Capsule reviews for March 14
John Malkovich and Ayo Edebiri star in OPUS. (Photo: A24)
Borderline
Not as clever or subversive as intended, this offbeat comedy about a mentally ill stalker tries so hard to push the boundaries of good taste that it forgets to tell a coherent or compelling story. It does feature a wacko turn from Ray Nicholson (Smile 2) as a deranged fan who invades the home of a 1990s pop star (Samara Weaving) with plans for a wedding. When she naturally refuses, his behavior goes further off the rails. The directorial debut of screenwriter Jimmy Warden (Cocaine Bear) shows flashes of freewheeling audacity but despite some quirky, cringe-inducing laughs, it’s never grounded enough to generate the necessary tension. (Rated R, 94 minutes).
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie
Overflowing with nostalgic appeal, this animated adventure — really more of a buddy comedy featuring Daffy Duck and Porky Pig — captures the timeless spirit of its characters while infusing its throwback wholesomeness with a mischievous contemporary sensibility. The breezy story involves our two heroes, who share an inherited farm house, somehow becoming the only hope to save Earth from invading aliens who plant mind-control devices in tainted chewing gum. Although it feels stretched and chaotic at feature length, the film showcases some lovely hand-drawn visuals and self-deprecating silliness while affectionately proving that the brand still has enough adaptability to keep it relevant for any generation. (Rated PG, 91 minutes).
The Eighth Day
A handful of cunning and tenacious female characters can’t quite elevate this otherwise derivative crime thriller about deception, betrayal, and dishonor among 1990s thieves in a small West Texas town. That’s where two misfit debt collectors (Darren Mann and Mustafa Speaks) arrive to secure payment for their boss. But when the job takes longer than expected, they begin fraternizing with the locals, including a mysterious waitress (Phoebe Tonkin), and become entangled with a feisty grandmother (Valerie Mahaffey) holding some secrets. The lightweight tone, throwback style and attitude, and agreeable cast provide occasional sparks amid the formulaic and predictable stretches, as well as the lackluster twists. (Not rated, 88 minutes).
Opus
The ambition outshines the execution in this uneven music-infused satire that strains to be edgy and subversive while skewering the uglier aspects of celebrity culture. It centers on a fledgling journalist (Ayo Edebiri) whose views a top-secret invite to an album reveal party for a reclusive ex-musician (John Malkovich) as a breakthrough opportunity. But she arrives to a cult-like atmosphere surrounded by oddball sycophants and nightmare vibes. The screenplay by rookie director Mark Anthony Green manages some laughs and frights but lacks the relevant subtext to pull them together. Despite a talented cast, the film never finds a rhythm for its intriguing characters and ideas. (Rated R, 103 minutes).