SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (ABC4) — It’s Friday, which means Utah’s favorite review show is back with fresh takes and plenty of hot picks. Tomatometer-approved film critic Patrick Beatty is joined by UFCA critic and podcaster Rebecca Frost to break down this week’s biggest releases.

From the supernatural sports thriller “HIM,” to Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell’s dreamy “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey,” to the crime-comedy chaos of “London Calling.” Plus streaming hits with Netflix’s “Haunted Hotel,” the return of “Gen V” on Prime Video, and Jason Bateman and Jude Law in Netflix’s dark new series “Black Rabbit.”

In Theaters

A Big, Bold, Beautiful Journey (R)

“A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” stars Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell as Sarah and David, two people searching for love who cross paths at a mutual friend’s wedding. Their connection takes them on a journey through their own pasts, revisiting core memories and reflecting on defining moments. The question is whether they can finally put down their walls and let each other in.

The film wants to be bigger and bolder than it actually is, landing instead in bland, benign territory. At times it feels like your least favorite drama class putting on a play just for themselves, packed with inside jokes no one else is in on. Robbie and Farrell still spark with chemistry, but the story only benefits from the sheer weight of their names being attached.

Ultimately, two massively talented actors don’t automatically make a compelling film. “A Big Bold Beautiful Journey” lacks substance and ends up feeling more like a Hallmark Channel experiment than a meaningful romance, and it’s definitely not worth the ticket price.

See It or Skip It? Skip It

HIM (R)

Cam (Tyriq Withers) has dreamed of greatness ever since he was a boy watching his hero dominate the football field. Now chasing his big break, he’s invited to train with the very man who inspired him, Isaiah (Marlon Wayans), “The GOAT” of the game, at his grueling compound. There, quitting isn’t an option, and Cam learns that greatness isn’t just measured by skill, but by how much you’re willing to endure.

This isn’t a bad film by any means, but it does feel incomplete. The story teases eerie, compelling ideas, yet never digs deeper than the surface, leaving you wanting more. What saves it are the performances: Marlon Wayans delivers one of the strongest, most commanding turns of his career, while newcomer Tyriq Withers brings real weight and heart to his role, carrying the story as far as the script allows.

In the end, the film’s flaws stem less from the talent on screen and more from a story that doesn’t fully realize its potential. It’s okay, but it could have been great.

See It or Skip It? See It (Streaming)

London Calling (R)

After a botched hit job, a hitman (Josh Duhamel) flees the UK, only to find himself pulled back into chaos when he’s hired to look after his new boss’s son. What follows in “London Calling” is a mix of action, comedy, and unexpected sincerity, with director Allan Ungar channeling the spirit of those scrappy mid-budget action flicks of the 1980s.

The relationship between the hitman and the boy hits familiar beats, the classic “we don’t get each other” trope, but the chemistry between the actors manages to make it feel genuine at times. The action is clear and easy to follow, though I wish the film gave those sequences more room to breathe and build the story around them.

Overall, “London Calling” won’t redefine the action genre, but it’s a breezy, watchable ride. Not the year’s standout action film, but if you’ve got the time, it’s an easy one to throw on.

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What’s Streaming?

Swiped (R)

In “Swiped,” we follow struggling entrepreneur Whitney Wolfe Herd (Lily James) through her early days co-founding the dating app that redefined how people connect, Tinder.

The film digs into both the meteoric rise of the app and the psychological mechanics baked into its design, from swipe-based engagement to its sudden cultural shock to modern dating. But with that success comes fallout: a toll on mental health, safety, and how we perceive relationships in a digital age, all of which Wolfe Herd finds herself tangled up in.

Lily James delivers a layered performance that grounds the entire film, this is her show, and she knows it. Dan Stevens pops up as an investor circling Whitney’s future, and though his screen time is limited, he lights up every scene he’s in. Hollywood should be paying attention.

As a concept, “Swiped” has intrigue, but as a feature film it lacks the weight to fully justify itself. The material feels better suited to a documentary, where the real-world stakes and details could shine brighter. Still, thanks to strong performances and a compelling subject, it remains an engaging watch, even if it doesn’t quite stick the landing. Swipe right.

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Did you see any of the shows reviewed this weekend? Leave a comment if so, and make sure to follow us on all our social media platforms and listen to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more.

Note: See It or Skip It is proudly owned and produced by Patrick Beatty. ABC4 is a broadcast partner, but the show, its content, and opinions are independently created.