Capsule reviews for April 24

Adult Beginners

Modestly amusing and slightly heartwarming, this offbeat comedy of arrested development follows Jake (Nick Kroll), an arrogant entrepreneur whose business falls apart, prompting him to move in with his estranged sister (Rose Byrne) along with her husband (Bobby Cannavale) and young son in the suburbs. That causes the expected family friction, but eventually leads Jake down a path of humbling and reconciliation. Despite that familiar narrative territory, the film has some big laughs and manages some authentic character dynamics. Kroll, best known as a stand-up comic, shows some range and finds sympathy in a role that requires a gradual transformation from abrasive to endearing. (Rated R, 87 minutes).

The Forger

Some oddball casting gives a mild jolt to this formulaic crime thriller about Raymond (John Travolta), a notorious Boston art forger who bribes his way out of prison early in order to reconcile with his family, including his terminally ill teenage son (Tye Sheridan) and eccentric father (Christopher Plummer). But the deal unintentionally lures him back into contact with shady characters from his past. Whether you buy Travolta in this role or not, the film turns convoluted under the weight of too many subplots, registering more strongly during its intimate father-son moments than it does with the more generic action elements involving revenge and police procedure. (Rated R, 92 minutes).

Kung Fu Killer

Genre aficionados will best appreciate this latest Hong Kong martial-arts adventure, which stars Donnie Yen (Ip Man) as a convicted criminal who negotiates a prison release with police in exchange for agreeing to help apprehend a serial killer (Wang Baoqiang) targeting kung fu masters. Of course, this sets up a series of elaborate combat sequences, although few involving Yen himself, whose character instead would rather negotiate than fight until being personally targeted. Still, the choreography from director Teddy Chan (The Accidental Spy) is a highlight, especially in the finale, while the cliched script tries to patch together a story lacking much surprise or suspense. (Not rated, 100 minutes).

Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck

Just because it’s technically authorized doesn’t mean there’s anything omitted or sugarcoated in this documentary from director Brett Morgen (The Kid Stays in the Picture) that traces the life and career of the late Nirvana frontman, from his modest upbringing to his rock stardom to his volatile marriage to his tragic death. As he digs through Cobain’s archives, Morgen crafts powerful portrait of a troubled musician who struggled with fame and artistic collaboration. Both enlightening and exhausting, it goes beyond the headlines in a way that should please fans and outsiders alike. And best of all, the film captures Cobain’s idiosyncratic spirit without resorting to hagiography. (Not rated, 132 minutes).

See You in Valhalla

The characters feel familiar and the scenarios are contrived in this low-budget drama from director Jerret Tarnol (April Apocalypse) about Johana (Sarah Hyland), who returns home to visit her eccentric father (Conor O’Farrell) and her estranged siblings following her brother’s highly publicized suicide. As it is grieving, the family must confront past demons, new secrets and other dirty laundry while trying to find common ground. Hyland (TV’s “Modern Family”) and the rest of the ensemble generally rise above the excessive quirks and stereotypes in the screenplay, yet the constant bickering eventually grows tiresome, even if the film sporadically pinpoints some issues of genuine domestic strife. (Rated R, 82 minutes).