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

Action Point
Starring: Johnny Knoxville, Eleanor Worthington-Cox, Dan Bakkedahl, and Chris Pontius
Synopsis: Knoxville first made a name for himself thanks to his wild stunts. In both the series and films for "Jackass," Knoxville was part of a group that was willing to do anything for fun and a laugh. And even in his scripted projects, like his latest "Action Point," that spirit remains. The film takes place in the present and back in the past (presumably the early 1970s though it's never totally specified). D.C. (Knoxville) is watching his granddaughter, and decides to tell her about the glory days when he was the owner, operator, and architect of a wild and crazy amusement park in California. It was a different time when safety and security concerns were more lax, and D.C. had created a place for those without a home or a family to come and find both, along with a lot of wild and crazy fun. His daughter, Boogie (Worthington-Cox), comes to stay for the summer at the same time a local real estate developer (Bakkedahl) and the opening of a new amusement park threaten to put Action Point out of business. So D.C. and his brother (Pontius) hatch a plan to go even crazier and try to draw the crowds needed to save the part, all while trying to figure out how to be a good father. You don't go to a movie like "Action Point" for the deep story. But I figured this might be a fun film with some wild moments and stunts. And it is that, at times. But the fun isn't as high as I expected, and the stunts aren't as much fun, either. The film tries hard to be earnest at times, and it just doesn't quite work. I like Knoxville as a performer, and I think he has an affable quality, but I didn't love the film. I thought even at 85 minutes it was a little slow.
Rating: R for crude sexual content, language, drug use, teen drinking, and brief graphic nudity.
Verdict: One star out of four.

Book Club
Starring: Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, Jane Fonda, Mary Steenburgen, Don Johnson, Andy Garcia, and Craig T. Nelson
Synopsis: The summer is often a time for comedies appealing to broad audiences. "Book Club," which opened May 18, offers a perfect slice of counter-programming to the big, loud blockbusters of summer. It tells the story of a group of friends who've been meeting each month for a book club for the last 40 years. Diane (Keaton) is a widow whose daughters want her to move to Arizona to be close to them. Vivian (Fonda) is the wild and crazy business woman who owns a hotel but never settled down after passing on a chance for a long-lasting relationship 40 years earlier. Sharon (Bergen) is a divorced Federal Judge who has been living alone for the past 18 years. And Carol (Steenburgen) is a chef who is trying to maintain the spice in her marriage to newly retired Bruce (Nelson). When Vivian introduces the group to a new book, "50 Shades of Grey," it causes them all to reconsider their approach to romance. For Diane that means moving forward with a handsome pilot (Garcia) she meets. For Vivian, that means giving her old flame (Johnson) a second chance. And for Sharon, that means jumping back into the dating pool. This is a movie that's fun and funny, and one that has a great message about never being too old to fully embrace living. It works in large part thanks to the great performances from the four lead actresses, who seem to be having a lot of fun with the material and the idea. I enjoyed this movie more than I expected, and I think it's one of the more engaging comedies so far this summer. If you're looking for a movie with some laughs and some fun characters, "Book Club" fits the bill.
Rating: PG-13 for sex-related material throughout, and for language.
Verdict: Three stars out of Four.

Upcoming Releases:
Friday, June 8: "Ocean's 8," "Hereditary," "Hotel Artemis"
Friday, June 15: "Tag," "Incredibles 2," "Superfly," "Gotti"
Friday, June 22: "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom"
Friday, June 29: "Sicario: Day of the Soldado," "Uncle Drew," "The Hustle"