What To Watch This Weekend: 'Dumbo' And 'The Beach Bum'

The live-action remake of Disney's 1941 animated classic, "Dumbo," is finally hitting the big screen this weekend, starring Colin Farrell as an injured soldier who has returned home from World War I. As he struggles to overcome his trauma and grief, he crosses paths with a big-eared baby elephant who lifts his spirits and gives him hope.

Also headed to theaters is the comedy "The Beach Bum," in which Matthew McConaughey plays a middle-aged poet who doesn't take life too seriously. Instead, he lives by his own rules in order to be happy.

Here's what to see and skip this weekend:

“Dumbo” — Colin Farrell, Michael Keaton, Eva Green; directed by Tim Burton

Tim Burton's new live-action film, which is set in 1919, is a story about unconditional love, where imperfections are both embraced and celebrated.

Colin Farrell plays Holt Farrier, a trick rider-turned-military soldier who finds his life increasingly unbearable when he returns home from World War I. Not only has the combat veteran lost his left arm in battle, he also lost his wife in the flu epidemic and must now raise his two young children, Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins), alone.

When Holt and his kids begin to care for a newborn big-eared elephant named Dumbo, the former circus star finds a ray of hope to mend his broken heart and spirit. They quickly discover that Dumbo’s massive droopy ears can make him fly. The word gets out, and he practically becomes an overnight success for the struggling circus.

This catches the eye of circus magnate V.A. Vandervere (Michael Keaton), who sets his sights on Dumbo and makes an offer Max Medici (Danny DeVito), exuberant ringmaster and circus owner, will find hard to resist. But the offer might prove too good to be true — especially when the stunning arealist Colet (Eva Green) enters the picture. Can Holt, Milly and Joe save Dumbo from Vandervere’s evil scheme?

See it. Though it is only a computer-generated image, the baby elephant Dumbo is incredibly irresistible. Amazingly, the main star of the movie looks real, feels real and acts real.

Watch the trailer:

“The Beach Bum” — Matthew McConaughey, Snoop Dogg, Isla Fisher; directed by Harmony Korine

Set in the Florida Keys and Miami, this film stars Matthew McConaughey as Moondog, a free-spirited poet who spends most of his days partying with gorgeous and pleasure-seeking sun worshippers.

Though he looks and acts like a beach bum, there's more too Moondog than meets the eye. In fact, this middle-aged stoner and his wife, Minnie (Isla Fisher), are not only rich — they are unapologetically filthy rich!

As Moondog coasts along his joyride in life, we get to meet his family-friend Lingerie (Snoop Dogg), his born-again punk friend Flicker (Zac Efron), his acerbic book agent Lewis (Jonah Hill) and dolphin-loving tour guide Captain Wack (Martin Lawrence).

Skip it. McConaughey’s impressive performance can’t buoy a meandering plot that is too confusing to follow.

Watch the trailer:

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