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As we move deeper into the summer season we’re getting some family-friendly options. Those among, others, are part of this week’s movie review roundup, which also includes the latest big screen musical biopic. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Back to Black (Theaters)
Starring: Marisa Abela, Eddie Marsan, and Jack O’Connell
Synopsis: By this point, most everyone has heard and appreciated Amy Winehouse’s music. But what do we know about her life? She was the subject of a 2015 documentary, but now she’s also the subject of this biopic from director Sam Taylor-Johnson. In it, we follow Amy (Abela) through her highs and lows, including some iconic performances, her relationship with her father (Marsan), and her troubled relationship—and marriage—to Blake (O’Connell). Through it all her star burns bright but also burns out quickly, as the singer died at just 27 years old. We’ve seen plenty of biopics, especially in recent years. It makes sense because we love these performers and their songs, and we have a curiosity about their lives. But, often, these films can only capture a certain percentage of the story. That’s the case here. Whether due to the shortcomings of the script from Matt Greenhalgh or the creative vision of Taylor-Johnson in bringing it to the screen, it pales in comparison to the documentary. It doesn’t seem to capture the depth of Amy’s story or struggles, which is a shame. And airing massive sequences of her life out of order makes for a bumpy cinematic experience. That’s the bad. The good is Abela, who gives a heck of a performance and even sings the iconic songs herself. That’s a tall order, and yet she is often the most engaging part of the production. I also appreciated the costuming and design work, but the film seems overly focused on Amy and Blake without saying much about the relationship or how things went awry so quickly. Amy Winehouse and her legacy deserved better, and so does the audience.
Rating: Rated R for drug use, language throughout, sexual content and nudity.
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five

IF (Theaters)
Starring: Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Steve Carell, and Fiona Shaw
Synopsis: As children, often, we’re filled with a sense of imagination and wonder. It allows us to create beautiful and vibrant worlds in our minds. But, as we walk through the journey to adulthood, we can lose our grip on that sense of wonder. It’s clear when watching IF, which opens wide today, that writer/director John Krasinski is acutely aware of the struggle to hold on to wonder. That’s what his film is all about—an ode to that sense of imagination, wonder, and joy that we can lose sight of as the rigors of life take hold. In the film, we’re introduced to Bea (Fleming). She lost her mother to illness already, and now her father (Krasinski) is in the hospital. He’s got a heart issue that requires surgery. And while he plays it light, trying to maintain the wonder and joy that was so much a part of Bea’s childhood, she is already an old soul at 12. Life hasn’t always been kind, and her sense of wonder has paid the price. While her father undergoes the procedure, Bea is staying with her grandmother (Shaw) in New York. Her daily grind includes trips to the hospital, where she meets Benjamin (Alan Kim) who, despite his own struggles, has maintained his sense of wonder. Along the way, Bea catches sight of something unexpected. She sees Blossom (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), a cartoon-like figure, and Cal (Ryan Reynolds). Curious, she follows them. Soon, she sees them interacting with a giant, purple figure named Blue (Carell). It all proves too much. As Bea comes to, she learns that Blossom and Blue are IFs—imaginary friends—whose kids have lost that sense of wonder and, with it, the ability to see them. And they aren’t alone. Cal seems to be trying to help this IFs move on, if he can. And quickly, Bea is recruited to help. Might it be the journey she needs to rediscover the sense of wonder she’s lost? This is a family-friendly film. In fact, many aspects of the look and feel will play well for younger audiences. But as we’ve seen with the best of animated films, just because you’re fitting for young viewers doesn’t mean you can’t resonate with adults. That was certainly the case for me. In a lot of ways, IF reminds me of Toy Story 3. It works for younger viewers, but it could be quite a powerful, emotional experience for adults. There’s a beauty in the storytelling and the message that I couldn’t help but connect with. The performances are solid. I enjoyed the voice work quite a bit, while Reynolds, Shaw, and Krasinski have wonderful moments as the adult characters. All of it is tied together by Fleming, who is the lens through which we take this journey. She does a nice job and serves as a great focal point for the world. But it’s what Krasinski does as a writer and director that I admire here. This is miles away in tone and story from A Quiet Place, and yet some of its most beautiful moments are similarly about parenting and family connections. It’s got a lot of heart and it’s the heart that sticks with you and satisfies in this journey, especially when some of the twists along the way are easy to see coming. It's been an interesting summer so far with a few big blockbusters and horror films. IF is a story for the family, and it’s a beautiful journey that’s worth seeking out.
Rating: Rated PG for thematic elements and mild language.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five

Thelma the Unicorn (Netflix)
Starring: Brittany Howard, Will Forte, and Jon Heder
Synopsis: The latest from Netflix is one for the family. It’s an animated film directed by Jared Hess, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jerusha Hess and Aaron Blably, and Lynn Wang. It follows a pony, Thelma (Howard), who is a gifted singer. Along with her bandmates (Forte and Heder) she tries to make it in the music world. But she’s told she doesn’t have the right look and quickly gets dismissed. When she gets a makeover that turns her into a stylish unicorn, suddenly she’s the talk of the town. But will the chance at fame go to her head? Will she get discovered? If you’ve seen these kinds of stories, you know where this is going. This is a decent, family-friendly film. It hasn’t been a big year for animated films so far, and it’s doubtful that this film will be a big awards player at the end of the year. But Howard is solid in the lead role and it’s a cute and breezy watch. The music is solid, and the visuals are strong. There’s some humor that will appeal to older audiences, too. Overall, it’s a cute little film that’s worth checking out on your next family movie night.
Rating: Rated PG for rude humor.
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five