Freeze Frame

Audiences say they want originality, but do they actually prefer familiarity? If the latter is true, then “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” should catch the fancy of audiences who made the original 2008 Abba musical a box office hit. All of the original cast members are back, joined by a cadre of actors who portray the characters in their earlier years. The flimsy-dual timeline plot doesn’t make sense if you think too hard about it but thinking hard isn’t what this movie is about. Meryl Streep’s role, the best thing about the original, has sadly been reduced to a cameo. But her appearance is still the best thing about this movie. It’s a breezy, cheerful lark with plenty of earworm pop tunes that will invade your brain for days after viewing. “Mama Mia! Here We Go Again” is the cinematic equivalent of a mirror ball; a cheesy, sparkly distraction. Familiarity also abounds in “The Equalizer 2,” Denzel Washington’s first sequel, the follow-up to his 2014 action thriller that was based on the old TV series. Washington plays a former CIA black ops agent who uses his impressive kills to wreak violent revenge on the people who murdered his friend,…

“Die Hard” meets “The Towering Inferno” in “Skyscraper,” Duane “The Rock” Johnson’s third action/adventure special effects extravaganza in the past seven months. Johnson plays a security expert whose family is trapped above the fire line when the world’s tallest building …

“Die Hard” meets “The Towering Inferno” in “Skyscraper,” Duane “The Rock” Johnson’s third action/adventure special effects extravaganza in the past seven months. Johnson plays a security expert whose family is trapped above the fire line when the world’s tallest building in Hong Kong is torched by a crime syndicate. Can he save his loved ones while battling the elements, the bad guys and the cops? Need you ask? This by-the-numbers thriller delivers just what you’d expect, and that’s probably enough for Johnson’s legion of fans. You’ve got to give writer/director Boots Riley a lot of credit. His film debut “Sorry to Bother You” is an original, audacious work. This comic sci-fi social commentary stars LaKeith Stanfield as an uber-talented telemarketer in the near future who unwittingly uncovers an evil corporation’s massive plot to enslave people. One could argue that this R-rated farce often goes way too far, but “Sorry to Bother You” is smart, funny and observant about the state of racial affairs. Homelessness, PTSD and family dynamics are at the heart of Debra Granik’s low-key drama, “Leave No Trace.” Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie are excellent as a father and daughter who live off the grid. Things get complicated…

In the Marvel Universe, we’ve recently been hit with the dark tragedy of “Avengers: Infinity War” and the comic superhero parody, “Deadpool 2.” In tone, the latest Marvel entry, “Ant-Man and the Wasp” falls somewhere in between. Paul Rudd is …

In the Marvel Universe, we’ve recently been hit with the dark tragedy of “Avengers: Infinity War” and the comic superhero parody, “Deadpool 2.” In tone, the latest Marvel entry, “Ant-Man and the Wasp” falls somewhere in between. Paul Rudd is back in a light-hearted thriller that has Ant-Man joining forces with The Wasp, played by Evangeline Lilly, in an attempt to save her mother from entrapment in the Quantum realm. It’s brilliantly produced, action-packed and benefits greatly from Rudd’s likeable persona and an easy-going, summer popcorn movie vibe.   In contrast, “Boundaries” is an oddball road trip movie that doesn’t quite live up to its promise. Vera Farmiga plays an eccentric woman who reluctantly agrees to drive her estranged, irascible father, played Christopher Plummer, from Seattle to LA. Turns out, he’s a pot dealer who’s using her as an unwitting mule to haul a load of goods to a Southern Callifornia client. Both of these actors are terrific, but the film is self-consciously quirky and never quite credible.   Also opening this week, “The First Purge” is a prequel to the horror series about the near future where murder is legal one night per year. “A Kid Like Jake” is…

“Sicario: Day of the Soldado” is a sequel to the acclaimed drug war drama from 2015. The follow up is equally grim and cynical, this time adding the element of human trafficking along the southern border to the mix. James …

“Sicario: Day of the Soldado” is a sequel to the acclaimed drug war drama from 2015. The follow up is equally grim and cynical, this time adding the element of human trafficking along the southern border to the mix. James Brolin’s amoral federal agent recruits the reluctant Benicio Del Toro to stage a Mexican kidnapping aimed at starting a war between cartels. The screenplay crackles with sharp dialogue, but the violent story takes some turns that stretch credibility to the limit. Still, it’s provocative and edgy. One of the rarest cinematic genres is movies adapted from TV commercials. In the goofy comedy “Uncle Drew” NBA star Kyrie Irving dons old age makeup and takes on some young bloods in a basketball tourney. He’s joined by Shaquille O’Neal, Reggie Miller, Nate Robinson, Chris Webber and Lisa Leslie, all under a ton of latex. It’s all very gimmicky and predictable, but more entertaining than it has any business being. “Mountain” is an involving documentary that combines stunning visuals, poetic narration and an elegant orchestral score to explore man’s fasciation and obsession with conquering rugged peaks. Filmmaker Jennifer Peedom uses drones and body cameras to capture climbers, bikers, hang gliders, skiers and all…

If you haven’t witnessed the marketing blitz for “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” I hope you get your TV, radio and internet service back soon. The fifth film in the popular series should take in a monstrous haul at the box …

If you haven’t witnessed the marketing blitz for “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom,” I hope you get your TV, radio and internet service back soon. The fifth film in the popular series should take in a monstrous haul at the box office but doesn’t quite live up to the quality of the last outing. Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and the special effects magicians all return to save the resurrected dinosaurs from a volcanic eruption that threatens to wipe out their island. While certainly watchable and visually spectacular, the Jurassic plot elements may be getting a bit long in the tooth. Was the real Fred Rogers the kindly, affable, empathetic fellow he appeared to be on his long-running PBS kids’ show “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood?” Oscar-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville’s documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” shows that indeed he was. The movie focuses on the Presbyterian minister’s back story, his motives and his passion for kind-hearted, morally instructive children’s programming. Even those who weren’t fans of his show may be surprised by just how moving this loving portrait actually is. For those who watched as kids, it’s nostalgia heaven. “American Animals” is an intriguing hybrid movie, part documentary, part dramatic re-enactment. This…

The remake of the classic 70s blaxploitation flick “Superfly” replaces gritty with glossy. Trevor Jackson plays an ultra-smooth Atlanta drug dealer who tries to arrange one last big score and get out of the game. This violent crime drama is …