NEW FILMS FRIDAY
THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN — ★★ — The "hate crime" drama is too aloof and measured, even when things should get more heated and emotional. French with subtitles; running time: 105 minutes; not rated, probable R (violence, gore, drugs, slurs, brief sex, brief nudity, profanity)
MACGRUBER — Action-comedy, based on the "Saturday Night Live" skits and starring Will Forte. To be reviewed Saturday; running time: 99 minutes; R (vulgarity, sex, violence, profanity, nudity)
NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT PERSIAN CATS — ★★½ — The fictional trappings aren't nearly as interesting as the nonfiction ones in the Iranian music tale. Persian with subtitles; running time: 107 minutes; not rated, probable PG-13 (profanity, slurs, violence, vulgarity, brief gore)
SHREK FOREVER AFTER — ★★ — With the exception of the third film, this is the least funny animated feature of the ultra-successful series. Running time: 93 minutes; PG (vulgarity, violence, slurs, brief drugs)
THE SQUARE — ★★★ — As dark as this noir tale is, it's worth it just to watch things spiral so far out of control. Running time: 101 minutes; R (violence, profanity, sex, gore, vulgarity, slurs, torture)
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 3-D — DreamWorks' new animated fantasy-adventure, shown in 3-D. (Carmike 12, Ritz, University Mall, Wynnsong)
ORGAN LOFT SPECIAL SCREENINGS — This week's program is "The General" (1926). A schedule is available at www.organloftslc.com. (May 21, 7:30 p.m.: Organ Loft)
THE PARK CITY FILM MUSIC FESTIVAL — An independent festival, presenting both film and music competitions. A schedule is available at www.parkcityfilmmusicfestival.com. (Through May 23: Egyptian Theatre, Park City Library)
PEERY'S EGYPTIAN THEATER SPECIAL SCREENINGS — This week's film is "The Stoning of Soraya M." A schedule is available at www.peerysegyptiantheater.com. (May 24, 7:30 p.m.: Peery's Egyptian Theater, Ogden)
SALT LAKE FILM CENTER SPECIAL SCREENINGS — This week's films are "Afghan Star" and "Beyond Gay." A schedule is available at www.slcfilmcenter.org. (May 23, 2 p.m.; May 24, 7 p.m.: Salt Lake City Library)
SHREK FOREVER AFTER 3-D — DreamWorks' new animated, comedy fantasy, shown in 3-D. (Carmike 12, Century Sandy, Century South Salt Lake, Cinemark American Fork, District, Gateway, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Junction, Layton Hills, Provo Towne Centre, Ritz, SCERA, Showcase, Stadium Payson, Thanksgiving Point, Tinseltown Ogden, University Mall, Wynnsong)
LARGE-FORMAT
FLY ME TO THE MOON — ★★★ — This state-of-the-art cartoon falls short in several crucial areas. Shown in 3-D; running time: 45 minutes; G (violence, vulgarity) (Thanksgiving Point)
HUBBLE 3-D — ★★★ — An elegant portrait of the best spy cam humanity has ever invented. Shown in 3-D; running time: 43 minutes; G (nothing offensive) (Clark Planetarium) — David Germain, Associated Press
SEA REX 3-D: JOURNEY TO A PREHISTORIC WORLD — A large-screen short about extinct, deep-sea life forms. Shown in 3-D; running time: 30 minutes; not rated, probable G (nothing offensive) (Thanksgiving Point)
SHREK FOREVER AFTER: AN IMAX 3-D EXPERIENCE — DreamWorks' new animated, comedy fantasy, shown in 3-D and in the large-screen format. (Jordan Commons)
UNDER THE SEA — ★★★½ — This "sequel" to the 2006 large-screen hit "Deep Sea 3-D" holds our interest just fine. Narrated by Jim Carrey. Shown in 3-D; running time: 40 minutes; G (violence) (Clark Planetarium)
CONTINUING FILMS
ALICE IN WONDERLAND — ★★★ — Tim Burton's version of the much-filmed Lewis Carroll tale is visually stunning. Johnny Depp stars. Running time: 108 minutes; PG (violence, brief drugs, slurs, brief gore, mild vulgarity)
AVATAR — ★★½ — James Cameron's latest is a feast for the eyes, though it fails in terms of plot. Running time: 161 minutes; PG-13 (violence, profanity, slurs, brief drugs, brief partial nudity, brief gore, vulgarity, brief sex)
BABIES — ★★★ — The nonfiction film about newborns from around the world doesn't overstay its welcome, and it has some genuinely cute and cuddly subjects. Running time: 79 minutes; PG (nudity, vulgarity, violence, brief drugs, brief gore)
THE BACK-UP PLAN — ★ — A crude comedy that's not exactly a great big-screen return for Jennifer Lopez. Running time: 100 minutes; PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, sex, violence, brief partial nudity, slurs)
CITY ISLAND — ★★★ — A dysfunctional comedy-drama that works pretty well, thanks to its very good cast. Andy Garcia stars. Running time: 103 minutes; PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief nudity, brief drugs, brief sex, violence, slurs, brief gore)
CLASH OF THE TITANS — ★★ — The fantasy remake is one of the flatter would-be blockbusters of late. Sam Worthington stars. Running time: 106 minutes; PG-13 (violence, gore, profanity, slurs, vulgarity, brief sex, nude art)
DATE NIGHT — ★★½ — For all this comedy-thriller's problems, stars Steve Carell and Tina Fey keep us interested. Running time: 87 minutes; PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, profanity, drugs, brief sex, slurs, nude art)
DEATH AT A FUNERAL — ★½ — The Americanized remake of the 2007 British comedy stoops much, more lower. Chris Rock stars. Running time: 93 minutes, R (profanity, vulgarity, drugs, violence, nudity, slurs, brief sex)
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID — ★★ — A movie about an unlikable jerk of a kid is a more apt description. Running time: 91 minutes; PG (vulgarity, violence, slurs, mild profanity)
FURRY VENGEANCE — ★½ — Brendan Fraser has never been more "doofus-y" than he is in this moronic humiliation comedy. Running time: 92 minutes; PG (violence, vulgarity, drugs, slurs, profanity)
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO — ★★½ — Some real nastiness detracts from this thriller's interesting story. Swedish with subtitles. Running time: 145 minutes; not rated, probable R (violence, sex, vulgarity, profanity, slurs, rape, gore, nudity, torture, drugs)
HOT TUB TIME MACHINE — ★★½ — A sloppy, raucous time-travel farce in the grown-men-gone-wild "Hangover" style. John Cusack stars. Running time: 90 minutes; R (vulgarity, sex, nudity, drugs, profanity) — Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON — ★★★ — A cartoon feature, based on the popular books, that's a lot more fun and enjoyable than it has any right to be. Running time: 95 minutes; PG (violence, slurs, vulgarity)
THE IMAGINARIUM OF DOCTOR PARNASSUS — ★★★ — Fans of the late Heath Ledger will want to see this rather offbeat fantasy. Running time: 122 minutes; PG-13 (violence, slurs, profanity, vulgarity, nude artwork, brief sex)
IRON MAN 2 — ★★★½ — The superhero sequel may be overstuffed with characters and story, but it's also funny, exciting and even deceptively smart. Running time: 124 minutes; PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, profanity, brief drugs, brief gore, slurs, nude art)
THE JONESES — ★★★ — The chemistry between David Duchovny and Demi Moore makes this cynical, satirical tale work. Running time: 93 minutes; R (profanity, vulgarity, drugs, sex, violence, slurs, brief nudity)
JUST WRIGHT — ★★ — The lack of realism and believability is not really the worst of problems for this messy comedy-drama. Queen Latifah stars. Running time: 101 minutes; PG (profanity, vulgarity, slurs, brief sex)
KICK-A-- — ★★ — This latest comic-book adaptation to reach the big screen never finds its sweet spot. Running time: 116 minutes; R (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity, slurs, sex, nudity, drugs) — Roger Moore, The Orlando Sentinel
THE LAST SONG — ★½ — As awful as the performances in this Miley Cyrus vehicle are, the worst aspect is still the manipulative writing of Nicholas Sparks. Running time: 107 minutes; PG (violence, mild profanity, slurs, vulgarity, brief drugs, nude art)
LETTERS TO JULIET — ★★ — A romantic comedy-drama starring Amanda Seyfried that lacks the most important, meat-and-potatoes parts. Running time: 105 minutes; PG (vulgarity, profanity, slurs, nude artwork)
THE LOSERS — ★★½ — There's just enough over-the-top action to right this sketchy revenge-thriller, based on the Vertigo Comics series. Jeffrey Dean Morgan stars. Running time: 98 minutes; PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, profanity, drugs, sex, brief gore, slurs)
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET — ★★ — The horror "re-imagining" isn't a nightmare so much as it is a series of missed opportunities. Running time: 95 minutes; R (violence, gore, profanity, drugs, vulgarity, brief nudity, slurs)
OCEANS — ★★★ — A good documentary about the world's oceans, of interest to those with an interest in such things. Running time: 87 minutes; G (violence)
PERCY JACKSON & THE OLYMPIANS: THE LIGHTNING THIEF — ★★½ — This teen fantasy is more fun than you might expect. Running time: 119 minutes; PG (violence, profanity, brief gore, brief drugs, slurs, mild vulgarity, nude art)
REMEMBER ME — ★ — This shameless, distasteful romantic drama tries to wring tears out of susceptible audiences. Robert Pattinson stars. Running time: 113 minutes; PG-13 (violence, profanity, sex, vulgarity, slurs, brief drugs)
REPO MEN — ★★ — This science-fiction thriller is a bloody mess. Jude Law stars. Running time: 115 minutes; R (violence, gore, profanity, drugs, sex, vulgarity, brief nudity, slurs)
ROBIN HOOD — ★★ — The revisionist retelling of the English folk legends is the first real dud of the summer movie season. Russell Crowe stars. Running time: 140 minutes; PG-13 (violence, gore, profanity, brief sex, vulgarity, slurs, brief partial nudity, torture)
THE RUNAWAYS — ★★ — A talented cast can't save this musical drama from its flaws and excesses. Running time: 107 minutes; R (vulgarity, profanity, drugs, sex, slurs, violence, brief nudity)
SHE'S OUT OF MY LEAGUE — ★★½ — The fresh-faced cast makes this often crude comedy work when it probably shouldn't. Running time: 104 minutes; R (vulgarity, profanity, brief sex, slurs, brief nudity, violence, brief drugs)
SHUTTER ISLAND — ★★★ — Atmosphere is everything in Martin Scorsese's adaptation of the best-selling novel. Leonardo DiCaprio stars. Running time: 138 minutes; R (violence, profanity, gore, drugs, vulgarity, brief nudity, slurs)
THE SPY NEXT DOOR — ★★ — Jackie Chan plays second fiddle to bratty youngsters in this irritating action-comedy. Running time: 91 minutes; PG (violence, vulgarity, brief drugs, slurs, mild profanity)
TERRIBLY HAPPY — ★★★½ — A dark noirish thriller that will appeal to those who love the genre. Danish with subtitles, running time: 100 minutes; not rated, probable R (violence, sex, profanity, drugs, vulgarity, brief gore, slurs)
TOOTH FAIRY — ★★ — A comic fantasy placing Dwayne Johnson in silly, embarrassing and possibly physically painful situations. Running time: 102 minutes; PG (violence, vulgarity, drugs, slurs, mild profanity)
WHEN IN ROME — ★ — So unfunny and charmless it even makes other recent duds seem better by comparison. Running time: 91 minutes; PG-13 (vulgarity, slapstick violence, nude artwork, mild profanity, slurs)