Capsule reviews for March 8

Accidental Texan

The tall-tale exaggerations lend an offbeat charm to this otherwise predictable crowd-pleaser about scrappy underdogs battling corporate greed in the West Texas oilfields. That’s where a fledgling Hollywood actor (Rudy Pankow) becomes stranded on a cross-country drive after being fired during a shoot. Seeking help from a waitress (Carrie-Anne Moss) at a small-town diner, he reluctantly agrees to help an eccentric driller (Thomas Haden Church) in a scheme to negotiate an oil lease and stave off bankruptcy. Although it gushes with cliches in the final act, the film generates some laughs through an affectionate portrayal of its setting that celebrates rural quirks rather than mocking them. (Rated PG-13, 104 minutes)

American Dreamer

Despite some fun performances, this comedy about socioeconomic class and human connection is driven by quirks and contrivances that undermine any authentic emotional grounding. Phil (Peter Dinklage) is a misanthropic finance professor whose elusive dream of home ownership prompts him to accept an unusual offer from an eccentric widow (Shirley MacLaine) to buy her estate for cheap — if only she can live there until she dies. The resulting consequences send Phil into an existential crisis, down a personal and professional spiral. Favoring broad slapstick over edgy satire, the film produces scattered laughs to offset its gaping logical inconsistencies. The cast includes Matt Dillon and Danny Glover. (Rated R, 98 minutes).

Glitter and Doom

The aesthetically pleasing sights and sounds can only partially compensate for the meandering nature of the multicultural queer romance at the center of this earnest tribute to 1990s indie rockers Indigo Girls. Their music provides the backdrop for the whirlwind summer of love involving a circus performer (Alex Diaz) and a struggling musician (Alan Cammish). As their relationship deepens, however, realities and uncertainties about the future threaten to tear them apart. Despite some nostalgic appeal and accompanying heartfelt intentions, weaving the songs together with a coherent narrative resonates intermittently but lacks a deeper emotional hook. The supporting cast includes Tig Notaro, Missi Pyle, and Ming-Na Wen. (Not rated, 116 minutes).

High and Low: John Galliano

The best parts of the latest biographical documentary from director Kevin Macdonald (The Last King of Scotland) have little to do with the titular fashion designer’s bold visions or couture collections. The conventional first half gives way to a dissection of Galliano’s fall from grace after a series of embarrassing drunken taunts and antisemitic rhetoric made him an outcast for more than a decade. Although too eager to embrace his redemption, the film is a moderately intriguing exploration of celebrity ego, cancel culture, remorse and self-awareness. It’s an illuminating portrait for fashion aficionados and also an indictment of the morally ambivalent industry that supports him. (Not rated, 117 minutes).

Imaginary

The lack of imagination is what sinks this hackneyed thriller from director Jeff Wadlow (Fantasy Island) that functions mostly as a parade of cheap thrills and genre cliches.  It follows Jessica (DeWanda Wise), who moves her family back into her childhood home, where her young stepdaughter (Pyper Braun) becomes attached to a stuffed bear she finds in the basement. While their interactions are initially playful, things turn sinister for the girl, forcing Jessica to confront her troubled past along the way. Beneath the jump scares, film lacks the consistent suspense to tap into juvenile paranoia and fractured families with any meaningful level of provocation. (Rated PG-13, 104 minutes).

Space: The Longest Goodbye

You might want to reconsider your childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut after watching this moderately insightful documentary, which examines the psychological toll of extended space missions. It centers on a NASA psychologist tasked with preparing potential candidates for a three-year voyage to Mars sometime in the next decade. The film tracks families impacted by emotional challenges on past missions, and research that has helped to develop to artificial intelligence and other tools to help combat anxieties from being in close quarters so far from home. The result is enlightening but not especially cinematic considering its subject matter. However, it raises worthwhile questions without easy answers. (Not rated, 87 minutes).