Crazy, Stupid, Love

Cal Weaver's wife has had an affair and wants a divorce.  He sadly complies and winds up in a bar airing his dirty laundry to anyone that will listen.  A young ladies man takes him under his wing and schools him in the modern dating scene.

This movie actually had several funny parts.  Aside from the pathetic ending, where the whole thing takes a huge nose dive, I would say that it was decent.  It is very funny and accurate as it portrays the typical 40 year old divorced man that doesn't have a clue how to date and even after he is mentored and becomes obnoxiously arrogant in his ability to seduce women still doesn't get it.

The cast is pretty fun, but the story lines are mismanaged and unbalanced.  Way too much time is spent on Cal (Steve Carell) and not enough on Jacob (Ryan Gosling) who really steals the show.  The characters are all really well developed and horrifically astute. Anyone, particularly females that are currently dabbling in the dating scene, will appreciate how dumb men on the prowl are. At the same time it is unbelievable how many women fall for their nonsense.

Shrewd, Clever, Poignant, Ridiculous, And about 20 minutes too long.

** 1/2 Rentable


Rated PG-13 (for sexual content and language)

Cowboys and Aliens

A man with no memory of who he is finds himself in a small dried up mining town.  He quickly gets himself into trouble with the law and it is discovered that he is a wanted outlaw.  As he is about to be hauled off to the federal marshals office bright lights from the sky change everything for him and the towns folk.

I remember seeing previews for this movie and thinking this is either going to be absolutely genius or a complete flop there will be no in between.... so imagine my surprise when it turned out to be kind of middle of the roadish.

OK so here's the deal.  We have a movie about Cowboys of the old west fighting against Aliens from afar.  So I thought it would be all about how old fashion Cowboy and Indian ingenuity beats out Alien technology.  It's not.  It should have been, but it's not.  Our hero seems to come pre-armed with a piece of alien weaponry and that is the only way they are able to really make any progress with the aliens. Not only that, but there are a few bumps and hitches along the way that are totally unnecessary, they neither further the story nor glorify the old west just simply unload alien information.

Anyway in terms of film making it is very true to slick western cinema.  Not as humorous as expected but I suppose they tried to stay away from a Men in Black feel.  The problem with that is it almost comes off as a Western version of Predator.  I don't know.  Harrison Ford was fantastic.  Perhaps his best role since Indiana Jones.  It was a fun twist on a traditional western but again I wanted it to be more about how the west was won by Cowboys with six shooters, not Cowboys with light sabers.  Oh well.

** 1/2 Rentable


Rated PG-13 (for violence)

Captain America: The First Avenger

Steve Rogers, a scrawny sickly, little man desperately wants to join the United States Army.  He has tried to enlist multiple times under multiple aliases, each time being deemed 4F.  His commitment, dedication and enthusiasm however catches the eye of Dr. Abraham Erskine who is convinced that Steve Rogers is exactly what the US Army needs.

Well, I went and saw the midnight show amongst the dedicated comic book fans.  I once again was clueless as to what the original story of Captain America was and waited to be enlightened.

So here are my thoughts.... Although it was fun and entertaining, the villain wasn't threatening enough.  Ignorant me, I thought the villain was Hitler, that makes sense, he's scary.  But no, I was wrong.  It was this Red Skull guy.  Who looked kind of creepy but he nor his hench men ever seemed that big of a threat.

Also I get that to set up the story of Captain America we must go back to his origins, WWII, nevertheless, I suppose that because of the setting I was expecting something along the lines of Raiders of the Lost Ark.  A superhero designed to destroy the Nazi's a'la Indiana Jones.  You know, make this story exciting without the use of modern weapons and technology etc.  This is not the case, and perhaps if one is aware of that the movie is more enjoyable.

Once again, not as fun as Iron Man, but I found it more enjoyable than Thor.
(Side note: Stay till after the credits)


** 1/2 Fun Summer Flick


Rated PG-13 (for violence)

Winnie the Pooh

Disney returns to the Hundred Acre Wood for another adventure with Winnie the Pooh and friends.

So this was kind of a throw back to the original movie as it makes every effort to mimic the style and tone of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.  

The dialogue is very clever and A. A. Milne-esque in some respects, however it was also a tad more high speed and modern that I expected.  In some regard it reminded me of a Saturday morning cartoon.  The plot in particular was reminiscent of a Looney Tunes short.  It was a musical, which was totally unnecessary.  I suppose the original was a musical as well, but the characters themselves rarely participated in the singing,  which fits the tone of A.A. Milne much better. 

Anyway as a devout fan of the original I think this new feature falls short of its predecessor.  Having said that, it is only 57 minutes long and the kids will love it I'm sure.  There is also a short before hand about the Loch Ness Monster that was delightful in every respect.

** Rentable


Rated G

A Better Life

Carlos, an illegal immigrant works as a gardener in LA in hopes of giving his teenage son a better life.  He desperately wants to move to a better neighborhood to keep his son out of gangs and into a better school.  When Carlos has his truck stolen the idea of the American Dream seems to be slipping away and the fight to get it back may cost him his son.

This was a very sweet and slowly paced character piece.  It was really well done, and although at times it felt a tad like an after school special, it is touching.  It conveys, without being patronizing, what so many immigrants face everyday and accept as part of their lives in this country.

Charmingly honest and captivatingly genuine.

*** Must See


Rated PG-13 (for language and violence)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2

You've read the books right? It's the final chapter....

So this episode immediately picks up where the last one left off.  No recap, no long set up, just boom we are back.  Kind of nice.  The story takes off and you are right back into the wizarding world.

It works.  As I have said before none of the movies are as good as the books although I suppose they are a decent adaptation for what they are this final movie does wrap things up nicely just as in the books.

I found that all the movies, aside from the very first, lost the mysticism and wonder that was always present in the books.  I get that it was in exchange for a chance to represent a darker side of events but the books seem to keep the balance of looming evil and still stand in constant awe of all that goes on in the world of Harry Potter.

Oh well it is still a very fun movie and probably the best since the first.


*** A Must See for the Potter Fans


Rated PG-13 (for violence and brief language)

Horrible Bosses

Three friends have the same problem, they all work for individuals that make their lives absolutely miserable.  Quitting is not an option and when all three are pushed to the brink, they decide that their only alternative is to kill their respective bosses.

 OK, I knew going into this movie that it was going to be crude and vulgar, full of profanity and sexual references, which it was.  That kind of thing just typically isn't my brand of humor.  Nevertheless, having said that, I will also admit that I don't remember the last time I laughed so much at the movies.

I love Jason Bateman! Seriously I think that he is quite possibly the most under rated actor in Hollywood.  He is absolutely brilliant. The whole cast was fabulous actually.  Kevin Spacey who is always great, seems to excel at being the bad guy.  Jennifer Aniston totally steps outside the box and proves she can play something other than herself.  And Colin Farrell whom I normally swoon over was so amazingly sleazy you forget who he is.

Again this is not for everyone as it is profane,  lots of bad language and bawdy dialogue, however the discourse that goes beyond that is so very funny and clever.  Anyone that has experienced a less than ideal working environment will appreciate this as well as be able to relate to the nuances that make this movie work.

*** Not something I would recommend to everyone or perhaps anyone -- but I found it hilarious.


Rated R (for coarse language and crude sexual references)

Larry Crowne

A middle age man is let go from his Wal-Martesque job because he didn't go to college.  In an effort to make sure this never happens again he enrolls in the local community college to change his life.

Tom Hanks co-wrote and directed this movie, as he did with That Thing You Do, which I thoroughly enjoyed.  I can't say the same for Larry Crowne.

The movie is painfully slow and cliche.  Predictability and lack of chemistry are just a few of the short comings.  The odd speech class that he takes is neither profound or endearing, in fact it almost plays off as though it is a high school remedial class.  The quirky side kicks are trying to hard to be likable and the whole thing although wrapped up neatly is completely unsatisfying.

* 1/2  If you want to rent it


Rated PG-13 (for language and sexual content)

Midnight in Paris

An aspiring author roams the streets of Paris dreaming of the golden age of art and literature.

I am not a huge Woody Allen fan, but I loved this movie.  It is idealistic, sweet, charming, and a tad cynical.  I really loved it.  Owen Wilson who I find has a difficult time playing anybody other than himself was really well fit for this character.  Rachel McAdams was perfect as well as the list of caricatures.

I think this is quite possibly Woody Allen's best movie ever.  Granted as an aspiring writer myself, perhaps I found the story more endearing than others might -- nevertheless I think that most people can relate to idealizing a time or era that seems, from our futuristic point of view, as golden.

*** 1/2 MUST SEE!!


Rated PG-13 (for some sexual references)

Transformers: Dark of the Moon

They're back... again.

This was better than the last one.  I opted to see it in 3D as I knew that I was going into this for the special effects not the plot.

In traditional Michael Bay style the end fight scene goes on for 45 minutes to an hour leaving the audience somewhat bored even by the outlandish F/X's.

** Rentable


Rated PG-13 (for violence and sexual innuendo)

Cars 2

Lightning McQueen competes in the first ever World Grand Prix. This time he brings along his best friend Mater who quickly gets mixed up in a energy conspiracy.

Wow. Who would have thought it... Pixar is human after all.  This was somewhat of a let down.  I love the original Cars.  LOVE it. Pixar has a history of making movies that have such well developed story lines and characters.  They bring real heart and soul to cartoons making them enjoyable for both adults and children. This one seriously lacked that.  It seemed that the moral of the story was, Mater is an idiot, and that's OK.

It is really just an animated James Bond movie and I suppose many people will like it.  I just don't think that it comes even close to the other Pixar vehicles in terms of story and character development.  I will say this however -- The Toy Story short that is shown before the movie is FABULOUS and well worth your ticket.

*** Must See (if only for the short)
Rated G

X-Men: First Class

A prequel to the X-Men saga of how they all came to be.

I'm really not a huge fan of the X-Men series, but I think that despite its extended running time this may be the best one yet.

** 1/2 Rentable


Rated PG-13 (for violence and language)

Bad Teacher

A woman is dumped by her fiance and must return to her teaching job at a Jr. High School.

This had some funny parts but struggles to keep the story going.  It is extremely crude and predictable.

** Rentable


Rated R (for sexual content and language)

The Conspirator

A woman is put on trial for aiding in the assassination of President Lincoln.

Very well acted.  Kind of slow and methodical but interesting.  To be honest I don't know how historically accurate the entire thing is but it was a well made movie.

** 1/2 Rentable


Rated PG-13 (for violence)

The Hangover Part II

Same guys, same story.

This was such a disappointment.

* 1/2 Not-A-Chance


Rated R (for everything)

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

This time we are looking for the Fountain of Youth....

If you are a fan, it was better than the last two but let's face it, that isn't saying much.

** Rentable


Rated PG-13 (for violence)

Bridesmaids

A maid of honor attempts to help her best friend plan her wedding as her own life crumbles around her.

Boo. This was completely marketed as a female version of The Hangover.  It is not.  It is totally a chick flick with random bathroom humor in it.

* 1/2 Rentable I guess


Rated R (for language and crude sexual content) 

Something Borrowed

While helping her best friend plan her wedding the maid of honor begins an affair with the groom.

This was so horrid.  Predictable, trite, annoying, and long.  The best thing about it were the few moments with John Krasinski.

* 1/2 Maybe Rentable


Rated PG-13 (for sexual content and language)

Thor

Heir to the throne of Asgard, Thor begins a war that strips him of his birthright and is banished to earth.

Ehhhh.... This definitely wasn't nearly as good as Iron Man.  The casting is a little off (Natalie Portman) and the story and set up really drag on too long.  But there are some nice things to look at I suppose and I am not referring to the F/X.

** 1/2 Rentable


Rated PG-13 (for violence and language)

The Victim

A lone hermit is suddenly called upon to help defend a woman from two crooked police officers.

Oh no.  There isn't enough time for me to tell you how horrid this film is and frankly it doesn't matter, as the likelihood that it ever gets distribution is slim to none.

- NOT-A-CHANCE


NR

Fast Five

Our heroes are still on the run from the CIA and find themselves in Brazil at odds with an infamous drug lord.

Eye candy.  That's really all this is.  A horrid script with lots of fast cars a beautiful bodies.  The dialogue is actually painful and this would be a better movie if watched with a mute button.  Nevertheless it is a guilty pleasure and I would see it again.

*** Must See


Rated PG-13 (for violence and language)

African Cats

A nature program following two families. Lions and Cheetah's.

This was OK.  Samuel L. Jackson's narrative is overly dramatic and the forced emotion is annoying. (Not to mention the crying of those around me.) But the music is great and the cinematography is spectacular.

** 1/2 Rentable


Rated G

Arthur

A wealthy man blah blah blah.... you get it.

This was so awful I actually left the theatre and wandered around the theatre lobby looking at posters and buying popcorn for about 10 or 15 minutes, came back and missed nothing.

* Not-A-Chance


Rated PG-13 (for sexual content and language)

Source Code

A soldier is key to a top secret military operation that enables him to travel back in time for mere seconds in hopes of gathering information to stop future terrorist attacks.

This had major holes and storyline pitfalls but I suppose for what it was it was semi entertaining.

** 1/2 Rentable


Rated PG-13 (for language and violence)

The Lincoln Lawyer

An attorney that makes his living off of defending known low-life's and scum bags is given a lucrative opportunity to take on a high profile rape case.  While collecting evidence he begins to truly question the innocence of his client and his moral obligation to defend him.

Ummmm, yeah Matthew McConaughey can act!  I had totally forgotten that.  He does a spectacular job and this was an unexpectedly entertaining movie.

*** Must See


Rated R (for language and violence)

Limitless

A man accidentally takes a pill that opens up the world to him.

This was a good idea that was fun the first half and fizzled out towards the end dragging on way too long.

** Rentable


Rated PG-13 (for sexual content, language and violence)

Of God's and Men

A small monastery and the town it is in is threatened by a group of terrorists.

This is based on a true story and I am sure it is a very interesting story. It just didn't get told here.

* 1/2 Rentable I guess


Rated PG-13 (for brief language and violence)

Unknown

A man wakes up in Europe after a car accident to find that his wife along with everyone else seems to have lost all memory him.

This was such a disappointment.  Very slow, very predictable, and very bad.

* 1/2 Maybe Rentable


Rated PG-13 (for violence, sexual content and language)

Gnomeo and Juliet

Garden gnomes become the vehicle that quasi adapts William Shakespeare's tragedy.

This is basically Elton John's love letter to himself.  I was bored about 10 minutes into it.  I can't imagine that children enjoyed this.

* Not-A-Chance


Rated PG (for mild violence)

Just Go With It

A single man pretends to be married to attract women, but when it backfires on him he feigns divorce which leads to whole new set of problems.

If you are an Adam Sandler fan you will like this.  It is kind of all over the place not knowing if it wants to be a romantic comedy or an episode of police academy.

** Rentable


Rated PG-13 (for sexual content and language)

Kung Fu Panda 2

Solid sequel, although it seems to repeat a lot of what we had in the first. One good thing it repeats is the amazing character design and animation. There's lots of action, comedy and a decent amount of heart to the story.

*** out of 4

Thor

Marvel attempts to recreate the Iron Man success by taking a rather obscure superhero and making it a mainstream hit. I think they did as good as they could have. It's fun and entertaining but not to the Iron Man level. Fun time at the movies.

*** out of 4

Rio

The animation and characters look absolutely beautiful. The story had potential but left a lot to be desired. There is some very fun music, but this is a case where this could have been a full fledged musical, and a very good one at that.

** out of 4

Rango

Didn't love it. The story is a bit adult and the characters aren't the most lovable. Solid animation though.

** out of 4

True Grit

Amazing use of dialog, awesome acting and great story telling. Oscar worthy indeed.

**** out of 4

The King's Speech

Although a little slow, it's worthy of all the accolades it received.

***1/2 out of 4

Tron Legacy

Ok, this is waaaay late and already on Blu-Ray, but better late than never.

It borrowed from lots of other movies; Tron, Star Wars, Last Starfighter and had it's flaws. But I thought it was lots of fun and looked very cool.

*** out of 4