Patch Weekend Movie Guide: What to See and What to Skip

We're boiling down this weekend's box office offerings and have the verdict on "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" and "Keeping Up with the Joneses." See what to see and what to skip, plus check out the trailers.

Opening This Weekend

"Jack Reacher: Never Go Back" — Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, directed by Edward Zwick

The second film in the "other" Tom Cruise franchise ("Mission Impossible" enjoyed two great recent installments), "Never Go Back" finds its hero unraveling a labyrinthine conspiracy to clear the names of himself and a trusted ally. Cruise, of whom many things can be said, never shies from the commitment required of physically demanding roles, and this film is no different. Cruise exhibits a vitality rare to stars of his (or any) age in "Reacher," which re-teams him with his "Last Samurai" director Edward Zwick, a serviceable but sometimes perfunctory storyteller who can be trusted for a few kicks of escapism.

The verdict: See it. Added joy for enthusiasts of action and conspiracy thrillers.

"Keeping Up with the Joneses" — Jon Hamm, Zach Galifianakis, Isla Fisher, directed by Greg Mottola

Friendly neighbors (Jon Hamm, Gal Gadot) of unwitting couple (Zach Galifianakis, Isla Fisher) turn out to be international spies and embroil the latter into an international caper. It's a setup we've seen ad-nauseam, but the effortless charm of Hamm, Fisher and Galifianakis in the same film is reason enough to gif this comedy of errors a chance. It marks the first feature film from Greg Mottola ("Superbad," "Adventureland") in five years, and his natural rapport with comedic talent and improvisational experience probably means there will be a few surprises.

The verdict: Skip it. Rent last year's "Spy" instead which is a better version of "Joneses."

"In a Valley of Violence" (Limited) — Ethan Hawke, John Travolta, Karen Gillan, directed by Ti West

Horror wunderkind Ti West further branches out of his comfort zone to direct John Travolta and Ethan Hawke in this revenge Western. If you were lucky enough to catch this summer’s fantastic sleeper hit "Hell or High Water," you may find a kindred spirit in this unusual Western similarly filled with pathos and humor. Mysterious drifter arrives in town. Mysterious drifter clashes with locals. Mysterious drifter finds this town ain’t big enough for… Well, you know the rest. But parallels end there, and fun abounds throughout Travolta’s first Western and Hawke's second of the year.

The verdict: See it. Giddy up to this Western if "Valley" plays near you.

Still Playing

"Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" — Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Samuel L. Jackson, directed by Tim Burton

The 2011 novel "Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" found it's match in filmmaker Tim Burton ("Alice in Wonderland," "The Nightmare Before Christmas"). Burton's work engenders divided reactions, but if you've a propensity for his unique and visionary style you’ll find him operating at his most focused. It may prove a touch too creepy for the younger children, but tweens and adults with a soft spot for the book won't be disappointed.

The verdict: See it, but leave your littlest with a sitter due to the creep factor.

Quick Cuts

"American Pastoral" (Limited) — Ewan McGregor, Jennifer Connelly, Dakota Fanning

Skip it: Ewan McGregor attempts to translate Philip Roth's heartbreaking novel, but it falls flat according to most critics.

"Boo! A Madea Halloween” — Tyler Perry, Cassi Davis, Patrice Lovely

Skip it: After eight films, Tyler Perry's Madea character has grown tiresome, and another seasonally tailored vehicle for more of the character's antics won't cure this.

"Ouija: Origin of Evil" — Elizabeth Reaser, Lulu Wilson, Annalise Basso

Skip it: There are too many quality Halloween options coming down the pipeline to waste your time on these lazy jump scares.

Looking for a Halloween Scare?

Legendary director Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" is playing as part of Turner Classic Movies' excellent Big Screen Classics programming series. It’s screening nationwide for two nights only: Oct. 23 and Oct. 26, and local showings can be found here.

The verdict: See it. This classic is guaranteed to give you an extra jolt to conjure up that Halloween spirit.

Until next week, save me a seat folks!

Watch the trailer for "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back"

Watch the trailer for"Keeping Up with the Joneses"