John Mulderig

Place one of Western civilization’s foundational texts in the hands of one of the entertainment industry’s greatest living auteurs and the results are likely to be impressive. And so it proves with “The Odyssey” (Universal), writer-director Christopher Nolan’s lavish and absorbing adaptation of Homer’s epic poem.

The following are capsule reviews of theatrical movies available now for streaming or scheduled for broadcast on network or cable television during the week of July 26, as well as notes on TV programming for the same week. Televised films may or may not be edited for language, nudity, violence and sexual situations while the programs listed have not been reviewed and therefore are not necessarily recommended by OSV News.

The following are capsule reviews of theatrical movies available now for streaming or scheduled for broadcast on network or cable television during the week of July 19, as well as notes on TV programming for the same week.

Set primarily in the Hollywood of the 1920s, the delightful animated comedy “Minions & Monsters” (Universal) is at once director and co-writer Pierre Coffin’s paean to and satire of early Tinseltown.

At what is meant to be a poignant moment in the DC Comics adaptation “Supergirl” (Warner Bros.), the title character, played by Milly Alcock, is told by her mother (Emily Beecham) that she doesn’t have to be nice but she must be good. The recipient of this advice takes it to heart in a way that lends the whole film an unpleasant tone.

A deservedly much-loved animated series gets a touching extension with the arrival of “Toy Story 5” (Disney). The franchise’s hallmark combination of sunny humor and emotional intelligence continues to make for outstanding entertainment, this time under the direction of co-writer Andrew Stanton.

A torrent of degraded sexual jokes overwhelms the few successful one-liners in “Scary Movie” (Paramount), a slipshod send-up of recent horror films and various other aspects of pop culture.

Given that the franchise it extends dates back to the 1982 release of a Mattel line of action toys and that its protagonist’s moniker, when in superhero mode, is He-Man, sensible viewers will not approach the adventure “Masters of the Universe” (Amazon MGM) expecting brilliant insights into the human condition.