Instructions Not Included - B-

Rated PG-13, 120 minutes
In Spanish with English subtitles

Sweet "Instructions Not Included" strikes both a goofy and dramatic tone

Eugenio Derbez

Popular Mexican actor Eugenio Derbez may not be a familiar face to American audiences, but it's a good time to become familiar with him in the charmingly sentimental and overlong "Instructions Not Included," or it's alternate title, "One Man and a Kid." Valentin (Eugenio Derbez) is Acapulco's resident playboy, until a former fling named Julie (Jessica Lindsey) leaves a baby girl named Maggie with him and takes off. Valentin leaves Mexico with Maggie to find Julie in Los Angeles, ending up a famous stuntman in movies to raise his now precocious 7-year old daughter (Loreto Peralta). Julie shows back up to be in Maggie's life, but threatens to break Valentin and Maggie's strong father-daughter bond. Directed, co-written and starring the handsome Derbez, the touching and amusing "Instructions Not Included" is essentially a smarter, telenovela version of Sandler's "Big Daddy." More than just a fish out of water story, it starts off as a broad, silly comedy then in later chapters switches gears to serious as it explores child custody and relationship issues. Derbez is a very likable actor who unlike Sandler, doesn't rely entirely on physical humor to make a point, which is refreshing. As an inexperienced film director, he tends to let scenes ramble on, resulting in an overlong, occasionally choppy film (one minor character's incessant muttering is funny though). It's also very heartwarming, but some may be thrown by its bittersweet twist in the final minutes of the film, though really it had been there all along. "Instructions Not Included" is too long and little uneven, but it's a sweet movie you should put on your list to see, acceptable for children 10 and over. And as a side note, a fictional movie character featured here, "Aztec Man," will have a spinoff film next year also directed by Derbez.

Wes's Grade: B-

Getaway - D

Rated PG-13, 94 minutes

Threadbare, junky "Getaway" provides a few thrills but little else

Selena Gomez and Ethan Hawke

The conventional new action chase drama "Getaway" only makes me long for legendary Steve McQueen in such films as "Bullitt" and "The Getaway" (thankfully this is not a remake of that film). He emanated a coolness that this lackluster, unoriginal film needs, though the car featured in the film, the Cobra Super Snake, is pretty cool. Brent Magna (Ethan Hawke) is a burned out race car driver who is thrust into a do-or-die mission behind the wheel when his wife is kidnapped. With Brent's only ally being a young hacker (Selena Gomez), his one hope of saving his wife is to follow the orders of the mysterious voice (Jon Voight) who's watching his every move through cameras mounted on the car Brent's driving. "Getaway" is a piece of junk that revolves around one extended, tiresome and unending car chase through the streets of Sofia, Bulgaria. Admittedly, while some of the chases are serviceable and energetic, there's little else that "Getaway" has to offer in terms of characters, plotting or acting, even with award-winning actors such as Ethan Hawke and Jon Voight, who is essentially only heard and not seen. Gomez is a bit a trifle, relying on charm and personality to get her though scenes with Hawke; she's not much of an actress but she's not altogether terrible either. Directed by Courtney Solomon ("Bullet to the Head"), his biggest mistake is probably hiding such a great actor such as Voight, who often makes for a terrific but exceedingly hammy, villain. It's not a good sign when the best actor in the movie is the car. That would be the many slick Cobra Super Snake Shelby Mustangs, which are seemingly indestructible and more memorable to watch than any of the actors and their third-rate dialogue. Unlike the cars, "Getaway" is a piece of junk you likely won't remember tomorrow.

Wes's Grade: D

Austenland - B-

Rated PG-13, 97 minutes

Ebullient, silly "Austenland" has fun with Jane Austen fanatics

Keri Russell

The charming new comedy "Austenland" probably won't please real Jane Austen enthusiasts, who might be offended at making fun of the author. Thin and predictable yet lighthearted and goofy, "Austenland" is late summer fun for those who need to relax a little.  For as long as she can remember, Jane Hayes (Keri Russell) has obsessed over the writings of the Jane Austen, the beloved author behind such literary classics as "Emma" and "Pride & Prejudice." She travels to a stuffy British resort called "Austenland" where she can live out her dreams, only to struggle to determine what's real and what's not. "Austenland" is directed and co-written by Jerusha Hess, the guy behind "Napoleon Dynamite" and is based on the 2007 novel by Shannon Hale, who co-writes the script with Hess. Whereas the book had a wistful tone but still dealt with the self-doubt of the character, the movie is played a broad, very silly comedy filled mostly with stereotypes. Admittedly it's quite a change, but nonetheless "Austenland" is still a fun, frothy tribute to the author and a likable sweet tart of a movie, grounded by the lovely Russell and stolen from her in every scene by comic actress Jennifer Coolidge (seen in a range of things from Christopher Guest's movies to TV's "2 Broke Girls") as a rich woman desperate for love. Watch for "Dr. Quinn's" Jane Seymour, as the owner of the resort and "Flight of the Conchords" and Oscar-winner Bret McKenzie in amusing supporting roles. Occasionally meandering and sluggish in its final act, "Austenland" is still a pleasant piece of puffery, and predictably fun even for non-Austen aficionados. Stay over for the credits for music video-like fun and something Austen herself would likely not approve of.

Wes's Grade: B-

The Grandmaster - B

Rated PG-13, 108 minutes
In Chinese with English subtitles 

Handsome "Grandmaster" showcases the elegant side of kung-fu

Tony Leung as Ip Man

If there is such a thing as a sophisticated action movie, then "The Grandmaster" will fall into that category. Part biography, part history lesson, the handsomely filmed, entertaining "The Grandmaster," telling the story of famed martial-arts grandmaster Ip Man, is a little patchy and slow in places, but it will satisfy those longing for a well-made kung-fu movie. "The Grandmaster" is a loose biographical sketch of the rise of Chinese martial-arts grandmaster Ip Man (Tony Leung), who developed and popularized the Wing Chun style of Chinese martial arts and who would later become the instructor for martial arts legend Bruce Lee. Directed and written by Wong Kar-wai ("Happy Together"), "The Grandmaster" is an elegaic, heavily stylized and romanticized version of a portion of Ip Man's life, which alters the details of his life considerably. Unlike the other many Ip Man film and TV versions (seen mostly in China and Hong Kong), "The Grandmaster" mixes reflection, history and lush visuals with considerable doses of kung-fu, which unsurprisingly highlight the film. Kar-wai has a nice visual flair, so the action scenes are played out in the elements against snow, rain, ice, even on a set of stairs, with the blood surprisingly minimal. It's also well-acted by Leung as a low-key Ip Man, along with the lovely Zhang Ziyi, in one of her stronger roles outside of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Memoirs of a Geisha," her most popular films. Outside of the memorable fight scenes, some of it is slow-moving, and a key flashback in the third act, though containing "Grandmaster's" most entertaining fight between Ziyi and Chinese actor Zhang Jin, is simply too long, as Kar-wai feels the need to show us every detail instead of briefly showing it and summarizing the rest, which would've sufficed plot-wise. The lush visuals, the well-choreographed kung-fu and the handsome leads all add up to a satisfying time, and the well-made "The Grandmaster" is worth your time, even if you aren't a fan of martial arts. Be sure to stay until the end for a nice prologue on the real Ip Man.

Wes's Grade: B

Closed Circuit - C+

Rated R, 96 minutes

Glossy but detached thriller "Closed Circuit" lacks mystery

Eric Bana

The bland, unoriginal "Closed Circuit" is a British political thriller about the lack of privacy we have in changing technological world. Though well-cast and handsomely filmed, it's a slow-moving, unoriginal take on a subject that's been better handled before. Following a mysterious explosion in a busy London market, the police swoop in, a suspect is detained, and the country prepares for one of the most high-profile trials in British history. Two exceptional lawyers (Eric Bana, Rebecca Hall) with a romantic past step into a dangerous web of secrets and lies, and when evidence points to a possible British Secret Service cover up, it’s not just their reputations but their lives that are at stake. Part thriller and part romance, "Closed Circuit" is directed by Jim Crowley ("Intermission") and written by Steven Knight of "Eastern Promises" fame, and while the slick film has a few nice twists and turns, it isn't exactly a revelatory look at such a timely subject. Crowley also doesn't do much with the romantic angles such a handsome couple as Bana and Hall, and as a result it comes across as too cold and detached. "Closed Circuit," with a generic title and premise, is better skipped. After all, they know you will anyway.

Wes's Grade: C+

One Direction: This is Us - B-

Rated PG, 85 minutes

Energetic "One Direction: This Is Us" is strictly for their fans

One Direction

I will give credit where credit is due. The extremely popular, charming boy band known as One Direction is a global phenomenon. With that in mind, their effusive new behind-the-scenes feature concert film "One Direction: This is Us" is strictly for and should lease their legions of fans across the world. It tells the story of Niall, Zayn, Liam, Harry and Louis' meteoric rise to fame, from their humble hometown beginnings and competing on the X-Factor, to traveling the world on tour and performing at London's famed O2 Arena. The film, which is part a day-in-the-life, part bio sketch and part live concert, takes its cues from those who have gone before them: Justin Beiber, Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, among others, in an effort to extend their reach, fame and wealth. It helps that the film is directed by a skilled, Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker in Morgan Spurlock of "Super Size Me" fame. It provides generous, entertaining helpings of their live concert while following the wide-eyed boys as they travel the globe on their first world tour. Admittedly, these young guys are charming and playful, seemingly normal and also very talented, and yes, their music is pretty catchy. But outside this playful charm and fun music, "This is Us" isn't exactly revelatory into the boys backstory, with as much depth as the latest Tiger Beat magazine interview, but given the target audience is tween girls, you might expect that. "One Direction: This is Us" is strictly for their fan base, who will be satisfied and then some by the film. As for the rest of us, see something else, or it will be an endurance test.

Wes's Grade: B-

Blackfish - A-

Rated PG-13, 80 minutes

Disturbing, thought-provoking doc "Blackfish" uncovers who the real killer is

Tilikum

The controversial documentary "Blackfish" will make you mad, for the right reasons. It is a compelling, often disturbing film about the way in which we treat and handle wild animals, just for show. "Blackfish" focuses on the captivity of the killer whale Tilikum, who was involved in the deaths of three individuals, and the consequences of keeping such large and intelligent animals in captivity for so long at such popular theme parks such as Sea World. Directed and co-written by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, it's a fascinating, superbly persuasive look at the argument against keeping wild animals in captivity. Slow-moving, it takes it time in telling its argument, though it certainly moves enough you to think twice about going to Sea World again. Cowperthwaite shows that keeping the whales in dark tanks for so long with other wild animals, among other things, leads to more aggression in the animals, and to more unfortunate deaths to the humans. What a cruel, ironic circle of life. Man captures animal and keeps animal in captivity for long periods of time. Animal responds by killing its capturer. So who is the real killer? The whale or humans? The absorbing, intelligent and involving documentary, "Blackfish," one of the best of the year, of course leads you to believe we're at fault, and probably we are.  A must-see, though potentially very divisive.

Wes's Grade: A-