Movie & Television Reviews

In a timely move, the folks behind the slick, vibrant espionage thriller “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” have added an experimental Artificial Intelligence project run amok to their roster of villains.

The latest title in a franchise that’s been going strong since 1997, “Diablo IV” (Blizzard) sees an epic confrontation between a rogue angel and a fugitive demon, with the fate of humanity hanging in the balance.

In theory, the tale of a shy but enthusiastic high schooler who is really a sea creature rather than a human might make for a pleasant diversion. But the major feminist and minor gay agendas that underlie the animated adventure “Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken” (Universal) spoil any potential fun the film might offer.

In the often-raunchy comedy “No Hard Feelings” (Sony) star Jennifer Lawrence plays a woman who agrees to sell her body for a Buick.

A fundamental message about accepting both the good and bad that befall us is mixed up with ingredients that make this a doubtful proposition for the teens at whom, along with grown-ups, the movie is presumably aimed.

Thanks to its rich blend of ethnicities, the United States has long been referred to as a melting pot. In the animated romantic comedy “Elemental” (Disney), director Peter Sohn substitutes for that metaphor a fable featuring embodiments of the four elements, using the dynamics of their imaginary world to explore the immigrant experience.