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

The 2nd (Netflix)
Starring: Ryan Phillippe and Casper Van Dien
Synopsis: This one is about a decorated Delta soldier (Phillippe) who arrives to pick up his son for Winter Break at college. The girl his son likes, who happens to be the daughter of a Supreme Court Justice, is about to be kidnapped by a CIA team led by a smooth operator (Van Dien), so he has to intercede. This action film leaves a lot to be desired, like acting, plot and a reason to care. This is a complete misfire that's not even really entertaining despite a decent premise and some decent actors.
Rating: N/A
Verdict: Zero stars out of four.

All Together Now (Netflix)
Starring: Auli'i Cravalho, Justina Machado, and Judy Reyes
About: Cravalho stars as a talented teen who has musical aspirations. But she comes from a tough home life as her alcoholic mother (Machado) is in an abusive relationship, can't keep a job, and can't find them a house. She overcomes it all with the help of friends, family, and those whose lives she's touched. This one has a sweet story and some decent performances. It's predictable and not incredibly engaging, but Cravalho has the makings of a star. She elevates it with her charisma and talent.
Rating: PG for thematic content, some language and brief suggestive comments.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Ava (Netflix)
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Colin Ferrell, and John Malkovich
Synopsis: This new action film from director Tate Taylor stars Chastain as an assassin who has some moral questions about the job. Her unorthodox approach gets her in hot water with her organization. Soon, her handler (Malkovich) has to work overtime to protect her from being erased by her boss (Ferrell). This action film is predictable and isn't great, but it has some great actors. Chastain, Malkovich and Ferrell make it better than it has a right to be. I enjoyed the action here and the performances. This is a smooth and interesting watch.
Rating:  R for violence and language throughout, and brief sexual material.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Godmothered (Disney+)
Starring: Jillian Bell, Isla Fisher, June Squibb, and Jane Curtin
Synopsis: This latest Disney+ offering focuses on a Godmother in training (Bell) who is the last hope to keep the order alive. Their leader (Curtin) believes its hopeless, and has plans to transition them all to become Tooth Fairys. So she heads to Boston to try and make one woman's (Fisher) dream of finding true love come true. But it turns out to be more complicated than she figured. Bell is a delight, and Fisher has great comic timing, so this one works pretty well. It's a cute story with an interesting set of characters that throws in a Christmas wrinkle to make it a nice season comedy addition. This plays well for Disney+ and should be a hit with the audience. It's not incredible, but it will make you smile.
Rating: PG for some suggestive comments.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Mank (Netflix)
Starring: Gary Oldman, Amanda Seyfried, Lily Collins, Tuppence Middleton, and Charles Dance
Synopsis: This latest film from David Fincher figures to be an awards season contender for Netflix. It focuses on Herman Mankiewicz (Oldman), a brilliant writer with some personal demons who was tapped by Orson Welles to pen "Citizen Kane." Mankiewicz, or Mank as he liked to be called, was familiar with William Randolph Hearst (Dance), and poured his own personal experience into crafting the screen story. This one is shot in black-and-white and has a brilliant look and feel. It's also powered by some solid performances, including exceptional work from Oldman. It's a great look at old Hollywood and a celebration of the untold hero who brought the classic film "Citizen Kane" to life. I think this is sure to be a contender this awards season and is worth a watch.
Rating: R for some language.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.

Sound of Metal (Amazon Prime)
Starring: Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke
Synopsis: This new film on Amazon Prime played at festivals earlier this year to rave reviews. It focuses on a heavy metal band drummer (Ahmed) who suddenly loses his hearing. This puts him on a path to find himself, and find some peace. His girlfriend (Cooke) and bandmate helps him find a place where he can learn to exist without hearing. But Ruben remains focused on a long-shot, and expensive surgery that can restore his hearing. But the journey to getting right doesn't go quite as planned. Ahmed gives a great performance, and Cooke is great in a supporting role, too. This one doesn't go as planned and has a bittersweet ending, but it's one of the most powerful stories released this year. It also figures to be a contender come this award season.
Rating: R for language throughout and brief nude images.
Verdict: Four stars out of four.