Reel-View Ratings: The Bigger The Beard, The Better The Movie

BIRD PEOPLE

Two ordinary people struggle to find meaning in the technology-driven, impersonal world of today — a familiar enough topic for contemporary film. Engineer Gary (The Good Wife‘s Josh Charles) breaks up with his wife over Skype, depressingly and boringly realistic, while Audrey (Anaïs Demoustier) turns into a bird. What? It’s certainly more interesting when the film shifts its focus, but the disparate parts don’t mesh together. (Unrated)

Plays at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2, 4, 5 and 6; and 1 p.m. Nov. 5 and 6 at Doris Duke Theatre

WHIPLASH

It’ll feel like you’re watching Full Metal Jacket‘s drill sergeant back from the dead and newly assigned to a New York music school, now berating aspiring jazz drummers instead of hapless soldiers. Does tough love work in cultivating genius? Where should the balance be between devotion to craft and living a healthy life? Whiplash hits all the right notes, supported by J.K. Simmons’ too-harsh teacher and Miles Teller’s hungry student. (R)

Opens Nov. 7 at Kahala Theatre

BIG HERO 6

This East-meets-West, Disney-meets-Marvel mashup focuses on boy genius Hiro Hamada (Ryan Potter). Investigating the mysterious death of his brother, Hiro teams up with a group of teen superheroes and his brother’s last creation: a squishy nurse robot named Baymax (Scott Adsit). A tighter focus would’ve done the frenetic plot good, but its lush visuals and ambition make that hyperactivity forgivable. (And in Disney tradition, you will burst into tears at least once.) (PG)

Opens Nov. 7 in wide release