TV film fare -- week of Jan. 30, 2022

NEW YORK (CNS) -- The following are capsule reviews of theatrical movies on network and cable television the week of Jan. 30. Please note that televised versions may or may not be edited for language, nudity, violence and sexual situations.

Tuesday, Feb. 1, 8-10 p.m. EST (TCM) "Young Mr. Lincoln" (1939). Henry Fonda gives a warm, ingratiating performance as the young country lawyer whose self-deprecating wit and commonsense intelligence are put to the test in defending an innocent youth charged with murder. Director John Ford is at his best in this leisurely slice of Americana that gains stature in credibly foreshadowing the homespun virtues which would soon propel young Abe into Illinois politics and the White House. Durable family fare that is as meaningful as it is entertaining. The Catholic News Service classification of the theatrical version was A-I -- general patronage. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association.

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 7:15-9 p.m. EST (Showtime) "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (1986). Director John Hughes turns in a lighthearted spoof about a teenager (Matthew Broderick) who has made a science out of truancy because he likes to take a break now and then to observe the world around him. The cheerfully implausible plot serves as the catalyst in changing the attitudes of his sister and best friend. Some vulgar language. The Catholic News Service classification of the theatrical version was A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association rating was PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Thursday, Feb. 3, 8-10 p.m. EST (TCM) "Born Yesterday" (1950). Witty social comedy from Garson Kanin's play about the moral transformation of a not-so-dumb blonde (Judy Holliday), who's the mistress of a corrupt government contractor (Broderick Crawford), after he pays a hard-up journalist (William Holden) to improve her mind. Director George Cukor gets much wry humor from the trio's shifting relationships as the reporter's introduction to political democracy, human rights and true romance finally pays off in the self-discovery of a liberated woman. Implied sexual relationship. The Catholic News Service classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. Not rated by the Motion Picture Association.

Saturday, Feb. 5, 8-10 a.m. EST (Showtime) "Barbershop 2: Back in Business" (2004). Raucous sequel which finds the owner (Ice Cube) of the titular storefront being squeezed by a slick businessman (Harry Lennix) bent on putting him out of business by opening a trendy super-salon directly across the street. Director Kevin Rodney Sullivan maintains the politically incorrect tone of the original, but if you listen carefully, you can hear a positive message about the importance of community, beneath the shouts and coarse comments of the colorful, though endearing, neighborhood characters (including Cedric the Entertainer). An implied sexual encounter, fleeting drug content, brief violence, and recurring crude language and humor, as well as profanity. The Catholic News Service classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating was R -- restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

Saturday, Feb. 5, 8-10:01 p.m. EST (A&E) "The Lego Movie" (2014). This lively animated adventure, populated by the toys of the title, centers on an ordinary construction worker (voice of Chris Pratt) who finds himself taken for a prophesied hero and propelled on a crusade to thwart an evil CEO's (voice of Will Ferrell) scheme to control the world. He's aided in the struggle by, among others, a tough but fetching underground activist (voice of Elizabeth Banks), her self-centered boyfriend, Batman (voice of Will Arnett), and the pixilated mystic who predicted the champion's arrival in the first place (voice of Morgan Freeman). Opposing them is the would-be dictator's principal minion (voice of Liam Neeson), a police officer torn between the good and bad sides of his own personality. Colorful, fast-paced and diverting for both young and old, directors and co-writers Phil Lord and Christopher Miller's film is also surprisingly pointed in its satire of conformist consumerism. A format-shifting conclusion showing family bonds trumping selfishness is another asset. Cartoon mayhem, some peril, a bit of mild scatological humor. The Catholic News Service classification of the theatrical version was A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association rating was PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

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Mulderig is on the staff of Catholic News Service.