Themes of love, resilience and redemption are all coming to a theater near you this weekend. In the tearjerker “Five Feet Apart,” Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse play a couple of star-crossed lovers who are afflicted with cystic fibrosis.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Garner and Brianna Denski star as a mother-daughter duo who concoct a make-believe amusement park with their vivid imaginations in the animated flick, “Wonder Park.”
In the mood for a sci-fi thriller? “Captive State” stars John Goodman, Ashton Sanders and Jonathan Majors as a trio who must reconcile their past, present and future together.
And for those of you seeking a powerful drama, look no further than “The Mustang,” in which Matthias Schoenaerts plays an inmate on a personal path to redemption as he trains a wild horse.
Here’s what to see and skip this weekend:
Opening This Weekend
“Five Feet Apart” — Haley Lu Richardson, Cole Sprouse; directed by Justin Baldoni
Justin Baldoni’s directorial film debut delves into the challenges of those diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF), a genetic, progressive disorder that causes permanent damage of the airways and lungs.
In the movie, Stella Grant (Haley Lu Richardson) is a vibrant teen who lives life to the fullest every single day within her limitations and boundaries. But when the 17-year-old crosses paths with an irresistible fellow patient named Will Newman (Cole Sprouse), she feels as though she’s losing control of herself.
The attraction is mutual, and the two teens hit it off instantly. However, as their love grows, so does the temptation to neglect their six-foot rule — that is, they must always remain 72 inches apart to prevent the spread of the harmful bacteria.
Feeling undeterred, the couple vow to make it a “five feet apart” rule instead. Do they have a shot at survival? Can their love prevail against all odds?
(Fact: Sprouse, who also stars in “Riverdale,” had to lose 25 pounds for his role.)
See it. Richardson and Sprouse will charm you with their sizzling chemistry, though the screenplay feels overly melodramatic at times.
Watch the trailer:
“Wonder Park” — Brianna Denski, Jennifer Garner; directed by Clare Kilner, David Feiss, Robert Iscove, and Dylan Brown
The power of imagination triumphs grief and sadness in the animated film, “Wonder Park,” told through the eyes of a young, precocious girl named June (voiced by Brianna Denski).
Every night before bedtime, June and her mom (voiced by Jennifer Garner) talk about their make-believe world called Wonderland. Their vivid, enchanting world is a children’s paradise full of gravity-defying rides and wondrous attractions.
Wonderland also includes a colorful crew of talking animals: the worrywart Greta (Mila Kunis), the antsy porcupine, Steve (John Oliver), the comedic bear, Boomer (Ken Hudson Campbell), the self-assured monkey, Peanut, (Norbert Leo Butz), and manic beavers, Cooper and Gus (Ken Jeong and Kenan Thompson).
When her mom suddenly goes away to seek treatment for a serious illness, June’s life is upended. She becomes despondent and totally forgets about her wonderful place — that is, until she unwittingly discovers a real Wonderland, complete with all her lovable characters.
However, this real place is filled with doom and gloom, and only June can restore its beauty, charm and magic. Does she have the determination to do it?
Skip it. While kids may learn some good lessons along the way, the animated flick, overall, is not visually thrilling.
Watch the trailer:
“Captive State” — John Goodman, Ashton Sanders, Jonathan Majors; directed by Erica Beeney and Rupert Wyatt
In this sci-fi thriller, John Goodman stars as a conflicted cop torn between his paternal instinct for two young men (Ashton Sanders and Jonathan Majors) and his loyalty to his badge.
In 2016, a family of four (a police officer, his wife and their two young sons) tries to escape the terror of an alien invasion in Chicago. Unfortunately, only the two boys survive.
Almost a decade later, Chicago is now under the rule of martial law governed by dictatorial extraterrestrials and is completely isolated from the outside world. Now in their 20s, the two brothers are reunited after having been apart for several years.
Gabriel (Sanders) soon discovers that his older brother, Rafe (Majors), is now the leader of an insurgent movement that is hell bent on overthrowing the alien regime. We also learn that Officer William Mulligan (Goodman) is hot on their trail, watching every move they make. In the end, will the cop — who was their late dad’s old friend — be their biggest ally or their fiercest foe?
Skip it. Although the performances are impressive, the film tries too hard to be different from other sci-fi movies.
Watch the trailer:
“The Mustang” — Matthias Schoenaerts, Bruce Dern, Connie Britton; directed by Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre
French writer-director Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre’s feature debut is a prison drama that follows the story of Roman Coleman (Matthias Schoenaerts), a convict in the middle of an 11-year sentence for domestic violence.
Recently transferred to the Northern Nevada Correctional Center, the inmate gets a chance at redemption when he is selected to participate in a state-mandated social rehabilitation program that focuses on training wild horses.
Roman is paired with a mustang that mirrors his very own symptoms of aggression, fear and anxiety. Under the watchful eye of his mentor, Myles (Bruce Dern), he learns to break the horse, which he names Marquis. But progress will not come easy for the self-loathing Roman. If he wants to control Marquis, then he must control himself first.
With the aid of a psychologist (Connie Britton), he slowly learns to confront his inner demons, ultimately finding a way to bond with Marquis and find his personal path to redemption.
See it. Simply put, Schoenaerts’s powerhouse performance is worth the admission ticket alone. Make sure to bring a box of Kleenex, especially for the movie’s final frame.
Watch the trailer:
Other Entertainment News: