Universal/Courtesy photo
Strays (in theaters)
“Strays” exists because someone decided they wanted to make an incredibly raunchy adult version of “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey.”
Why? I still haven’t figured that part out yet. But the creative team actually succeeded surprisingly well at their goal, creating something that manages to be both really off-color and oddly heartwarming at the same moment. So if that combo sounds interesting to you, this is probably the most successful version of that you’re ever going to find.
Be very sure, though, that you don’t get distracted by the talking dogs and underestimate just how adult this movie’s humor is. I can’t really give an accurate description of the movie that can be safely published in a family paper, but sex and violence are a key part of the movies main plot. Sex and scat jokes are basically constant, and there’s a whole drug sequence and a heavy implied accidental mass murder. Some of it is funny, but if you get shocked by anything you probably don’t want to see this movie.
But if you like raunchy comedy and want to try something you’re not going to find anywhere else, then give “Strays” a chance.
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Grade: two stars
Puppy Love (Freevee)
Yes, “Puppy Love” is a Hallmark-style romance. But it’s a really good one.
It improves upon the formula with all the little touches you hope for in a good romance. It’s well-written, with problems arising from the character’s personal issues instead of contrived circumstances. It’s well-acted, with distinct, likeable characters and moments of real depth. It’s also funny, edging just the right amount into screwball territory without tipping over completely.
The plot is a standard Hallmark cliche, with two very opposite people forced to come together because their dogs were prospective parents. But Grant Gustin makes Max’s anxiety endearingly believable, and Lucy Hale gives depth to Nicole’s party girl ways. Instead of opposites attract, it’s more a case of two lonely people trying to navigate their own issues to find each other.
Gustin and Hale’s great chemistry also adds to the comedy bits. The sequence where the puppies are born is a particular delight, but it’s hardly the only funny bit. Add that to the rest of the movie’s charms, and you’ve got an experience that’s hard to say no to.
Grade: Three and a half stars
Heart of Stone (Netflix)
“Heart of Stone” is basically “Mission Impossible” with Gal Gadot instead of Tom Cruise.
That’s not a bad thing. There’s always more room for slick, complicated spy adventures, and if you like the “Mission Impossible” movies you should find this one just as satisfying. Gadot brings her own energy to the role, the world-building has the potential to be interesting, and I liked what I saw of the future team members. There’s not a lot of time for character depth, but the “Mission Impossible” movies have that exact same problem.
Here, Godot plays an agent who supposedly does tech for MI6. In reality, though, she works for a secret organization who works independently of international governments with the help of a big supercomputer. When a new threat seems to be targeting the ultra-secret computer, Gadot must decide who she can trust to help save the lives of as many people as possible.
It’s a kickoff movie, designed to turn into a series, and so we don’t get to know the final players as much as we’d like. But there’s potential here, and I wouldn’t mind seeing more.
Grade: two and a half stars
Jenniffer Wardell is an award-winning movie critic and member of the Denver Film Critics Society. Find her on Twitter at @wardellwriter or drop her a line at themovieguruslc@gmail.com.
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