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

Coffee & Kareem (Netflix)
Starring: Ed Helms, Taraji P. Henson, Betty Gilpin, and Terrence Little Gardenhigh
Synopsis: This new release on the surface seems like the ideal kind of film to be released during this time of strange circumstances for our country. It's a brisk action-comedy that doesn't require a lot of heavy lifting or thinking. And I enjoy Helms and his comedy roles. Here he plays officer Coffee, who finds himself drawn into a police corruption scandal alongside the son of his girlfriend, Kareem (Gardenhigh). This turns it into a buddy comedy of sorts. But this one didn't really work. I thought it was overly crude and violent without much in the way of a compelling plot or characters. I guess at some level it helps pass the time, but this was a bit of a disappointment.
Rating: TV-MA
Verdict: One star out of four.

Elephant (Disney+)
Starring: Meghan Markle
Synopsis: Disney has consistently released nature documentaries around Earth Day each year. Most of them have been released in theaters, but this isn't a normal year. This one follows a herd of elephants, but likely a bigger draw is Markle serves as the film's narrator. The actress, now married to Prince Harry, makes her return to acting with this part. And she provides fun and warmth to the voice track. Doubtless there are those that won't enjoy a nature documentary, but if you like them, or are looking for a cute tale to fill your quarantine days, this one fits the bill.
Rating: G
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

The Lion King (Disney+)
Starring: Donald Glover, Beyonce, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, John Oliver, Alfre Woodard, and James Earl Jones
Synopsis: Last year Disney released a ton of movies, including three of its famous animated features turned into live action films. Or at least sort of live action films. "The Lion King" was the last of those three released, coming out in the middle of summer. Director Jon Favreau worked to bring it to life, having previously turned the trick with "The Jungle Book." Here he again is working with CGI Animals, meaning live action is a bit of a misnomer. Still, this one is streaming free on and I decided to check it out after missing it in theaters. While I loved the new take on "Aladdin" and thought the new take on "Dumbo"' was solid, this one was just OK. I liked the animated version a lot, and there were parts of this that worked, but overall it felt like a bit of an unnecessary re-make.
Rating: PG for sequences of violence and peril, and some thematic elements.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Onward (Disney+)
Starring: Chris Pratt, Tom Holland, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, and Octavia Spencer
Synopsis: "Onward" was one of the first big releases to get clipped by Covid-19. Released March 6, it had a couple limp weekends at the Box Office before theaters closed for good. But its release on Disney+ less than a month later was one of the big moves by the streaming service. And much like the early release of "Frozen 2" last month, the release of "Onward" has been a boon for the streamer and for audiences. I finally got a chance to see it after missing its theatrical release, and I was taken with this story of two brothers (Pratt and Holland) who are on a quest. At first it's a quest to re-animate the father who left them when he died, but it turns into something else. The final act was interesting and a lot of fun, and it packed an emotional punch. This one didn't get incredible reviews or a great Box Office returns, but it's good, in the tradition of Pixar films. I enjoyed the ride and enjoyed the performances, and this is well worth checking out.
Rating: PG for action/peril and some mild thematic elements.
Verdict: Three stars out four.