Friday movie roundup: Float on | The Salt Lake Tribune

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Water battles or water breaking? That's the choice of new movies this weekend.

"Battleship" - inspired by the classic board game - serves up Michael Bay-style militarized bombast, in an obnoxiously loud action thriller that pits U.S. Navy ships against alien invaders at sea. Director Peter Berg mashes up elements of "Transformers," "Pearl Harbor" and "Armageddon" in one brainless package.

"What to Expect When You're Expecting" - inspired by the self-help book - is an uneven comedy following five women through impending motherhood. Some of the performers, like Cameron Diaz as a celebrity fitness trainer, are annoying. Others, notably Anna Kendrick's turn as a food-truck chef knocked up after a one-night stand with a rival cook (Chace Crawford), are quite touching. The best jokes come from "The Dudes Group," a collection of stroller-pushing dads led by Chris Rock.

Best of the week is "Sound of My Voice," with another star turn by actress/screenwriter Brit Marling ("Another Earth"). Here, she plays an enigmatic cult leader who claims to be from the future, and whose words unnerve two would-be investigative journalists. The movie's sparse style highlights Marling's ethereal screen presence.

Lastly, there's "First Position," a documentary about the young dancers in an international ballet competition. Director Bess Kargman draws some compelling portraits of the dancers, but doesn't show enough of the dancing.

Also, if you missed it on Wednesday, "The Dictator" is out there for your raunch-comedy needs.