Capsule reviews for March 30

Four Lovers

There’s plenty of sex but not much else in this soft-core French drama that shifts its point of view between two middle-class, middle-aged couples who decide to swap partners in order to spice up their own marriages. The results are mildly surprising, somewhat predictable, and mostly mundane, as writer-director Antony Cordier (Cold Showers) doesn’t offer much insight into contemporary relationships or sexual experimentation — including the resulting levels of jealousy — that we haven’t seen before. The result is a well-acted film that is more pretentious than profound and lacks much of an emotional spark. The cast includes Nicolas Duvauchelle, Roschdy Zem, Elodie Bouchez and Marina Fois. (Not rated, 103 minutes).

Goon

It’s no Slap Shot, but this low-budget Canadian hockey comedy has plenty of quirky charm. Doug (Seann William Scott) is a mild-mannered nightclub bouncer who gains fame when he lands a job on a minor-league hockey team as an enforcer, who is sent into the game to retaliate and take fighting penalties in order to protect the team’s top players. Based on a true story, the latest from director Michael Dowse (Take Me Home Tonight) is a consistently funny and heartfelt tribute to small-town Canadian hockey that shows obvious affection for its subject and characters. The supporting cast includes Jay Baruchel, Liev Schreiber and Eugene Levy. (Rated R, 91 minutes).

Turn Me On, Dammit!

This offbeat coming-of-age comedy from Norway is a slight but amusing examination of the sexual awakening of a teenage girl (Helene Bergsholm) trying to escape the boredom of small-town life. She becomes an outcast at school once a rumor spreads about her crush on a classmate (Matias Myren), and gets in trouble at home when word surfaces of her calls to a phone-sex line to satisfy her desires. The explicit approach to topics of teenage sex might be jolting for some. Otherwise, the film achieves its modest goals, with rookie director Jannicke Systad Jacobsen giving the material an authentic feel using a convincing cast of acting newcomers. (Not rated, 76 minutes).