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

Bad Hair (Hulu)
Starring: Elle Lorraine, Jay Pharoah, Vanessa L. Williams, Lena Waithe, and Blair Underwood
Synopsis: This thriller is ideally timed for the spooky season, and comes from writer/director Justin Simien and debuted at Sundance in January. It was snapped up by Hulu, who released it on Friday. The film is set in the late 1980s, and focuses on a woman (Lorraine) who is trying to make a move up at her television network. One thing holding her back is her lock, specifically her hair. When she goes to get a weave, she gets more than she bargained for in the hair that's used. It has a mind of its own, leading to some deadly consequences. This is a fun concept and a twist on these kind of stories. Lorraine does a nice job in the lead role, and the film has some fun moments. Unfortunately, I didn't think the third act held up that well. It's worth checking out, especially if you want a strange a spooky tale, but it falls show of being compelling for me.
Rating: N/A
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Amazon Prime)
Starring: Sacha Baron Cohen and Maria Bakalova
Synopsis: Back in 2006, Cohen unleashed the character Borat on the world. It was a character that said and did outlandish things, interacting with real folks in America who were unaware they were dealing with a character. Their responses were almost more outlandish than Borat himself. It was a different, and memorable, film experience, one I remember sharing with my mom. Now, 14 years later, Borat is back. Since most people are aware of the film and the character, it was even more interesting to see him and his "daughter" (Bakalova) interacting with an America that's become even more outlandish in the time since the first film. This one featured political interactions at a conference headlined by Vice President Mike Pence and a real, and disturbing, interview with Rudy Guliani. He also participates in some COVID quarantining and finds some other groups that will give you a moment of pause. If you liked the first one, you'll appreciate this one. I thought it was decent for what it is, and certainly spoke to some of the ugliness of the current moment, but overall I thought it was just OK.
Rating: R for pervasive strong crude and sexual content, graphic nudity, and language.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

John Bronco (Hulu)
Starring: Walton Goggins, Bo Derek, and Tim Baltz
Synopsis: This latest mockumentary is a short about the pitch man for the Ford Bronco. Goggins plays the titular pitch man, and this one comes from director Jake Szymanski, who previously directed "Seven Days in Hell" for HBO. This one is fun, but doesn't wear out its welcome. Goggins is a great performer, and he seems to be having a lot of fun with this one. It's not a big commitment (clocking in under 40 minutes)  and it's one that's well worth watching.
Rating: N/A
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Once Upon A Snowman (Disney+)
Starring: Josh Gad
Synopsis: This latest short for Disney+ is from the "Frozen" world, focusing on everyone's favorite snowman Olaf (Gad). It's a short commitment and a bit of fun with connections to the world of the films. It's cute and does about what you'd expect, but overall it's not incredibly memorable. It's worth checking out for fans, but not worth subscribing to Disney+ for (the "Mandolorian" is).
Rating: N/A
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

On The Rocks (Apple TV+)
Starring: Rashida Jones, Bill Murray, and Marlon Wayans
Synopsis: The latest from writer/director Sophia Coppola is a comedy of sorts that landed on Apple TV+. Apple TV has had a good run with some unique original films and shows, and this is another solid land for them. This one centers on a father (Murray) and daughter (Jones) who go on a mission when she suspects her husband (Wayans) might be having an affair. This is really about the bond between father and daughter, and is a fun showcase for Murray and Jones at times. The story moves in a way you don't totally see coming, and offers a lot of tender, sweet, and amusing moments. It's a good film and a decent watch, though not among Coppola's best. Murray lights up the screen per usual in a charismatic character that sort of steals the show. I enjoyed this one but I didn't love it as much as I'd hoped. It's good, but fails to rise to the level of great.
Rating: R for some language/sexual references.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

The Witches (HBO Max)
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Chris Rock, and Stanley Tucci
Synopsis: Director Robert Zemeckis takes the reigns on this high-profile re-make of the film based on the Roald Dahl book. It has a strong cast and good production values, and is a high-profile project for HBO Max. That being said, this doesn't feel like a necessary film, or even a good one. I enjoyed the narration from Rock, and I thought Spencer was solid. A lot of the rest feels over-the-top. That goes especially for Hathaway, who goes very broad in her role as the grand witch and, at times, it feels like too much. This might play better for younger audiences, but  I thought it failed to live up to the hype.
Rating: PG for scary images/moments, language and thematic elements.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Yes, God, Yes (Netflix)
Starring: Natalia Dyer and Timothy Simons
Synopsis: This comedy is set in the early 2000s and focuses on a young Catholic high school student (Dyer) who is struggling with her sexuality and her religious beliefs. She heads to a camp, led by her priest (Simons), where the matter only becomes further confused. This is a short and sweet little comedy that is built mostly on the performance of Dyer, previously best known for her work on "Stranger Things," who does a great job with the role and leading this production. However, this film feels a little uneven and a little tough to watch at times. The product as a whole doesn't quite rise to the level of some of the pieces. It's funny but not great.
Rating: R for sexual content and some nudity.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.