Elvis
61 Drive-in Theatre, Maquoketa IA
Blue Grass Drive-in, Blue Grass IA
Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Davenport IA
FilmScene, Iowa City IA
Marcus Sycamore Cinema, Iowa City IA
Putnam Museum & Science Center, Davenport IA
Regal Moline, Moline IL
(Hyperlinked titles take you to Reader reviews; IMDb hyperlinks take you to the films’ Internet Movie Database pages.)
***
Back from the Brink: Saved from Extinction (not rated; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - This edu-doc would be recommended solely for the chance, for 40 minutes, to actually feel momentarily great about the state of the human race. IMDb listing.
The Bad Guys (PG; Regal Moline) - There's nothing remotely surprising about this animated comedy's storyline that finds its titular bad apples discovering their inner goodness, but it was a treat to listen to Sam Rockwell's readings. IMDb listing.
The Black Phone (R; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Regal Moline, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - IMDb listing.
Brian & Charles (PG; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, FilmScene at the Chauncey) - A sad case of a successful short film proving desperately ill-suited for feature-film format. IMDb listing.
Bugs! (not rated; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - The 3D effects make the film's creepy-crawly world pop in enjoyable fashion, and the bugs' life-and-death struggle makes for endlessly intriguing viewing. IMDb listing.
The Cat Returns: 20th Anniversary (G; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Marcus Sycaore Cinema: Sunday, June 26, and Monday, June 27) - IMDb listing.
Cha Cha Real Smooth (R; FilmScene on the Ped Mall) - IMDb listing.
Crooklyn (PG-13; FilmScene in the Park: Saturday, June 25, 8:45 p.m.) - IMDb listing.
DCI 2022: Tour Premiere (not rated; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Marcus Sycamore Cinema: Tuesday, June 28, 7:30 p.m.) - FathomEvents.com.
Despicable Me 2 (PG; Regal Moline: Tuesday, June 28, and Wednesday, June 29, noon) - The Minions' antics are still sensational fun, even if their combined presence does underscore the inherent dullness of nearly every scene they wind up stealing. IMDb listing.
Dinosaurs Alive (not rated; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - Even young viewers may wind up disappointed that the 3D effects don't add much, while the rest of us might also be underwhelmed by the sub-Ray Harryhausen recreations and general blandness of the presentation. IMDb listing.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (PG-13; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Blue Grass Drive-in, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - If you're viewing an entertainment with “Madness” in the title, I don't think it's out of line to expect some legitimate madness, and the alternately noisy and static shenanigans here barely rise to the level of “quirky.” IMDb listing.
Downton Abbey: A New Era (PG; Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - The experience of director Simon Curtis' franchise continuation is nothing if not exceedingly comfortable, even if there's little that's remotely New about it. IMDb listing.
Elvis (PG-13; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Regal Moline, Blue Grass Drive-in, FilmScene at the Chauncey, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - IMDb listing.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (R; FilmScene at the Chauncey) - This remarkable entertainment may be the only sci-fi/martial-arts/time-travel comedy you'll ever see that also boasts an emotional power to make you cry – a lot. IMDb listing.
The Fifth Element: 25th Anniversary (PG-13; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Marcus Sycamore Cinema: Sunday, June 26, and Wednesday, June 29) - IMDb listing.
The First Step (not rated; FilmScene at the Chauncey: Wednesday, June 29, 7 p.m.) - IMDb listing.
G.I. Joe: The Movie: 35th Anniversary (PG; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Marcus Sycamore Cinema: Saturday, June 25, 1 p.m.) - IMDb listing.
Into America's Wild (not rated; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - IMDb listing.
Jaws 2 (PG; FilmScene at the Chauncey: Wednesday, June 29, 10 p.m.) - IMDb listing.
Jug Jugg Jeeyo (not rated; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX) - IMDb listing.
Jurassic World Dominion (PG-13; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Regal Moline, Blue Grass Drive-in, 61 Drive-in Theatre, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - It isn't much of a compliment, but I'd go so far as to say that this admittedly overlong, overstuffed outing is the most enjoyable Jurassic flick since Jurassic Park. IMDb listing.
Kaluoka'hina: The Enchanted Reef (not rated; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - IMDb listing.
Lightyear (PG; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Regal Moline, Blue Grass Drive-in, Marcus Sycaore Cinema) - Even if you're not necessarily awed by the results, it's still easy to watch the film with a massive grin, thinking, “If I saw this when I was a kid, it would have knocked me out.” IMDb listing.
Macross Frontier: The Wings of Farewell (not rated; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Marcus Sycamore Cinema: Thursday, June 30, 7 p.m.) - IMDb listing.
Oceans (G; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - This edu-doc is kind of dull, but it's hard to be too disappointed by a film that provides so many extraordinary sights. IMDb listing.
PAW Patrol: The Movie (G; Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - IMDb listing.
The Phantom of the Open (PG-13; Regal Moline, FilmScene at the Chauncey) - IMDb listing.
Rowdy (not rated; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Marcus Sycamore Cinema: Wednesday, June 29, 7 p.m.) - FathomEvents.com.
Sammathame (not rated; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX) - IMDb listing.
Scoob! (PG; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX: Wednesday, June 29, 10 a.m.) - While I couldn't remember much of the storyline an hour after the film ended, I was amazed at just how many of its throwaway bits stuck in my head and made me smile. IMDb listing.
Sing 2 (PG; 61Drive-in Theatre) - This jazzy re-introduction to writer/director Garth Jennings' show-biz wannabes is understandably less inventive, but decidedly more satisfying, than its 2016 predecessor. IMDb listing.
Space Jam (PG; Regal Moline: Tuesday, June 28, and Wednesday, June 29, noon) - IMDb listing.
Superpower Dogs (G; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - Writer/director Daniel Ferguson provides enough globe-trotting action for a James Bond flick, and we're given just enough information on how the heroic pups pull off their feats of derring-do to wholly appreciate them in practice. IMDb listing.
Titans of the Ice Age (not rated; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - Gorgeously photographed and boasting perhaps the finest CGI I've ever seen in a National Geographic doc, the film is both informative and a heck of a lot of fun. IMDb listing.
Top Gun: Maverick (PG-13; Davenport 53rd 18 + IMAX, Regal Moline, Blue Grass Drive-in, Marcus Sycamore Cinema) - Had this action drama really embraced Tom Cruise's human fallibility, this corny, retrograde, occasionally quite-entertaining outing might've really been something. IMDb listing.
Wild Africa (not rated; Putnam Museum & Science Center) - IMDb listing.
Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (G; Blue Grass Drive-in) - This deserved family classic may end with a hug, but the 100 minutes beforehand are frequently a candy-coated shiv in the gut. IMDb listing.
