Kangaroo Island (out Aug 21) is an Aussie film about a snobby young actress who returns to South Australia after a stint in Hollywood and must deal with family woes. Some subplots lack credibility (especially the U.S. scenes) but when it focuses on the interactions with her dad and sister, it's a moderately interesting drama. Grade: B-.

Relay (out Aug 21) keeps you thinking and keeps you on your toes. It's an excellent spy thriller with a heightened focus on "method". Instead of using the two hours to create backstories regarding families and love interests, it gets into the nitty-gritty of “spy work” and the creative ways they avoid detection. It's fun, slick entertainment with a great lead performance from Riz Ahmed. Grade: A-.

The Naked Gun (out Aug 21) is a hit-and-miss revamp of the spoof comedy trilogy made famous by Leslie Nielsen between 1988 and 1994. A few jokes are overdone/predictable but there's also some great gags you won't see coming. Star Liam Neeson can't quite match the late Nielsen but he gives it a good crack. Grade: B.

Eddington (out Aug 21) is the latest from writer-director Ari Aster (Hereditary) and centred on a group of ideologically different people in a small American town. It'll generate debate (that's a good thing) but not sure it's changing anyone's political views. Grade: B-.

Irena's Vow (out Aug 21) is the second movie I've seen starring Sophie Nélisse as a woman helping hide Jewish people from Nazis during World War II (The Book Thief was the other). It's not exactly eye-opening but it does a good job creating tension as the German soldier grow increasingly suspicious. Grade: B.

Nobody 2 (out Aug 14) is an inferior sequel to the 2021 original. Given the secretive background of the film's hero was revealed in the first movie, this is just a ho-hum action film with a finale that has as much realism as a Home Alone movie (silly booby traps and stuff). Villains add nothing. Grade: C+.

Mr. Burton (out Aug 14) is an interesting biopic about the arts-loving school teacher who helped shape the career of Welsh actor Richard Burton in his early years. With great lead performances, it’s a reminder to reflect on the people in our own lives who have made us who we are today. Grade: B+.

The Life of Chuck (out Aug 14) won the People's Choice Award at last year's Toronto Film Festival and is based off a Stephen King short story. The narrative revolves around Charles Krantz (Tom Hiddleston), a character we see… but don’t really get to know. The strong direction of Mike Flanagan helps compensate. Grade: B.

Weapons (out Aug 7) holds your attention from start to finish and is not a film you'll easily forget. Creatively told from six different perspectives, it's a horror-thriller about 17 children from the same class at elementary school who all go missing in the middle of the night. Great characters, great performances, great direction, great ending. Grade: A.

Freakier Friday (out Aug 7) is a sequel to the 2003 cinema release. The stakes have been raised as, instead of two people switching bodies, we now have four. The themes are laid on thickly and several of the character personalities are rushed but there’s still a likeable spirit to Freakier Friday, elevated by the cast, which makes it worthwhile. Grade: B.