The Book of Life - B

Rated PG, 95 minutes
Wes's Grade: B

Lively "The Book of Life" brims with energy, good time

The new animated comedy movie "The Book of Life" is a rollicking good time and one of the most original, well-made family films seen in some time. The movie tells the legend of Manolo (Diego Luna), a conflicted hero and dreamer who sets off on an epic quest through magical, mythical and wondrous worlds in order to rescue his one true love (Zoe Saldana) and defend his village. Directed and written by Mexican animator Jorge Gutierrez in his feature film debut as director, "The Book of Life" is a hilarious, colorful look at some Mexican heritage, and while it initially seems dark on the surface, it's actually a great deal of fun. It's memorably voiced by a talented cast, including Saldana, Luna, Channing Tatum, along with Ron Perlman, Ice Cube, Kate del Castillo, Gabriel Iglesias, Cheech Marin and even the likes of Placido Domingo, whose familiar singing voice is heard as well. Speaking of which, the movie is also filled with some nice covers of pop tunes, including "I Will Wait" and "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?" Throw in some bulls, some pigs and a few portly, humming nuns and you're bound to laugh or at least giggle a few times, even though the themes (being yourself, et al) are hardly original, the enjoyable film itself is a bright, original animated entry from Reel FX Creative Studios and 20th Century Fox, who distributed the film. The kids, especially young ones, will particularly enjoy "The Book of Life," though adults will also leave with a big smile on their face. Clean, goofy fun for the entire family, "The Book of Life" is a rollicking, recommended adventure.

The Best of Me - C

Rated PG-13, 119 minutes
Wes's Grade: C

Sickly sweet and predictable, Sparks is at it again in “The Best of Me” with pretty people in (tragic) love

If you’re a fan of Nicholas Sparks – his books and accompanying movies – you know what to expect. Pretty people in love and some sort of tragedy befalls them, which is the basis of his new film “The Best of Me,” based on his bestselling novel of the same name. It should appeal most to Sparks’ large fan base, while the rest of us may roll our eyes. Years ago, Dawson and Amanda (James Marsden and Michelle Monaghan older/Luke Bracey and Liana Liberato younger) knew and fell for each other while they were in high school, where they had the time of their lives. Now, twenty years later, the two, by chance, find each other in the town they left and renew their relationship as adults. Directed and co-written by Michael Hoffman of “The Last Station” fame, the pleasant, predictable and overly sweet “The Best of Me” is typical Sparks, who also produces the film, and while the premise is “rekindling lost love” you can count on something bad and/or sad happening. The immensely attractive couple this time is Marsden and Monaghan, and told in flashback with their younger selves, played by an even prettier Bracey and Liberato. The flashbacks are slightly more compelling, only because Marsden and Australian actor Bracey bear absolutely no resemblance to each other at all (Bracey taller and leaner while Marsden shorter and stouter), and I had a hard time buying into Marsden’s older character: a strikingly handsome, intelligent man who's had absolutely no relationships with anyone for the last twenty years. Really? And there’s a point in the film where you know things are going just too good for something tragic not to happen, and it happens more than once in the film. I did like the charmingly gruff Gerald McRaney in a small part and Marsden and Monaghan in particular are likable though they can’t overcome the script’s penchant for tragedy. As a side note, the costume designer of the film, Ruth E. Carter, obviously adores backless dresses; and while the dresses themselves are fine, the lovely Liberato and Monaghan both wear them all through the film to the point they become noticeable (thanks to my astute, female moviegoing buddy Ellen for noticing that). If you’ve seen any of Sparks’ movies or read his books, you know to have tissues handy for the maudlin ending, as you’ll be crying right along with one of the film's central characters. “The Best of Me” isn’t the best of films, but Sparks knows his audience well and this should please them just fine. Go if you must, but know this is very much a date/chick flick if there ever was one.

Fury - B

Rated R, 134 minutes
Wes's Grade: B

WWII film "Fury" a brutal and intense experience

War is never a pretty subject, and if you're looking for a romanticized version of the war, then you won't find it in the stark, well-acted and powerful World War II movie "Fury." Though the story is fictional, the emotion and the brutality are quite realistic, and the battle sequences are superbly handled. The film is set in April, 1945 as the Allies are making their final push in the European Theatre, hardened army Sgt. "Wardaddy" Collier (Brad Pitt) commands a Sherman tank and her five-man crew (Logan Lerman, Michael Pena, Jon Bernthal and Shia LeBouf) on a deadly mission behind enemy lines. Outnumbered and outgunned, Wardaddy and his men face overwhelming odds in their heroic attempts to strike at Nazi Germany. Directed and written by David Ayer ("End of Watch"), the stirring, violent "Fury" shows how blurred the lines can get in war, and though it's slightly overlong, especially in the last act, it's an otherwise memorable tale. The film's intense battle scenes, which are peppered throughout the story, highlight the film, but it's also well-acted from a small set of actors; Pitt grounds the film well as the sympathetic sergeant, though wide-eyed Lerman, as the rookie assigned to a veteran team, and particularly a squirrelly LeBouf, as the Southern Bible-thumping solider, give more realized, memorable turns. "Fury" is not an epic film per se, as the scope limits itself to one section of the larger battle, but it expertly shows the bloody, often troubling realities of what war is and does to the men fighting it, on a slightly smaller scale. Under Ayer's solid direction and script, the film's battle scenes flow quite well, though there are a few scenes (one in particular inside the home of two German women seems to halt the film's energy) that could've been trimmed for the sake of continuity. The sets, costumes, sound and visual effects are all first-rate, and technically the film could be looking at some awards consideration come Oscar-time. The "Butch Cassidy"-style climax can probably be predicted, but even with its flaws, "Fury" is a memorable, entertaining and unsurprisingly, grisly, entry in the war film genre. Definitely worth a look.

One Chance - B-

Rated PG-13, 103 minutes
Wes's Grade: B-

"One Chance" tells the uplifting story of a real guy who became famous

Everyone loves a rags-to-riches story, and the charming new dramedy "One Chance" mines that formula perfectly as it tells the story of the first winner of one of Britian's popular reality talent shows. It's nothing new or revelatory and if you know the story you know how it turns out, but it's peppered with some touching moments. The movie tells the inspirational true story of Paul Potts (played by Tony-award winner James Corden), a shy, bullied shop assistant by day and an amateur opera singer by night. Paul became an instant YouTube phenomenon after being chosen by Simon Cowell for 'Britain's Got Talent.' Wowing audiences worldwide with his phenomenal voice, Paul went on to win 'Britain's Got Talent' and the hearts of millions. Directed by David Frankel ("The Devil Wears Prada") and scripted by Justin Zackham of "The Bucket List" fame, the pleasantly entertaining but unsurprising "One Chance" could be about any number of singers who hit it big (Kelly Clarkson comes to mind) on reality shows in the 2000s. The film is well-cast, with the immensely likable Corden, a British actor who has had some success across the pond but who you'll see much more of soon: he is replacing Craig Ferguson on his talk show and will also be seen in the big-budget musical "Into the Woods" at Christmas. He makes for a very appealing Potts, a talented but down-and-out singer who was once told by Pavarotti himself that he couldn't make it an opera singer. Potts, a normal schlub if there ever was one, would change that and more by going on "Britain's Got Talent" and taking the top prize; the film is wise to use Potts' own recordings, and the lip-synching is evident in some scenes (though Corden himself is a singer, though not classically trained as Potts was). The supporting cast is fun and includes a few familiar faces, including Alexandra Roach as his encouraging wife and the stalwart character actors Julie Walters and Colm Meaney as his well-meaning but often grumpy parents. Surprisingly, the movie doesn't spend as much as time as you might think on the "Britain's Got Talent" part of Potts' story, really the last 15 minutes are spent on that, while the rest of it is spent on Potts' downbeat life until then, and I wished to have seen more of Simon Cowell, but that is remarkably brief. Still, the upbeat and pleasantly entertaining "One Chance" is worth a look, and you'll also want to catch some of Potts' You Tube videos too to see the real thing.

Dracula Untold - C-

Rated PG-13, 120 minutes
Wes's Grade: C-

"Dracula Untold" a big-budgeted, stylish but dull version of the legendary vampire lacks bite

Dracula never seemed so bland in the new action thriller "Dracula Untold," a stylish, fast-paced but dull and unsatisfying version of the famous vampire that seems intent on turning Dracula into an action hero. The peacful reign of Transylvanian prince Vlad III Țepes ("Fast & Furious 6's" Luke Evans) is threatened by Sultan Mehmed II (Dominic Cooper), who demands 1,000 of his principality's boys, including Vlad’s own son, Ingeras, to join his army. In order to save his son, his wife Mirena (Sarah Gadon) and the kingdom he loves, Vlad enters into a special bargain with a dark sorcerer that gives him a special strength to defeat his enemies. However, he will be afflicted with an insatiable thirst to drink human blood and ultimately becoming legendary vampire Dracula. Directed by Gary Shore in his feature film debut as director and very loosely based on Bram Stoker's "Dracula," this vapid, stylish version of Dracula really lacks bite, and seems refashioned for the millennials: lots of special effects, lots of action and blood that pushes its PG-13 rating yet without much substance; much like the recent version of "Hercules" with The Rock that flopped, it has a lot of appeal but seems dumbed-down. Technically, some of it is sublime: the music from Grammy-nominated Ramin Djawadi is often compelling and the photography from John Schwartzman ("Saving Mr. Banks") is handsome, but the script from Matt Sazama and Burk Sharpless needs considerable more polish, but the directive to them seems to dumb it down for the new age, and a sluggish first 30 minutes doesn't help either. A lot of money was spent on this new version, much of it looks good (and if you like bats, there's a crapload of them here - albeit mostly CGI), and Evans is a handsomely bland vampire, but "Dracula Untold" needs much more substance and dark shadows to make an impact, and it seems to miss the point. Not worth it but many may take a look to see what it's about anyway.

The Judge - C+

Rated R, 142 minutes
Wes's Grade: C+

Downey and Duvall are terrific, but "The Judge" is too slick for its own good

Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall are two stellar actors, and they don't disappoint in the mildly entertaining but overlong, slick new drama "The Judge," which seems well-suited to the two actors talents, not to mention the fall movie-going season. Hank Palmer (Downey), who returns to his childhood home where his estranged father, the town's judge Joseph Palmer (Duvall), is suspected of murder. He sets out to discover the truth and along the way reconnects with the family he walked away from years before. Directed by David Dobkin ("Wedding Crashers") and co-written by Nick Schenk ("Gran Torino") and Bill Dubuque, "The Judge" is a well-acted but overlong drama that lacks efficiency and realism. It's one of those movies so slickly packaged and so designed to entertain yet so unrealistic that it's one of those "it only happens in the movies" type of movie chock full of contrivances, including the fact that Duvall's character is brought to trial so quickly that this legal system seems to exist in an alternate universe. But together the RD's - Downey and Duvall - have such a natural chemistry - that you can nearly forgive the fact that this wouldn't happen in real life. Duvall is always solid in his own cranky, fun way, but Downey is particularly effective as the slick lawyer with daddy issues, and he has some of "The Judge's" better moments. The film benefits from a strong supporting cast too, including two fine character actors - Vincent D'Onofrio and Jeremy Strong - who shine as the older and young, slower-witted brother, respectively; Billy Bob Thornton is also perfectly cast as another slick lawyer who gives Hank a run for his money. In addition, I love the talented but underused Oscar-nominated actress Vera Farmiga as Downey's love interest, but to tighten it up a little, this romantic subplot (not to mention a couple of others that I won't spoil) really should've been cut from the movie. On that note, "The Judge" is about 20 minutes too long and the ending you can predict from the first moments that Downey and Duvall are onscreen together, though overall it has some enjoyable moments. There's no way this type of thing would ever really, truly happen, but the entertaining yet overlong "The Judge" has two actors you can count on in Downey and Duvall, and that could be enough for some. Sort of recommended, only for the Downey/Duvall pairing, but you'll be looking at your watch more than once.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day - B

Rated PG-13, 80 minutes
Wes's Grade: B

Charming, likable "Alexander" has fun having a bad day

The pleasant new children's movie "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" is a sadistic movie - but scrubbed up Disney style - and the film should really be called "Alexander and his family have a bad day." The movie follows the exploits of 11-year-old Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) as he experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life. He soon learns that he's not alone when his upbeat family, including mom (Jennifer Garner), dad (Steve Carell), brother (Dylan Minnette) and sister (Kerris Dorsey) all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Anyone who says there is no such thing as a bad day just hasn't had one. Directed by Miguel Arteta ("Chuck and Buck") and written by Ron Lieber and loosely based on Judith Viorst's best-selling children's book of the same name (and this adaptation was preceded by a 1990 animated special), "Alexander" is a delightful, lighthearted movie that has fun with people having very bad days, sort of a cleaned-up, less sarcastic "Malcolm in the Middle" that changes the main focus from the boy to the parents (mainly due to the A-list status of Garner and Carell, who have fun here slumming it a bit). Done the Disney way, it's all good, clean fun, and there's nothing wrong with that: a kangaroo, a job interview, Dick Van Dyke (yes, you read that right), Peter Pan, a permanent magic marker, and the prom are all thrown into the mix, with a few good laughs here and there. As the titular character, lisping newcomer Oxenbould is charming, though as mentioned earlier, unlike the book, the movie is more focused on the hijinks of his family, in a sitcomy, episodic type way and he's too often in the background doing very little. It's thin and in the end doesn't amount to much, but the pleasant, entertaining "Alexander" is a solid family movie, and if it's a hit, you may find it as a new series on the Disney Channel or ABC Family.