This week at the movies, we’ve got an animal rescue drama (Dolphin Tale 2, starring Harry Connick Jr. and Morgan Freeman) and a home invasion thriller (No Good Deed, starring Taraji P. Henson and Idris Elba). What do the critics have to say?
At a time when so much children’s entertainment can feel hyperactive and shrill, Dolphin Tale 2 seems decidedly old fashioned. The critics say that’s mostly a good thing — this gentle, thoughtful family drama isn’t particularly exciting, but it looks great and delivers positive messages with a minimum of schlock. Since being rescued and rehabilitated in the first film, Winter is doing just fine, but her companion has recently died. Thus, our heroes — a team comprised of marine biologists and animal rescue staffers — need to find Winter a new companion or she will be removed from the aquarium as required by law. The pundits say that while Dolphin Tale 2 is narratively thin and slackly paced, its heartfelt, inspirational story is likely to resonate with families. (Check out this week’s Total Recall, in which count down Morgan Freeman’s best-reviewed films, and watch our video interviews with Freeman and co-stars Harry Connick Jr. and Ashley Judd.)
It looks like the people behind No Good Deed were afraid it would be punished by the critics, since it wasn’t screened prior to its release in theaters. It’s the story of an ex-district attorney (Taraji P. Henson) who tries to help a stranger (Idris Elba) who claims to have car trouble. However, once she invites him into her home, his real motives prove to be much more sinister. It’s time to guess the Tomatometer!
Born To Fly, a documentary about the acrobatic group Extreme Action Company, is at 100 percent.
Stray Dogs, a drama about a man who works as a human billboard to support his children on the streets of Taipei, is at 93 percent.
The Skeleton Twins, starring Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader in a dramedy about estranged twins who reunite as both are in the midst of personal problems, is Certified Fresh at 88 percent.
Honeymoon, starring Harry Treadaway and Rose Leslie in a horror film about a woman who begins to act strangely while in a remote getaway with her new husband, is at 79 percent.
I Am Eleven, a documentary featuring interviews with 11-year-olds throughout the world, is at 79 percent.
The Drop, starring Tom Hardy and James Gandolfini in a crime drama about a late-night robbery that stirs up trouble within the neighborhood demimonde, is at 78 percent.
The Green Prince, a documentary about the collaboration between a member of Hamas and an Israeli secret service agent, is at 73 percent.
The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby, starring Jessica Chastain and James McAvoy in a drama that explores a couple’s relationship from both sides, is at 71 percent.
My Old Lady, starring Kevin Kline and Maggie Smith in a dramedy about a man who inherits an apartment in Paris only to find an elderly woman squatting there, is at 63 percent.
Bird People, starring Josh Charles in a drama about a businessman who decides to leave his life behind and hole up in an airport hotel, is at 60 percent.
Take Me to the River, a documentary about Memphis’ influential homegrown R&B sound, is at 50 percent.
Swearnet: The Movie, a comedy in which the Trailer Park Boys start an internet channel that features outrageous content, is at 29 percent.
At The Devil’s Door, a horror film about a real estate agent who discovers the house she’s trying to sell has a sinister secret, is at 14 percent.
