ENOUGH ALREADY
The Netflix film starring Ryohei Suzuki may be live action, but it can’t escape a cartoonishness that makes the whole thing a mess.
Jesse Hassenger is a freelance writer and editor based in Brooklyn. He contributes to Paste, where he is an associate movies editor, as well as Decider, Inside Hook, Polygon, The Guardian, and Vulture, among others. In the past, he has written for The A.V. Club, The Week, and Nylon. You can hear his voice on The New Flesh Podcast and The SportsAlcohol.com Podcast.
SAY A LITTLE PRAYER
Christian musician Joel Smallbone co-directed this biopic about his own hardscrabble family, who worshiped their way to wealth.
THE BABYSITTER’S BACK
The new BET-backed movie starring Ayaamii Sledge, Nicole Richie, and June Squibb lands a few good jokes but still doesn’t add up to anything good.
Woof
Man’s best friend makes for a good training buddy in the particularly pious, eye-roll-inducing new feel-good Mark Wahlberg drama.
FALLING STAR
The end is nigh for “Clone Wars” visionary Dave Filoni’s latest trip to the galaxy far, far away.
Marvelous
The second season of the Disney Channel cartoon “Moon Girl and the Devil Dinosaur” finds creative fun on the fringes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Elementary!
Even with Mandy Patinkin as the world’s greatest detective, “Death and Other Details” is several “Clue” pieces short of greatness.
Water’s Fine
Dip your toes into the surprisingly effective haunted-pool fright flick “Night Swim.” January horror hits are back!
FAMILY MATTERS
Sitcom veterans from “Two and a Half Men” and “Scrubs” join forces for a new NBC comedy that’s a little too familiar.
FOR THE BIRDS
Animation house Illumination’s first “original” movie in years isn’t really so original.