Capsule reviews for April 8

Agent Game

With considerably more talk than action, this low-budget espionage thriller strands a talented ensemble in a maze of shifting loyalties and government corruption that never musters any meaningful intrigue or suspense. It chronicles a rogue intelligence operation involving the interrogation of a terrorism suspect (Barkhad Abdi) by a CIA agent (Jason Isaacs) who winds up as a scapegoat after the mission backfires. The film, apparently shot mostly in dark warehouses, is so formulaic that even the implied scope of its vast international conspiracies fails to heighten the stakes, or make us care about the outcome. The cast includes Dermot Mulroney, Adan Canto, and Mel Gibson. (Rated R, 89 minutes).

Aline

Celine Dion’s life story might make for a compelling big-screen biopic, but this highly embellished — and unauthorized, for obvious reasons — vanity project from French filmmaker Valerie Lemercier mostly feels out of tune. Lemercier (Marie-Francine) also stars in the title role, as an aspiring singer who was the youngest of 14 children in a musical Quebec family. Dreaming of stardom, she uses her soaring voice to become a pop-music superstar, traveling the world with her manager (Sylvain Marcel) who also becomes her husband. Employing a familiar rags-to-riches trajectory, Lemercier’s uneven screenplay veers wildly between campy and sincere, giving its flawless heroine a predetermined path to fame. (Rated PG-13, 126 minutes).

As They Made Us

A top-notch cast elevates this otherwise familiar drama about a dysfunctional family struggling to find forgiveness and reconciliation after decades of bitterness and hostility. Abigail (Dianna Agron) is forced to play both caretaker and referee in a quest to reunite her dying father (Dustin Hoffman) with her estranged brother (Simon Helberg). Standing in the way is Abigail’s overbearing mother (Candice Bergen), whose psychological abuse has been the primary factor in driving everyone apart. The heartfelt directorial debut of actress and “Jeopardy” hostess Mayim Bialik generates some powerful moments and intriguing family dynamics. Yet in probing a complicated family legacy, it feels more contrived than authentic. (Rated R, 99 minutes).

Coast

Worthwhile tweaks to the setting and characters can’t save this earnest coming-of-age drama from its formulaic trappings. It’s set in a coastal California farming town of mostly migrant families, where Abby (Fatima Ptacek) can’t wait to flee. The teenage skateboarder befriends the obstreperous new girl (Mia Frampton), falls for a touring punk rocker (Kane Ritchotte), and rebels against her single mother (Cristela Alonzo). But as much as she wants to leave, Abby begins to appreciate what she might leave behind. Such wistful contemplation gives the film a thoughtfulness and cultural specificity that’s too often brushed aside in favor of cliches about relationships and self-discovery. (Not rated, 96 minutes).

Cow

Who knew a documentary about the bovine life cycle could be so moo-ving? Taking a strictly observational approach, filmmaker Andrea Arnold (American Honey) spent years tracking the daily life of an dairy cow named Luma and her calf with vivid intimacy at a British farm — from mating rituals to milking regimens and everywhere in between. Sure, it’s repetitive, but nevertheless compassionate and compelling, even for those who aren’t animal aficionados. Although it doesn’t pass judgment on the titular subjects or the humans who are consistently just off-screen, the simple yet profound film might make you think twice before devouring your next cheeseburger or milkshake. (Not rated, 94 minutes).

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Hitting the reset button and starting over, this sequel to the big-screen adaptation of the classic videogame covers much of the same ground as its 2020 predecessor with the same emphasis on spectacle over substance. Aimed at youngsters with short attention spans, the story finds our rambunctious blue wiseacre (voiced by Ben Schwartz) left alone by a vacationing Tom (James Marsden). Evil nemesis Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey) pays a visit, seeking an all-powerful emerald with his new sidekick, Knuckles (Idris Elba) — if the speedy Sonic doesn’t find it first. Combining live action and animation with technical proficiency, the nonstop mayhem seems to be spinning its wheels. (Rated PG, 122 minutes).