

“The Curse of La Llorona” (Horror/Thriller: 1 hour, 33 minutes)

Starring: Linda Cardellini, Raymond Cruz, Marisol Ramirez and Patricia Velasquez

Director: Michael Chaves

Rated: R (Violence and terror)

Movie Review: A horror flick debuts often regarding some cursed woman whose spirit roams the Earth collecting children. 

Children are innocent souls. Some malevolent force trying to harm them immediately sends adults into protective mode. However, the children and their mother commit stupid acts seen throughout multiple horror movies.

In a 1970s Los Angeles, Anna Tate-Garcia (Cardellini), a social worker and mother of two, ignores the warnings of troubled mother Patricia Alvarez (Patricia Velasquez). Alvarez warns of La Llorona (Ramirez), a supernatural being from Mexican folklore who comes to kill children. 

Now, La Llorona is after Tate-Garcia’s children. Their hope is Rafael Olvera (Cruz), a self-ostracized priest who uses religious mysticism to thwart the supernatural.

This horror is the first full-length feature film for Michael Chaves (“The Maiden, 2016). With “Curse of La Llorona,” he directs a movie of stereotypes. Scares are present, but the scare tactics are all too familiar.

Linda Cardellini (“Green Book,” Director Peter Farrelly) is a good actress, but this role does not allow her to expand her talents. Her character spends her time attempting to understand why an apparition wants her children and how she can stop the malicious being. 

The problem is Cardellini’s Anna Tate-Garcia never appears shocked by what she is observing in a realistic manner. This is most of the movie.

Characters keep doing similar actions despite the fact La Llorona keeps tormenting them. For most of the movie, their actions appear nonchalant about the fact an evil being is trying to kill them. 

Maybe, their potential death doesn’t bother them because they know they are already in a dead movie.

Grade: C (Despite a few gotcha moments, this is a curse for audiences.)

“Teen Spirit” (Musical Drama: 1 hour, 32 minutes)

Starring: Elle Fanning, Zlatko Burić, and Agnieszka Grochowska

Director: Max Minghella

Rated: PG-13 (Suggestive content, and for teen drinking and smoking)

Movie Review: Isle of Wight, England, is the setting for “Teen Spirit.” 

It is the birth home of Director Max Minghella’s father, Oscar-winning director Anthony Minghella (“The English Patient,” 1996). Max Minghella helms “Teen Spirit” with potency, his directorial debut. He proves his father was not the only good director in the family. 

Violet Valenski (Fanning) is a reclusive teenager who spends time singing in bars at night. She dreams of escaping the small town Isle of Wight to be a noted signer. 

Enter Vladimir Brajkovic (Burić), a former opera singer. He convinces Valenski she has talent. The young woman enters a local singing competition with Brajkovic as her coach. As Valenski sings her way to the top, her stardom tests the integrity of her and her coach.

“Teen Spirit” is a modern Cinderella story. It is an engaging story brought to life by the talents of Fanning and Burić. Their characters’ student-mentor relationship becomes the familial connection they both need to change their lives.

Fanning is impressive in this subtle musical drama. She plays ordinary well. This makes her portrayal of Violet special when the singer becomes extraordinary.

Burić’s role is a mystery man. He appears like a stalker initially, the type of guy who appears to have a dead body or two in the back of the van. Burić plays his character in a quiet, introverted manner similar to Fanning. He is an interesting character, and Burić plays him well.

“Teen Spirit” is no grand movie. It takes an everyday script and good performances and creates a heartfelt-enough feature to cater to most moviegoers.

Grade: B (Spirited acting thrives in a subtle photoplay.)

Adann-Kennn Alexxandar lives and works in Valdosta.