Capsule reviews for July 18

I Origins

Serious scientific exploration meets silly romantic melodrama in the latest drama from director Mike Cahill (Another Earth), which follows a molecular biologist (Michael Pitt) researching human eyes, whose breakthrough with a lab partner (Brit Marling) leads to a theory that takes the duo around the world for validation and causes the doctor to recall an alluring woman (Astrid Berges-Frisbey) from his past. This visually striking but emotionally muddled work that features some ambitious concepts and thoughtful performances. It’s nice to see a cerebral film in which the science isn’t tossed off, yet like its characters, it’s ultimately too idealistic and sacrifices common sense to prove itself. (Rated R, 113 minutes).

Mood Indigo

Style overwhelms substance in this Parisian romance from director Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) about a bohemian bachelor (Romain Duris) who meets a free-spirited girl (Audrey Tautou) at a friend’s party, only to learn later that she has a bizarre ailment. The film doesn’t use that revelation as an excuse to jerk tears, but rather to explore a surreal world of dreamlike whimsy. Perhaps it deserves credit for trying something different. However, while the two leads achieve a pleasant chemistry, all of the visual flourishes seem more like gimmicks after a while as this impressive technical achievement turns into sensory overload. (Not rated, 94 minutes).

Planes: Fire and Rescue

Somehow rescued from the direct-to-DVD scrap heap comes this innocuous sequel to the 2013 animated adventure about anthropomorphic air racers. This time, underdog Dusty (voiced by Dane Cook) can’t race anymore because of engine damage, so he joins a rescue helicopter (Ed Harris) and his Smokejumpers team to battle a massive wildfire. The simplistic, fast-paced plotting and colorful airborne characters might thrill indiscriminate youngsters, although there’s not much to keep adults interested. While the approach might be slightly different, it doesn’t do much to improve upon its predecessor. Therefore, despite its half-hearted tribute to first responders, this lackluster 3D effort fails to take flight. (Rated PG, 83 minutes).