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A long holiday weekend is in the books. For most of the country, it was accompanied by some frigid temperatures that probably had you feeling indoorsy. Maybe you’re still in the deep freeze and in need of a film recommendation? Below are all the movies I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Back in Action (Netflix)
Starring: Cameron Diaz, Jamie Foxx, Kyle Chandler, Andrew Scott, and Glenn Close
Synopsis: It’s been a while since we’ve seen Diaz lead a film. A decade ago, she launched three films in the same year—Sex Tape, The Other Woman, and Annie. That was back in 2014. Since then, we haven’t seen her. But with the new Netflix action comedy Back in Action, Diaz is again back in front of audiences. The film finds her paired with Foxx as spies forced out of retirement to save themselves and their family. It feels like a fitting return to the screen for Diaz and makes for a fun weekend stream. The film picks up with Emily (Diaz) and Matt (Foxx) as spies at the top of their game on a deadly mission. They’ve also become a couple and Emily has learned she’s pregnant. After completing and surviving a dangerous mission, Emily tells Matt about the child. They agree they want to keep it and stay together. Soon, they’re attacked on the flight home. Emily and Matt survive but the plane crashes. Knowing they’ll be presumed dead; they take it as a chance to escape a dangerous life and think about their family. So, they disappear. Flash forward 15 years, and Emily and Matt are living a normal, domestic life. They have two kids and they’re happily out of the game. When an incident rescuing their daughter lands them on Social Media, their old life catches up with them. That forces Emily and Matt to come clean to their kids about a lot of things and head on the run. Now in England, they’re forced to finish what they started in order to keep their family safe. This film has a solid premise and a solid cast. In addition to Diaz and Foxx the cast includes Chandler, Scott and Close in fun roles. It comes from director Seth Gordon, who worked on small screen hits like For All Mankind and The Night Agent. He knows his way around an action sequence, which works well for this film. Diaz and Foxx have a breezy chemistry that works well here. It’s been a decade since we’ve seen her on screen, but Diaz looks comfortable in the role. She delivers a fun performance in a film that balances action and comedy with an easy-to-digest story. This isn’t an incredible film, but it’s the kind of fun streaming action film that you like for a long holiday weekend. It should do well for those looking for a lighter offering that will be a bit of action and a bit of fun. I enjoyed this film for what it is, which is a high-octane ride with some laughs.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action, some suggestive references and strong language, and brief teen partying
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Henry Danger: The Movie (Paramount+)
Starring: Jace Norman, Ella Anderson, Frankie Grande, Sean Ryan Fox, and Glee Dango
Synopsis: This is a Nickelodeon film that’s based on the long-running TV series. It returns the original series stars along with a new character, played by Dango. If you’ve never watched the show, like me, there’s enough of an introduction to give you an idea of what’s going on. But, at the same time, this probably won’t appeal to you. This is a streaming film with a very specific demographic of younger viewers who followed the series. I’m not in that demographic. That made this a weird, slapstick experience that wasn’t a lot of run. And though it’s shy of 90 minutes, it felt like it took an eternity. Again, if you’re in the demographic, this will probably work. If not, this is safely skippable.
Rating: TV-PG
Verdict: One star out of five\

Unstoppable (Prime Video)
Starring: Jherrel Jerome, Don Cheadle, Jennifer Lopez, Bobby Cannavale, and Michael Pena
Synopsis: This biopic for Prime Video got a limited release to qualify for an awards run to end 2024 and now is streaming to a wide audience. It’s based on the life of Anthony Robles. The film follows Robles (Jerome) as he wraps up a successful high school wrestling career and walks on at Arizona State. Despite having one leg, he perseveres to make the team and impress its coach (Cheadle). He makes it all the way to an NCAA Championship. Meanwhile, he also battles difficulties at home. His biggest advocate is his mother (Lopez), but she’s stuck with in an abusive relationship with her prison guard husband (Cannavale). That creates tension and clashes with Robles, too. I thought Jerome was solid in this film, which is directed capably by William Goldenberg in his feature film debut. It’s a sturdy biopic with a good story and a good cast. We get some strong performances and some good, emotional moments. But it often feels a little too familiar, like it’s following a traditional formula. It makes for a decent stream and some good entertainment, but it doesn’t rise above its genre and formula despite its potential.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for some strong language and thematic material.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

Wolf Man (Theaters)
Starring: Christopher Abbott, Julia Garner, Sam Jaeger, and Matilda Firth
Synopsis: After losing touch with his father (Jaeger), Blake (Abbott) is living a quiet life with his wife (Garner) and daughter (Firth). When he gets word his father, who disappeared into the Oregon woods years earlier, has been declared dead, he makes a trip with his family back to his home. Located in the remote woods of Oregon, it’s a trip that ends in disaster when the family is attacked on the road by what looks like an animal. Injured in the attack, Blake begins to undergo changes which leaves his family struggling to survive the night. This new horror film is a re-make of a classic monsterverse property. It comes from Leigh Whannell, who delivered another updated classic in 2020 with The Invisible Man. This one has some potential in a strong cast and a moody setting. I appreciated the visuals and the craft used to aide Abbott in his transformation. That’s the good. The bad here is that the story feels a little slowly paced at times, despite clocking in around 100 minutes, and the characters feel a little thin. All that robs the conclusion of some emotional impact. The film is fine but it’s not overly compelling.
Rating: Rated R for bloody violent content, grisly images and some language.
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five