As we move deeper into the summer season we’re getting some family-friendly options. Those among, others, are part of this week’s movie review roundup, which also includes the latest big screen musical biopic. You can keep up with everything I’m watching by following me on Letterboxd @knighthawk7734.

Back to Black (Theaters)
Starring: Marisa Abela, Eddie Marsan, and Jack O’Connell
Synopsis: By this point, most everyone has heard and appreciated Amy Winehouse’s music. But what do we know about her life? She was the subject of a 2015 documentary, but now she’s also the subject of this biopic from director Sam Taylor-Johnson. In it, we follow Amy (Abela) through her highs and lows, including some iconic performances, her relationship with her father (Marsan), and her troubled relationship—and marriage—to Blake (O’Connell). Through it all her star burns bright but also burns out quickly, as the singer died at just 27 years old. We’ve seen plenty of biopics, especially in recent years. It makes sense because we love these performers and their songs, and we have a curiosity about their lives. But, often, these films can only capture a certain percentage of the story. That’s the case here. Whether due to the shortcomings of the script from Matt Greenhalgh or the creative vision of Taylor-Johnson in bringing it to the screen, it pales in comparison to the documentary. It doesn’t seem to capture the depth of Amy’s story or struggles, which is a shame. And airing massive sequences of her life out of order makes for a bumpy cinematic experience. That’s the bad. The good is Abela, who gives a heck of a performance and even sings the iconic songs herself. That’s a tall order, and yet she is often the most engaging part of the production. I also appreciated the costuming and design work, but the film seems overly focused on Amy and Blake without saying much about the relationship or how things went awry so quickly. Amy Winehouse and her legacy deserved better, and so does the audience.
Rating: Rated R for drug use, language throughout, sexual content and nudity.

Thelma the Unicorn (Netflix)
Starring: Brittany Howard, Will Forte, and Jon Heder
Synopsis: The latest from Netflix is one for the family. It’s an animated film directed by Jared Hess, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jerusha Hess and Aaron Blably, and Lynn Wang. It follows a pony, Thelma (Howard), who is a gifted singer. Along with her bandmates (Forte and Heder) she tries to make it in the music world. But she’s told she doesn’t have the right look and quickly gets dismissed. When she gets a makeover that turns her into a stylish unicorn, suddenly she’s the talk of the town. But will the chance at fame go to her head? Will she get discovered? If you’ve seen these kinds of stories, you know where this is going. This is a decent, family-friendly film. It hasn’t been a big year for animated films so far, and it’s doubtful that this film will be a big awards player at the end of the year. But Howard is solid in the lead role and it’s a cute and breezy watch. The music is solid, and the visuals are strong. There’s some humor that will appeal to older audiences, too. Overall, it’s a cute little film that’s worth checking out on your next family movie night.
Rating: Rated PG for rude humor.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.