"Tenured"

A middle-school teacher is devastated when he learns that his wife is leaving him. He's already a terrible teacher, but his teaching skills take a deep dive when he gets this news. The school administrator is looking for any excuse to fire him, and since she can't, because he's tenured, punishes him by making him direct the school play. So he turns "The Three Little Pigs" into a play about his failed marriage. It may sound like a painful movie, but it's really quite funny. I laughed out loud several times, and my wife, who's a harsh critic, actually enjoyed it.
4 stars out of 5

"The Way, Way Back"

A wonderful, coming of age movie that's very real. This is not one of these corny, everything's going to be okay movies. The actors are very believable as is the plot. It's about a young teen who has to spend the summer with his mom and her overbearing boyfriend (a really dicky Steve Corell). He gets a job at the local WaterWorld Park and bonds with the park manager. Sam Rockwell plays one of the funniest characters I've ever seen in a movie. He mentors the young characters in the movie. Highly recommended.
4.5 out of5 stars.

"Leon: The Professional"

All I can say is to witness a 12-year old Natalie Portman and you'll shake your head thinking, "She's going to be a huge star." What talent. However, I have to say, she certainly has starred in some unusual films over the years. Like "Garden State." This one is pretty offbeat as well. She plays a young girl who witnesses her family gunned down in a DEA raid. She's determined to get back at the corrupt officials who murdered her family. She's taken in by a professional hit man who lives next door. And the story unravels from there. The two of them turn in amazing performances. And the last few minutes will have you pumping your fist, for sure.
5 out of 5 stars.