The Screening Room

Kirk. Spock. Bones. Wisecracks, a villain, and some heroic space swashbuckling. We're pretty familiar with theStar Trek setup by now, and three flicks into the J.J. Abrams-fueled reboot, the latest seems the most comfortable in its journey. And though Star Trek Beyond doesn't quite boldly go, it is a fun, satisfying ride.

Just weeks ago, Dan Aykroyd set the trollosphere into a stage 5 tizzy when he dared to suggest the new Ghostbusters just might be scarier - and funnier - than his 1984 version. He's not really wrong.

The Secret Life of Pets: For a madcap family movie, The Secret Life of Pets raises some deeply disturbing questions. How much libido could fuel a romantic subplot when the lovers have been neutered? Why does “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” cue up during a drive into Manhattan? And exactly where is the autonomic system located on a sausage?

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates: Back in 2012, Aubrey Plaza starred in an eccentric little SciFi adventure based on a Craigslist ad. Safety Not Guaranteed was a surprised (and welcome) hit, partly because of writer Derek Connelly’s fertile imagination, partly because of the genuinely bizarre ad: Wanted: Somebody to go back in time. This is no joke. You’ll get paid after. Bring your own weapons. Safety not guaranteed. I have done this once before.

Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates: So Todd Solondz's new film is called Wiener-Dog? Is this a sequel to Welcome to the Dollhouse? Do we catch up with Dawn Wiener and see how her life has turned out?

What the? The year is half over? Let's get caught up. "Batman v. Superman" wasn't that bad, "Civil War" wasn't that good, and two Gerard Butler flicks are clubhouse leaders for worst of the year. But let's focus on the positive. With honorable mentions going to "Finding Dory," "Love and Friendship," "Keanu," "Everybody Wants Some!!," "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising" and "Viva," these are our picks for the top of the mid-year report card.