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

Can You Keep A Secret? (HBOMax)
Starring: Alexandra Daddario and Tyler Hoechlin
Synopsis: This one starts out innocently enough as a young woman (Daddario) bombs a sales call, gets a bit tipsy and heads onto a plane full of turbulence. There, she spills all her secrets to her seatmate (Hoechlin), but then the plane lands fine. She brushes it off until the next day, when it turns out the man who she confided in is the founder of the company where she works. Awkward. Anyhow, the situation brings them closer and a romance ensues, naturally. This one is a fun little film. It's not too deep, and it definitely follows the conventions of the genre. However, Daddario and Hoechlin have good chemistry, and that helps it work better than most. This isn't incredible, but it's light and fun.
Rating: N/A
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

I'm Thinking of Ending Things (Netflix)
Starring: Jessie Buckley, Jesse Plemmons, Toni Collette, David Thewlis, and Guy Boyd
Synopsis: This latest Netflix project comes from writer/director Charlie Kaufman, and is likely a hope for more Academy Award nominations. The film is based on a book of the same name that follows roughly the same plot. It begins with a young woman (Buckley) who is traveling with her boyfriend (Plemmons) to meet his parents. She's not sure it's the right relationship, which leads to a lot of introspective questions. And then things get weird. Like, really weird. This is a creative kind of film with some decent performances and some solid visuals. In fact, the snowscapes are striking at times. And this is a talented cast. That being said, a lot of the dialogue and production feels pretentious to the point of being an eye roll at times. And the overly dense construction of the plot and surrealist elements were a bit much to me, too. It's aiming for art but at times it falls really flat. It's OK, but to me not worthy of the hype.
Rating: R for language including some sexual references.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Love, Guaranteed (Netflix)
Starring: Rachel Leigh Cook, Damon Wayans, Jr., and Heather Graham
Synopsis: This is another romantic comedy, this one focusing on a former athlete who decides to look for love online but finds it's not all it's cracked up to be. He instead decides to sue for break of contract. So the client (Wayans) turns to an idealistic, and lonely, lawyer (Leigh Cook) to sue the woman (Graham) whose company guarantees it can help you find love. While the app was a bust, will the case yield fruit? I thought Wayans and Leigh Cook were great in this, another case of the leads and their chemistry elevating what would be a fairly basic set up. This movie is more endearing and more fun than you'd expect, and it was a nice date movie.
Rating: N/A
Verdict: Three Stars out of four.

Mulan (Disney+)
Starring: Yifei Liu, Donnie Yen, Li Gong, Jet Li, and Tzi Ma
Synopsis: This is the latest live action re-make of a Disney animated film, and was one of the hotly anticipated Spring releases. Then COVID happened, and "Mulan" was oft-delayed. Finally, Disney decided to release it on premium VOD to Disney+ subscribers, and it dropped for the Labor Day weekend. The film lives up to the promise and the hype, as director Niki Caro delivers a decent action film that is beautiful to behold. My first thought while watching it at home is that it was a film that had a cinematic quality that I wish I'd gotten to see in theaters. It's a shame it didn't get the release that it expected, but it's still well worth checking out. I enjoyed the action and storytelling, and thought Liu did a nice job in the lead role. For fans of the genre, and those looking for a beautiful action film, this is one to check out.
Rating: PG-13 for sequences of violence.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

New Mutants (In Theaters)
Starring: Maisie Williams, Anya Taylor-Joy, Charlie Heaton, Blu Hunt, Henry Zaga, and Alice Braga
Synopsis: This is another long gestating film that finally was released, this one into theaters. It was produced and made by FOX before it was purchased by Disney. It's set in the world of mutants, but features a new crop of characters not previously seen in "X-Men" films. This is about five teens with powers they don't yet know how to control that are taken to a special facility to learn to control their powers, and rage, so they aren't a danger to society. But it turns out there is more to the facility, and their testing, than meets the eye. Will they be able to band together and find freedom before it's too late? This one, which comes from writer/director Josh Boone aims to be something different than other superhero films. It comes off as more of a horror type feel, and there are times when it's chilling. It's also not really well explained who these characters are, and what the nebulous corporation behind their confinement really is. The film does end in a way that suggests a potential franchise, which feels unlikely. This is darker and sometimes uneven, but sometimes compelling thanks to the cast, which works well here. Some have blasted this as the worst X-Men type film, but I don't think that's a fair criticism. It doesn't quite land, but it's OK. And you can't help but wonder what went on behind the scenes that might have impacted what we saw on the screen.
Rating: PG-13 for violent content, some disturbing/bloody images, some strong language, thematic elements and suggestive material.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Tenet (In Theaters)
Starring: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Kenneth Branagh
Synopsis: Christopher Nolan is one of the best filmmakers working today, and he crafts another deep and engaging story with "Tenet." This original film, like most of his films, has a lot of layers. It deals with complex concepts of time, and a mysterious narrative that unfolds slowly over the course of its two and a half hour run time. It features exceptional performances, particularly from Washington and Debicki, and some of the most interesting and exciting action sequences in any of Nolan's films. The end result is something that's beautiful and artistic, one of the best films released this year. It is fair to wonder if Nolan will finally get recognition from the Academy for this film. It's also a movie that will require multiple viewings to fully appreciate everything that's going on. But for those of us who've waited three long years for Nolan to deliver another film, "Tenet" is a satisfying experience, and one that deserves to be seen on the big screen.
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some suggestive references and brief strong language.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.