SEALs ‘Valor’s’ high, low points

“Act of Valor”: This action film’s claim to fame is that it stars active-duty Navy SEALs. The problem is that these stoic warriors infect “Act of Valor” with more wooden acting than you’d see at a ventriloquism school. (1:41, for strong violence including some torture, and for language) • 1/2

“Machine Gun Preacher”: Gerard Butler stars in the brawny biopic of Sam Childers, an American biker and junkie turned missionary in East Africa, where he builds schools and orphanages and does battle with savage militia fighters. Cartoonish heroics and domestic strife ensue. (2:03, R for violent content including disturbing images, language, some drug use and a scene of sexuality) • •

“Safe House”: Denzel Washington is a former top op gone rogue and Ryan Reynolds is the CIA newbie assigned to keep watch over him, when all heck breaks loose. A smart, propulsive espionage thriller, with jolting chase sequences (shot in Cape Town), even if it eventually falls back on spy movie conventions. (1:57, R for strong violence throughout and some language) • • •

“Tomboy”: Sun-dappled account of a young French girl who moves to a new suburb and pretends to be a boy. (1:24, Not rated) • • •