Capsule reviews for March 27

Banana Split

Not as sweet as its title suggests, this subversive contemporary coming-of-age comedy resonates with enough character-driven authenticity to overcome its far-fetched contrivances. During the summer after high school graduation, April (Hannah Marks) develops a friendship with Clara (Liana Liberato), who just happens to be dating the ex-boyfriend (Dylan Sprouse) for whom April still carries feelings. With all three of them hiding secrets from one another, can they salvage their relationships before heading off to college? For those willing to suspend disbelief, the screenplay navigates its genre tropes with style and attitude to spare, along with a generous array of big laughs and surprisingly sympathetic characters. (Rated R, 83 minutes).

Vivarium

Life in the 21st century suburbs is pretty bleak if we’re to believe this unsettling and idiosyncratic drama that feels like it might fit best if it were pared down into a “Twilight Zone” episode. Nevertheless, it tracks a young woman (Imogen Poots) and her boyfriend (Jesse Eisenberg) as they search for a house in a relentlessly sunny subdivision. However, the couple winds up trapped in a labyrinthine nightmare with dark secrets and little hope for escape. The small-scale film is a frustrating puzzle that leaves few clues. But at least the performances are solid, and the repetitive structure is redeemed somewhat with a clever ending. (Rated R, 97 minutes).

Working Man

In this case, a generic title is appropriate for a heartfelt salute to little guy who never gets the credit he deserves. With the closure of another Rust Belt factory, Allery (Peter Gerety) and his blue-collar colleagues are downsized by corporate ownership. Still reeling from a tragedy, the withdrawn Allery needs the job for emotional as much as financial stability, so he shows up anyway. While his wife (Talia Shire) worries, a co-worker (Billy Brown) rallies around his quiet defiance. Despite some melodramatic twists and an overbearing score, the film finds its footing as both a quirky character study and an underdog crowd-pleaser that resonates. (Not rated, 108 minutes).