Movies Out This Weekend: 'A Wrinkle in Time,' 'Gringo,' And More

The wait is over! The highly anticipated sci-fi fantasy “A Wrinkle in Time” hits theaters this weekend and Hollywood is buzzing. Storm Reid portrays a young girl who must travel the universe in search of her missing father, and she is joined in her space odyssey by three celestial beings played by Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and Mindy Kaling, of course.

Not in the mood to suspend so much disbelief? Also opening this weekend is the dark comedy “Thoroughbreds” and “Gringo” starring Charlize Theron and Joel Edgerton. Meanwhile, horror fans might want to check out “Strangers: Prey at Night,” the sequel to 2008’s “The Strangers.”

Here's what to see and what to skip this weekend:

Movies Out This Weekend

“A Wrinkle in Time” — Storm Reid, Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, directed by Ava DuVernay

Oprah Winfrey re-unites with her “Selma” director, Ava DuVernay, in this sci-fi fantasy film about love, self-discovery and courage. Based on Madeleine L’Engle’s novel of the same name, “A Wrinkle in Time” centers on Meg (Storm Reid), a young girl grappling with the mysterious disappearance of her father (Chris Pine). When she finds out he's fallen victim to a dark and otherworldly menace, she sets out to save him with the help of three magical beings— the old and wise Mrs. Which (Winfrey); the literal and wide-read Mrs. Who (Mindy Kaling); and the youngest and inexperienced of them all, Mrs. Whatsit (Reese Witherspoon).

See it. While the screenplay feels uneven at times, the movie is visually stunning with loads of heart. Purists, be forewarned: the movie strays from L’Engle’s novel.

Watch the trailer:

“Thoroughbreds” — Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy, directed by Corey Finley

From first-time writer-director Cory Finley comes a darkly comic psychological thriller about class, power and murder. Set in an affluent suburb of Connecticut, the film stars Anya Taylor-Joy and Olivia Cooke as complete-opposite best friends. Both are seemingly at odds in every conceivable way — that is until they make a pact to settle the score with Lily’s overbearing stepdad. How exactly? The duo hires a hustler to do the bad deed.

See it. With nuanced performances and an extremely sharp script, “Thoroughbreds” drips with wit and charm.

Watch the trailer:

“Gringo” — David Oyelowo, Charlize Theron, Joel Edgerton, directed by Nash Edgerton

In Nash Edgerton’s comedy-thriller, David Oyelowo stars as a conscientious, mild-mannered Nigerian immigrant who works for a pair of back-stabbing bosses: Richard (Joel Edgerton) and Elaine (Charlize Theron). Fearing that he’ll be laid off after a corporate merger gets finalized, Harold (Oyelowo) plots to fake his own kidnapping, complete with a ransom plan, while he is on a business trip in Mexico. Of course, his best laid plans go awry.

Skip it. The impressive performances of the cast cannot buoy this lackluster screenplay and uneven narrative.

Watch the trailer:

“The Strangers: Prey at Night” — Christina Hendricks, Martin Henderson, directed by Johannes Roberts

Remember the trio of masked psychopaths who slowly terrorized and murdered the residents of a rural home in 2008’s “The Strangers”? Well, they’re back for another round of unspeakable acts of violence. But this time the setting is in a trailer park that caters to families on vacation at the local lake.

In the sequel, the central couple of the original film has now been replaced with a family — Martin Henderson and Christina Hendricks as parents, along with their son and daughter, played by Lewis Pullman and Bailee Madison, who will undoubtedly experience a slow yet brutal ordeal.

Skip it. You will forget any chilling effects or jump scares as soon as the movie ends.

Watch the trailer:

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First photo: Actors Mindy Kaling, Reese Witherspoon, Oprah Winfrey, and Storm Reid of "A Wrinkle in Time" attend Disney's D23 EXPO 2017 in Anaheim, Calif. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Disney)