• “Descendants 2” 3 stars: Once again, the cast of Dove Cameron, Cameron Boyce, Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart and Mitchell Hope return to their roles as descendants of some of Disney’s most iconic good guys and villains in “Descendants 2.” The teens are trying to adjust to a less infamous life in the idyllic Auradon but some don’t adjust as well as others. Mal (Cameron) folds under the pressure of trying to be perfect because of her relationship with the son of Belle and the Beast and she returns to her evil roots on the Isle of the Lost.
Only her friends can save Mal and stop all the imprisoned villains from being released. Saving the day comes with a lot of action scenes, dancing and a new soundtrack. The film is aimed at a young audience but the quality of the production and musical numbers will entertain older viewers.
Making a sequel was a smart move; the 2015 Disney Channel film “Descendants” drew enough viewers to make it the fifth most watched movie in cable TV history.
• “Alien: Covenant” 2 1/2 stars : In space, the further this franchise gets from the first movie, the less you can hear screams of enjoyment. The latest journey into the land of human-chomping aliens has the crew of the colony ship Covenant headed for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy. They discover what they think is an uncharted paradise. The truth is that it’s a dangerous world. The story wobbles despite the best efforts of a cast that includes Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterston, Billy Crudup, Danny McBride and Demian Bichir. Production values that are out-of-this-world can’t make up for a story that feels tired.
