Money Monster (out Jun 2) is a drama-thriller that is too contrived to take seriously. George Clooney stars as the host of a finance TV show who is taken hostage by an aggrieved investor. It has good intentions but it's far below the bar set by films such as Margin Call and The Big Short. Grade: C+.

God Willing (out Jun 2) is an Italian comedy about a staunch atheist who loses the plot when his 20-something-year-old son wants to become a Catholic priest. The twists are predictable but this is still a fun, over-the-top romp that clocks in at a tight 87 minutes. Grade: B+.

The Nice Guys (out May 26) is a hilarious, off-beat comedy about an enforcer (Russell Crowe) and an investigator (Ryan Gosling) who team up to solve a mystery in 1970s. In portraying these characters as incompetent fools, it offers a different spin on the action genre. It's a spoof with a few surprises. Grade: A-.

Alice Through The Looking Glass (out May 26) is, like the original, a not-so-enchanting adventure. It's loaded with colour and visual effects but the film's quirky elements don't really work. The story is unnecessarily complex for younger audiences and laughs are surprisingly rare. Grade: C+.

Hunt For The Wilderpeople (out May 26) is the best film yet from director Taika Waititi. It follows a troubled boy and his disgruntled foster father who go on a hike across remote New Zealand for unusual reasons. Every character has a splash of quirkiness that makes them distinctive and memorable. I can't wait to see this again. Grade: A.

The Meddler (out May 19) is the tale of a widowed mother (Susan Sarandon) who, with nothing else to do, starts interfering in the life of her middle-aged daughter (Rose Byrne). The third act is a little messy but Sarandon's irritating/heartfelt performance makes the film more than worthwhile. Grade: B+.

Highly Strung (out May 19) is a documentary that covers two different topics - the value of old musical instruments and a division that arises between members of the Australian String Quartet. There's a lot of repetition and the mixing of the two narratives hampers the film's flow. Grade: C+.

X-Men: Apocalypse (out May 19) isn't particularly original but it's still a well-assembled action flick. He’s a stereotypical villain but Oscar Isaac does a great job fleshing out his character’s motivations. The more interesting characters are those that straddle the line between good and bad. However, it's clear the focus is more on action pieces as opposed to internal conflict. Grade: B.

The Angry Birds Movie (out May 12) is an animated feature based on the popular video game series. Red has to deal with "anger management" issues while trying to deal with a group of green pigs who are visiting Bird Island. There are a few comedic moments but the story doesn't offer much to be energised about. Grade: B-.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (out May 12) illustrates the ups and downs in the life of a war journalist (Tina Fey) who is posted to Afghanistan. You can see the points that the film is trying to make but the narrative is choppy and a romantic subplot involving Martin Freeman adds little value. Grade: B-.