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PG-13, 2:10, action/adventure
In the new DC Comics movie “Suicide Squad,” a gaggle of surly sociopaths, coupled with some “metahumans,” set aside their basic natures to work together fighting a common enemy. But this is a lousy script, blobby like the endlessly beheaded minions of the squad's chief adversary. It's not satisfying storytelling; the flashbacks roll in and out, explaining either too much or too little, and the action may be violent but it's not interesting. Will Smith takes top billing as Deadshot, the world's most lethal hit man. Deadshot refers to the tornadolike doomsday machine being assembled, endlessly, by the evil Enchantress as “a swirling ring of trash.” That's “Suicide Squad” in a nutshell.
PG-13, 2:03, action/adventure
Jason Bourne is back, after nine long years in cold franchise storage. That time gap explains why the new film “Jason Bourne” puts quotes around its conflicted super-assassin's full fake name. We know it, according to the ads. We know his name. But just in case. Matt Damon has settled nicely into this largely nonverbal role of a trained killer piecing together his past on the fly, while killing those who are trying to kill him. At its best, “Jason Bourne” crackles with professionalism; at its worst, it's rehashing greatest hits (as in, “assassinations”) from earlier films. If a summer picture can be both vaguely disappointing yet worth seeing in relation to its multiplex neighbors, “Jason Bourne” is that picture.
R, 1:41, comedy
As surely as most mothers can't win, “Bad Moms” can't lose. Certainly it can't lose with moms who've endured, through gritted teeth, one too many R-rated guy comedies. This movie represents a vacation from mean-spirited sexism like “The Hangover.” Or does it? Amy, played by Mila Kunis, runs her life as an exercise in just-in-time management. “Bad Moms” takes Amy's maelstrom of a life just seriously enough to connect with all sorts of parents. Amy's work issues are solved in two absurd lines of dialogue. Her love life is solved by a conveniently located sensitive widower hunk (Jay Hernandez). “Bad Moms” keeps settling for less than it should, given all the talent on screen.
PG, 1:31, animated
It may not have the emotional resonance of a Pixar movie, but with its playful premise and endearing performances, “The Secret Life of Pets” is fun, family- (and animal-) friendly fare. The pets are given voice by an all-star cast that includes Louis C.K., Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate and Albert Brooks. Little terrier Max (C.K.) is the top dog in the life of his owner, Katie (Ellie Kemper), until she brings home a giant, fluffy mutt named Duke (Eric Stonestreet). It's fun to imagine what pets get into when no one is home, and “Pets” does a great job of taking that idea to an extreme.
PG-13, 2:02, sci-fi
“Things have started to feel a little … episodic,” acknowledges James T. Kirk in his famous captain's log, three long years into a five-year gig. That line, cheeky and knowing, comes early in “Star Trek Beyond.” The latest film in this franchise isn't quite up to the 2009 and 2013 movies. But it's still fun, you still care about the people and the effects manage to look a little more elegant and interesting than usual. The nemesis this time is a lizard fellow named Krall, played by Idris Elba, which means he has the coolest voice in the universe.
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