Movies Out This Weekend: 'The Happytime Murders' And More

If you're looking to beat the heat and spend time in a cool, dark, movie theater this weekend, you're in luck — plenty of films including mysteries, thrillers, comedies and action flicks are all headed to the big screen.

Whodunnit comedy "The Happytime Murders" stars Melissa McCarthy as an aggressive and assertive detective officer who's suddenly thrust into the world of crime, passion and ... puppets.

In the mystery thriller "Searching," John Cho plays a frantic dad trying to uncover hidden digital clues to his daughter's disappearance. Also headed to theaters is "Papillon," starring Charlie Hunnam and Rami Malek as an unlikely couple of friends condemned to life imprisonment.

Meanwhile, sci-fi flick "A.X.L." stars Alex Neustaedter, who plays a motocross rider with a newfound robotic friend. Here's what to see and what to skip this weekend:

Movies Out This Weekend

“The Happytime Murders” — Melissa McCarthy, Elizabeth Banks, Maya Rudolph, directed by Brian Henson

The worlds of humans and puppets collide in Brian Henson’s latest film, a mystery that combines film noir, crime drama and police action.

Set in Los Angeles, the R-rated film follows the strained relationship between detective Connie Edwards (Melissa McCarthy) and her disgraced former partner, Phil Phillips (Bill Barretta) — who happens to be a puppet.

Once the most decorated duo in the force, the pair went separate ways after Barretta’s dishonorable dismissal from the LAPD. Now the two ex-buddies are begrudgingly reunited to solve the murders of several cast members of “The Happytime Gang,” a beloved children’s program from the 90s.

Skip it. Even with the combined comic geniuses of McCarthy, Banks, and Rudolph, the comedy, overall, falls flat with a lethargic and fuzzy screenplay.

“Papillon”— Charlie Hunnam, Rami Malek, directed by Michael Noer

Michael Noer’s “Papillon,” a remake of Franklin J. Shaffner’s 1973 feature, is based on Henri Charrière’s best-selling autobiographical novels “Papillon” and “Banco.”

The new version is set in the glamorous world of 1931 Paris. Charlie Hunnam plays Henri “Papillon” Charrière, a safecracker who is hired to steal a small fortune in diamonds for local gangster Castili (Christopher Fairbanks). Papillon executes a flawless heist, but foolishly holds back one astounding necklace from the mobster boss. In an act of revenge, Castili frames Papillon for a murder, earning him a life sentence at a notorious penal colony in French Guiana.

Determined to regain his freedom, Papillon forges an unlikely alliance with convicted currency counterfeiter Louis Dega (Rami Malek). The two men agree to make a pact: Dega will finance Papillon’s escape plan in exchange for the currency forger’s protection. Is Papillon’s relentless desire for freedom enough for him to make it out alive?

See it. Though this prison-break movie lacks the massive appeal of the 1973 original, the leads’ compelling portrayal of true grit and resilience of the human spirit makes it all worthwhile.

Watch the trailer:

“Searching” — John Cho, Debra Messing, directed by Aneesh Chaganty

Winner of Sundance’s Audience Award, Aneesh Chaganty’s feature debut, “Searching,” centers around love and family in the age of social media.

At the core of the story is the perplexing disappearance of David Kim’s (John Cho) daughter Margot (Michelle La), a 16-year-old girl who has been missing for more than 37 hours. Feeling trapped and desperate for help, David scours Margot’s laptop for clues. Meanwhile, detective Vick (Debra Messing), the police officer assigned to the case, mounts an investigation. Will they ever find Margot?

See it. The mystery thriller is original, clever and well-acted. Simply put, it has a beating heart!

Watch the trailer:

“A.X.L.” — Alex Neustaedter, Thomas Jane, Becky G, directed by Oliver Daly

Writer-director Oliver Daly’s debut feature follows the adventures of young man and his newfound friend, a top-secret robotic dog.

Alex Neustaedter plays Miles, an avid motocross rider who encounters a mysterious four-legged robot during his dirt bike test. Curious and fascinated, Miles tries to connect with the robot. Before long, he discovers that his newfound friend is a classified-government robotic dog called A.X.L. — Attack, Exploration, Logistics — an artificial intelligence entity developed to help protect soldiers in the near future.

As their adventure together unfolds, Miles and A.X.L. develop a special bond of friendship that will change their lives forever.

Note: This movie was not screened in advance for film critics, so we cannot provide a See/Skip verdict at the time of this guide's publication.

Watch the trailer:

Other entertainment news:

• Patch Living: Your August Entertainment Guide
• Reviews of 'Mile 22,' 'Crazy Rich Asians,' And 'Alpha'
• Reviews of 'The Meg,' 'BlacKkKlansman,' And 'Dog Days'
• Reviews of 'The Spy Who Dumped Me,' 'Christopher Robin,' And 'The Darkest Minds'

Top Photo: Melissa McCarthy attends CinemaCon 2018 on April 24, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/CinemaCon)