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

THE BOY AND THE BEAST

Young Ren runs away from home and accidentally discovers a parallel world of monsters and beasts living alongside humanity — where he is quickly adopted by the gruff, belligerent bear-man Kumatetsu as an apprentice. Boy and bear develop a familial relationship before a whirlwind of plot points hustle us to the heated final showdown. Director Mamoru Hosoda (known for the remarkable Summer Wars) tries to tackle a myriad of topics in the film (beastly politics, teenage love, father-son dynamics, etc.), occasionally sacrificing storyline, character and animation fidelity in his ambition. But in this post-Miyazaki age of Japanese animation, who can blame a man for wanting to do more than the norm?

Opens March 4 at Kahala Theater

DOUGH

A curmudgeonly Jewish baker, Nat, and Ayyash, a young Muslim pot dealer, form an unexpectedly happy partnership when Nat takes the boy on as an apprentice in his traditional bakery. The mirth comes from their connection, despite their many differences — as well as an accidental batch of marijuana-infused bread that brings customers in like flies to honey. That being the crux of things, it’s safe to say that Dough isn’t exactly the subtlest of cinematic fare, but it’s jaunty and fun, and the good guys win in the end, and everyone is friends with everybody else — and sometimes that’s just the thing for this gloomy modern world.

Plays at 7:30 p.m. March 5, 13, 22 and 27; 1 p.m. March 8 and 24 at Doris Duke Theatre

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR

A grieving mother is unable to move on after her son dies in an accident, so her kindly Indian housekeeper recommends she visit an abandoned temple to speak with her child’s spirit, one last time — but, no matter what happens, don’t open the temple door. It goes without saying that she opens the door, unleashes a terrible spirit of vengeance on her family and suffers tremendously for her sin. So no, it’s not especially original, nor is it a particularly sensitive utilization of Indian culture (instead, random shallow tidbits are cherrypicked for maximum scare effect). There are seeds of what could’ve been an interesting movie and the performances are serviceable, but it’s better that this theater door stay closed.

Opens March 4 in wide release