Capsule reviews for Feb. 22

The Changeover

Beneath its familiar genre trappings, this latest addition to the coming-of-age fantasy bandwagon succeeds mostly because it takes a character-driven approach rather than relying solely on teenage angst or supernatural mumbo-jumbo. It’s set in New Zealand, where Laura (Erana James) deals with her own nightmares, her younger brother’s mysterious illness, and the persistent visits of a sinister stranger (Timothy Spall). She suspects a form of witchcraft might be involved, and that only she can summon the power to stop it. The final act becomes muddled, yet by that time, the fast-paced and well-acted film has generated sufficient emotional investment in its heroine and her plight. (Rated PG-13, 95 minutes).

We Are the Heat

Like the marimba-infused dance-floor beats that permeate its soundtrack, this Colombian thriller lacks narrative substance behind its nonstop energy and pulsating rhythm. Harvey (Duvan Arizala) is part of a dance crew from the crime-ridden streets of Buenaventura who, like his friends, needs money to pay off debts. So he takes a sketchy job running drugs for the leader of a rival troupe, only to become drawn into a world of gang violence. Rough around the edges, the film offers a peek into Colombia’s dance-club subculture and its urban texture, yet never explores much character depth or moral complexity while relying on clichés to drive the story. (Not rated, 104 minutes).

Wrestle

The teenage athletes in this absorbing documentary are grappling with much more than opponents on the mat. This profile of four troubled wrestlers and their supportive coach at an academically low-performing high school in Huntsville, Alabama, features the requisite competition footage, yet focuses much of its attention on the socioeconomic strife and domestic turmoil behind the scenes. Such material is familiar as it chronicles a season of turmoil culminating in the state tournament, yet more importantly, this effort finds engaging subjects to paint a gritty and universal picture of contemporary adolescence and the value of athletics. The crowd-pleasing result leaves plenty to cheer about. (Not rated, 96 minutes).