Summer Movie Scorecard 2017

Critics Consensus: From its bland story to its unremarkable animation, Leap! does little to distinguish itself from a long list of like-minded -- and superior -- family-friendly alternatives.

Synopsis: Best friends Félicie and Victor hatch a plan to escape from their rural orphanage in 19th-century France. Félicie dreams of becoming a ballerina, while Victor... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Elle Fanning, Nat Wolff, Carly Rae Jepsen, Maddie Ziegler

Directed By: Eric Summer, Éric Warin

Critics Consensus: The Hitman's Bodyguard coasts on Samuel L. Jackson and Ryan Reynolds' banter -- but doesn't get enough mileage to power past an overabundance of action-comedy clichés.

Synopsis: The world's top protection agent is called upon to guard the life of his mortal enemy, one of the world's most notorious hit men. The... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson, Gary Oldman, Salma Hayek

Directed By: Patrick Hughes

Critics Consensus: Everything, Everything should tug young adult heartstrings fairly effectively, but may not be quite engrossing enough to woo less melodramatically inclined viewers.

Synopsis: Maddy (Amandla Stenberg) is a smart, curious and imaginative 18-year-old who is unable to leave the protection of the hermetically-sealed environment within her house because... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Amandla Stenberg, Nick Robinson, Anika Noni Rose, Ana de la Reguera

Directed By: Stella Meghie

Critics Consensus: Paris Can Wait's likable stars are ill-served by a film that lacks interesting ideas or characters and has little to offer beyond striking travelogue visuals.

Synopsis: Anne (Diane Lane) is at a crossroads in her life. Married to a successful but inattentive movie producer (Alec Baldwin), she unexpectedly finds herself taking... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Diane Lane, Arnaud Viard, Alec Baldwin, Elise Tielrooy

Directed By: Eleanor Coppola

Critics Consensus: Rough Night's gifted stars are certainly good for some laughs, but their talents aren't properly utilized in a scattered comedy that suffers from too many missed opportunities.

Synopsis: Jess is an engaged politician who reunites with three of her college friends for a wild bachelorette weekend in Miami. The night of hard partying... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Jillian Bell, Zoë Kravitz, Ilana Glazer

Directed By: Lucia Aniello

Critics Consensus: Churchill gets sterling work out of Brian Cox in the leading role, but it isn't enough to overcome a muddled and ultimately unsuccessful approach to an incredible real-life story.

Synopsis: Tensions mount for beleaguered British Prime Minister Winston Churchill as D-Day nears in June 1944. Fearful of repeating past mistakes, Churchill is reluctant to embark... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brian Cox, Miranda Richardson, John Slattery, Ella Purnell

Directed By: Jonathan Teplitzky

Critics Consensus: The Glass Castle has an affecting real-life story and a hard-working cast in its corner, but they aren't enough to outweigh a fundamentally misguided approach to the material.

Synopsis: Based on a memoir, four siblings must learn to take care of themselves as their responsibility-averse, free-spirit parents both inspire and inhibit them. When sober,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson, Max Greenfield, Sarah Snook

Directed By: Destin Daniel Cretton

Critics Consensus: The Dinner's strong ensemble isn't enough to overcome a screenplay that merely skims the surface of its source material's wit and insight.

Synopsis: As two couples dine at an upscale restaurant, their polite discourse disguises the fact that they are struggling with weighty family issues.

Starring: Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Steve Coogan, Rebecca Hall

Directed By: Oren Moverman

Critics Consensus: Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets uses sheer kinetic energy and visual thrills to overcome narrative obstacles and offer a viewing experience whose surreal pleasures sometimes outweigh its flaws.

Synopsis: In the 28th century, special operatives Valerian and Laureline work together to maintain order throughout the human territories. Under assignment from the minister of defense,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Dane DeHaan, Cara Delevingne, Clive Owen, Rihanna

Directed By: Luc Besson

Critics Consensus: 47 Meters Down doesn't take its terrifying premise quite as far as it should, but its toothy antagonists still offer a few thrills for less demanding genre enthusiasts.

Synopsis: Young sisters Kate and Lisa and travel to Mexico for a vacation filled with sun, fun and adventure. Lisa needs some extra persuasion when Kate... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Claire Holt, Mandy Moore, Chris Johnson, Yani Gellman

Directed By: Johannes Roberts

Critics Consensus: Despicable Me 3 should keep fans of the franchise consistently entertained with another round of colorful animation and zany -- albeit somewhat scattershot -- humor.

Synopsis: The mischievous Minions hope that Gru will return to a life of crime after the new boss of the Anti-Villain League fires him. Instead, Gru... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker, Miranda Cosgrove

Directed By: Pierre Coffin, Kyle Balda

Critics Consensus: Annabelle: Creation adds another strong chapter to the Conjuring franchise - and offers further proof that freaky-looking dolls remain reliably terrifying.

Synopsis: Former toy maker Sam Mullins and his wife, Esther, are happy to welcome a nun and six orphaned girls into their California farmhouse. Years earlier,... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Eliana Bateman, Lulu Wilson, Philippa Coulthard

Directed By: David F. Sandberg

Critics Consensus: Cars 3 has an unexpectedly poignant story to go with its dazzling animation, suggesting Pixar's most middle-of-the-road franchise may have a surprising amount of tread left.

Synopsis: Blindsided by a new generation of blazing-fast cars, the legendary Lightning McQueen finds himself pushed out of the sport that he loves. Hoping to get... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Owen Wilson, Cristela Alonzo, Armie Hammer, Chris Cooper

Directed By: Brian Fee

Critics Consensus: Alien: Covenant delivers another satisfying round of close-quarters deep-space terror, even if it doesn't take the saga in any new directions.

Synopsis: Bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, members (Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup) of the colony ship Covenant discover what they... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride

Directed By: Ridley Scott

Critics Consensus: Landline's talented cast -- and a fast-paced approach from director/co-writer Gillian Robespierre -- help this charming multi-generational dramedy overcome a familiar storyline.

Synopsis: Two sisters come of age in '90s New York when they discover their dad's affair. Eventually, they learn he's not the only cheater in the... View Full Synopsis

Starring: Jenny Slate, John Turturro, Edie Falco, Abby Quinn

Directed By: Gillian Robespierre