17 Again

Mike is in the middle of a divorce, has lost his job, and his children can't stand the sight of him. As he looks at his life that is crumbling around him all he can think of is how his life would have been better if he had only done things differently. Be careful of what you wish for....Mike wakes up to find himself 17, again and able to start his life all over.

I went into this movie with very low expectations. I thought it would be another one of the Freaky Friday type deals. Much to my chagrin it was not. I am in awe at how much I enjoyed this movie. It is like "It's a Wonderful Life" meets "Back to the Future." Very clever, very fun, without the added cheese and corn. (ok well, it has a little)

Shocked that I liked it all. I would actually see it again. This is nothing that you haven't seen before just oddly enough put together in a package that for some reason totally worked.

*** Must See

Rated PG-13 (for language and sexual content)

Fast and Furious

Ex-con Dominique Toretto is once again at odds with agent Brian O'Conner, but this time they find themselves both working against a common enemy. They must try and trust one another to each get what they want all while speeding along the streets of LA in boisterous muscle cars.

So can we say eye candy? Admittedly the only reason I went to this movie was to stare at Paul Walker, -yes It's true. So you can imagine my surprise when there was actually a story behind all the sugar. I know! Shocking. In fact although it isn't the greatest story, they put enough effort into it that I found myself thinking there was somewhat of a lack of the cars and gratuitous violence. Seriously do you see how low my expectations were?

This is mindless entertainment that puts forth a semi-decent effort to have a plausible plot--and is just way fun to watch.

*** Must See (if for nothing more than Paul Walker)

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

I Love You, Man

Peter (Paul Rudd) gets engaged and as his wedding gets closer and closer, he comes to terms with the fact that he doesn't have any male friends. This is important as he needs someone to act as his best man. Through a few random "man-dates" he meets Sydney (Jason Segel) and the two become fast friends.

This movie had its funny moments, granted there weren't that many, still despite the horrifically predictable plot, the totally stereotypical characters, and the obnoxiously crude gags, oh and not to mention huge hole in the storyline (he has a brother--what's the problem?) you will laugh.

I can't say that I would suggest anyone run out and see this, but if it shows up on cable and you have nothing else to do--eh.

** Barely Rentable

Rated R (for language and crude sexual content)

Watchmen

The acclaimed graphic novel makes its way to the big screen.  It's 1985 in the United States and superheroes, which were in decades past common place and accepted in society, are now outlawed and now being taken out one by one by unknown persons.  A few of these superheroes rejoin to figure out who's behind it and why, while the Cold War gets closer and closer to nuclear war.

This is a new take on the superhero genre, and one not for kids.  It is rated R for everything in the book.  It's an interesting movie and keeps your interest throughout.  It is however too long at 3 hours, but the length is somewhat necessary with all the different story lines that tie together, still some probably could've been cut out.  For being a superhero movie there really isn't a lot of action, it's more of a mystery and you're watching it all unravel.   It is pretty cool how they show a different version of the 50's-80's, where superheroes where the norm.  Some of the acting is a little questionable but overall it's well done.  I probably would've been fine not seeing this movie, but it's entertaining.  It's overly graphic in pretty much every way.

** 1/2 out of 4 - Rentable

Sunshine Cleaning

A single mom (Amy Adams) desperately wants to change her circumstances in hopes of providing a better life for her son. While working as a maid she stumbles upon the idea of working as a crime scene clean-up crew. Enlisting the help of her slacker sister(Emily Blunt), they take on a tad more than they bargained for.

Total indy film. If you are a fan of Sundance, which is where this premiered last year, you will love it. It is a total character piece. Slow, methodical, but clever. The story is simple, predictable, and does lag at times, but the characters really pull you through it. Both actresses do a fabulous job and Alan Arkin, who plays their father, is great as well.

Again this is much more of an independent film, but for you traditionalist, I think you will still be OK with it as it doesn't stray too far from the formulaic. Just remember that it is more of a character development deal and does get a tad slow at times, but very entertaining.

*** Must See

Rated R (for language and thematic elements)

Race to Witch Mountain

A Las Vegas taxi driver unknowingly picks up two teen aged aliens and then finds he must help them get to their spaceship so they have time to save the world.

Yep, that's what this movie is about. I went to see it because I remember the originals when I was little. They actually kind of scared me. So I thought that the remakes might be kind of fun. Oh dear. Can we say campy? Yes boys and girls this was one of the worst. The four unsuspecting friends that accompanied me to the theatre all fell asleep leaving me to make sarcastic remarks to myself.

The story is actually not bad, just poorly underdeveloped as are all of the characters--and again the dialogue! How is it that these movies get made?

* 1/2 Not-A-Chance

Rated PG (for violence)

Taken

Liam Neeson plays a retired and divorced special agent or "preventer" whose daughter is kidnapped while vacationing in Europe.  He takes matters into his own hands in order to get her back and punish those that took her.  

This is a very intense and exciting movie.  Kind of "Ransom meets The Bourne Identity", and Liam Neeson's character is very Jason Bourne-esque, dropping multiple attackers with a few moves and always one step ahead of his enemies, but in a believable way.  The things his daughter go through are scary and troubling to think they really exist.  I don't quite buy Liam Neeson with an American accent.  I don't know if it's just because I know he's not and I've seen many movies with his normal accent, or if it's because he does a bad American accent.  I don't have that problem with say, Christian Bale or Hugh Jackman.  But it's a solid movie, although the ending, although a nice wrap-up, is a tad cheesy and doesn't quite match the mood of the rest of the movie.  

*** out of 4 - theater or rentable (PG-13 for violence and language) 

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Paul Blart is a mall cop with aspirations of becoming a real cop, for which his low blood sugar and high weight prevent him from becoming so.  But he's given the chance to be the hero when his mall is overtaken by crooks.  

This is a really stupid movie with few funny parts.  It seems like it had a very low budget, but it received lots and lots of advertising.  The lead character seems way too old for his love interest, a gal working a wig/hair stand in the mall, although our hero is a likable character.  I can't recommend spending money on this movie, which I unfortunately did. 

*1/2 out of 4 - Not a chance (PG-13 for violence and language)

Echelon Conspiracy

A young computer programmer receives anonymous text messages guiding him in the direction of wealth and power. He soon discovers that all his luck can change if he doesn't do everything that the messages demand of him and ends up being hunted by the Government, a crime boss, and "it".

Oh-my-horridness! Yes I said horridness. This movie had such horrid dialogue, and so many plot holes that I don't even know where to begin. It has a bizarrely credible cast--I mean did they read the script before agreeing to this? It is so painful to watch you can't help but laugh, mostly at yourself for staying and seeing it through, hoping that it might get better. Guess what--it never did, in fact it got worse. The outlandish connections, the stupid ending, the whole thing--seriously? I want to be in the room when a couple of producers got together with the script and were like, yeah this will be great--it will work.

Why don't people consult me?

* Not-A-Chance

Rated PG-13 (for language and violence)

Confessions of a Shopaholic

A young girl dreams of being a writer for chic fashion magazine in New York but accidentally gets a job at a financial magazine by mistake due to her ability to apply simple shopping tactics to big finance. She becomes hugely admired for her fiscal advice all the while she is drowning in her own debt.

Tst tst tst tst...shame on me for falling for this again. I read the book. It was fun. It was cute. It was entertaining. The movie had none of these elements. In fact I was with people that may never again speak to me for making them come and see this flick and forcing them to stay till the end of the credits. It is seriously horrid. The fun articles that you get to read in the book are never developed in the movie and you are left with a horrid Lifetime/ABC Familyesque atrocity.

Don't Do It!!!

- Not-A-Chance

Rated PG (probably for the scary mannequins that talk to her)