Alice Through The Looking Glass (out May 26) is, like the original, a not-so-enchanting adventure. It's loaded with colour and visual effects but the film's quirky elements don't really work. The story is unnecessarily complex for younger audiences and laughs are surprisingly rare. Grade: C+.

Hunt For The Wilderpeople (out May 26) is the best film yet from director Taika Waititi. It follows a troubled boy and his disgruntled foster father who go on a hike across remote New Zealand for unusual reasons. Every character has a splash of quirkiness that makes them distinctive and memorable. I can't wait to see this again. Grade: A.

The Meddler (out May 19) is the tale of a widowed mother (Susan Sarandon) who, with nothing else to do, starts interfering in the life of her middle-aged daughter (Rose Byrne). The third act is a little messy but Sarandon's irritating/heartfelt performance makes the film more than worthwhile. Grade: B+.

Highly Strung (out May 19) is a documentary that covers two different topics - the value of old musical instruments and a division that arises between members of the Australian String Quartet. There's a lot of repetition and the mixing of the two narratives hampers the film's flow. Grade: C+.

X-Men: Apocalypse (out May 19) isn't particularly original but it's still a well-assembled action flick. He’s a stereotypical villain but Oscar Isaac does a great job fleshing out his character’s motivations. The more interesting characters are those that straddle the line between good and bad. However, it's clear the focus is more on action pieces as opposed to internal conflict. Grade: B.

The Angry Birds Movie (out May 12) is an animated feature based on the popular video game series. Red has to deal with "anger management" issues while trying to deal with a group of green pigs who are visiting Bird Island. There are a few comedic moments but the story doesn't offer much to be energised about. Grade: B-.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (out May 12) illustrates the ups and downs in the life of a war journalist (Tina Fey) who is posted to Afghanistan. You can see the points that the film is trying to make but the narrative is choppy and a romantic subplot involving Martin Freeman adds little value. Grade: B-.

Bastille Day (out May 12) is an action film set in France but it has a very pro-American flavour. It’s centred on a CIA agent acting well outside of his jurisdiction who is trying to apprehend a group of terrorists. The ending is too formulaic but there’s some good stuff in the lead up with Idris Elba a strong action hero. Grade: B-.

The First Monday In May (out May 12) is a superb documentary that follows the creation of a fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the organisation of a gala ball in support of it. Director Andrew Rossi has shot some fascinating "behind the scenes" footage that makes this a compelling view from start to finish. Grade: A.

Bad Neighbours 2 (out May 5) has its moments. The characters are all fun with Rose Byrne at her hilarious best and Chloë Grace Moretz making a great addition to the cast. It'll entertain those who enjoyed the original but the plot is much thinner this time around. Many of the conflicts are either illogical or over-thought. Grade: B.