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 The second weekend in May brought a couple blockbusters to theaters and a great option to Netflix just in time for Mother’s Day. Below is my take on this week’s new films. You can keep up with everything I’m watching on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Mortal Kombat 2 (Theaters)
Starring: Karl Urban, Adeline Rudolph, and Jessica McNamee
Synopsis: This is the sequel to the 2021 re-boot that was, mostly, a streaming release. That film had solid action sequences and nods toward the game, but felt a bit thin on story and character. This second film, also from director Simon McQuoid, ups the ante in terms of action and also does a better job presenting an engaging story. That could be because the two primary additions to the cast—Kitana (Rudolph) and Johnny Cage (Urban)—feel more interesting that the leads of the first film. The budget looks to have been bigger, with more lavish CGI worlds and bigger fight sequences. But there is a sense of fun and humor that works much better here, too. It’s not a great film, but I found this to be a more engaging return to the world. It will also, of course, have some great sequences for fans of the game. There are some epic fight sequences and the addition of some iconic characters. This is also a blast on the big screen, with that venue being a more apt location for the spectacle of the world. For fans of the game and the genre, this will be a hit. For the rest of us, this is a step in the right direction.
Rating: Rated R for strong bloody violence and gore, and language.
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five

Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix)
Starring: Sally Field and Lewis Pullman
Synopsis: We all have difficult things in our lives; tragedies that can leave us feeling stuck and alone. What we do when those things happen, and how we find a way forward are part of the journey. And, often, help comes from the most unexpected of places. That’s the case with Remarkably Bright Creatures, based on the novel from Shelby Van Pelt, that is now streaming on Netflix. It’s a powerful drama that will appeal to everyone looking for some joy and a good story. The film follows Tova (Field), a woman living in a small seaside town. Her husband has passed, and her son disappeared on the sea years earlier. That has left her alone in this beautiful home, working nights as a cleaner at a local aquarium. There, she befriends an octopus named Marcellus (Alfred Molina) who has an ability to see the world. Marcellus guides us on this journey. He explains how he got to the aquarium, his dreams of the sea, and the way Tova has brightened his journey with her stories and commitment to keeping order in the aquarium. He also remarks on how sad she seems to be. That changes for both of them when Tova is injured and needs to take a step back. She’s also weighing whether to move to a senior living facility and give up the life she’s known. A drifter new to town, Cameron (Pullman), arrives around that time. His mother has died and he’s looking for the father he never knew, tracking him to the town where he’s a real estate developer. When Cameron’s car breaks down, he’s stranded and in need of temporary work. He’s hired to fill Tova’ spot at nights, and quickly bonds with her and Marcellus. They both end up finding in each other something they have been desperately seeking. This film comes from director Olivia Newman, who co-wrote the script. She has a feel for this world and the story here. She creates something powerful and emotional that pulls you in from the jump and keeps you hooked along the ride. That’s not to say that the story is terribly mysterious. It’s fairly easy to guess where it’s all going. But it’s not about the destination here, it’s about the journey. And this is one heck of a journey. Field gives a great performance in the lead role. You feel the depth of her emotional journey throughout this film. And she finds a great screen partner in Pullman. They have a great back-and-forth that keeps you riveted as you go through the film, leading all the way to the ending. Finally, I never thought I’d be so emotionally invested in an Octopus. And yet, Marcellus is a delightful character and Molina gives him such a moving voice. His arc and story is perhaps the most crucial and emotional of them all. It brings plenty of joy and pathos to the story. Remarkably Bright Creatures is one of the most delightful surprises of the year so far. I loved the film and had a blast watching it. This is a great one to check out, maybe even with your mom, this weekend on Netflix!
Rating: Rated PG-13 for thematic material, some strong language, suggestive references and brief drug use.
Verdict: Four stars out of five

The Sheep Detectives (Theaters)
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Molly Gordon, and Nicholas Braun
Synopsis: We’ve made it into the summer season, a time when we get all sorts of fan-friendly entertainment. Some of it is blockbusters. Some are horror films. Some are big comedies. And some are family-friendly fare. The Sheep Detectives, a new mystery, falls into that latter category. It’s a story told mostly through the lens of some upstart sheep. But it’s a lot of fun, full of mystery and laughs that will entertain audiences of all ages. As we begin, we focus on George Hardy (Jackman), a shepherd who tends his flock lovingly day-in and day-out in his small field near the small down of Denbrook. He loves his sheep, giving them each a name that befits their personality or gifts. He also reads to them nightly from detective fiction. And while he assumes they just like to hear the sound of his voice, it’s clear his sheep are learning a lot about being detectives from the stories. After George finishes his stories, his sheep (Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Bryan Cranston, Patrick Stewart, Bella Ramsey, Regina Hall, Brett Goldstein, and Chris O’Dowd, among them) discuss the stories and posit their theories. When George turns up dead, it isn’t long before the sheep suspect foul play. They also suspect that the local police officer (Braun) is woefully unprepared to solve the case. With a set of suspects that includes local residents (Hong Chau, Conleth Hill, Tosin Cole) and his estranged American daughter (Gordon), the sheep, the cop, and a cub reporter (Nicholas Galitzine) set out to discover what happened. This is a fun concept that, in some ways, hardly feels real. It makes sense that it’s the first live-action feature from Kyle Balda, who is the director behind the Minions films. He’s also blessed with a sharp script from Craig Mazin (Chernobyl), based on the book from Leonie Swann. All of it coalesces into something that will be fun for audiences of all ages. The sheep and the action of the sheep is adorable. There is plenty about their world and antics that will appeal to younger viewers. But a good deal of the plot, and a lot of the humor driven off the characters, is aimed squarely at older viewers. And the lessons we take away about grief, remembering, and finding a sense of belonging are universal truths that should appeal to everyone. This is a silly concept, at times, but the film never resorts to silliness. It takes the story and its subjects seriously and treats them with great care. That results in some great performances, both from those on camera and those providing voice work, that builds out this world and keeps you hooked on the action. I could quibble that it runs a little long, clocking in at around an hour and 50 minutes, but it remains fun and emotionally engaging throughout. That run time might make it a challenge for younger viewers, but it’s got enough of a hook that it remains joyful throughout. I was especially taken with Gordon and Braun, who bring a fun energy to their roles. The lead sheep, voiced by Louis-Dreyfuss, O’Dowd, and Cranston are great, too. This is a blast at the theater that’s worth seeking out, especially for a Mother’s Day Weekend outing.
Rating: Rated PG for thematic material, some violent content and brief language.
Verdict: Three and a half stars out of five