ON THE BIG SCREEN

By Jenny Peters

Good Times Of All Sorts

ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET

Not yet rated

Fans of Judy Blume’s classic coming-of-age novel will love this new adaptation of the 50-year-old classic. Abby Ryder Fortson is Margaret, who at age 11 cannot stand her new life in suburbia, missing the excitement of New York City. Her mom (Rachel McAdams) and grandmother (Kathy Bates) aren’t quite sure they love New Jersey either, which leads all three generations to question their new lives in this classic comedy-drama.

Paint

PG-13

Take one look at Owen Wilson with a big, permed Afro while holding a paintbrush and you’ll quickly realize that he’s doing a comic version of the life of Bob Ross, the painter who made a career of teaching public television viewers how to create “masterpieces” in their own living rooms. This fanciful film calls its leading character Carl Nargle and much of it is completely fictional, as the painter encounters a rival for the title of top TV painting instructor. Craziness ensues, with a cast rounded out with Stephen Root, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ciara Renee.

Renfield R

They had us by casting Nicholas Hoult as Renfield, Dracula’s disenchanted henchman, who wants to get out from under that bloodsucker’s fangs once and for all in this kooky comedy. But when Nicolas Cage was revealed as Dracula, we knew this would be a vampire flick like no other. Add in Awkwafina as a New Orleans traffic cop who gets embroiled with both and we’re really hoping that the jokes write themselves. We know we’re willing to give it a try!

Showing Up R

Five-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams can read the phone book and make it interesting, there’s little doubt that her new role here, as an artist readying a new show while juggling all the things modern women have on their hands, is another nuanced performance. She costars with Hong Chau as her landlady and artistic rival; both actresses were Oscar nominees this year, as was Judd Hirsch, who also stars in this heartfelt comedy about being creative and just Showing Up.

THE SUPER MARIO BROS. MOVIE PG

You don’t have to still be a kid to be excited about this new animated adventure starring Mario, the most popular arcade game hero ever. Of course, his brother Luigi is almost as popular, and the two have a blast in this adventure that races Mario through the Mushroom Kingdom as he must find Luigi and save the world. Chris Pratt voices Mario, Charlie Day is Luigi and Anya Taylor-Joy lends her lilting tones to Princess Peach in this flick that Mario lovers both young in real life and young at heart can equally enjoy.