FREEZE FRAME: “Snatched,” “Hounds of Love”

Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn are two comic stars that bring a lot of personal appeal to their roles. Audience goodwill may be tested, however, with their broad and raunchy comedy, “Snatched.” Schumer plays a colossally irresponsible twentysomething dumped by her boyfriend on the eve of a romantic trip to Equador. She decides to take her reluctant mom on the vacation instead. As you’d expect, things go painfully awry. There are some shamelessly funny moments along the way, but “Snatched” is essentially an R-rated sitcom that glosses over some borderline racist elements on the way to its predictable finale. It’s likeable cast escapes unscathed.

 

The low budget Australian horror flick “The Hounds of Love” is one of the most disturbing, off-putting dramas you’re likely to see. A pair of serial killers abducts a teenaged girl for a torturous sexual threesome. Her only hope of survival is to drive a wedge between them. Yes, the subject matter is brutal, but the film debut of writer-director Ben Young is beautifully shot and thoughtfully acted.

 

Also opening this week, director Guy Ritchie brings his over-the-top action sensibilities to the tale of Excalibur with “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword.” “The Wall” is an Iraqi war film about two American soldiers pinned down by an enemy sniper. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and John Cena star. “3 Generations” is a comic drama about a dysfunctional family that includes a lesbian grandmother, a single mom and a girl transitioning to a boy all living under one roof. Elle Fanning, Naomi Watts and Susan Sarandon star. “Risk” is a documentary about Wikileaks founder, Julian Asange. “A Dark Song” is an Irish horror thriller. “Animation Show of Shows” is a compilation of cartoon shorts. “Chasing Trane” is a documentary about sax master John Coltrane. “Buster’s Mal Heart” is an offbeat character study with Rami Malek.

 


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