Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Though final mountainous level is a bit flat, Jumanji plays by its own rules and thus carries the comedy through to the finish. Black’s thunderous diva pairs perfectly with nervous nebula and soft Rock, while Hart is loveable as always. Peppered with amusing wrestler references including extended analysis of Johnsons.

I, Tonya

Sweeping but gritty cinematography miraculously keeps pace with Robbie’s hard-hitting Harding rendition. Fascinating narrative structure lays brilliantly rocky rink for Allibastion Stanney to perform in. Overly pandering Tonya assault shot aside, if Coens and Scorsese teamed up to tackle skating, this icy-hot biopic would deserve (but not receive) higher scores.

Ant Man

Big time crook turns to petty crime in Marvel’s Irony Man.  Rudd fails to steer this clunky quasi-comedic heist through awkward pacing, ham-fisted emotional backstory, and remarkably low stakes.  Lilly’s Zeta-Jones costume makes Douglas seem even more villainous than trying to blow up his company to stop his protégé’s progress does.

Spy

McCarthy is Austen Powers in Spiesmaids, which Bonds silly predictability with heart-felt genre love and despite detours manages to eventually hit its target.  Supporting cast brilliantly lampoon themselves, though American Law is as off-putting as it sounds.  Heavy-handed fat jokes get shaken and stirred in with clever satire for mixed results.