John Mulderig

“The Monkey” (Neon), writer-director Osgood Perkins’ serio-comic adaptation of a 1980 short story by horror maven Stephen King, begins with the graphic disemboweling of a minor character and climaxes with the equally explicit decapitation of a major one by a flying bowling ball. ‘Nuff said?

Capsule reviews of theatrical movies available now for streaming or scheduled for broadcast on network or cable television as well as notes on TV programming for the same week.

Capsule reviews of theatrical movies available now for streaming or scheduled for broadcast on network or cable television as well as notes on TV programming for the same week.

Capsule reviews of the 10 films contending for Best Picture. The Oscars ceremony will take place in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 2.

Despite being billed as a romantic comedy, “You’re Cordially Invited” (Amazon MGM) showcases more spite than genuine love. Throw in a heavy dose of off-color dialogue — as well as some wayward values — and the upshot is a mirthless, even dispiriting, experience.

Comic chaos is the order of the day in “Dog Man” (Universal), the animated adaptation of a series of graphic novels by Dav Pilkey. Yet touching sentiments are also successfully incorporated into writer-director Peter Hastings’ film.

Capsule reviews of theatrical movies available now for streaming or scheduled for broadcast on network or cable television as well as notes on TV programming for the same week.

Two double lives provide the context for some good one-liners in the generally enjoyable espionage comedy “Back in Action” (Netflix). Unfortunately, however, the quality of the humor flags as the film’s plot progresses and some of the material viewers encounter along the way makes this production an apt choice for grown-ups only.