“Baywatch”

1.5 stars

It’s up to legendary lifeguard Lt. Mitch Buchannon (Dwayne Johnson) and his beach team to stop a crime wave that has hit their community like a bad-guy tsunami. At the same time, Buchannon must deal with a new recruit, Matt Brody (Zac Efron), an Olympics medal winner with a big ego and low I.Q. assigned the job to avoid jail time.

There are moments in this big screen adaptation of the syndicated series where the writers and director, Seth Gordon, look like they are making a spoof of the TV program that at one time was the most popular show on the planet. The few jokes that work poke fun at what was always the absurdity of the show: beautiful women running in slow motion, lifeguards solving crimes and beaches where the heavyset are turned away.

Each joke that comes close to working is followed by a tidal pool of stupid ideas and situations that are as painful as a 24-hour sunburn.

"Band Aid"

3 stars

Zoe Lister-Jones proves a formidable triple threat as writer-director-star with this smart blend of comedy and drama that looks at love and marriage.

A married couple — Anna (Lister-Jones) and Ben (Adam Pally) — spend more time fighting than being in love. The only peace they find is when they turn the negative energy of all their disputes into songs for the band they form.

As a writer, Lister-Jones finds a solid balance where both sides are right as much as they are wrong. She's brave in having this couple dig deep into the emotional abyss to find what they think will hurt the other the most. Then that action gives way to a quirky comedy moment — often provided by Fred Armisen — that keeps the viewer from bailing.

As a first-time director, Lister-Jones doesn't push too hard but this is a case where the writing is so good that all she needed to do was point the camera and let the actors do their jobs. That's especially true with Lister-Jones and Pally, who bring a deep honesty to their performances whether it is a brutal war of words or a silly song.

"Band Aid" is an impressive effort by Lister-Jones because it deals with love in a manner that never feels artificial or forced.

"Austin Found"

3 stars

This is a good example of how you should never judge a writer and/or director totally by their past credits. Such an evaluation of "Austin Found" director Will Raee and co-writer Brenna Graziano would offer no evidence they were capable of pulling of such a twisted tale about obsession with fame and fortune. But they turn in solid efforts.

To be fair, the director and writer get a big boost from Linda Cardellini who embraces the evil ways of Leanne Miller, a former beauty pageant contestant who's now a beauty pageant mom determined that either by hook or crook her daughter, Patty (Ursula Parker), will be a star. It's mostly by crook.

Raee and Graziano have put together a film that surpasses what their credits would suggest. It's very good work but there are a few problems. The chief miscue is the lack of a consistent tone for the production. There are moments when the film looks to be headed in the direction of the irreverent "Drop Dead Gorgeous." Then the movie turns deeply dark. It's a moment so heavy there seems no way the movie could turn away from the dark side in time for the closing credits.

“Designated Survivor: The Complete First Season”

3.5 stars

The series is based on what would happen if only one member of the president’s Cabinet survived a deadly attack. In this case, low-level Cabinet member Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) is thrust into being the president of the United States.

The first season of the ABC drama brilliantly blends all of the political moves the new president must go through along with the FBI’s efforts to investigate the deadly attack.

Sutherland brings just the right mix of uncertainty and confidence as he plays the man who must not only to find a new Cabinet and help get the Senate and House of Congress in order but he also has to handle threats from foreign nations and from the leaders of several states. This part harkens back to the best days of “The West Wing.”

“Designated Survivor” has a great “24” feel and not because of Sutherland. Maggie Q heads up the investigations like the Jack Bauer of the show.

Either part would make this a good series. Combined, it is one of the best new show from the 2016-2017 season.

“Gotham: The Complete Third Season”

3 stars

Making this series about what was happening in Gotham City before Bruce Wayne decided to slip into his cape and cowl set up a very dangerous situation for the producers. If they could not bank on Batman being the draw for the show, they were going to need someone else to save the day.

It looked like that would be Ben McKenzie as a young Jim Gordon. McKenzie’s done a good job, but the power of “Gotham” comes from the fascinating flock of foes that have turned Gotham into a criminal haven. Leading the way is Robin Lord Taylor who as the Penguin has taken the character from waves of madness to the depths of love and heartbreak. Taylor’s work is so good he rules the screen.

Stepping up is Cory Michael Smith whose role as The Riddler became fully developed in season three. He’s equally compelling as both the foil and friend to Penguin.