An interesting mix of prestige drama, animated comedy and an action sequel hit local multiplexes, while art house offerings include a biopic of author J.D. Salinger.

Kingsman: The Golden Circle (pictured) returns to the over-the-top spy hijinks of the 2015 original, only with a lot more narrative bloat between crazy action sequences. Returns on the brick-based features might be diminishing with The LEGO Ninjago Movie, but there's still a welcome level of clever fun and playfulness.  The life of legendary Catcher in the Rye author J. D. Salinger becomes a tediously by-the-numbers Great Artist biopic in Rebel in the Rye.

Eric D. Snider appreciates the gently humorous epiphanies of Ben Stiller's whiny protagonist in Brad's Status.

MaryAnn Johanson assures that if you saw last year's Unfriended, you've seen Friend Request, only without the bare minimum originality of sinister social media.

In this week's feature review, the real-life story of Boston Marathon bombing survivor Jeff Bauman becomes a case study in inspirational, non-exploitative exploration of a traumatic event in Stronger.