The Wellesley Theatre

The Big Sick

• 
• 2017
• US
• 1h 59min
• 15

• Directed by: Michael Showalter
• Cast: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano

Culture clash comedy written by real life couple Emily V Gordon and Kumail Nanjiani. It plays out with charming, sometimes toe-curling honesty and an acknowledgement of how complicated life can get when expectations weigh heavy and tradition unceremoniously intervenes.

Dunkirk

• 
• 2017
• 1h 46min
• 12A

• Directed by: Christopher Nolan
• Written by: Christopher Nolan
• Cast: Tom Hardy, Mark Rylance, Cillian Murphy, Harry Styles

Survival story set during the battle of Dunkirk in WWII. The younger cast members acquit themselves admirably, including pop star Harry Styles; and, in its uncomfortable depiction of frightened men looking to save their own skin, this is far from straightforwardly patriotic fare. As he delivers non-stop visual audacity…

The Emoji Movie

• 
• 2017
• US
• 1h 26min
• PG

• Directed by: Tony Leondis
• Cast: T. J. Miller, James Corden, Anna Faris, Maya Rudolph, Steven Wright, Jennifer Coolidge, Jake T. Austin, Christina Aguilera, Sofia Vergara, Patrick Stewart
• UK release: 4 August 2017

Gene (Miller) is a ‘meh’ emoji living in Textopolis who can’t help displaying mixed emotions. Targeted for deletion, he goes on the run with perky Hi-5 (Corden) and hacker Jailbreak (Faris). A combination of product placement, ingratiating voice work and barrel-scraping studio desperation, it’s a witless and blandly…

Maudie

• 
• 2016
• Ireland
• 1h 55min
• PG

• Directed by: Aisling Walsh
• Written by: Sherry White
• Cast: Ethan Hawke, Sally Hawkins, Kari Matchett

The story of Canadian folk artist Maud Lewis (Hawkins), who became famous for her simple but cheerful landscapes and pictures of flora and fauna. Hawkins is stunning as the meek and stooped Maud, who battles through her difficult home life and painful arthritis to something like triumph.

The Nut Job 2: Nutty by Nature

• 
• 2017
• Canada/US/South Korea
• PG

• Directed by: Cal Brunker
• Cast: Will Arnett, Katherine Heigl, Maya Rudolph

In this inexplicable sequel to the underwhelming 2014 original, Surly Squirrel (Arnett) teams up with idealistic Andie (Heigl) and Precious (Rudolph) to save their park from the Mayor (Moynihan). The characters are unappealing and the script relies on uninspired action and flat non-jokes. At least there’s no ‘Gangnam…