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Growing up on the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey, the future for Frankie, Tommy, Nick, and Bob (John Lloyd Young, Vincent Piazza, Johnny Cannizzaro, Erich Bergen) alone didn’t look so bright; but, when the four joined forces to become the Four Seasons their stock value would rise to meteoric heights. Creating hits such as Sherry, Walk Like A Man, and Big Girls Don’t Cry the sky was the limit, until even that wasn’t enough. Money, women, and fame, would all have their impact on the band, but Jersey loyalty would carry them to the rock and roll hall of fame, still, it would be a tough road to hoe, this is their story. Directed by Clint Eastwood and based on the Broadway musical, Jersey Boys presents the polished and classic tale of the underdog making it in the big time and the growing pains associated. Interesting but rather tame in comparison to legends of rock stars who would follow in their footsteps, audiences will still appreciate the story behind the iconic music, although a sluggish start does weigh things down and it’s apparent some judicious trimming could tighten things up. Regardless, an otherwise well crafted work makes for fine matinee material or hey, grab your dame and make it a date night, burgers and milkshakes from the local diner to suit. Jersey Boys is rated R.

Living a rather Bohemian lifestyle as a comedienne, Donna (Jenny Slate) often speaks from the heart in her standup routine– occasionally a wince inducing behaviour. So, when Donna’s boyfriend leaves her for another woman, her spiral into depression could be fodder for great art, or it could destroy her all together. Fortunately, good friends and gentle Max (Jake Lacy) are there to lend support, but it’s Donna’s unwanted pregnancy with Max that seems to be at the head of her problems. Will Donna’s soul have the resilience to spring back, and will her heart ever open again? Turning lemons into lemonade, writer director Gillian Robespierre has created a comedic gem of fully rounded individuals, flawed and honest, sarcastic and painful all the while hilarious. Nailing the romantic comedy genre and then turning it promptly on it’s ear, while the content isn’t always pleasant, Robespierre shows us that “real” can indeed be funny, even when that means we’re watching our heroes suffer. Standout acting from Slate and Lacy sells the drama even further and at 84 minutes of runtime, there’s still room for just a little more, and that’s just right. Obvious Child is rated R.

Having been so successful shutting down an illegal high school drug ring as undercover officers, Jenko (Channing Tatum) and Schmidt (Jonah Hill) are called upon again, but this time, a little older and a little wiser, their cover is as college students. Attempting to blend in with their fellow students the two are faced with new challenges of acceptance, gaining the trust of a local frat, becoming a football star, making sense of lousy sculpture art, and navigating college girls; all the while a new designer drug is spreading rampantly on campus. Find the source of the drugs, shut the operation down, and win the girl’s heart all without angering police Captain Dickson (Ice Cube), mission possible? Fully accepting and embracing the flaws of a sequel, the thinly veiled references to Hollywood’s expectations sequels, budgets, plots, jokes, etc. are bold but on point and serve as a fine repeated poke in the eye to the motion picture business. And, while the plot and story is exactly the same as 21 Jump Street, the jokes stay sharp and fresh providing a number of laugh out loud moments. Continuing on the trajectory of the modern cinema comedy, situational awkwardness, dry wry sarcastic and sardonic wit rules as king. Acting from the ensemble let’s their charm and quirkiness shine through, human and fallible. If you liked the first one, you’re probably gonna like this, as advertised. 22 Jump Street is rated R.