Swan Song (out Dec 26) is over-romanticised at times but it’s still a sweet, big-hearted film about a frail, retired hairdresser who does one last job for an old friend. Some great individual scenes (such as one involving a clothes store owner). Grade: B+.

Sing 2 (out Dec 26) misses opportunities and bulldozes over its more dramatic elements (eg a grieving lion, a strained relationship between father and daughter) but if kids want something light and cute with a million songs, here’s your entertainment for the holidays. Grade: B-.

Delicious (out Dec 26) is a late 18th century tale about a cranky, aggrieved cook who started France’s first restaurant. A fine idea for a movie but the character evolution is rushed and/or jumbled in places. Can’t fully deliver on its crowd-pleasing premise. Grade: C+.

Spider-Man: No Way Home (out Dec 16) is slow to start (the college stuff - boring) but once it gets going... IT GETS GOING! Love the strong focus on the villains (with a slightly different spin), the depiction of Spider-Man's vulnerability and insecurity, and the creativity of blending alternate universes. Very cool. Grade: A-.

The Lost Daughter (out Dec 16) is the story of a 48-year-old professor (Olivia Colman) holidaying in Greece who is triggered by events from her past. Colman is great - creating an intriguing character who swings like a pendulum between likeable and unlikeable. Grade: A-.

The Scary of Sixty-First (out Dec 16) is a creative low-budget horror-thriller about two women who move into an Upper East Side Manhattan apartment and become curious about its previous occupants. You won’t believe where it goes next. This is twisted, demented and hilarious. Can’t believe they make it work. Great music and cinematography. Grade: A-.

Marjorie Lawrence: The World at Her Feet (out Dec 16) is a documentary about the acclaimed Australian opera singer who rose to fame in the 1930s. Lawrence was an interesting person but with limited archival footage and interviews, the film relies heavily on current day interviews with a select few. Grade: B.

Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (out Dec 9) is a lacklustre effort to reboot this long-running franchise. A bunch of not-so-interesting folk shoot some zombies and that's pretty much it. The backstory (dodgy folks doing medical experiments) is so tired and dull. Grade: C.

Don't Look Up (out Dec 9) is an American-centric satire from director Adam McKay (The Big Short) that is reflective of our times. It replaces "COVID-19" with "comet heading towards earth" and looks at the way politics and misinformation prevent society from making good decisions. It's too blunt and obvious in places (I prefer subtlety) but the cast have fun and, to an extent, that feeling is passed on to the audience. Grade: B+.

Henchmen (out Dec 9) is a low-budget animated feature that explores a fun superhero concept. Rather than focus on villains, it is centred on the henchmen who do all the grunt work behind the scenes and dream of promotion to the big time. It doesn't make enough of the premise (particularly with the finale) but there's sufficient humour to warrant a look. Grade: B.