Freeze Frame: “Moana 2” (PG), “Beatles ’64” (Not rated), “Joy” (PG-13), “Our Little Secret” (PG-13)

Disney goes back to the tropical well with the animated sequel, “Moana 2.” Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson return as the lead voices, but it’s the spectacular animation that’s the real star of this seagoing adventure. Our heroine gets yet another call from an ancestor and sets sail in uncharted waters to find a lost island. Multiple supernatural dangers ensue. The story and music are pretty generic this time around, but the eye-popping visuals are striking enough to prevent “Moana 2” from going too far adrift.

The Disney+ documentary “Beatles ’64” features little-seen footage of the Fab Four’s invasion of America as they arrive in the country for the first time to perform on the Ed Sullivan Show. It covers the same territory as other, better documentaries, but the new, previously unseen film should be enough for “Beatles ‘64” to attract Beatlemaniacs young and old.

The Netflix drama “Joy” is about the unflagging struggle to treat infertility and bring about the world’s first test tube baby. Thomasin McKenzie, James Norton and Bill Nighy play the medical pros who faced considerable personal challenges and public blowback as they trod through an ethical minefield in late 1960s Britain. “Joy” is a restrained but ultimately uplifting drama.

The Netflix holiday rom-com “Our Little Secret” starring Lindsay Lohan is about a pair of ex-lovers who discover that their current partners are brother and sister. They try to keep their past a secret when they’re forced to spend the holidays together with their partners’ family. This movie doesn’t have a single moment of humor or romance that rings true. “Our Little Secret” should remain secret.


Share This Episode