New in Theaters February 23, 2018 "Game Night" and "Annihilation"

Annihilation

Starring: Natalie Portman and

Rated R

A team of expert women are assigned to go on a dangerous and top secret expedition to a location on Earth, called “Area X,” where the laws of nature don't apply.

Every so often a film with capture your attention by being so wonderfully unique and immersive that it takes your breath away.

“Annihilation” is not that movie.

What “Annihilation” is is a rehash of several sci-fi plots where a team of explorers are trapped by “something” unearthly. One by one they are eliminated as the feeling of claustrophobia sets in.

Nothing about this film seems to work, including star, Natalie Portman, trying very hard to put on her best 'hard-as-nails' face. Over all, Portman is oddly out of place and uninteresting.

By the film's end, the story has lost all cohesion, energy and worst of all, the audience's attention.

“Annihilation” gets a D and is rated R. 

Game Night
Starring: Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams
Rated R 

A group of friends, who meet regularly for game nights, find themselves trying to solve a real murder mystery.

“Game Night” is a wonderfully thrilling comedy with hilarious dialogue and an intricately woven and comically escalating plot. The blending together of a thriller and comedy isn't new, but we have not seen it work this well since “The Man Who Knew to Little.”

Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams are the best thing about “Game Night,” with their terrific banter, spot on comic timing and perfect chemistry. Bateman and McAdams make it all look so easy.

Although the film has some plot holes, “Game Night” is a laugh-out-loud, edge of your seat movie. It gets a B and is rated R.