While a music juggernaut is about to dominate theaters, here’s the rest of what’s going on. This set of write-ups includes a couple of heartwarming dramas, a couple of raunchy comedies, a sports drama, and an action comedy. The following features reviews for I Swear, Roommates, Beast, The Addiction of Hope, Special Op: Rent-A-Cop, and Balls Up.
I Swear: 8 out of 10
The Setup: The story focuses on John Davidson’s Tourette’s diagnosis at the age of 15. Set within 1980s Britain, the story follows him (Robert Aramayo) throughout his troubled teens and early adulthood. It explores this little-known and entirely misunderstood condition, along with his attempts to live a ‘normal’ life against the odds.
Review: It’s been a minute since I’ve had to wait so long for a British import of such a popular and highly regarded film, but it’s always nice when it delivers. There’s wasn’t much of a reason to worry either, while director Kirk Jones’ more commercial efforts (What to Expect when You’re Expecting, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2) aren’t exactly great, his debut with Waking Ned Devine will always stand strong, and I Swear feeling like a move back in that more personal direction in terms of setting, tone, etc., helps it to stand out that way.
There’s only so much to dive into regarding the plot of this film, but suffice it to say that so much of the movie relies on fairly usual coming-of-age approaches to a story. Yet there’s an extra level of empathy that comes through, given the nature of Tourette syndrome. The way John must unfortunately recognize the limitations he faces based on his own comfort level, as well as not wanting to harm those around him, can be deeply saddening. And yet, the film does a wonderful job of showing us how he pushed through it.
Aramayo won the BAFTA for Best Actor, and it’s clear why. He’s terrific here. Having to embody this character and do all he can to make the guy feel like a normal bloke who happens to have this condition is not easy. It takes a lot to keep this from feeling like a wildly overblown performance. But yes, he earns the praise he has received. Along with this supporting cast, there are a whole lot of individuals involved that made this film work quite well, and it’s ultimately quite the pleasure to have seen this one and be able to let others know about it.
Where To Watch: Opening in theaters on April 24, 2026.
Roommates: 5 out of 10
The Setup: When shy college freshman Devon (Sadie Sandler) asks cool-girl Celeste (Chloe East) to be her roommate, a blossoming friendship quickly spirals into a war of passive aggression.
Review: I hate having to start a review with “What happened here?” but it feels especially necessary for a movie I was very much into up until its finale. Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison productions for Netflix have been largely a wash for him and his comedian friends (outside the stand-up specials), but I quite enjoyed seeing his daughter lead a film about friends and Bat Mitzvahs. Surely another Sadie-starrer could follow suit, and for the most part, it does. The setup is fun, the jokes are quick and effective, and the film is R-rated just to have more authentic dialogue.
While coming out of the Sandler machine, director Chandler Levack, who also recently released Mile End Kicks, shows her continued knack for depicting awkward young adults and how they act around one another. Roommates capitalize on a relatable scenario of one person feeling stressed by the other’s behavior, with the other possibly feeling similar, but we’ll have to wait for a reveal to find out. Well, this movie does begin to show us more behind the curtain, but then it ends up leaning way too hard in a certain direction, which totally implodes the movie.
It honestly felt like new writers had come in and entirely rewritten the movie I had been watching, leaving me in a state of disbelief. Sure, Sandler and East do fine work, and the supporting cast is as solid as needed (nice to see Sarah Sherman in a larger role, even if she’s incredibly toned down from her standup persona). It’s just a shame the movie doesn’t remotely stick the landing.
Where To Watch: Now available to stream on Netflix.
Beast: 7 out of 10
The Setup: After years away from the cage, a once-feared MMA champion (Daniel MacPherson) is pulled back in for the fight of his life when his younger brother is put in danger. Reuniting with the trainer (Russell Crowe) who once made him a legend, he commits to one final showdown against the reigning title-holder — a brutal fighter (Bren Foster) determined to dismantle the ex-champ’s legacy in front of the world. Pushed to his breaking point, the contender’s stakes are simple: win, or lose everything he’s built.
Review: One thing is for sure – there are a lot of movies titled “Beast.” Fortunately, this seemingly standard MMA underdog story is one of the better ones. Strong performances, well-choreographed fights, and the emotional levels are on point. As I’m sure I’ve stated before, boxing/wrestling movies work as the best sports movies because of how malleable they are for film. With dramas, it’s really easy to chart the build-up for a proper underdog story where you’re fully on board with the hero of the story. This film doesn’t break any molds, but MacPherson does a great job embodying our latest aged fighter looking for a payday to help out his family.
Russell Crowe, who also has a story credit, continues to show that he may be in small projects, but he’s still giving it 100% all the time. His efforts here are much appreciated. He works as well as one of the few effective actors in our leads’ corner, and they need all the help they can get, given Foster’s presence as the villain. Having also choreographed the fights, you see just how talented this guy is at managing his immense abilities and finding all the right ways to showcase the moves on display. With enough to offer for any viewer that enjoys these types of stories, Beast is a beast of a film that knows how to walk the familiar lines and deliver to its advantage.
Where To Watch: Now playing in theaters and available on VOD.
The Addiction of Hope: 7 out of 10
The Setup: Jo Stock (Anne-Marie Johnson) is an African American woman of a certain age, facing a decision that could uproot her life at a time when it’s uncomfortable to change. As an aging actress living off her past success, she’s forced to examine her choices in life and the importance of family versus fame when her sister Lynnie (Harley Jane Kozak) gets sick – in this story about having the courage to change your life.
Review: There’s a scene late in the film where our lead character, Jo, is in an audition. Her scene partner is the filmmaker, played by veteran character actor Clancy Brown. The two go through some lines. These are two people in a room, nothing flashy about it, and yet the film has done the job of making it all feel so real. Johnson is playing this role in a way that is surely personal to a degree, but also relying on the emotion of what her character is going through, and it has to double for what this person she’s playing on the page is going through. Movies don’t often highlight this nitty-gritty portion of what it means to be in the entertainment industry, but here we are.
The Addiction of Hope clearly comes from a place of familiarity. Director Martin Grey captures it well and balances it with a solid story about the importance of family. That may sound a bit saccharine, but this film finds its own rhythms and challenges the potential sweetness with multiple characters who screw up or find inelegant ways to handle dramatic situations. I had plenty of appreciation for that, and the more grounded it all seemed, the more I realized how fond I was of simply existing around these people.
Where To Watch: Now streaming on all VOD platforms.
Special Op: Rent-A-Cop: 2 out of 10
The Setup: A former Special Forces operative (Michael Jai White) takes what should be a low-stakes security gig escorting a spirited group of seniors to Atlantic City, only for the trip to spiral into a fight for survival when a dangerous enemy from his past (Billy Zane) resurfaces. Blending explosive action with sharp humor, the film follows an underdog hero forced to protect his civilians and outmaneuver a relentless hit squad on the road.
Review: You don’t want a movie like this to be bad, but it often gets passed over because there’s little chance it’s going to amount to much. Well, I had the time, and the notion of White and Zane being in an action-comedy gave me just enough glimmers of hope that I thought I might give it a try. Well, those glimmers dimmed quite quickly. Working with no budget and armed with a team of cheerful but low-grade stars with no good script to help them, this is a dull affair that lacks any real understanding of how to use the talent it has—nothing special about this one.
Where To Watch: Now available on digital and VOD.
Balls Up: 3 out of 10
The Setup: marketing executives Brad (Mark Wahlberg) and Elijah (Paul Walter Hauser) go “balls out” and pitch a bold full‑coverage condom sponsorship with the World Cup. After their drunken celebration in Brazil sparks a global scandal, they must outrun furious fans, criminals, and power-hungry officials to salvage their careers and make it home alive.
Review: Honestly, you can just skip what Oscar-winner Director Peter Farrelly has delivered here, but make sure to watch the one scene involving Wahlberg and Hauser having to put on an impromptu performance of the alt. rock song “Somebody That I Used to Know.” I’m not sure why the rest of the movie couldn’t even work as a raunch gem coming from a director who used to capitalize on their abilities to control the fun that could arise in this genre, but here we are. Honestly, the premise feels so lazy and slim that I have to wonder if someone lost a bet.
On another note, this is a film that finds the leads, at one point, having to swallow an entire condom full of drugs, with an extended session focused on how they shove this phallic-shaped balloon down their throats. And yet, Wahlberg feels that Boogie Nights was the film he needed to apologize to his fellow Catholics for.
Getting sidetracked like this is basically how this film plays out. None of the sweetness buried under all the crass material that allows better Farrelly movies to stand out is present here. Instead, while our heroes are constantly made the butt of most of the film’s jokes, the movie rarely found the balls to climb out of the hole it dug itself into to expand on anything resembling intelligence.
Where To Watch: Now available to stream on Prime Video.
