The Elton John-produced “Rocketman” by far surpasses last year’s neutered and insulting Freddie Mercury flick “Bohemian Rhapsody” and, even beyond that slightly unfair comparison point, is a pretty fabulous ode to a legend.

From spectacular set pieces to colors that threaten to overwhelm the screen to dance numbers that give the old classic Disney tunes a modernized lift, there’s no denying this new “Aladdin” intends to entertain. But live action can’t do everything animation can.

Maybe this enjoyable but vacant picture should have leaned fully into its pop influences and let a hazy, music video aesthetic run wild, rather than trying to anchor it all in so much dreary reality.

“Shazam” manages to meld age-changing “Big” hijinks with a sugary sweet heart and stellar lead performances to create something that almost puts it in the category of top-tier superhero fare.

“Alita: Battle Angel” is bombastic and wildly imaginative, and it spins one of the first relatively decent adaptations of a manga series. But that bar is low, and “Alita” is also relentlessly dumb.

It’s easiest to look at “Arctic” and think of it as a mystifyingly produced endurance test – both for star Mads Mikkelsen and its viewers.

“What Is Democracy?” is vast in its exploration of politics from ancient Greece to today’s U.S. upheaval, juxtaposing everyone from trauma paramedics to Marxist theorists, and has sheer ambition that elevates it above just being a rehashed history lesson.

The characters in Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest all still do wretched things to one another – but this is the most the director has ever signaled empathy for his characters, making for an enriching picture and, hilariously, his most accessible.

In “Shoplifters” every truth builds on secrets, and moments of hope tremble precariously over defeat. Director Hirokazu Koreeda never lets his characters or audience forget there’s no possibility for “more” without the chance of loss.

There is no arguing the sugary, high level octane this picture operates on – desperate to please, but only in a family-friendly manner that doesn’t offend and, in the end, doesn’t inspire.