Movies Update: ‘Fatherhood,’ ‘Luca’ and More

Plus, inside the dance moves of 'In the Heights'

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story June 18, 2021 By Mekado Murphy Movies Editor Hey, movie fans! Celebrate Father's Day weekend with Kevin Hart in the Netflix film "Fatherhood." But don't expect to get too carried away. Our critic A.O. Scott says the film, about a widower raising a daughter, is "as smooth and tidy as freshly installed tile." For a deeper dive, discover some sea monsters with the Pixar movie "Luca," streaming on Disney+. The lead character, a sea creature that takes human form on land, is "a bit like a mermaid and a little like Pinocchio," Scott writes in his review. He also calls this movie, one that is wrapped up in discovery, "a pleasure to discover." If you want to wander away from your home screen and off to the big screen, a few more options await you. "The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard" features Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek in a sequel to a 2017 action comedy. "The Sparks Brothers" is a lively documentary from Edgar Wright about the band Sparks. And nostalgic gay romance is in the air with François Ozon's "Summer of 85." Explore your options and enjoy the movies! Disney/Pixar Critic's Pick 'Luca' Review: Calamari by Your Name Pixar takes a trip to the Italian coast in this breezy, charming sea-monster story. By A.O. Scott Philippe Bosse/Netflix 'Fatherhood' Review: He Lost His Wife. Go Easy on Him. Kevin Hart plays a widower raising a daughter in this Father's Day Netflix weepie, but the lack of conflict borders on bland. By A.O. Scott Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT CRITICS' PICKS Jake Polonsky/Focus Features Critic's Pick 'The Sparks Brothers' Review: Yes, They're Real. And Inexplicable. Edgar Wright knows Sparks and you will too, once you see his documentary about this singular cultural phenomenon. By Glenn Kenny MGM, via Roadside Attractions Critic's Pick 'Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It' Review: An Icon's Growing Pains This paean to the trailblazing Puerto Rican actress is also a case study in the highs and lows of showbiz for a woman of color. By Beatrice Loayza Alisha Wetherill/Screen Media Critic's Pick 'The Birthday Cake' Review: Baked Hoods This mob drama folds family secrets and fading power into a story of operatic vengeance. By Jeannette Catsoulis Metrograph Pictures Critic's Pick 'The French' Review: A Candid Look at the French Open This documentary by William Klein relies on the unspoken or spontaneous moments to tell the tale of the 1981 Open, off court and on. By Glenn Kenny STREAMING RECOMMENDATIONS DreamWorks Pictures The Best Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now New films, and classics, just keep coming, but you don't have to drill down to find the finest selections to stream. We'll do the heavy lifting. You press play. By Jason Bailey A24 The 50 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now Movies upon movies await, and you don't even have to drill down to find them. By Jason Bailey MOVIE REVIEWS Music Box Films 'Summer of 85' Review: Denim Embraces and Stolen Kisses A gay teenagers's fleeting romance goes off the rails in this coming-of-age story from the French director François Ozon. By Beatrice Loayza David Appleby/Lionsgate 'The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard' Review: Three's (Bad) Company Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek are back for a rude and rowdy sequel. By Jeannette Catsoulis From left: Keystone/Getty Images/Kino Lorber; Bettmann/Kino Lorber 'Truman & Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation' Review: Friendship in Focus The director deftly constructs a dialogue between Truman Capote and Tennessee Williams. By Ben Kenigsberg Shout! Studios 'A Crime on the Bayou' Review: Race on Trial Nancy Buirski's documentary deals with a civil rights case in 1960s Louisiana that wound up before the Supreme Court. By Ben Kenigsberg Babas/Oscilloscope 'Les Nôtres' Review: Hidden Suffering in Plain Sight In this moody film, a 13-year-old girl in a Quebec town hides her pregnancy, but her trauma deepens as the identity of the father emerges. By Nicolas Rapold Film Movement 'Sweet Thing' Review: Little Caregivers, Little Fugitives The filmmaker Alexandre Rockwell cast his wife as a negligent mother and his children as runaways in this shimmering black-and-white drama. By Teo Bugbee Laura Wilson/Sony Pictures Classics '12 Mighty Orphans' Review: A Team Effort Based on a true story of Texas high school football in the Great Depression, this film treats viewers like children. By Ben Kenigsberg HBO 'Revolution Rent' Review: Taking the Show South This HBO documentary follows Andy Señor Jr. as he directs a production of "Rent" in Cuba. By Maya Phillips Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT NEWS & FEATURES Magnet Releasing Three New Directors Welcome the Freedoms of Horror The filmmakers Prano Bailey-Bond ("Censor"), S.K. Dale ("Till Death") and Sean King O'Grady ("We Need to Do Something") discuss the joys and the fears of having their first features be horror movies. By Nadine Zylberberg Sabrina Santiago for The New York Times Critic's Notebook 'In the Heights,' Where the Streets Explode With Dance The movie's choreographic team, led by Christopher Scott, gets raw and real with dancers — so many! — who give in to thrilling perpetual motion. By Gia Kourlas How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter. Please email thoughts and suggestions to moviesupdate@nytimes.com. Like this email? Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. 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