NEW YORK (OSV News) – The following are capsule reviews of theatrical movies available now for streaming or scheduled for broadcast on network or cable television during the week of April 12, as well as notes on TV programming for the same week. Televised films may or may not be edited for language, nudity, violence and sexual situations while the programs listed have not been reviewed and therefore are not necessarily recommended by OSV News.

Streaming Now:

"Hitch" (2005; Amazon Prime)

Entertaining, if not totally convincing, old-fashioned romance about a highly successful "date doctor" (Will Smith), who helps shy men woo the women they love but are too timid to approach. He falls for a gossip columnist (Eva Mendes) who just happens to be on the trail of an heiress (Amber Valletta) who is dating one of his clients (Kevin James), leading to predictable complications. Andy Tennant's film is a refreshing throwback to the lighthearted fare that Hollywood used to produce. Nicely devoid of gratuitous sexual situations, it possesses a good moral tone and contains appealing performances. But the script just misses being a total success because of some implausible plot turns, while the broadness of some gags undermines the realistic foundation so essential to the best comedies. A few instances of profane, rough and crude language, one brief sexual situation and mature thematic elements. The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

"Minions: The Rise of Gru" (2022: Netflix)

A '70s vibe adds verve to this animated origin story of the paradoxically good-hearted would-be supervillain of the title (voice of Steve Carell). A preteen in the days of disco, he already yearns to join a crew of famed criminals (their founder voiced by Alan Arkin) and, in an effort to impress them, swipes a jewel-studded pendant endowed with magical powers. But complications imperil him, and the diminutive, comically incomprehensible creatures whom he's taken under his wing scramble to rescue their beloved leader. The laughs come frequently in director Kyle Balda's addition to a franchise that began with 2010's "Despicable Me" and the script's emphasis on loyalty, teamwork and true friendship is pleasing. Yet the fact that the gang the protagonist aspires to join includes a traditionally habited nun (voice of Lucy Lawless) may prove slightly grating to parents of faith, though her screen time is fleeting. Much comic mayhem, brief irreverent and mild scatological humor, glimpses of partial rear cartoon nudity. The OSV News classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG -- parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.

"West Side Story" (2021; Hulu)

Splendid second film version of the classic 1957 Broadway musical, directed by Steven Spielberg. As it charts the romance of its modern-day Romeo and Juliet, Manhattan slum dwellers Tony (Ansel Elgort) and Maria (Rachel Zegler), and their effort to cross the ethnic divide that separates them, a division embodied and intensified by the escalating feud between the white gang to which he belongs (led by Mike Faist) and the Hispanic one headed by her brother (David Alvarez), Tony Kushner's script adheres more closely to the stage play than the 1961 movie. It also amplifies the Latino flavor of the kinetic proceedings by giving characters, including Maria's best friend, Anita (Ariana DeBose), and Tony's kindly patron, Valentina (Rita Moreno), dialogue in Spanish. By turns celebratory and heartbreaking, Spielberg's masterful enhancement of the already brilliant work of composer Leonard Bernstein, lyricist Stephen Sondheim, playwright Arthur Laurents and choreographer Jerome Robbins, on whose concept the show was based, will captivate grown-ups. However, while Catholic elements are, if anything, more prominent than in the earlier picture, the new take also involves a living arrangement at odds with, and an implied encounter at least in tension with, church teaching. Possibly acceptable for older teens. Mostly stylized violence with minimal gore, an attempted gang rape, cohabitation, offscreen premarital sexual activity, about a dozen uses of profanity, at least one milder oath, some crude and crass talk. The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Looking Ahead:

Sunday, April 12, 9 a.m.-noon EDT (AMC) "Moneyball" (2011). Based on the book by Michael Lewis, this enjoyable, thinking person's sports movie centers on the real-life general manager (Brad Pitt) of baseball's Oakland Athletics who, together with a young statistician (Jonah Hill), gambles on a new approach to the game and fields a team with a comparatively miniscule payroll. Director Bennett Miller, working from a script by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, has crafted a mature, humorous and modest film that will appeal to aficionados and nonfans alike. Respectful of America's pastime yet eager to spur positive change, it relays a timeless, double-headed piece of wisdom: Money can't buy baseball pennants or happiness. Two uses of rough language, some crude and crass talk, an instance of sexual banter, a few sexist remarks and a scene in which a player's religiosity is treated in a sarcastic manner. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating was PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Sunday, April 12, 1-3:45 p.m. EDT (EWTN) "Mass and Celebration of Divine Mercy." Live broadcast from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Massachusetts (TV-G -- general audience).

Wednesday, April 15, 8-10 p.m. EDT (TCM) "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" (1958). Exciting Arabian Nights adventure with Sinbad (Kerwin Matthews) battling a one-eyed Cyclops, a two-headed Roc, a ferocious dragon and a sword-wielding skeleton to rescue a princess (Kathryn Grant) from a wicked magician (Torin Thatcher). Director Nathan Juran creates a satisfying action fantasy that will enthrall youngsters without boring their parents. Some scary scenes with menace and stylized violence. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-I -- general patronage. The Motion Picture Association rating was G -- general audiences. All ages admitted.

Wednesday, April 15, 9-10 p.m. EDT (PBS) "Athens: Birth of Democracy." This episode of the series "Nova" chronicles archaeological investigations into the origins of democracy in Greece 2,500 years ago.

Saturday, April 18, 2:30-4:15 p.m. EDT (TCM) "Crossfire" (1947). Tightly wound thriller in which a police detective (Robert Young) investigating a murder case links the fact that the victim (Sam Levene) was a Jew to a rabid bigot among a group of soldiers (Robert Ryan, Robert Mitchum and others). Director Edward Dmytryk handles the theme of anti-Semitism directly yet with some sensitivity as the convincing story of a hate crime is unraveled by a persistent cop. Stylized violence, considerable psychological tension and some racist epithets. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-II -- adults and adolescents. Not rated by the Motion Pictures Association.

Saturday, April 18, 7:37-9:23 p.m. EDT (Cinemax) "Trap" (2024). A suburban family man who is also a brutal serial killer (Josh Hartnett) brings his teen daughter (Ariel Donoghue) to a concert by her favorite pop star (Saleka Night Shyamalan) only to discover that the authorities (led by profiler Hayley Mills) had a clue indicating he would be there and now have him completely surrounded. Writer-director M. Night Shyamalan's thriller, which also features Alison Pill as the murderer's wife, is an odd mix of interesting plot twists and yawning improbabilities. But the action is restrained, objectionable elements are few and, to the extent that any message is conveyed, it's that decent people can be almost as resourceful as a homicidal maniac. Probably acceptable for older teens. Mature themes, brief harsh violence, a few gory images, a couple of instances each of profanity and crass talk, numerous milder oaths, a single rough term. The OSV News classification of the theatrical version was A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association rating was PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.- - - John Mulderig is media reviewer for OSV News. Follow him on X @JohnMulderig1.