Capsule reviews for May 24

The Beach Boys

A treat for the band’s legions of fans, this celebratory documentary traces the unique sound, camaraderie, and enduring popularity of a group whose legacy spans more than six decades. It traces the California roots of the group known for popularizing the surf sound and harmonies of the early 1960s behind lead singer Mike Love and creative genius Brian Wilson, as well as the struggles to later diversify while remaining commercially viable. The film weaves together an impressive collection of interviews and archival footage to provide fresh behind-the-scenes insights, even if it tends to gloss over some of the rough patches. Still, the vibrations are mostly good. (Rated PG-13, 113 minutes).

The Garfield Movie

Catering strictly to indiscriminate youngsters with short attention spans, this frenetic animated comedy is more exhausting than endearing as it repositions the venerable gluttonous feline as an action hero. It’s an origin story of sorts in which the lasagna-loving, Monday-hating cat (voiced by Chris Pratt) becomes involved in a wild adventure to reunite with the father (Samuel L. Jackson) who left him orphaned on the streets. As directed by Mark Dindal (Chicken Little), this isn’t anywhere close to the same Garfield from the comics that first inspired him, and those throwback curmudgeonly charms are nowhere to be found, lost in a whirlwind of incoherent mayhem. (Rated PG, 102 minutes).

Kidnapped: The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara

Compelling if hardly subtle, this stylish period thriller from venerable Italian filmmaker Marco Ballocchio (The Traitor) revisits a 19th century Vatican scandal with a mix of intrigue and outrage. Set in the 1850s, during a time of political turmoil in Italy, the story involves a Jewish family in Bologna whose 6-year-old son is taken by church leaders who claim he was secretly baptized, and therefore must adhere to papal law with a forced conversion to Catholicism. The child and his agonized parents become pawns in a power struggle over religious freedom and institutional corruption. Despite some heavy-handed tendencies, the film is insightful and emotionally impactful. (Not rated, 134 minutes).

Queen of the Deuce

Detailing the remarkable life story of eccentric New York porn entrepreneur Chelly Wilson, it’s a shame this choppy and conventional documentary doesn’t come close to matching her freewheeling spirit and feisty audacity. Instead, it’s insightful and compelling only in stretches as it uses anecdotes from Wilson’s family and friends to illustrate how this immigrant grandmother hit the jackpot as a theater owner and film producer during the city’s X-rated 42nd Street heyday in the 1970s. It also explores her life behind the scenes, trying to remain connected to her Greek and Jewish heritage. The film pays worthwhile tribute, although it’s overall too flat and unfocused. (Not rated, 78 minutes).

Solo

Immersed in the vibrant Montreal drag scene, this relationship drama uses a fresh perspective to tackle familiar themes of obsession, loyalty, identity, and self-esteem. Simon (Theodore Pellerin) falls for mysterious Olivier (Felix Maritaud), the new dancer at the club where he performs. Their relationship changes the dynamics in Simon’s fractured family, especially with his sister (Anne-Marie Cadieux) and estranged mother. When Olivier becomes overbearing and abusive, it forces Simon to make difficult choices. The bilingual screenplay by director Sophie Dupuis is bolstered by strong performances, especially Pellerin (Never Rarely Sometimes Always), who infuses Simon’s path to self-discovery and empowerment with psychological pain beneath the physical pleasures. (Not rated, 102 minutes).