Capsule reviews for May 17

Babes

Although it sometimes feels strained in its effort to push the raunchy envelope, this amusing pregnancy comedy finds heartfelt honesty beneath its coarse and abrasive surface. It follows Eden (Ilana Glazer), a single New Yorker who becomes pregnant after a one-night stand with a fledgling actor (Stephan James), which changes the dynamics of her lifelong sisterhood with married BFF Dawn (Michelle Buteau). Despite a convincing chemistry, the women are borderline obnoxious and the aggressive bodily-function humor isn’t for everyone. But at least the directorial debut of actress Pamela Adlon conveys a progressive and empowered attitude about female body choices and the enduring power of friendship. (Rated R, 109 minutes).

The Blue Angels

Highlighted by some breathtaking airborne cinematography, this stirring documentary salutes the iconic U.S. Navy flight team by offering an insightful behind-the-scenes glimpse into its pilots and preparation. Specifically, the film follows the elite Flight Demonstration Squadron for a year, from the rigorous winter training to the grueling audition and selection process, to the dozens of shows the team performs annually around the country for awestruck fans. The straightforward film spotlights their courage and camaraderie, yet also gets the patriotic juices flowing by enabling greater appreciation not only for the aerial acrobatics, but also for its depiction of individual and collective commitment to a greater cause. (Rated G, 94 minutes).

End of the Rope

Lacking the technical proficiency and narrative dexterity to match its sweeping period epic aspirations, this low-budget Western is too sluggish and emotionally flat to build much suspense. It’s based on a true-life case in Depression-era North Dakota, where a small-town sheriff (Joseph Gray) is still processing a past tragedy when he learns of the disappearance of a local family, leading to an erratic farmhand (Nick Saxton) with a dark past becoming a murder suspect. As the legal process plays out, the lawman contends with an angry and impatient lynch mob. Exploring redemption and the morality of frontier justice, the melodramatic mystery feels more familiar than fresh. (Rated PG-13, 141 minutes).

The Strangers: Chapter 1

The mediocre 2008 horror film is being remade as a trilogy, leaving this slick first installment from director Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2) as all buildup and no payoff. Driven by contrivances and convenient naivete, the story follows Gen Z lovers Maya (Madelaine Petsch) and Ryan (Froy Gutierrez) as their car breaks down in rural Oregon, forcing them to spend the night at a remote cabin, where they are terrorized by masked intruders and forced to fight for their lives. The film dispenses some crafty jump scares and gory attacks within its ominous setting, but there’s no meaningful attempt to develop characters or subvert genre tropes. (Rated R, 91 minutes).

Taking Venice

You don’t have to be an art history aficionado to appreciate this compelling chronicle of the controversy surrounding the esteemed Venice Biennale exhibition in 1964. The annual culture show, long dominated by Europeans, was won that year by American pop-art pioneer Robert Rauschenberg, following a scandal that included accusations of cheating by a U.S. delegation accused of undue influence on the judging panel. Set against the backdrop of sociopolitical unrest and creative innovation back home, the potential skullduggery caused a shift in the global artistic landscape. Although the film bogs down in detours, its assemblage of interviews and archival footage makes for a suspenseful yarn. (Not rated, 96 minutes).