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 It’s the second weekend in September and we again have a variety of theatrical releases, but what of them are worth checking out? Below is my take on the new movies I saw this week. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

The Fix (Theaters)
Starring: Liam Neeson and Zachary Levi
Synopsis: Combat leaves a scar on everyone. Sometimes the wounds are physical. Often, the wounds experienced in combat run deeper. You can’t see them, but they dig at those who’ve returned day after day. And it can drive them to make sweeping changes when returning. It’s those tough wounds that stick with people the longest. That’s at the heart of The Fix, a new drama that opens on Friday. It follows a group of CIA soldiers who, after things fell apart in Afghanistan, carry plenty of wounds back to their everyday lives. They look fit on the outside, but they carry the scars of their actions and of what might have been with them all the time. In the film, we’re introduced to Tucker (Levi). He leads a team of topflight operators in Afghanistan. They work for the CIA Chief, Larry (Neeson), whom Tucker has worked with for years. They have a bond born of the work. On their last mission in country, things go poorly. After it’s over, Larry urges Tucker and the rest to get out while they still can. Flash-forward to a few years later, and Tucker is trying to carve out a life. He still carries the guilt and scars of his actions in combat. It prevents him from feeling at home and connecting with his son. When Larry’s mind starts to slip, he drops clues to a secret buried treasure from his days in Iran. Tucker seizes on it as an opportunity. Tucker brings the team together for a new mission. They’ll recover the treasure and use it for good. Along the way, they have the chance to free a radical who is being held behind enemy lines. It’s a chance to put things right, but it quickly turns into more than they bargained for in the process. We’ve seen Neeson enter this late phase of his career in some forgettable action films. While he’s only a bit player in this one, it feels on par with that stage in his career. But this is led by Levi, whose Tucker is at the heart of the missions and the heart of the narrative with this one. It’s meant to be a deeper reflection at times of America’s war machine, what happens to those used on the front lines, and more. It ends in a curiously dark spot but that doesn’t really befit what comes before. Much of this feels like a standard action film on a covert mission. There’s a heist element. There’s some espionage elements. There is the occasional romance. But it’s hard to say what the overall goal is with The Fix, which also meanders in its 142-minute run time. I like Levi and have enjoyed him in many parts. He has a natural charm and usually brings some comedy to his roles. There’s no space for that with Tucker, which is what in part makes it feel kind of soggy at points. Director Guy Moshe, who co-wrote the script, has a feel for the action sequences. But the drama and the story beats don’t hit like they should. That makes this a bit rough at times. There is some potential here, and I like the cast, which includes Neeson and Titus Welliver. But those bigger names are sidelined for most of the run. That combined with a lack of urgency keeps this from rising to the level it could have been.
Rating: Rated R for strong/bloody violence, language, and some nudity.
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five

Practical Magic 2 (Theaters)
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Joey King, and Maisie Williams
Synopsis: We’re in an era where everything that once was out and popular is back on the table. If it’s IP that had an audience, has a cult following, or might yield a bit more the Box Office, it’s back in theaters. That, as one might expect, has yielded some wildly uneven results. That’s certainly the case with Practical Magic 2, which brings back some classic characters for a new adventure nearly 30 years later. This one still has the Owens sisters played by Bullock and Kidman, but provides a new story meant to build on the original lore in the novel from Alice Hoffman. This one picks up and fills in the gaps between films. Turns out that the Owens family curse wasn’t broken after the events of the first film. That means Sally’s (Bullock) second husband also perished, causing her to swear off love and magic, casting a spell to prevent her daughters from knowing who they truly are. As is so often the case in these stories, that plan doesn’t work out. Flash-forward a few decades and Antonia (Williams) and Kylie (King) are grown women who are living their lives without magic. And Sally has walled off her magic for so long that she’s no longer in touch with the deep power within. But when Kylie falls in love, and it takes the predictable tragic turn, the truth comes out. Soon, Kylie finds a book that might hold the key to ending the curse. But it’s a dark magic—and a dark threat—she’s unprepared to face. That leaves Sally and Gillian (Kidman) to chase after her and battle the dark threat that’s trying to sap the Owens women of their unique powers. This film comes from the same screenwriting team and has much of the core cast intact. Of course, Diane Wiest and Stockard Channing have a limited role here so the focus can be on Sally, Gillian, and the next generation. That works well enough. This sequel is directed by Susanne Bier. It’s a focus much more on women and sisterhood. It’s specifically about the bond of sisters, as we get three generations of sisters who are uniquely bonded together in this magical legacy. That’s a good swing, and it makes for a decent date night option. There are times—particularly in the final half hour of the film—where it finds the magic that made the original film a cult classic. But this new version is 130 minutes. That’s a long haul for a movie of this type—about 25 minutes longer than the original. It’s too long, and at times you feel that length. I liked the addition of Lee Pace, and I enjoy seeing Bullock and Kidman play off each other. There is still some fun in this premise and even though the plot is predictable it’s a satisfying enough journey. But it drags in sections and takes a lot of time to get where it’s going. I also felt like the Antonia character is given short shrift here. She isn’t fully developed and is cut out of much of the magic here. It would have been interesting to see the bond between Antonia and Kylie explored a bit more here, too. It’s possible that’s the plan if they continue to expand the franchise. That, too, is a question. I don’t think the film needed a sequel. While this sequel was fine, I doubt it leaves fans clamoring for more. Practical Magic 2 is OK, and likely will be a good enough experience for fans, but it’s unlikely to become an enduring classic like the original. It’s also the kind of movie you can wait to watch when it comes to streaming.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for some violent content, suggestive material and brief strong language.
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five

Runner (Theaters)
Starring: Alan Ritchison and Owen Wilson
Synopsis: So far in September, running is having a moment. To kickstart the month, Prime Video had a new film called The Runner. Now, in this second weekend of the month, we have the new film, Runner. They have little in common save for a focus on action on screen. And, fortunately, this second run-focused title gives us a bit of a more engaging story. It’s still a tight, non-stop action ride. But it’s one that should be a fun time at the movies. At the outset, we meet Hank (Ritchison). He’s a guy who has had struggles but he’s trying to get it together. He lost his family and he’s had struggles, but today marks one year of sobriety. He tries to better himself, learning French and putting away his formerly violent ways as he works as a courier in Australia. It’s a typical day with several jobs. He gets a call for an urgent medical delivery. He’s to pick up a package at 3 p.m. that must be delivered quickly. Said package is a liver—a rare liver at that. It’s being transported by Ben (Wilson), who is determined to get this organ to its recipient—a little girl with a rare form of cancer. The problem is the little girl isn’t the only one who wants it. Soon Hank and Ben find themselves the focus of a local gangster, Damian (Rodrigo Santoro), who is determined to get it for his own sick family member. That leads to a violent chance across Australia as the clock is ticking. This film comes from director Scott Waugh who knows his way around an action film, previously helming Need For Speed and The Expendables 4. But this is an Angel Studios production, meaning it comes with a certain style that, despite some violent content, is designed to be more palatable for a wide audience. That’s certainly the case here. This is a fun action film with some big chase sequences, some strong fights, and a truly epic final showdown. But it’s also a buddy comedy at times. Ritchison and Wilson play well off each other, with Wilson adding his trademark style that helps lighten the early sections of the film. This is also about characters, story, and a journey. We follow Hank on this journey toward something like redemption. Completing this delivery is a way to be there for a little girl when he couldn’t be there for his own. We buy into that journey and there’s a fun payoff at the end. This isn’t a perfect film. It’s a breezy action film, but it sometimes feels a little long. Still, if you’re a fan of Ritchison and his action style in things like Reacher this will work well enough. If you’re looking for a little escape at the movies, this hits the spot.
Rating: Rated PG-13 for strong violence, bloody images and some language.
Verdict: Three stars out of five

The Uprising (Theaters)
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Cosmo Jarvis, and Jamie Bell
Synopsis: There was a time when a film by Paul Greengrass starring Andrew Garfield would be big news. And yet, this pairing was kind of an under-the-radar drop in early September, not a time known for strong releases. Watching this new film, which is set in 1381 and centers on the Peasant Revolt, it’s clear why there wasn’t a lot of buzz. It’s a hard film to market, made even more so by the occasional efforts to connect the events of the film and its true story to the creation of the legend of Robin Hood. But it’s also an uneven film. It follows a simple farmer, who is known as Ploughman (Garfield), who is tired of seeing his friends and neighbors overtaxed and oppressed by the wealthy elite. One day he snaps and fights back. He inspires many like-minded people to do the same, joining with community leaders (Jarvis and Bell) to lead a revolt on London. His goal is to get the King to hear their petition and give mercy to the common people. Others have a darker motive, and when things go off the rails, our simple Ploughman becomes the leader of a movement. There’s a decent cast here, including Thomasin McKenzie, Johnny Lee Miller, and Katherine Waterston, among others. And there’s some decent potential here. But the film is something of a struggle in tone and consistency. There are powerful, emotional moments, but also sections of the film that don’t work. And the Robin Hood of it all hangs over the film in a way that takes away from a story meant to capture a slice of history most aren’t familiar with. There was potential in the premise but it’s largely unrealized in a film that is OK but somewhat forgettable.
Rating: Rated R for violence/bloody images.
Verdict: Two and a half stars out of five