By Michael C. Woody | Lake Panorama Times

The month of May in the movie theaters means we see the first “big guns” of summer. We also see a couple of anticipated sequels and a few art films before we get to Tom Cruise, Lilo and Stitch and the rest of the avalanche of May films. You’ve got a little bit of both this month.

“The Accountant 2”

Ben Affleck delivers a much-anticipated sequel to his action/comedy movie of the same name (minus the 2) from 2016. Jon Bernthal reprises his role as Affleck’s brother. Action fans who were confused by the film’s title might have missed out, but this is your chance to catch up on both films. Great action, maybe better comedy. Grade: A-

“On Swift Horses”

I accidentally stumbled into an art-film about a woman and two brothers in Kansas during the end of the Korea war. The film swings wildly (no pun intended) from sex to gambling to hidden homosexual trysts. It is a challenging film, for sure. Several people walked out of the screening I attended. Grade: B-

“Thunderbolts”

The first big summer movie from Marvel is about a group of misfit super heroes who are tasked with saving the world. Florence Pugh again is the best thing in the movie, but the script takes an offbeat (and greatly appreciated) twist near the end when it seems to address the morass of the youth in our society and their propensity toward violence and self-harm. Unless I completely misread this movie, it was an interesting statement about this generation. Grade: B+ (mostly for the last part of the film)

“The Surfer”

Nic Cage can, at times, surprise us all with a great performance in a great role. This is not one of those times. Cage plays a man who is down on his luck and trying to purchase the home he grew up in on the California coast. He wants his son to have the same experience that he had growing up. A beach full of bullies and a town seemingly under control of them ruin the story and, unfortunately, the film. Grade: F

“Juliet and Romeo”

This charming film takes yet another twist on the classic Shakespeare tale of forbidden love.  The faces are fresh, the story is original, and the musical soundtrack plays a strong part in the film’s appeal. This will probably head to video soon where it might find a larger audience than it did in the theaters. Grade: B

“Nonnas”

Vince Vaughn gives us one of the most charming films of the summer on Netflix about a man who loses his grandmother, the woman who fed him some of the best food he ever tasted. In honor of this great lady, he buys and rehabs a rundown building and turns it in to a restaurant.  To complete the homage, he hires grandmothers to cook and work in the restaurant. To make it even better, it is based on a real-life story and restaurant in New York City. Grade: B+

“Hurry up Tomorrow”

A Murph and Andy listener asked me to review this movie, and it was the rare weekend where nothing else was opening. It was a crazy movie, full of talent but way short of greatness. The singer known as The Weekend is at the end of his rope. Strung out on drugs and alcohol, he is literally stumbling through life when he meets a beautiful young woman, played by Jenna Ortega (Wednesday Addams on Netflix) who takes him home one night. From that point, the movie completely falls apart. I walked out. Grade: D-

“Lilo and Stitch”

The summer’s first huge hit ($146 million on the opening weekend) is a live action adaptation of the extremely popular animated kids series about a creature from space that lands on Earth and creates chaos. It’s definitely a movie for the kids and a little difficult to comprehend for those of us without young kids at home anymore. Let me just tell you that the wee ones came dressed for fun, and fun was had, indeed. Grade: B

“Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning”

The summer’s second huge hit with a $63 million opening weekend is the latest from Tom Cruise and, allegedly, the last film in this lengthy series. Without the gory details, the entire planet is in jeopardy and there is only one person on our planet who can save it. Any guess who? Like most (if not all) “Mission Impossible” movies, it is long on action and short of a credible storyline. Admittedly, this has been a record-breaking and occasionally entertaining series, but I won’t miss it. Grade: A for action, C- for story

“The Last Rodeo”

Neal McDonough plays a washed-up, long-retired, champion bull rider who, at 50 years old, must come out of retirement to help pay for his grandson’s brain surgery. The movie is as corny and cheesy as they come, but the actors do such a good job that you find yourself getting sucked into the action. I’ve not watched much bull riding, but it looks intense and dangerous. This is an Angel Studios film, so you get a good serving of religion and a satisfying finale. Grade: B-

I’ll be back next month with more summer hits and a few misses as well. Until then, pass the popcorn.

Michael C. Woody has been reviewing movies on radio and television since 1986. He and his wife, Susan, are residents of Lake Panorama.