Capsule reviews for Sept. 2

Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame

Acclaimed Hong Kong chop-socky director Tsui Hark adds elements of murder mystery and the supernatural to his latest film, which recalls the true-life story of a Tang Dynasty detective (Andy Lau) who is hired to solve a murder case before the inauguration of a princess. While the story itself is uneven, Tsui effectively weaves together special effects with his usual innovative martial-arts sequences (choreographed by veteran Sammo Hung). It adds up to an amusing over-the-top historical epic that takes dramatic license with historical events but remains lightweight and fun. Lau is appealing as he heads a cast that includes Tony Leung and Carina Lau. (Rated PG-13, 119 minutes)

Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life

Ambition compensates somewhat for self-indulgence in this stylish biopic about Serge Gainsbourg (Eric Elmosnino), the Jewish songwriter and pianist who lived a lavish life of booze and women in Paris, yet remained haunted by childhood demons as he composed some of the biggest nightclub hits in France during the 1960s. The film features several musical numbers, as well as a recurring puppet creature that reflects Gainsbourg’s imagination and adds an element of mystery during his interaction with Elmosnino. However, the film too obviously gushes about its subject, and loses momentum as it turns more conventional in the second hour. (Not rated, 122 minutes)

A Good Old Fashioned Orgy

Bad idea: Deciding on an orgy with all of your buddies as a final fling before the impending sale of your relatives’ Hamptons beach house. Worse idea: Making a feature film about the build-up and execution of said orgy. The raunchy sex comedy starring Jason Sudeikis that results is pretty much all about titillation and figuring out how the act in question in going to be staged. It captures some of the inherent awkwardness in its participants, but the one-liners are hit-and-miss and there’s hardly enough worthwhile material to justify its feature length. Plus, the premise is simply preposterous, not that it matters. (Rated R, 92 minutes)