"Ted 2" (R): Writer-director Seth MacFarlane returns for this sequel to the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time, focusing on the further misadventures of a grown man (Mark Wahlberg) and his lewd, rude, living teddy bear (voiced by MacFarlane). Jason Statham and Rose Byrne co-star for writer-director Paul Feig ("Bridesmaids"). "Spy" (R): Melissa McCarthy gets out from behind her desk at her CIA analyst job and goes out into the field on a dangerous undercover mission. That's the premise behind "Self/less," a generic but still thought-provoking variation on science fiction's body switch formula. There's this thing called "shedding," an expensive, life-extension-by-transplanting-memories procedure. But that associate, knowing Damian's proximity to death, slips him a card. "Self/less" (PG-13): Ben Kingsley plays Damian, a sickly titan of New York real estate, estranged from his daughter (Michelle Dockery of "Downton Abbey"), with only a close business associate (Victor Garber) to confide in during his last days. "San Andreas" (PG-13): After a massive earthquake strikes the West Coast, California's only hope of survival is a search and rescue helicopter pilot played by - who else? - Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. "Minions" (PG): In this spin-off from the worldwide smash franchise "Despicable Me," the personable yellow servants of evil fall into a deep depression after all the world's mega-villains have retired, leaving them nothing to do. "Max" (PG): After a traumatic experience in Afghanistan, a military dog is taken in by a family in the U.S., where the canine's training turns out to unexpectedly handy.
Nobody will hear you over the girlish squeals of delight from the paying customers. But quibbling with "Magic Mike XXL" is like griping about the latest turns in the "Step Up" saga. The banter may be forced and the formula the film follows exhausted. "Magic Mike XXL" (R): The dancing is well-executed and staged, and the club scenes are fun. "Inside Out" (PG): Pixar Animation Studios has been getting some of its best reviews to date with this imaginative animated fantasy from director Pete Docter ("Up," "Monsters, Inc.") about the emotions inside a little girl's head, all of which speak in the voices of famous people (Amy Pohler, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling and others). "The Gallows" (R): A found-footage horror flick that concerns a fatally ill-advised revival of a play, this minimally clever addition to the existing pile of scares, fright and videotape doesn't seem likely to become a "Paranormal Activity"-type phenomenon.
"Jurassic World" (PG-13): Dinos reign again in this fourth entry of the Jurassic Park starring Chris Pratt (The LEGO Movie). "Cartel Land" (R): One of the most involving (and a double prize winner at Sundance) documentaries about the hellish morass that is the drug war in Mexico because of where its filmmakers managed to go and what they managed to show us.
As this Marvel juggernaut rolls relentlessly forward (the next movies are slated for 20), "Age of Ultron" feels like a story that tries its best to stay light on its feet, but gets dragged down by the weight of The Franchise. "Avengers: Age of Ultron" (PG-13): Earth's Mightiest Heroes, including Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, The Incredible Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye, are put to the ultimate test as they battle to save the planet from destruction at the hands of the villainous Ultron. "Amy" (R): Those looking for villains in the obscenely short life of British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse will find a few in "Amy," the new documentary about her life and death, including Winehouse herself.