Saturday, December 29, 2012

Hyde Park on Hudson

☆☆☆1/2
+
In spite of the fact that “Hyde Park…” is about infidelity, it’s a charming story based on actual events (informed by Suckley’s diaries and correspondence with FDR).

Bill Murray (strong performance, Golden Globe Nominated) stars as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, who even through married to Eleanor (Olivia Williams), manages to have many extramarital escapades…including one with his distant cousin Daisy Suckley (spot-on performance by Laura Linney).

Samuel West and Olivia Colman add a great deal of humor as the King and Queen of England.
_
The film could be seen as too light on story.

It’s easy to forget that this is the president who is leading the country through the Great Depression.

Rated R
1 hr. 35 min.

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer.





Thursday, December 27, 2012

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

☆☆☆☆
+
In this visual masterpiece, Gandalf (Ian McKellen) recruits Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) to join forces with thirteen dwarves to reclaim the Kingdom of Erebor…lost to the dragon Smaug.

Excellent Special Effects
_
Too Long

The film would benefit by a few less battle scenes (or at least shorter battle scenes).

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 50 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.









Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away 3D

☆☆☆1/2
+
“Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away” is a young woman’s enchanting search for a circus performer through the worlds of Cirque du Soleil.

A story that allows viewers to see some of the best of several Cirque shows.
_
I disagree with critics that believe this film is a commercial for all of the Cirque shows.

The 3D should have been even better.

Some of the amazement of the real show is lost in movie format.


Rated PG
1 hr. 37 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.





Rise of the Guardians

☆☆☆
+
The kids will enjoy this tale of Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy, The Sandman, and Jack Frost joining forces to defend the world’s children against Pitch…the villain who threatens to rob them of their beliefs, dreams, and imaginations.

Excellent Animation
_
The “So-So” storyline may scare very young children.

Rated PG
1 hr. 37 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!



Sunday, December 16, 2012

Life of Pi

☆☆☆1/2
+
“Life of Pi” from director Ang Lee (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Brokeback Mountain”) is the fascinating story of Pi, a 16 year old who along with a Bengal tiger survived the sinking of a cargo ship.
As an adult, Pi tells the story to a writer…but there is a surprising twist.
_
A Little Long

The scenes of Pi (as an adult) recounting his story are a little distracting and may not have been necessary.

Rated PG
2 hr. 7 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!



Anna Karenina

☆☆☆
+
Director Joe Wright (“Pride and Prejudice,” “Atonement,” and “Hanna”) brings Tolstoy’s novel, “Anna Karenina” to the big screen with amazing costumes, art direction, and set design (possible Oscar consideration).
At times, Wright manages to dazzle viewers as he flawlessly moves from one scene to the next with beautifully unique and well-timed choreography.
_
His unique direction becomes so self-aware that it detracts from the story.
Keira Knightley is good…but it feels like this performance is similar to so many others…nothing new.

The film lacks emotion.

Rated R
2 hr. 10 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.






Sunday, December 2, 2012

Hitchcock

☆☆☆☆
+
“Hitchcock” is not only an entertaining behind the scenes look at the making of “Psycho,” but it is also an engaging glimpse into the personal life of one of the most influential filmmakers of the century.
Anthony Hopkins gives an excellent performance as Alfred Hitchcock, and Helen Mirren stars as Alma Reville...his powerful, talented (and at times jealous) wife.
All Star Cast Includes: Scarlett Johansson, Jessica Biel, James D’Arcy, and Toni Collette
_
The information regarding the strained relationship between Hitchcock and Reville is said to be factually inaccurate.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 38 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.






Silver Linings Playbook

☆☆☆☆
+
Writer-director David O. Russell provides an excellent balance of drama and comedy while dealing with a serious story of mental illness.
Pat Solitano (well-played by Bradley Cooper) moves in with his parents after eight months in a mental institution. He meets Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a woman dealing with her own set of problems, and the two face their demons head-on.

Solid Supporting Performances: Jackie Weaver and Robert De Niro
_
Predictable

Serious Subject – Some will laugh more than others.

Rated R
2 hr.

Visit the movie website and watch the trailer.














Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn: Part 2

☆☆☆1/2
+
“…Breaking Dawn – Part 2” tells the story of Renesmee (Bella and Edward’s daughter), who is mistakenly identified to the Volturi as an immortal child changed into a vampire.
The action and excitement begin as the Cullens family unite to save themselves and Renesmee.

This installment offers a great surprise and slightly better acting, special effects, and storyline.
_
Only One Gratuitous Shirtless Scene
Special effects could still be improved…only a few scenes where the effects are so bad they are distracting.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 55 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer!







Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Lincoln

☆☆☆☆1/2
+
Written by Tony Kushner and directed by Steven Spielberg, “Lincoln” is the engaging and very human story of the 16th President of the United States…played with great finesse by Daniel Day-Lewis (look for an Academy Award nomination).

Lincoln is portrayed as intelligent, flawed, soft-spoken, sensitive, and at the same time bigger-than-life. The film captures his quest to abolish slavery and ratify the 13th Amendment.

Sally Field skillfully captures the complicated Mary Todd Lincoln, and Tommy Lee Jones delivers an excellent performance as Thaddeus Stevens.

Extra half star for Day-Lewis' performance!
_
A Little Long

Underdeveloped story of Lincoln’s son Robert (Joseph Gordon-Levitt)

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 29 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.




Skyfall

☆☆☆☆
+
Director Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Revolutionary Road) brings us the best 007 installment yet. James Bond (strong performance by Daniel Craig) faces the bizarre mastermind villain Silva (award winning performance by Javier Bardem) to save M16.

Also starring Judi Dench, Ralph Fiennes, Albert Finney.
_
Many miss the old bond…haven’t accepted Daniel Craig as 007.

Visit the website and watch the trailer!


Rated PG-13
2 hr. 25 min.




Monday, November 12, 2012

Seven Psychopaths

☆☆☆1/2
+
“Seven Psychopaths,” from writer/director Martin McDonagh (“In Bruges”), is a truly entertaining dark comedy starring Colin Farrell as a struggling screenwriter who is trying to get through his latest project…with a little help from his psychopath best friend Billy (Sam Rockwell) and Billy’s psychopath partner in crime Hans (Christopher Walken).
_
It is a DARK comedy….violent in parts.
Sometimes it just feels wrong to laugh at a dark comedy.

Rated R
1 hr. 49 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.









Sunday, October 28, 2012

Cloud Atlas

☆☆☆1/2
+
“Cloud Atlas” is the engaging, epic drama exploring how the actions of one’s lifetime affect future lifetimes.

All-star-cast (Halle Berry, Tom Hanks, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Grant) deliver fine performances as multiple characters.
_
Confusing at times…difficult to tell how one person’s life was connected to and affecting their next life.

Subtitles would have helped at times.

Rated R
2 hr. 43 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.




Taken 2

☆☆1/2
+
With a little action and a little suspense “Taken 2” reunites viewers with CIA agent Bryan Mills (Liam Neeson), who invites his ex-wife and daughter to join him in Istanbul for a get-away that goes bad when the father of a man Mills killed (when saving his daughter in “Taken”) shows-up for revenge.
_
It’s just too close to “Taken.”

Why would Mills take his daughter and his ex-wife to a Istanbul?
In the main chase scene…it was amazing how Mills’ daughter (who doesn’t even have her license) drove like a pro through the streets of this foreign county.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 30 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.






Sunday, October 21, 2012

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

☆☆☆☆
+
“Perks…Wallflower” is the funny…yet stirring story of Charlie (strong and nuanced performance by Logan Lerman), a fifteen-year-old anxious about starting high school.
His year ends-up being filled with unexpected events: friends, love, and some real fun, but at the end of the school year a disturbing family secret…that Charlie had repressed since he was a young child…is revealed.

Emma Watson proves that she can play more than Harry Potter’s friend Hermione.
_
Needs stronger character development.
Some confusion here and there.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 43 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.













Sunday, October 14, 2012

Argo

☆☆☆☆1/2
+
Argo is a high-tension drama (with some much appreciated comedy relief) based on the covert operation concocted by Tony Mendez (strong performance by Ben Affleck) to rescue six Americans during the Iran hostage crisis by making a fake movie.

Based on true events that were declassified during the Clinton era.
_
Limited Character Development
Some say attention and praise is because of subject matter.

Rated R
2 hr.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.




Sunday, September 30, 2012

Pitch Perfect

☆☆☆☆
+
Rebel Wilson (Fat Amy) delivers the laughs in this laugh-out-loud comedy about an a cappella college group that gets a past-due makeover when Beca (Anna Kendrick) joins the team.

The perfect mix of fun, music, competition, and a little drama.
_
Some crude college humor...potty humor

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 52 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.








Trouble with the Curve

☆☆☆☆1/2
+
“Trouble…Curve” tells the heart-tugging story a father (Gus – Clint Eastwood) and his daughter (Mickey – extra star for Amy Adams' performance) trying to mend their broken relationship while on the road scouting baseball players.

Solid supporting performance by Justin Timberlake
_
Clint Eastwood plays the same character he has played in his last three movies (cranky old man).

Predictable


Rated PG-13
1 hr. 50 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.








Sunday, September 16, 2012

Arbitrage

☆☆☆☆
+
“Arbitrage” is the smart and engaging suspense thriller starring Richard Gere as Robert Miller, a New York businessman trying to complete the sale of his company before his fraud is revealed.

Excellent Performance by Richard Gere
_
You may find yourself rooting for Gere’s character as he digs himself deeper and deeper into trouble.

Rated R
1 hr. 40 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.









The Bachelorette

☆☆☆1/2

+
“Bachelorette” may have touches of “Bridesmaids” and even “The Hangover,” but it stands alone as a solid comedy about three high school friends (Regan: Kirsten Dunst, Katie: Isla Fisher, and Jenna: Lizzy Caplan)…fraught with personal issues and character flaws… getting back together to attend Becky’s wedding (another high school friend played by Rebel Wilson).
_
Yes…the girls are mean to Becky, but deep down they do care about her.

Rated R
1 hr. 31 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.





Monday, September 3, 2012

Hope Springs

☆☆☆

+
Once again Meryl Streep lights-up the screen…and is the best reason to see “Hope Springs,” the story of Kay, a woman determined to get her marriage to Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) back on track by travelling to a small town in Maine for a week of intense marriage counseling with Dr. Bernie Feld (Steve Carell).
_
We have two characters that are clearly stuck in a routine (we get it) and always grumpy (Arnold) or always unhappy (Kay).

Elisabeth Shue and Jean Smart are wasted in this film.


Rated PG-13
1 hr. 40 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.




Sunday, August 26, 2012

Premium Rush

☆☆☆1/2

+
Written and directed by David Koepp (writer: “Spider-Man,” “War of the Worlds”), “Premium Rush” is the well-paced action-packed story of a Manhattan bike messenger (good performance by the ubiquitous Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who is asked to make a delivery that puts his life in jeopardy.
_
Some may find they just don’t care much about the bike messenger culture or the types of bikes they ride (a lot of talk about Levitt’s super lightweight bike with no brakes and only one gear).


Rated PG-13
1 hr. 30 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.







ParaNorman

☆☆☆

+
Done in exceptional stop-motion animation, “ParaNorman” (written and co-directed by “Coraline’s” Chris Butler) is the story of a boy who can communicate with the dead…and is bullied because of it.

Great voice cast: Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, John Goodman, Leslie Mann, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse (aka McLovin’)
_
The story tries too hard to be more than it needs to be…especially when it becomes all about the curse put on Norman’s town by a witch centuries ago.

May be a little too scary for young children (Rated PG).

Stick around for the credits and see a time-lapse sequence showing how the animation team built Norman.

Rated PG
1 hr. 32 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer!




Wednesday, August 15, 2012

The Campaign

☆☆☆1/2

+
Ferrell (Cam Brady) and Galifianakis (Marty Huggins) deliver some laugh-out-loud moments as they go head-to-head in a crazy congressional race that turns ugly.
_
Galifianakis is one of the best in the comedy business...and he and Farrell deliver…but the story falls a little short.

Adult humor (language and situations)

Rated R
1 hr. 25 min.



Visit the official website and watch the trailer.









The Bourne Legacy

☆☆☆1/2


“…Legacy,” the fourth installment in the Bourne film series, gives viewers plenty of action and a solid story centering on the CIA Director’s decision to eliminate Operation Outcome, one of the Department of Defense’s black ops programs. Operation Outcome’s agent Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner) and scientist Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz) team-up in an attempt to avoid elimination.

Weisz and Renner make a great team.
_
No Matt Damon!

Some may be disappointed with the ending…definitely leaves the door open for a sequel.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 5 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.






Thursday, August 9, 2012

Beasts of the Southern Wild

☆☆☆☆

+
“Beasts…” is the riveting story of a six-year-old named Hushpuppy, who lives in The Bathtub (a Louisiana community on the wrong side of the levee) and faces Hurricane Katrina with her ailing father and the close-knit community.

Amazing performances by Quvenzhané Wallis (Hushpuppy) and Dwight Henry (Wink – Hushpuppy’s Father)
_
Viewers may be put off by the squalor in this dirt-poor community, irritated by the shaky camera, or confused by the fantasy elements


Rated PG-13
1 hr. 31 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.



Friday, August 3, 2012

The Dark Knight Rises

☆☆☆1/2

+
The much-anticipated action-adventure “The Dark Knight Rises” delivers a solid story that fans are sure to enjoy.
In this installment, Batman (Christian Bale)… after eight years in hiding because of assuming responsibility for the death of Harvey Dent…emerges to battle Bane, the masked terrorist who is planning to destroy Gotham.

Excellent performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Detective John Blake.
_
This installment feels a little long, and in spite of the decision to show very little blood…this is a violent movie.

Viewers may want to review the last few movies to completely understand the story…and the references to past storylines.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 45 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!



Thursday, July 26, 2012

Brave

☆☆☆1/2

+
Disney and Pixar bring us a truly enjoyable (and beautifully animated) Scottish fairy tale about a young princess named Merida who is a headstrong young woman who defies marital customs…bringing about trouble she doesn't anticipate.
_
Lacks emotional connection…and it is a little predictable.

Rated PG
1 hr. 33 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.



Sunday, July 22, 2012

Magic Mike

☆☆☆

+
In a story that gives a little more depth than expected, Channing Tatum plays Mike…a construction worker / entrepreneur by day and a headlining stripper by night...who befriends and teaches a 19-year-old (The Kid played by Alex Pettyfer – “Beastly”) all about dancing and the perks that come with it.
_
Some may be disappointed that this film is not just good-looking guys stripping…it also takes a look at the downside of the business (drugs, ego, and in this case a sleazy boss named Dallas…a little overplayed by Matthew McConaughey).

It's not a great movie...but better than expected.

Rated R
1 hr. 50 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer!



Friday, July 20, 2012

Madea's Witness Protection

☆☆☆

+
Once again writer, director, actor Tyler Perry brings us another outrageous (and funny) Madea adventure. This time Madea provides the home for George Needleman (Eugene Levy ) and his family…who have been placed in the witness protection program.
_
The story falls a little short…poor character development…and one of the most unlikely movie couples ever (Denise Richards and Eugene Levy)


Rated PG-13
1 hr. 54 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!




Saturday, July 7, 2012

Ted

☆☆☆1/2

+
“Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane, in his directorial debut, gives us a funny…and raunchy at times…story of a teddy bear named Ted (voiced by MacFarlane) that comes to life because of young boy’s (John played as an adult by Mark Wahlberg) wish.
At 35 John and Ted are still living together and getting into a lot of trouble…until girlfriend Lori (Mila Kunis) steps-in.
_
Keep the kids at home…this film is rated R for a reason.
Some potty humor and the kidnapping storyline is a little weak.


Rated R
1 hr. 55 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer!



Monday, July 2, 2012

Intouchables (Untouchables)

☆☆☆☆1/2

+
Take the time this summer to see a “real” story with a whole lot of humor and heart. The “Intouchables” (“Untouchables”) is a true story about an unlikely friendship between handicap millionaire (Francois Cluzet) and his ex-con caretaker (Omar Sy).
Cluzet and Sy give Oscar worthy performances.
_
Some of Driss’ jokes about Philippe’s handicap were uncomfortable at times, but the humor seemed to be fine with Philippe…always making him laugh.

Rated R
1 hr. 52 min.

Visit the movie website and see the trailer.



Saturday, June 30, 2012

People Like Us

☆☆☆

+
Filled with excellent performances (Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Hall D’Addario) and based on true-events, “People Like Us” is the story of Sam (Chris Pine: "Star Trek"), a young salesman that must face the family drama he has been avoiding for years, when his father suddenly dies leaving him with the job of finding and giving $150K to Frankie (Elizabeth Banks)…a sister he never knew existed.
_
Slow in parts...not quite enough story and emotion to grab us and make us care.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 55 min.


Visit the movie website and watch the trailer.



Sunday, June 24, 2012

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

☆☆1/2

+
Writer and Director Lorene Scafaria (“Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist”) gives us a mixed-up bag of comedy and drama in a story about Dodge (Steve Carell) and Penny (Keira Knightley) who find each other and form a bond the last few days before their world ends (due to an approaching asteroid).
_
Emotionally…the story is uneven and at times uncomfortable.
It’s hard to know whether to laugh, cry, or do both.

Rated R
1 hr. 40 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.




Monday, June 18, 2012

Rock of Ages

☆☆☆

+
If moviegoers go to Adam Shankman’s (“Hairspray”) “Rock of Ages” with an open mind…realizing this is a Broadway musical brought to the big screen…they will enjoy the story of a small town girl (Sherrie played by Julianne Hough) who moves to the big city to pursue her dreams and meets a boy (Drew played by Diego Boneta) on the Sunset Strip.

The story is told through the music of Def Leppard, Foreigner, Journey, Poison, REO Speedwagon, Twisted Sister and more.



_
Tom Cruise gives a fine performance (and sings well)…but his character is a drunken incomprehensible mess.

If you aren’t ready for a rock opera…stay home.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 3 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.



Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Moonrise Kingdom

☆☆1/2

+
In another quirky Wes Anderson tale…where it’s slightly easier to connect and care about the characters…young teens Sam and Suzy (played by newcomers Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward) run away together. Sam's Boy Scout troop (leader: Edward Norton), Suzy's parents (Bill Murray and Frances McDormand), and a local police officer (Bruce Willis) set out to find them before the looming storm hits.
_
As in several of Anderson’s other movies (“The Royal Tenenbaums” “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou,” and “Fantastic Mr Fox”) the characters are so peculiar that it is difficult to care about them.

Anderson’s fans will enjoy “Moonrise…”
A few people in the theater were laughing out loud.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 33 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.



Monday, June 11, 2012

Prometheus

☆☆☆

+
Prometheus (directed by Ridley Scott: “Alien” and “Blade Runner”) is the engaging sci-fi story of a group of explorers who are led by a star map into the universe to find the origins of mankind.

Noomi Rapace (“The Girl…Tattoo” 2010) gives an excellent performance as lead scientist…Elizabeth Shaw.
_
Confusing at Times
Unanswered Questions
Terrible Make-Up (Guy Pearce as Peter Weyland)


Rated R
2 hr. 4 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer!



Monday, June 4, 2012

Snow White and the Huntsman

☆☆☆1/2

+
In this dark and entertaining twist on the familiar fairy tale, Kristen Stewart gives a solid performance (much stronger than “Twilight’s” Bella) as Snow White, who with the help of the huntsman (Chris Hemsworth), battles the evil queen (Charlize Theron) to take back the crown.

Excellent Special Effects
Make-Up worthy of an Oscar nomination
_
In spite of preconceived ideas about Stewart’s acting and many negative reviews…this film deserves a chance.
It is worth seeing!

It is too dark and violent for young children.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 7 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.

Monday, May 28, 2012

MIB³ (Men in Black 3)

☆☆1/2
+
Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones provide a few laughs in their return as Agents J and K in “Men in Black 3.”
Agent J time travels back to the 1960’s to keep an alien (Boris the Animal) from killing Agent K and destroying the world.

Josh Brolin gives a great performance as the younger Agent K.
_
The story falls flat, time-travel doesn’t make sense, and the feel good ending raises a lot of questions.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 45 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

☆☆☆☆1/2
+
Director John Madden gives us the right mix of comedy and drama in the “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” where we get to know (well-developed characters) seven British retirees who come to India to stay in the “newly restored” Marigold Hotel.

The accommodations are not what they expected…and either are the events that change their lives.

Excellent Cast and Performances: Dev Patel (“Slumdog Millionaire”), Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Penelope Wilton, Maggie Smith
_
If you want an action adventure this film is not for you.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 3 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.












Sunday, May 13, 2012

Dark Shadows

☆☆☆
+
In this fun and well-played vampire romantic comedy (written by Seth Grahame-Smith and John August), Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp)
is released in 1972 after being forced by a jealous witch (Angelique:Eva Green) to spend two centuries in a locked coffin.
Michelle Pfeiffer and Helena Bonham Carter give spot-on performances.
_
“Dark Shadows” could have been (and should have been) funnier with a stronger story.
We don’t get to know the supporting characters that could have added so much to the story.

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 53 min.

Visit the official website and watch the trailer.






Sunday, May 6, 2012

The Avengers

☆☆☆☆1/2
+
In this action-packed adventure…filled with laughs…the superheroes (Thor (Chris Hemsworth), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Captain America (Chris Evans), Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), and the Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson)) come together to take on Loki, who is out to destroy the world.

Already knowing these characters from previous movies, allows director Joss Whedon to jump right into a story that is loaded with top-notch special effects, pacing, and acting.
_
The attack on New York City felt very similar to a few other blockbusters.

Don’t leave too early...two extra scenes...one during...and one after the credits.

Rated PG-13
2 hr. 22 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.













Saturday, May 5, 2012

The Five-Year Engagement

☆☆☆
+
In this amusing romantic comedy, Jason Segel and Emily Blunt star as Tom and Violet a newly engaged San Francisco couple who are desperately trying to make it to the altar…but life gets in the way.

Emily Blunt and Chris Pratt give solid performances.
_
Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller’s screenplay will make you laugh and maybe even make you cry…but the movie is too long, the pacing is wrong, and the tone is uneven.



Rated R
2 hr. 4 min.

Visit the official website and see the trailer.










Friday, April 27, 2012

Chimpanzee

☆☆☆☆
+
Filmed in the jungles of Africa over a 3 year period, this documentary not only examines the fascinating day-to-day life of the chimpanzee, but it also tells the charming story of a newborn chimp named Oscar…who faces danger after losing his mother…but a surprising adoption saves Oscar’s life.
_
Don’t leave too early. Stay for the credits to get a glimpse of the filming of “Chimpanzee.”

Rated G
1 hr. 17 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer!



Saturday, April 14, 2012

Bully

☆☆☆☆

+
Directed by Lee Hirsch, “ Bully” is the heart wrenching, and at times infuriating, documentary that examines America’s bullying epidemic.
This must-see-film tells the story of how five bullied students, their families, and their school administrators deal with this serious problem.
_
“Bully” falls short in it’s examination of the problem…we don’t get a chance to learn about the bullies themselves. Why do they bully? What are their family dynamics? How do they feel about what they are doing? Do they realize they are bullies?

Rated PG-13
1 hr. 34 min.


Visit the movie website.

Click here to see the trailer!


Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Mirror Mirror

☆☆☆1/2

+
“Mirror Mirror,” a fun and fresh new spin on the tale of Snow White, stars Julia Roberts as the wicked queen who is determined to take Snow White’s (Lily Collins) throne and handsome prince (Armie Hammer).
_
Some don’t want yet another take on this familiar tale.

Rated PG
1 hr. 35 min.

Visit the website and watch the trailer.



Friday, April 6, 2012

Jeff, Who Lives at Home

☆☆1/2

+
Writers and directors, Jay and Mark Duplass ("Cyrus") put together a solid cast and offer-up a few laughs in a story about Jeff (Jason Segel), who is 30 and still lives at home, his widowed mother Sharon (Susan Sarandon), and his estranged brother Pat (Ed Helms).
_
In spite of a cast that elevates the humor and storyline…when you put together a 30-year-old pot smoking loser, an unhappy marriage, a cheating wife, and two feuding brothers…it’s hard to find much to laugh about.

Rated R
1 hr. 23 min.

Visit the website and see the trailer.