Screening Room: “One Direction: This is Us,” “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints,” “Getaway,” “Crystal Fairy”

1. ONE DIRECTION: THIS IS US (PG)
Sony Pictures

RUSS
If you’ve never heard of One Direction, you obviously aren’t a preteen girl.

SHAWN
What? I’m definitely not a preteen girl but I know who these dudes are. Sure their fan base is mostly young girls but that’s exactly the target of this playful popumentary.

RUSS
“One Direction: This is Us” is less a 3-D concert film than it is a feature length commercial for Simon Cowell’s musical product. But, it’s a modestly entertaining commercial. The five British lads are likable enough and their catchy pop anthems are relatively painless for non-fans.

SHAWN
Really nothing more than an expensive YouTube video written using the Twitter style book. Nothing heavy. It’s all light but cool, fun and loaded with music.

RUSS: 3 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN: 3 Popcorn Bags

2. AIN’T THEM BODIES SAINTS (R)
IFC Films

RUSS
A strong cast and subtle 1960s atmosphere gives the slowly paced drama “Ain’t Them Bodies Saints” a leg up.

SHAWN
You mean a broken leg? Painfully boring and dull best describe this mundane movie.

RUSS
Casey Affleck plays a small time Texas crook who escapes from prison in an attempt to get back to his wife Rooney Mara and young daughter.

SHAWN
There is some decent action but the story never quite creates any interest or stirs any dust.

RUSS
Straightforward and stripped down, it’s a low-key and unpretentious drama.

SHAWN
It’s an unwatchable drama. I get Snap Chats that are more interesting!

RUSS: 3 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN: 1 Popcorn Bags

3. GETAWAY (PG-13)
Warner Brothers

RUSS
“Getaway” is a 90-minute car chase disguised as a movie. Ethan Hawke and Selena Gomez drive around Bulgaria, decimating the police and all credibility in this ludicrous exercise in mayhem. If car crashes are your thing, check out “Getaway”…but the “Fast & Furious” movies seem like Shakespeare by comparison.

RUSS: 2 Popcorn Bags

4. CRYSTAL FAIRY & THE MAGICAL CACTUS (Unrated)
IFC Films

RUSS
Michael Cera and Gaby Hoffman star in the offbeat stoner movie, “Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus.” It seems like it was all improvised…and it was. Cera is a self-absorbed American jerk in Chile who embarks on a road trip with three brothers and a New Age hippie to seek out a legendary hallucinogenic plant. Perhaps this movie was intended to be viewed with the aid of certain mood enhancers. It needs all the help it can get.

RUSS: 2 Popcorn Bags

Also opening this week, “Closed Circuit” is a mystery/suspense thriller starring Eric Bana. “The Grandmaster” is a martial arts flick about the famous real life Kung Fu master who trained Bruce Lee.