Movie reviews of George Wolf

Yes, it’s overlong (but you will want to stay through the credits) and sometimes clearly impressed with its own cleverness, but Deadpool & Wolverine is also committed to its promise of adult, crowd-pleasing fun. Review

As likable as this ensemble is, only a few of the gags actually land, the running time starts to swell and the film spreads its tone so thin that no one gets out of The Eternal City feeling like they had a good time. Review

Young Woman and the Sea may never attempt to shake up the sports biography playbook, but it doesn’t feel like pandering, either. Disney obviously knows the game plan, and the film’s commitment to execution delivers a satisfying and overdue salute to a woman who earned it. Review

Munro’s arc isn’t frivolous, but neither is it fresh. The emotional pull here is clearly with the Māori, and it’s a shame The Convert is content to make them side players. Review

Enjoy their mischief, even if none of this really happened, a fact which makes the two-hour-plus running time seen a little more bloated. Still, Fly Me to the Moon has just enough stylish star power to make it a satisfying flight about something that never really happened. Review

First-time feature director Mark Molloy dutifully rolls out a workmanlike series of recognizable franchise faces and situations. And while it’s nice to see the addition of Joseph Gordon-Levitt, little of the script deviates from the convenient and the predictable. But is it fun? Yeah, it kinda is. Review

This is dense and demanding cinema, complex and sometimes utterly confounding. It can wander self-indulgently, then slap your face with moments of brilliance, hilarity, insight and even horror. Review

There are a few amusing jabs at fame and self-absorption, but A Family Affair never feels any fresher than a plate of reheated leftovers. Review

Daddio is about taking the time for human connection, and about how much understanding can come from truly listening to each other. Review

Thelma is Margolin’s feature debut, and it displays a fine flair for madcap comedy that comes with a crowd-pleasing, easily digestible message. Review

Director Kelsey Mann and writers Meg LeFauve and Dave Holstein unleash this emotional onslaught with a mix of laughs and empathy that sets the perfect catalyst for another winning Pixar trip into a secret world. Review

The true effects of the pandemic – particularly on the young – may not be fully known for decades. Bonello wants us to realize that now, and Coma is an intriguing and insightful thought starter. Review

Linklater’s direction is slick and well-paced, with a vibe that recalls a winning mix of Fletch whodunnit, Spy humor and Ocean’s 11 sex appeal. Review

The Watchers is an often-intriguing thriller. But it doesn’t hold up to the great Irish horror that came before it. Review

The trouble comes calling, and Handling the Undead answers with a bleak but compelling study of desperation meeting inhuman connection. Review

Jacobs, returning from the short film, is terrific. Riley isn’t a shy YA teen just waiting for her specialness to be seen; she’s a real world young woman driven to succeed while trying to navigate the expectations at home, on the mat, and in her relationship with Amanda. Review

Byrne delivers her usual, chemistry-filled excellence; De Niro scores with some crusty affection and understated humor; and the charming Fitzgerald ensures that the film’s big heart is consistently in the right place. Review

Directors Frank Marshall and Thom Zimny weave interviews old and new, archival footage and iconic music into a compelling pop culture tapestry. Review

Smith is heartbreakingly endearing, while Lundy-Paine provides a revelatory turn of alienation and mystery. Review

Taylor-Johnson’s hand is steady but fairly generic, with a tendency to revisit some obvious visual metaphors. And though you end up wishing Back to Black could have confidence enough to sharpen its edge, stellar performances flesh out the sad tragedy of a gifted life spiraling out of control. Review

Bana and the supporting cast are first rate, cinematographer Andrew Commis provides some lush and often rain-soaked majesty, and each piece of the puzzle sports some fine edges. But together, those pieces push and pull against each simultaneously, always undercutting the tension before it really gets its hooks in. Review

I wouldn’t call it well-rounded, healthy or even balanced, but Unfrosted is eventually able to serve up just enough real laughs for a satisfying plate of silly. Review

More casual sports fans may not be moved, but those with a love of boxing—especially during the 70s and 80s—will take a few hits to the feels. Review

Zendaya, Faist and O’Connor deftly handle the growth of their characters from fresh-faced teens to hardened adults. All three deliver terrific, well-defined performances, and Challengers quickly becomes a film to get lost in, where you’re happy to be hanging on every break point. Review