Jersey Boys

A jukebox musical on-stage, Jersey Boys plays on-screen more like Ray and Walk the Line than Mamma Mia or Rock of Ages. The plot allows the songs, rather than the songs make the plot. And of all directors you'd expect would direct, they get Clint Eastwood to do it.

In 1951, Frankie Castelluccio (John Floyd Young) and Tommy DeVito (Vincent Piazza) are frequent troublemakers. After much trouble with the law, the guys and Nick Massi (Michael Lomenda) pursue an interest in music. Joe Pesci (Joey Russo) - that Joe Pesci - introduces them to Bob Gaudio (Erich Bergen). Their group, eventually called The Four Seasons, struggles to get through the door.

Bob Crewe (Mike Doyle) finally gives them their own act. Frankie, now Frankie Valli, leads the group to many Number One hits. But Tommy's gambling debts, Nick's frustrations and Frankie's disintegrating family life tear the group apart. So it's down to a solo career for Frankie.

A cast of alumni from the stage show (including Tony-winner Young) headlines the film. The cinematic Four Seasons, who perform their songs live, act and sound like an old-time rock'n'roll band. Joey Russo, as Joe Pesci, alludes to his character's future Oscar-winning role in Goodfellas (as a Tommy DeVito!). Christopher Walken has a notable supporting role as Gyp DeCarlo, Frankie's mobster father figure.

At 134 minutes, the plot takes a long while to get anywhere. It was hard to keep invested in the struggles of the characters. Speaking of characters, there were multiple characters with the same first name! Which one was which? The slow-pace is compensated by numerous hilarious moments.

A few more things to note. The characters only perform songs when they're really performing on-stage. But the Four Seasons narrate with asides to the audience. OK. The end-credits begin with a curtain call as the cast sings December 1963 (Oh, What a Night). ODD.

What may have been energetic on-stage was slow on-screen. Fortunately, Jersey Boy's humorous moments kept up the pace more than the plot did. And this is a Clint Eastwood movie. If you want a more traditional musical, wait this Christmas for Into The Woods.

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Cresida Cowell's book series How to Train Your Dragon became a wonderful surprise success for Dreamworks. Now they're ready to go Dragon-Flying again with this sequel, How to Train Your Dragon 2.

The first film followed young viking Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) as he made peace between his people and the "menacing" dragons. Five years later, he and his dragon Toothless have adventures mapping the world. But his father Stoick (Gerard Butler) wants him to follow him as chief. Typical family film issues.

One of Hiccup's adventures lands him in trouble with a band of Dragon-Trappers. Even more troublesome, these trappers work for Drago Bludvist (Djimon Hounsou), the nastiest warlord in the world. Drago wants to conquer the world with a Dragon Army, so Stoick prepares to fight back. Hiccup runs off with Toothless to make peace with Drago; along the way, he meets a master Dragon Rider (Cate Blanchett) who happens to be his long-lost mother, Valka. Her expertise is needed to fight off Drago's bloodlust.

Dean DeBlois, co-writer and co-director of the first film, takes up both departments himself this time. The story he's created is actually rather simple. There's the main plot of Hiccup's struggles, which include trying to stop Drago and meeting Valka. There's also Stoick trying to reel in his son. Meanwhile, Hiccup's friends chase after him and run into Drago's main trapper, Eret (Kit Harington). Credit for DeBlois for keeping it cohesive (instead of subplots galore squeezing through the door).

Whether in 3D or Flatscreen, you'll still get the same visual experience. The Dragons, whether they be new characters or established ones, are wonderfully unique. Their flying scenes are an amazing display of animated cinematography; they were made for John Powell's magnificent score. The scenery they inhabit, which include Valka's sanctuary, are spectacular animated environments.

There are now two top animated films this year: The Lego Movie and this one. That's because How to Train Your Dragon 2 is a greatly-conceived and realized sequel. It's funny, heartwarming and tragic. It's worth any admission price.

Belle

Her first, and previous film, was 2004's A Way of Life. Now, director Amma Asante has unveiled her sophomore feature, a historical drama entitled Belle.

As the mixed-race daughter of a white Navy officer and an African slave, Dido Elizabeth Belle's (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) position in 18th-century England's unclear. Her uncle and guardian, Judge William Murray (Tom Wilkinson) and his family regard her as their own. But their snobbish neighbors regard her as beneath their station.

One gentleman, John Davinier (Sam Reid), regards Belle with fondness. But alas, she is persuaded to marry Oliver Ashford (James Norton) for his status. Her cousin, Elizabeth (Sarah Gadon), is likewise persuaded to marry Oliver's bigoted brother, James (Tom Felton).

Murray is called to preside over the case of the Zong, a slave ship whose crew threw 142 slaves overboard. The Zong crew claimed it was a necessary evil, but as it turned out, it was more evil than necessary. Belle's future, as well as that of the slave trade, rests on Murray's ruling.

The writing credit has been subject to controversy (credited to Misan Sagay, but the current shooting script was by Asante). The result of that screenplay is an engaging work. Much of the credit goes to Raw's endearing performance as Belle. Amongst her supporting cast, one who stands out is Miranda Richardson as Ashford's over-the-top mother.

Its sets and costumes help bring 18th-century England to life. They aren't eye candy, ala The Great Gatsby, but they're still memorable creations. Rachel Portman's score is just as memorable; it fits the tone of the film perfectly.

Let's hope it won't be long before Amma Asante does her next feature. Belle provides a captivating history lesson about a little known, yet still-important person. You'll be amazed at what you'll learn.

22 Jump Street

Since 21 Jump Street was a smash on-screen, Sony has now given the world more of the same. 22 Jump Street, as part of its parodist nature, actually admits that's the case.

The inept duo of Jenko (Channing Tatum) and Schmidt (Jonah Hill) open the film by failing to catch big bad drug-dealer The Ghost (Peter Stormare). They're promptly reassigned back to Jump Street. But since the Korean owners of their former headquarters bought the place back, they've relocated across the street to 22 Jump Street.

Their case, just like last time, is to stamp out the source of a new super drug. In fact, their superiors expect the duo to solve the case in exactly the same ways that they solved their first case. Just like a formulaic movie sequel. But our heroes decide that they don't want to do the same thing over and over again. That results in their case, and friendship, turning complicated.

In plain-English: Jenko wants to play football rather than chase crooks. Schmidt dates student Maya (Amber Stevens). And an obvious clue turns out to be a red herring.

Directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller give this family unfriendly film the same delightful parodist nature that they did with this year's The Lego Movie. The screenplay, credited to four writers (Hill, Michael Bacall, Oren Uziel and Rodney Rothman), makes fun of action movies, college movies and formulaic sequels. The end credits actually gives us plenty of hypothetical sequels (which include a one-movie actor replacement) and spin-offs.

Jenko and Schmidt are still a likable pair of co-leads. They're the kind you'll be laughing with instead of just laughing at. Wyatt Russell and Jimmy Tatro are especially notable as Jenko's football buddies and suspected co-villains. The real co-villain provides good comic relief before the reveal.

22 Jump Street is more goofy and meta-fictional than most R-Rated comedies. Its most vulgar jokes involved return cameos from its predecessor's villains. But other than that, this film isn't ashamed to admit its true purpose. Let's hope those hypothetical sequels don't come to pass.

Edge of Tomorrow

A Japanese novel with a Beatles-sounding title, Hiroshi Sakurazaka's All You Need Is Kill, was the basis for director Doug Liman's new sci-fi film, Edge of Tomorrow.

In yet another crummy future, eerie aliens called Mimics invade. They take out much of Europe with their adaptive abilities. Humans develop powered exoskeletons, Jackets, to fight them. The best soldier in the war is Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), "The Angel of Verdun."

Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) used to be an ad-executive. Now he's been sent to the front-lines as a jacket-wearing soldier. He'll be part of the human resistance's final assault whether he likes it or not. But the Mimics get the drop on them and kill the resistance. Cage kills a particular Mimic and is splashed with its blood...

Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) used to be an ad-executive. Now he's been sent to the front-lines as a jacket-wearing soldier. He'll be part of the human resistance's final assault whether he likes it or not. But it seems he's been through this before. The Mimics foil the assault and kill the resistance. Cage dies too...

Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) used to be an ad-executive. Now he's been sent to the front-lines as a jacket-wearing soldier. He'll be part of the human resistance's final assault whether he likes it or not. Cage now knows what'll happen next. The Mimics foil the assault and kill the resistance. Cage meets Vrataski, who also knows what'll happen next...

Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) ... is in a time loop. The Mimic's blood gave him their ability to reset time, which is their secret to success. He meets Vrataski again and realizes she's been through this before; in fact, that's how she got so good at killing Mimics. To stop the time loop and the Mimics, they'll have to find and destroy the central Mimic, the Omega.

You can best describe this as Starship Troopers meets Groundhog Day. Or rather, a video game of Starship Troopers. Plenty of enemies to shoot, amazing visuals and the ability to reset once you die. Makes the audience wish they can play it. It's still exciting, though.

The screenplay, by Christopher McQuarrie and Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, initially has fun messing with Cage. Particularly so when he's offed in pathetically careless circumstances. But as the film goes on, we realize the downside of his situation. If the film is one big video game, then its main concept deconstructs the infinite continue. Losing a video game level repeatedly is soul crushing; losing your life especially so.

Cruise helps the film out of any potential dark spots. As Cage, he starts off as nothing but a coward. But we still find him likable and amusing. His many deaths may seem repetitively annoying, but that's the point. We want him to succeed; his climb from coward to warrior is a satisfying one.

Only a few of the other cast members get noticeable development. Most obviously is Blunt, who makes for a compelling shell-shocked warrior. Another is Bill Paxton, who plays our heroes' heavy drawled Commanding Officer.

Edge of Tomorrow is available, as usual, in both 3D and Flatscreen formats. See it either way; you'll still get the same amazing premise either way. See it multiple times if you want a similar experience.