Capsule reviews for April 17

Abe

The recipe is appetizing enough, but the modest charms in this coming-of-age saga are served only in small portions. The title character (Noah Schnapp) is a 12-year-old Brooklyn foodie whose love of cooking helps him deal with Instagram trolls and his own dysfunctional family of mixed Israeli and Palestinian descent. As an outlet, Abe ditches summer camp to become a protégé for a Jamaican fusion chef (Seu Jorge) with similar eccentric tastes. A heartfelt portrayal by Schnapp (“Stranger Things”) can’t spice up a predictable story in which the two main elements — cultural discord and street-food subculture — each feel half-baked. It’s an awkward mix of familiar ingredients. (Not rated, 85 minutes).

Bad Therapy

Due diligence is vital when selecting a marriage counselor. That’s the primary takeaway from this contrived relationship comedy that squanders a promising idea. Susan (Alicia Silverstone) is a Los Angeles realtor whose marriage is solid to her second husband, Bob (Rob Corddry). Yet she thinks a few sessions with Judy (Michaela Watkins) could prevent any bumps down the road. By the time they discover Judy’s history of instability, it’s too late. Despite some scattered laughs and amusing performances, the characters are way too gullible to be sympathetic. And when the film transitions into more of a thriller in the second half, it only becomes more far-fetched. (Not rated, 97 minutes).

Selah and the Spades

The characters are fresh in this coming-of-age drama, but their surroundings are overly familiar. It chronicles the inner workings of five social cliques at a posh boarding school, particularly the one run by head cheerleader Selah (Lovie Simone). She agrees to take on an aspiring photographer (Celeste O’Connor) as her protégé, which leads to a cutthroat three-way power struggle involving Selah’s surrogate (Jharrel Jerome) to threaten her leadership. The screenplay by rookie director Tayarisha Poe shows potential while spotlighting two intelligent and progressive young women of color. Still, they’re both shallow and manipulative, and — coupled with the film’s underlying cynicism — are elusive targets for empathy. (Rated R, 97 minutes).