Every Friday, Playback will roundup a selection of reviews of new Canadian films published in national and local newspapers as a handy guide to who’s saying what about the new theatrical releases.

Starbuck

The Toronto Star: 3.5/4 stars

Reviewed by Bruce DeMara: “With such a fertile concept in play, it’s no surprise that what unfolds is a wonderfully sweet and poignant comedy that goes in all kinds of unexpected directions.” Read the full review here.

The Globe and Mail: 3/4 stars

Reviewed by Stephen Cole: “Starbuck is unapologetic genre filmmaking with a winning performance from its lead, Huard (Bon Cop, Bad Cop), a shambling, likeable comedian who can flip, flop and fly off a diving board while maintaining his sex appeal.” Read the full review here.

The National Post: 3/5 stars

Reviewed by Chris Knight: “Starbuck picks up the notion of paternity and artificial insemination and gives birth to a sparkling crowd-pleaser” Read the full review here.

Now Magazine (Toronto): nn/nnnnn

Reviewed by Radheyan Simonpillai: Preposterous, manipulative and saccharine, Starbuck has all the ingredients of a sure-fire crowd-pleaser. Read the full review here.

La Presse (Montreal): 3.5/5

Review from July 27, 2011 (Quebec theatrical release) by André Duchesne: Ken Scott et le coscénariste Martin Petit ont su trouver l’équilibre qu’il fallait pour rendre l’ensemble crédible. (Ken Scott and co-writer Martin Petit were able to find a balance was needed to make the whole credible.) Read the whole review here.

Afghan Luke

The Toronto Star: 2.5/4 stars

Reviewed by: Peter Howell: “Ultimately Afghan Luke is more Jarhead than Apocalypse Now in its antiwar sentiments, in that muddled intentions are to blame more than malevolence, but the futility of war is powerfully expressed.” Read the whole review here.

The Globe and Mail: 1.5/4 stars

Reviewed by: Dave McGinn: “Few people will gain a greater understanding of Canada’s war from this movie. There are a handful of worthy moments, but it’s too bogged down in cliché. Apocalypse Now this is not.” Read the whole review here.

The National Post: rating not posted

Reviewed by Jay Stone: “This is a film that aspires to uncover the rough and ready chaos of an unknowable world (“You gotta play by Afghanistan rules, whatever the f–k they are,” is the film’s epiphany) but comes off more like a sitcom set in a battle zone. If war is hell, can it also be funny as hell?” Read the whole review here.

Now Magazine (Toronto): n/nnnnn

Reviewed by Norman Wilner: “If you enjoy watching actors yell at each other for what seems like an entire day, has [Clattenberg] got a movie for you.” Read the whole review here.