Capsule reviews for Dec. 6

Commitment

Choi Seung-hyun — also known by his stage name, T.O.P. — tries to transition from Korean hip-hop star to action hero in this spy thriller, which features him playing a teenager forced to follow in his father’s footsteps as a North Korean espionage agent in order to protect his younger sister (Kim Yoo-jung). But when he infiltrates a high school in the South, he finds ethical complications in his mission. The film features a variety of kinetic and well choreographed action sequences but is strictly an exercise in style over substance, thanks to a screenplay that relies on convoluted melodrama while taking itself way too seriously. (Not rated, 108 minutes).

Expecting

This uneven mix of broad comedy and domestic drama isn’t successful in either case. The story follows the marital turmoil of Lizzie (Radha Mitchell) and Peter (Jon Dore), who can’t have children of their own. So they reluctantly agree to adopt the child of Lizzie’s obnoxious friend Andie (Michelle Monaghan), who moves in with them along with Peter’s brother Casey (Michael Weston), a drug addict trying to stay clean. Chaos ensues, but the screenplay by rookie director Jessie McCormack feels more contrived than authentic in its exploration of contemporary families and relationships. Despite some solid performances, the characters aren’t very believable nor very appealing. (Not rated, 87 minutes).

The Last Days on Mars

There is life on Mars, but naturally it’s not very friendly in this silly science-fiction adventure about a group of astronauts preparing to return to Earth after a mission on the planet. During a routine voyage to collect specimens, however, one of them is infected with a mysterious virus that gradually begins to spread among the entire crew. Despite an intriguing biomedical concept, the suspense fizzles amid a series of horror-film contrivances and a convenient lack of common sense among its would-be scientist characters. It doesn’t make the most of its potentially claustrophobic setting. The cast includes Liev Schreiber, Romola Garai and Elias Koteas. (Rated PG-13, 98 minutes).

Swerve

A series of winding roads lead nowhere in this low-budget Australian thriller that can be praised more for effort than execution. It follows Colin (David Lyons), whose car failure leads to a series of misadventures in a small outback town once he witnesses a fatal accident and finds a briefcase filled with money. That entangles Colin with the corrupt sheriff (Jason Clarke) and a seductive blonde (Emma Booth), along with assorted other weirdos and lowlifes. The film starts with promise and features some intriguing characters and performances, but the fast-paced, moderately suspenseful script by director Craig Lahiff just gets more ridiculous as it goes along. (Rated R, 86 minutes).

White Reindeer

A pleasant antidote to the glut of cinematic Christmas fruitcakes comes in the form of this delightfully subversive low-budget comedy about Suzanne (Anna Margaret Hollyman), a fledgling real-estate agent in suburban Virginia forced to deal with a sudden family tragedy as the holidays approach. She tries to cope through various methods, opening her mind and making new friends in strange places. The script by director Zach Clark takes a satirical look at the grieving process and the perceived healing power of the season, while adding a few twists that are frequently shocking and hilarious. While much of it seems arbitrary, at least it’s not predictable. (Not rated, 82 minutes).