Movie Reviews: 'Crisis' And 'Tom And Jerry'

This weekend, an escalating epidemic and a wild cat-and-mouse game come to life on the big screen.

In the drama "Crisis," the opioid ordeal is front and center in a three-prong narrative, featuring Armie Hammer as an undercover DEA operative conducting an international sting operation. Meanwhile, Evangeline Lilly plays a recovering addict burning with vengeance to hold those accountable for the death of her son. And Garry Oldman plays a university professor in a quandary about a drug hailed as the first non-addictive painkiller.

Looking for a family-friendly movie? You can check out "Tom and Jerry," the first theatrical feature-length animation featuring the iconic cat-and-mouse pair alongside Chloë Grace Moretz, Michael Peña, Colin Jost and Ken Jeong.

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

“Crisis” — Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, Evangeline Lilly; directed by Nicholas Jarecki

Nicholas Jarecki’s sophomore feature, after his financial-morality laden “Arbitrage,” is a concoction of three story lines about the escalating opioid epidemic, replete with characters involved at disparate points of despondency and grief.

Set in Montreal and Detroit, the film features undercover DEA operative Jake Kelly (Armie Hammer) who is tasked to link a crew of “Armenian power gangsters” with fentanyl smuggled from Montreal. Meanwhile, the fearless cop must also deal with his junkie sister (Lily-Rose Depp) in rehab.

Then, there’s Michigan resident Claire Reimann (Evangeline Lilly), a recovering addict whose world suddenly comes crashing down when her son turns up dead from a drug overdose. Overcome with despair and vengeance, she sets out on a personal mission to hunt down those accountable.

Finally, the third plot unfolds with Dr. Tyrone Brower (Gary Oldman), a university professor conducting drug trials for what one giant pharmaceutical company hails as the first non-addictive painkiller. Well, it won’t be long before his assistant discovers that it is actually more lethal than any other known painkillers. Will Dr. Brower blow the whistle to unmask the truth?

In the end, the three-prong narrative escalates to a lightning conclusion.

Skip it. “Crisis” feels predictable and light in its exploration of the opioid ordeal.

Watch the trailer:

“Tom and Jerry” — Chloë Grace Moretz, Michael Peña, Colin Jost; directed by Tim Story

Two of the most iconic and beloved cartoon characters, Tom and Jerry, come to life in Tim Story’s eponymous cat-and-mouse comedy.

A mixture of live action and animation, Story’s film version stars Chloë Grace Moretz as the perpetually slacker Kayla, who sashays into one of New York’s famous hotels seeking employment. With a stolen resume, she manages to land a job as an assistant events coordinator.

Soon, Kayla, events manager Terrence (Michael Peña) and executive chef Jackie (Ken Jeong) are making sure that the ostentatious wedding of Preeta (Pallavi Sharda) and Ben (Colin Jost) runs seamlessly up to the last detail. Well, unfortunately, it does not. Why? It’s because of a mischievous mouse named Jerry who calls the lavish hotel home. Before long, the mighty cat Tom, a jazz singer, comes to the rescue.

And so begins the wild cat-and-mouse game.

Skip it. Simply put, the movie does not deliver enough laughs to be worthwhile.

Watch the trailer: