This week, we feature a broad comedy about two irresponsible frat boys stumbling toward making better choices and a World War II classic about troubled leadership.
New Release
‘Bad Counselors’
College students Grayson Fuller (Matt Cornett) and Tyler Newman (Ramon Reed) manage to temporarily dodge expulsion by posing as counselors at Pastor Tom’s (Chris Klein) Christian summer camp. However, kids, camping, worship songs, and trust falls weren’t exactly in their frat-boy skill set.
Some of the film’s PG-13 innuendo may push it outside younger-family territory, but the better material comes from the redemption angle, which is tied to consequences, humility, and two selfish young men finally becoming useful to people besides themselves.
Comedy | Family
Release Date: July 23, 2026
Director: Chris Dowling
Starring: Matt Cornett, Missi Pyle, Richard T. Jones
Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Where to Watch: Theaters
Rated: 3 1/2 stars out of 5
Family Pick
‘Wish Dragon’
Din (Jimmy Wong) is a broke Shanghai college kid still hung up on Li Na (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), the childhood friend who vanished into a richer life, until a beat-up teapot drops Long (John Cho), a wish-granting dragon, into his hands.
The vibrant animation gives the movie a bright, playful vibe, with expressive character designs and detailed city backdrops. The story pokes fun at Din’s belief that money can repair an old friendship, while the film’s deeper message about being honest and choosing people over status is a good one.
Adventure | Comedy | Family
Release Date: June 11, 2021
Director: Chris Appelhans
Starring: Jimmy Wong, John Cho, Constance Wu
Running time: 1 hour, 38 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Where to Watch: Netflix
Rated: 3 1/2 stars out of 5
A London Family Navigates WWII
‘My Life as a Dog’ (‘Hope and Glory’)
Grace (Sarah Miles) desperately tries to wrangle her kids through the London Blitz after her husband volunteers to serve in WWII. Her son, Bill (Sebastian Rice-Edwards), treats bomb sites like a playground before the danger starts closing in.
A few wandering subplots in this Swedish film tend to drag the momentum down whenever the focus shifts away from young Bill, but viewers probably won’t mind too much because we still get a wonderfully upbeat message about families sticking together in the middle of war.
Comedy | Drama | Romance
Release Date: Feb. 19, 1988
Director: John Boorman
Starring: Sarah Miles, David Hayman, Sebastian Rice-Edwards
Running time: 1 hour, 53 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (English subtitles)
Where to Watch: Amazon, Apple TV, YouTube (availability subject to location)
Rated: 3 stars out of 5
Fear, Pride, and Command Rot
‘Attack’
Lt. Joe Costa (Jack Palance) knows his unit has enough trouble holding ground in Belgium during WWII, then Capt. Erskine Cooney (Eddie Albert) turns weak command into a new sort of threat.
This one’s gritty—director Robert Aldrich’s black-and-white imagery feels cramped, sweaty, and mean, with every worn soldier’s face looking one bad order away from falling apart.
Action | Drama | War
Release Date: Oct. 17, 1956
Director: Robert Aldrich
Starring: Jack Palance, Lee Marvin, Eddie Albert
Running Time: 1 hour, 47 minutes
Not Rated
Where to Watch: YouTube, Apple TV, Amazon
Rated: 3 1/2 stars out of 5
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