This weekend’s movie highlights include an affectionate glimpse of two comedic legends, an American remake of a wildly popular French comedy/drama, a loyal dog tale and a virtually unrecognizable Nicole Kidman.
The must-see of the bunch is “Stan & Ollie,” a sweet-souled tribute to the iconic comedy team of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. Jon S. Baird’s nostalgic heartwarmer is a well-made charmer that benefits enormously from radiant performances of not only Steve Coogan (Stan) and John C. Reilly (Hardy) as well as scene-stealing supporting turns from Nina Arianda (Ida Laurel) and Shirley Henderson (Lucille Hardy) as their spouses. It focuses — mostly — on the duo’s final tour in England. Don’t miss it. “Stan & Ollie” expands into more theaters Jan. 18.
In Karyn Kusama’s relentlessly bleak “Destroyer,” Kidman goes full Christian Bale on us, looking so unlike her public image. One of today’s best, most versatile actress burrows into the role of a beat-down, hollowed-out L.A. detective whose haunted by her past assignment infiltrating a gang. The film has its issues, but Kidman is dynamite.
Too much of a downer? A trio of films look to inspire and also generate some tears.
“The Upside” casts Kevin Hart and Bryan Cranston in Neil Burger’s remake of the 2012 international box-office hit “The Intouchables,” one of the most popular films in French history. Hart plays an ex-con hired to care for a wealthy quadriplegic. Nicole Kidman costars. Early reviews praise the performances.
Should you prefer dogs over cats (tsk-tsk), high-tail it to “A Dog’s Way Home,” an incredible journey that might be the family treat you want. Bryce Dallas Howard provides the voice of Bella, an aww-so-cute canine traveling great distances to reunite with her human. Ashley Judd, Edward James Olmos, Wes Studi and Shelby the dog costar. It’s based on the best-selling novel by W. Bruce Cameron.
“Sgt. Will Gardner” arrives nearly guaranteed to make you well up while serving as a noble reminder of the sacrifices military members make. Max Martini (“Saving Private Ryan”) wrote, produced and stars in this inspirational story about a PTSD Iraq War veteran who motorcycles his way through America on a healing odyssey. Gary Sinise costars. It will also be available to rent on streaming platforms.
The “one” feature that Keanu Reeves fans will want to check out is “Replicas,” a medical what-if thriller with “Frankenstein” leanings. Reeves plays a grieving biologist tinkering about with bringing his departed family back to life. His research doesn’t sit well with some.
For pure check-out-the-brain martial arts action, saddle up for Western sendup “Buffalo Boys.” It was Singapore’s foreign-language Oscar entry, and while Mike Wiluan’s feature-length directorial debut failed to land a nomination, it sure knows how to entertain. The story finds two brothers summoned back to their 19th-century Java homeland where they tangle with the villain who killed their father. It will be available on streaming platforms and is worth the rental price.
Lastly there’s “The Aspern Papers,” a clunky, mishandled rendering of a Henry James novella. In this stitled and flat production, a crafty publisher (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) capitalizes on his dashing looks in hopes of hoodwinking a depressed woman (Vanessa Redgrave) and her repressed niece (Joely Richardson) into handing over intimate diary entries of a famous poet. The flashbacks tell a far more intriguing — and sexy — tale. At least you get some lovely shots of Venice.
