Capsule reviews for Jan. 22

Born a Champion

The real star of this cheesy martial arts saga is the self-defense discipline of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and that might be enough to satisfy the target demographic. It tracks the rise of jiu-jitsu in the United States during the 1990s through the story of an instructor (Sean Patrick Flanery) whose competitive juices keep him tied to a greedy fight promoter (Dennis Quaid) against the wishes of his wife (Katrina Bowden). The project is an ambitious labor of love for Flanery, who wrote the melodramatic script, but in trying to combine an underdog saga, a redemption story, a martial-arts promotional vehicle, and more, it’s missing some crowd-pleasing flair. (Rated R, 112 minutes).

Breaking Fast

Despite some clumsy dialogue and broad gags, this low-budget romantic comedy finds a fresh perspective on queer romance that’s both specific and universal. Mo (Haaz Sleiman) is a Hollywood doctor and devout Muslim coming off a breakup. At a party, he meets Kal (Michael Cassidy), an aspiring actor with an open mind about interfaith dating. As their relationship deepens during Ramadan, Mo’s family objects — not because Kal is gay, but on spiritual grounds. The uneven screenplay by rookie director Mike Mosallam, expanded from his short film, is a charming if exaggerated exploration of the Muslim gay experience that mostly transcends cultural stereotypes and genre cliches. (Not rated, 92 minutes).

Cowboys

Strong performances and a character-driven approach keep this tender and compassionate drama about acceptance from turning heavy-handed. It chronicles Troy (Steve Zahn), a mentally unstable Montana man who kidnaps his preteen transgender son (Sasha Knight) after Troy’s ex-wife (Jillian Bell) refuses to acknowledge the youngster’s identity. As they flee into the mountains on horseback, establishing an unsteady rapport, a determined officer (Ann Dowd) closes in. The uneven screenplay by director Anna Kerrigan struggles with tonal consistency and wraps up too neatly, yet the film generates some intriguing dynamics among its flawed characters. Led by convincing newcomer Knight, the message resonates with sincerity and conviction. (Not rated, 85 minutes).

Identifying Features

Both gut-wrenching and eye-opening, this sharply observed Mexican drama offers an intimate glimpse into the desperate circumstances facing many immigrants and their families. Magdalena (Mercedes Hernandez) is a mother whose teenage son left with a friend from their small town to seek work across the border. That was months ago, and she hasn’t heard from him since. But when Magdalena seeks the truth behind his disappearance, fearing the worst, she’s met with casual indifference and bureaucratic red tape. A gritty and evocative debut for director Fernanda Valadez, the film starts to meander in the second half, yet its even-handed perspective makes it that much more powerful. (Not rated, 95 minutes).

No Man’s Land

It’s nice to see a border story that’s personal rather than political. Unfortunately, this uneven drama about compassion amid the friction at the Texas-Mexico boundary undermines its humanity with narrative familiarity. It centers on a vigilante border patrol by an American family that results in a Mexican boy’s tragic death. As tension mounts, Jackson (Jake Allyn) becomes stranded near where the victim’s father (Jorge Jimenez) is plotting revenge. The uneven screenplay by Allyn, whose brother Conor directed the film, nicely balances the perspectives of the two families without drawing clear-cut heroes and villains. However, much of the authenticity becomes muddled by convoluted plotting and Western cliches. (Not rated, 115 minutes).

Preparations to Be Together for an Unknown Period of Time

Conventional romantic payoffs go out the window in this low-key psychological thriller from Hungary, which features some intriguing character dynamics even if it maintains a frustrating emotional detachment. Marta (Natasa Stork) is a successful surgeon in the United States who decides to return to her native Budapest to explore a relationship with a fellow doctor (Viktor Bodo) she met at a conference. When the fling doesn’t go as planned, Marta tries to keep her professional life afloat as mental health suffers. While we sympathize with her plight, especially given gender barriers in her profession, Marta’s personality is cold and distancing, which adds a layer of mystery. (Not rated, 95 minutes).

Spoor

Emphasizing atmosphere over plot, this muddled genre hybrid from venerable filmmaker Agnieszka Holland (In Darkness) never musters the consistent suspense to match its haunting imagery. It follows Janina (Agnieszka Mandat), an elderly loner and animal-rights activist in a small Polish village where hunters have been targeted in a grisly murder spree. Torn by her compassion for animals and her sympathy for the human victims, Janina forms an emotional attachment to the investigation, trying to convince doubters that her suspicions are correct. That intriguing premise yields some picturesque winter scenery, while Mandat offers a richly textured portrayal of a compelling character deserving a better movie. (Not rated, 128 minutes).