In Theaters This Weekend: Reviews of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,’ ‘Into the Storm’ and More

The world’s most fearsome fighting teens battle some seriously inclement weather this weekend, as both Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Into the Storm hit theaters.

Find out what The Hollywood Reporter‘s critics are saying about this weekend’s new offerings (along with which film will top the weekend’s box office):

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The heroes in a half shell are back, this time in a film starring Megan Fox, Will Arnett, Whoopi Goldberg, William Fichtner and the voice of Johnny Knoxville. Director Jonathan Liebesman‘s (Wrath of the Titans) film involves “a frustrating delay before the turtles finally appear onscreen,” although the film keeps “the humor pitched at an appropriately juvenile level,” writes THR film critic Justin Lowe in his review.

Into the Storm

A group of people try to escape a devastating storm in the found-footage thriller from director Steven Quale. Richard Armitage, Sarah Wayne Callies and Matt Walsh star. THR film critic Stephen Farber writes in his review that the film provides “only the most minimal story,” but “once the funnel clouds begin swirling, Quale and his special effects team achieve some remarkably authentic and frightening moments.”

Step Up All In

Popular characters from the previous films in the Step Up franchise return for this installment from director Trish Sie. Ryan Guzman, Briana Evigan and Misha Gabriel star in the movie about an all-important dance competition in Las Vegas. The film is an “entirely vanilla dance celebration” that “could have been written by a dance movie plot generator,” writes THR film critic Boyd van Hoeij in his review.

What If

A guy and a girl meet and try to remain friends in this film (formerly The F Word) directed by Michael Dowse and starring Daniel Radcliffe, Zoe Kazan and Adam Driver. In his review, THR film critic John DeFore commends the film for “hitting all the rom-com notes with wit and some charm.”

The Hundred-Foot Journey

Helen Mirren stars as a haughty French chef, while Manish Dayal plays her appreciative pupil, in the culinary drama from director Lasse Hallstrom. THR film critic Sheri Linden writes in her review that the film is capable of “stimulating taste buds and little else.”

Deepsea Challenge 3D

The documentary centers on James Cameron‘s diving voyage in his Deepsea Challenger vessel. The film was co-directed by John Bruno, Ray Quint and the late Andrew Wight. “If the three hours of filming [that] Cameron did in the [Mariana] Trench yield little obvious drama, the story of how the Deepsea Challenger reached those depths makes up for it,” DeFore writes in his review.

About Alex

Jesse Zwick directs Aubrey Plaza, Jason Ritter, Maggie Grace, Jane Levy and Max Greenfield in the film about a crew of college friends reuniting for a weekend after one of them attempts suicide. The film “accepts its unoriginality,” according to DeFore’s review, but “most of its capable cast muster the warmth we require, and Zwick’s script offers more humor (however mild the laughs are) than sentimentality.”

What Now? Remind Me (E Agora? Lembra-me)

Portuguese director Joaquim Pinto, who has HIV, reflects on his life in this documentary. “The result is a multi-faceted, engagingly personal project which rewards all efforts expended,” THR film critic Neil Young says in his review.

Fifi Howls From Happiness

Mitra Farahani directs this documentary about Iranian artist Bahman Mohassess. “The film is an impressionistic portrait that largely succeeds because of the charisma of its irascible subject,” writes THR film critic Frank Scheck in his review. 

The Dog

The documentary focuses on the life of John Wojtowicz, whose botched bank robbery inspired the film Dog Day Afternoon. DeFore writes that the doc “offers both a fascinating expansion of the feature film’s narrative and a picture of a sad but intriguing character.” Read the full review here.

Email: Ryan.Gajewski@pgmedia.org
Twitter: @_RyanGajewski