Reviews

There’s so much to explore about modern dating and sex and technology and confronting problematic people and situations, and “Swiped” turns everything complicated into a list of bullet points.

Understands the fear of relationship impermanence, and the fork between revealing yourself or hiding, and how vulnerability breeds both revulsion and connection. And the complicated thing that remains even when a dynamic goes bad.

Anyone who expected “Platonic” to be better better scroll to “Sweethearts,” even if the latter is set a few years/a lifetime before the former.

Like Paul, “Borderline” is too amused with itself and almost entirely wrong about what’s being accomplished.

If this sounds familiar that’s because it is, and “A Little Prayer” never turns common into compelling.

Disgusting and ugly, exhausting and depressing, and at 110 minutes the longest “Final Destination” by far, which won’t make you wish for death but certainly could spark a question about why you’re spending time this way.

It takes something that’s difficult to convey visually and authentically, and does just that.

Needs a closer study of pretty much everyone and everything in it.

Neither good nor terrible nor surprising nor remotely believable. See it if you want to, or don’t.

Lazy critics sometimes like to rave “A great time at the movies!” No one will say this about “Echo Valley.” It’s a bad time, and not worth it.

An extremely average thriller in which nothing is complicated and nothing much is concealed.

A classic bar conversation and a movie destined to be remembered by no one.

The kind of big swing that either leaves viewers cold and annoyed or totally transfixed on its wavelength. Or, like I was, both, landing somewhere in the middle.

It’s not great when after just 10 minutes a main character causes the words “awkward weird pathetic creepy sad exhausting” to run through your head.

Comedy needs a spark, and drama needs impact, and “Babes” comes up short in both areas.

Too funny to dismiss while also being too spotty to endorse beyond the mildest of mild enthusiasm.

Congrats — you now have the answer if you’ve ever wondered “What if ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’ totally sucked?”

Isn’t a fun genre mash-up so much as a chance to give half the effort and require twice the suspension of disbelief.

Very much like “Frances Ha” or “Bridesmaids” with all the laughs and personality and wisdom taken out.

A pretty decent twist can’t rescue a narrative that ultimately just features a terrible couple being horrible parents.