3.5 stars
Comedy
Good for a few laughs. Owen Wilson and Jason Sudekis (SNL) receive a one week pass from marriage from their wives (Jenna Fischer of “The Office” and Christina Applegate). Richard Jenkins co-stars but someone should tell him he looks like Freddy Kruger in that hat! I have to say the best laugh was before the hall passes were granted, so keep that in mind. Some raunchy language and nudity, but nothing excessive. Have a couple of beers before viewing to enhance the laughs. I still give it a better than average rating and enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Another Year
1.5 stars
British, Depressing
So boring!! Also long, slow and depressing. I actually dozed off in the middle of it and didn’t miss anything. Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen star as a well-adjusted, happily married couple who entertain their dysfunctional, alcoholic friends - most notably Leslie Manville and Peter Wight. Manville’s character is a desperate singleton who has a cringe-worthy crush on Sheen’s much younger son. The film starts with an excruciatingly long doctor’s appointment of a depressed woman, but then the woman is never mentioned again in the film. Why? Broadbent (Bridget Jones’s dad, and a Harry Potter professor) and Sheen (Run, Fatboy, Run) are both lovable actors, but they couldn’t save this depressing and oh-so-boring story. And to think I wasted a free pass on this loser! Skip it.
British, Depressing
So boring!! Also long, slow and depressing. I actually dozed off in the middle of it and didn’t miss anything. Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen star as a well-adjusted, happily married couple who entertain their dysfunctional, alcoholic friends - most notably Leslie Manville and Peter Wight. Manville’s character is a desperate singleton who has a cringe-worthy crush on Sheen’s much younger son. The film starts with an excruciatingly long doctor’s appointment of a depressed woman, but then the woman is never mentioned again in the film. Why? Broadbent (Bridget Jones’s dad, and a Harry Potter professor) and Sheen (Run, Fatboy, Run) are both lovable actors, but they couldn’t save this depressing and oh-so-boring story. And to think I wasted a free pass on this loser! Skip it.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
I Am Number Four
Sci-Fi, Action
3.5 stars
Fun flick about child-aliens growing up as humans who are destined to unite and save the earth from the ugly evil aliens who want to destroy it. The problem is there were only nine child-aliens saved and the evil aliens have already killed off three. There’s a bit of teen drama and boy-meets-girl drama, but the special effects were fun and I loved the giant monsters near the end. As with most sci-fi flicks, it’s slightly corny, but on the whole I liked it. Stars include Alex Pettyfer (Beastly) as “Number Four”, Timothy Olyphant (“Justified”) as his guardian, Dianna Agron (“Glee”) as his love interest, and Callan McAuliffe (Flipped) as a sci-fi geek. Left wide open for a sequel. Only for sci-fi lovers.
3.5 stars
Fun flick about child-aliens growing up as humans who are destined to unite and save the earth from the ugly evil aliens who want to destroy it. The problem is there were only nine child-aliens saved and the evil aliens have already killed off three. There’s a bit of teen drama and boy-meets-girl drama, but the special effects were fun and I loved the giant monsters near the end. As with most sci-fi flicks, it’s slightly corny, but on the whole I liked it. Stars include Alex Pettyfer (Beastly) as “Number Four”, Timothy Olyphant (“Justified”) as his guardian, Dianna Agron (“Glee”) as his love interest, and Callan McAuliffe (Flipped) as a sci-fi geek. Left wide open for a sequel. Only for sci-fi lovers.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Cedar Rapids
Comedy
3.5 stars
I liked it. Ed Helms (The Hangover) stars as an insurance salesman who’s never been outside of his small town in Wisconsin, and goes to Cedar Rapids for a convention where he meets the loud and crazy John C. Reilly. Helm’s character is a sweetly sheltered man-child who tries to resist the crazy antics of the raunchy Reilly. Co-stars include Sigourney Weaver, Anne Heche, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and Kurtwood Smith (“That 70’s Show”). Reilly’s profane tongue is a bit much, but it’s a good movie.
3.5 stars
I liked it. Ed Helms (The Hangover) stars as an insurance salesman who’s never been outside of his small town in Wisconsin, and goes to Cedar Rapids for a convention where he meets the loud and crazy John C. Reilly. Helm’s character is a sweetly sheltered man-child who tries to resist the crazy antics of the raunchy Reilly. Co-stars include Sigourney Weaver, Anne Heche, Isiah Whitlock Jr., and Kurtwood Smith (“That 70’s Show”). Reilly’s profane tongue is a bit much, but it’s a good movie.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Just Go With It
Comedy, Dumb
1 star
Truly tasteless and excruciating to watch. Adam Sandler meets the girl of his dreams, Brooklyn Decker, but designs a web of lies to pretend he’s getting divorced from Jennifer Aniston, who is actually his employee. The title refers to an acting improvisation rule of just going with whatever your fellow actor is doing or saying. Since Sandler has created an entire fake family, they all must “just go with it”, or play off one another to fool Decker. When will I learn that Adam Sandler = lousy movie? And why would Nicole Kidman agree to play an excruciatingly bad role as Aniston’s nemesis? I didn’t laugh once.
1 star
Truly tasteless and excruciating to watch. Adam Sandler meets the girl of his dreams, Brooklyn Decker, but designs a web of lies to pretend he’s getting divorced from Jennifer Aniston, who is actually his employee. The title refers to an acting improvisation rule of just going with whatever your fellow actor is doing or saying. Since Sandler has created an entire fake family, they all must “just go with it”, or play off one another to fool Decker. When will I learn that Adam Sandler = lousy movie? And why would Nicole Kidman agree to play an excruciatingly bad role as Aniston’s nemesis? I didn’t laugh once.
The Eagle
Drama, Action
2.5 stars
Well, Jim liked it. Channing Tatum as a Roman warrior who brings his slave (Jamie Bell, the star of Billy Elliot) north of Hadrian’s Wall to fight Scottish barbarians (my ancestors!) for a golden eagle that Tatum’s father had lost in battle – as well as losing his life and 5,000 soldiers’ lives. It’s not terrible, but it’s a “guy movie” with lots of journeying through forests with intermittent fighting and bloodshed to regain honor. The scenery was beautiful. Donald Sutherland co-stars as Tatum’s uncle. Wait for cable.
2.5 stars
Well, Jim liked it. Channing Tatum as a Roman warrior who brings his slave (Jamie Bell, the star of Billy Elliot) north of Hadrian’s Wall to fight Scottish barbarians (my ancestors!) for a golden eagle that Tatum’s father had lost in battle – as well as losing his life and 5,000 soldiers’ lives. It’s not terrible, but it’s a “guy movie” with lots of journeying through forests with intermittent fighting and bloodshed to regain honor. The scenery was beautiful. Donald Sutherland co-stars as Tatum’s uncle. Wait for cable.
Monday, February 7, 2011
The Roommate
Horror, Psychological
3.5 stars
Decent flick though the plot is blatantly stolen from 1992’s Single White Female. Leighton Meester is one scary psycho b*itch who gets assigned to share a dorm room with Minka Kelly, and doesn’t want to share her new-found friend with anyone. Costars include Cam Gigandet (Burlesque) as Kelly’s new love interest, Alyson Mikalka (Easy A, “Hellcats”) as a classmate and Billy Zane (Titanic) as a handsome professor. While not as good as what I can recall of Single White Female, it’s still fun to see some cattiness and jealousy with a touch of gore.
3.5 stars
Decent flick though the plot is blatantly stolen from 1992’s Single White Female. Leighton Meester is one scary psycho b*itch who gets assigned to share a dorm room with Minka Kelly, and doesn’t want to share her new-found friend with anyone. Costars include Cam Gigandet (Burlesque) as Kelly’s new love interest, Alyson Mikalka (Easy A, “Hellcats”) as a classmate and Billy Zane (Titanic) as a handsome professor. While not as good as what I can recall of Single White Female, it’s still fun to see some cattiness and jealousy with a touch of gore.
The Mechanic
Action
3.5 stars
A “guy flick” starring Jason Statham as a hit man who reluctantly mentors a volatile wannabe (Ben Foster). Lots of action and explosions and shootouts. Statham was good as usual as a straightforward butt-kicker. The suspense was waiting for the hot-tempered Foster’s fuse to blow. This is a remake of the 1972 film with Charles Bronson. Jim loved it. I think Jim now owes me a chick flick. Donald Sutherland co-stars. From a girl’s point of view, it was a decent action flick.
3.5 stars
A “guy flick” starring Jason Statham as a hit man who reluctantly mentors a volatile wannabe (Ben Foster). Lots of action and explosions and shootouts. Statham was good as usual as a straightforward butt-kicker. The suspense was waiting for the hot-tempered Foster’s fuse to blow. This is a remake of the 1972 film with Charles Bronson. Jim loved it. I think Jim now owes me a chick flick. Donald Sutherland co-stars. From a girl’s point of view, it was a decent action flick.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Valentine DVD recommendations, with"manly" male leads guys should like:
Chocolat - Julliette Binoche as a mystical chocolatier in a quaint French village, with Johnny Depp as a roving gypsy
A Good Year - Russell Crowe stars as jerk who inherits his grandfather's gorgeous estate in the French countryside and falls for Marion Cotillard.
French Kiss: Meg Ryan goes to Paris to win back her former fiance, Timothy Hutton, but needs the help of dodgy but hilarious Kevin Kline.
Knight & Day: Action adventure with Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise. Lots of explosions and shootouts.
The Love Letter: A love letter appears, and everyone wants to believe it was written for themselves. Very funny, Tom Selleck, Tom Everett Scott, Kate Capshaw, Ellen DeGenerous.
Casablanca: C'mon, it's the best movie of all time! Bogie and Bergman meet again in Morocco after being separated in the war.
An Affair to Remember: Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr meet on a cruise, then agree to meet at the top of the Empire State Bldg on a certain date. Classic!
A Good Year - Russell Crowe stars as jerk who inherits his grandfather's gorgeous estate in the French countryside and falls for Marion Cotillard.
French Kiss: Meg Ryan goes to Paris to win back her former fiance, Timothy Hutton, but needs the help of dodgy but hilarious Kevin Kline.
Knight & Day: Action adventure with Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise. Lots of explosions and shootouts.
The Love Letter: A love letter appears, and everyone wants to believe it was written for themselves. Very funny, Tom Selleck, Tom Everett Scott, Kate Capshaw, Ellen DeGenerous.
Casablanca: C'mon, it's the best movie of all time! Bogie and Bergman meet again in Morocco after being separated in the war.
An Affair to Remember: Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr meet on a cruise, then agree to meet at the top of the Empire State Bldg on a certain date. Classic!
The Rite
Horror, Exorcism
4 stars
Good movie starring Anthony Hopkins as an exorcist in Rome who mentors a recent seminary school graduate lacking faith, Colin O’Donoghue. It’s really only for people who enjoy this genre (like me). I liked the special effects, especially with Hopkins’s face. While not an original premise, it’s creepy, a little scary and fun!
4 stars
Good movie starring Anthony Hopkins as an exorcist in Rome who mentors a recent seminary school graduate lacking faith, Colin O’Donoghue. It’s really only for people who enjoy this genre (like me). I liked the special effects, especially with Hopkins’s face. While not an original premise, it’s creepy, a little scary and fun!
From Prada to Nada
Chick Flick
3.5 stars
I liked it. Two Mexican-American sisters find themselves moving from a posh lifestyle in Beverly Hills to slumming it in East L.A. I was expecting a comedy, but this is really more of a story of embracing one’s roots. The sisters are opposites: one is bookish (Camilla Belle) and the other is a girlie shopaholic (Alexa Vega), who were never really exposed to their Mexican roots until moving in with their aunt (Adriana Barraza). Wilmer Valderrama co-stars as a tough but sweet neighbor. There is romance and heartbreak, it’s predictable and cheesy, but overall I still liked the story’s message. I’m not so sure East L.A. is as warm and fuzzy as they make it out to be, but the message is about the warmth of family, friends and their culture. Only for chick flick lovers.
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