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

Good Boys (HBO)
Starring: Jacob Tremblay, Keith L. Williams, Brady Noon, and Molly Gordon
Synopsis: This comedy was released late in the summer of 2019, and it came from the producers behind a wilding out teen comedy "Superbad" in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. "Superbad" is a movie, and formula, that "Good Boys" was compared to as well. This one moved the action to a group of middle schoolers, and half the comedy comes from them not really understanding the adult things they're confronted with and pursuing. This is an easy follow with a pretty straightforward plot and a short run time. I thought the performances were OK, and the film had some amusing moments, but it was also a little dry at times and uneven. It was a fine quarantine watch on HBO, but I was glad I didn't pay up to see it in the theater.
Rating: R for strong crude sexual content, drug and alcohol material, and language throughout - all involving tweens.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Like a Boss (Pay-Per-View)
Starring: Tiffany Haddish, Rose Byrne, Salma Hayek, Billy Porter, and Jennifer Coolidge
Synopsis: This comedy was released in theaters in early 2020 and landed with a thud. It's now available to rent on demand, and we checked it out. I think Byrne is a great performer that thrives in comedy and drama, and Haddish is funny as well. There are moments in this comedy, where they play best friends and small business owners torn apart by a lucrative deal from a shark played by Hayek, that really work. Some of the comedy is good, and they get to play off Porter and Coolidge well at times, too. But this is short and predictable, and much like "Good Boys" isn't always consistent in its comedy. I liked it more than most critics, and I thought it was a decent quarantine watch, but it's not overly memorable. Were it not for the strong lead performances, it might have struggled even more.
Rating: R for language, crude sexual material, and drug use.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Sergio (Netflix)
Starring: Wagner Moura, Ana de Armas, Bradley Whitford, and Bryan F. O'Byrne
Synopsis: This original Netflix film follows the career of Sergio Vieira de Mello (Moura), a UN Diplomat that was killed in Iraq in 2003. It follows some of the highlights of his career, including how he got to Iraq. But mostly it's a love story about Sergio and Carolina Larriera (de Armas). de Armas was a great and under-rated performer in last year's "Knives Out," while Moura is probably most recognized from Netflix's series "Narcos." Both deliver strong performances that make this movie interesting and compelling. Netflix has been flooding the market with content for a long time, and has been a boon during the time of quarantine as viewers have found some gems. This is a story I wasn't familiar with that ended up being very engaging and worth tuning in for.
Rating: R for language, some bloody images and a scene of sexuality.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

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