The Professor and the Madman (out Feb 20) is the story of two men who had a major part in writing the first Oxford English Dictionary in the late 19th Century. Mel Gibson and Sean Penn, sporting thick beards and equally thick Scottish accents, are doing the best with the material but ultimately, the finished product doesn’t make an impact. Grade: C.

Sonic the Hedgehog (out Feb 13) is a simplistic family film that lacks creativity. More for kids than adults. Grade: C+.

Fantasy Island (out Feb 13) puts a horror-thriller spin on the popular 1970s TV series. A group of strangers meet on a mysterious island where they expect to have their fantasies fulfilled. There's a nice build of intrigue in the first half but the choppy screenplay, dumb characters and weak finale add up to a not-so-memorable whole. Grade: B-.

Emma. (out Feb 13) is a light-hearted comedy based on Jane Austen's famed novel. From the stunning costumes to the striking, symmetrical cinematographer, first-time director Autumn de Wilde has created a beautiful, intoxicating world. That said, the richness of the setting doesn’t fully stretch to the characters themselves. Star Anya Taylor-Joy is terrific but a few of the supporting players are shallow and simplistic. Grade: B.

Richard Jewell (out Feb 13) is the anti-Spotlight. Rather than showing the good that journalists can do, it highlights the ramifications when media outlets publish “exclusives” based on misinformation and the salacious way in which the public lap it up. It's based on a true story from 1996 and there's plenty to think about. Strong performances. Grade: B+.

A Guide to Second Date Sex (out Feb 13) is about two awkward people on a very awkward date. It's not a bad idea for a comedy (acknowledging that we've seen it done before) but the filmmakers have gone with clumsy, over-the-top scenarios that get tired quickly. Wish it took more chances or had more multi-dimensional characters. Grade: C+.

Colour Out of Space (out Feb 6) is a sci-fi thriller about a family (headlined by Nicolas Cage and Joely Richardson) who see some really weird stuff after an asteroid lands on their remote farm. Director Richard Stanley creates intrigue during the opening hour but the film lacks a big pay-off in the final act. Grade: B-.

Birds of Prey (out Feb 6) is better than Suicide Squad and it comes together nicely in the final 20 minutes but it doesn’t always make the most of its opportunities. The film relies too heavily on Margot Robbie and whilst she’s terrific, it doesn’t allow the supporting players (who are just as interesting) to be brought together sooner. Ewan McGregor lacks effectiveness as a hapless villain. Grade: B.

H is for Happiness (out Feb 6) is an Australian family feature about a peculiar 12-year-old girl who juggles school life while trying to bring her fractured family back together. Based on the book My Life As An Alphabet and not afraid to tackle darker material, this is fun and quirky. Grade: B+.

The Lighthouse (out Feb 6) is a rare cinematic two-hander in the sense that there are only two characters. A pair of lighthouse keepers (played by Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson) lose their grip on reality when posted on a tiny island in the middle of nowhere. From its distinctive cinematography to Willem Dafoe getting a mouthful of dirt, this is one of the more memorable films of the year. Grade: B+.