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Here's a look at the new movies I saw last week.

Big Miracle

Starring: Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Kristen Bell, and Ted Danson

Synopsis: This film is based on the true story of three California Grey Whales that were trapped in the ice off a remote port in Alaska in 1988. The film features some real news footage, follows the historical timeline, and tries to tell the story of the people who helped free the whales, and how it changed their lives. On paper, this is a warm, family-friendly film. It also feels like good counter programming to the Super Bowl (as it opened Super Bowl weekend), but it didn't make a lot at the Box Office. One of the questions has to be why? The answer is that, though the movie has its charms, it's not incredible. The performances are passable. Barrymore does a nice job in the lead role, and the best performer in the film is Krasinski, who brings the same charm and comedic timing he has on "The Office" to this role. The story is mildly heart-warming, and it's put together reasonably well. Director Ken Kwapis ("The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants," "License to Wed") does a reasonable job putting the film together, mixing comedy, drama, and history. Still, there's little that is memorable or compelling about the film. You never get drawn, emotionally, into the story or the characters to the extent needed to make this kind of film a rousing success. It's a cute film. It's a family-friendly film. It's a fun film. But it's not a memorable or inspiring film. That's the greatest failing for this genre. That's what separates decent films from classics. This film just doesn't do enough to rise to the level of classic.

Rating: PG for language

Verdict: Two stars out of four

Red Tails

Starring: Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Nate Parker, Ne-Yo, Tristan Wilds, Michael B. Jordan, Gerald McRaney, Bryan Cranston, Lee Tergesen, Daniela Ruah, Andre Royo, and David Oyelowo

Synopsis: George Lucas and Steven Spielberg are famously close friends, but they have wildly different approaches to film. Both, though, clearly are drawn to the World War II era. For Spielberg, that has led to memorable films such as "Saving Private Ryan" and "Schindler's List," as well as specials such as "Band of Brothers" and "The Pacific." Lucas has now added his own take on WWII with "Red Tails," and it certainly has a familiar feel. The film follows a group of negro fighter pilots — members of the Tuskegee program — who are fighting for equality and a chance to prove themselves in the air. That chance finally comes, and the squadron earns their stripes by doing their duty — in many ways better than the glory-seeking white fighter pilots. And the film has it's moments, but it actually feels like a "Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace" approach to a WWII movie. The special effects are pretty good — something you'd expect from a Lucas film — the acting is marginally passable, the film drags at times, and the dialogue is horrific. This is an important story, and I applaud Lucas for bringing it to light. It is important to remember important people and groups in history — especially those that were marginalized at the time and overcame prejudice through perseverance and achievement. But this is a flawed film. It's a neat concept, but it just doesn't work. It has some decent actors, but they feel trapped by a flawed narrative and stilted dialogue. A movie that talks about something this important shouldn't have unintentional comedy moments — but this one does. Lucas is brilliant at coming up with inventive stories and putting together technological achievements, but the flaws in the storytelling are what keep his modern films from being great. Though John Ridley crafted the screenplay and Anthony Hemingway directed this film, the flaws typical of the "Star Wars" prequels remain. Style is important, but so is substance. This one is lacking in that latter area, and it prevents the film from achieving all it could be.

Rating: PG-13 for some sequences of war violence

Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Woman in Black

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciaran Hinds, and Janet McTeer

Synopsis: Daniel Radcliffe will probably always be remembered as Harry Potter. Over a decade and eight films, Radcliffe brought the iconic literary character to life. But that doesn’t mean he’s limited to that part. In his spare time while the “Harry Potter” series was going, Radcliffe tested himself by taking radically different parts. That has continued in his post-“Potter” projects. Radcliffe has been in different stage productions — including a recent run in “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying” — and has looked at different film parts. In that sense, his latest film — the mysterious “Woman in Black” — seems like a natural fit. It stretches him as an actor and feels many shades away from the magical wizarding world created by J.K. Rowling. This film is about as far from the world of “Harry Potter” as it gets. There is no humor, no lightness, and no battle between good and evil. This is a film steeped in sadness, dreary vistas, and loss. And it’s an exploration of loss, love, and sacrifice along the way. Director James Watkins does a nice job of creating a visual feel that matches the tone of the film. One of the best parts of the production is the house, which is sufficiently fascinating and creepy. The grounds that surround it, including the marsh and the sleepy little village, add to the visual intrigue of the film. Additionally, the performances work well. Radcliffe disappears into his role. You can still tell it’s him, but he does a nice job in a part that is shades away from the role that has so far defined his film career. He gets nice supporting work from Hinds and McTeer in helping to frame the story and the action. What doesn’t work as well is the story. It’s a mirthless plot. Though the performances are strong and the setting works well, it’s hard to get invested in the characters, the outcome of the plot, or even decipher what the ultimate point of the story really is. Based on the novel from Susan Hill, Jane Goldman crafts a script that seems painfully drawn out. The movie is tedious at times, slow to roll out answers, and never really bothers to offer explanation for what’s happening. This point is really driven home by the end of the film. There are at least three ways to interpret the ending, but it’s hard to tell which is the intended way to interpret it. Given that, despite some of what the film does well, it’s ultimately unsatisfying. I applaud Radcliffe for his work and his efforts to stretch himself on the screen, it would just be nice to see him get that opportunity with a movie a little more well rounded than this.

Rating: PG-13 for thematic material and violence/disturbing images.

Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

Feb. 10 — "The Vow," "Safe House," "Journey 2 Mysterious Island," "Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace 3D"

Feb. 17 — "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance," "This Means War"

Feb. 24 — "Wanderlust," "Good Deeds," "Gone," "Act of Valor"