Opening 5/2/08

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

IRON MAN [PG-13] 2 hrs. 5 min. Action/Drama/Fantasy Trailer Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Shaun Toub, Leslie Bibb, Bill Smitrovich, Nazanin Boniadi, Micah Hauptman. Plot: a billionaire industrialist and genius inventor is kidnapped and forced to build a devastating weapon. Instead, using his intelligence and ingenuity, he builds a high-tech suit of armor and escapes captivity. When he uncovers a nefarious plot with global implications, he dons his powerful armor and vows to protect the world as Iron Man. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Starlite Drive-In, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Oldtown, 21st Street Warren. There are special showings Thursday evening, May 1, in many theatres.

MADE OF HONOR [PG-13] 1hr. 40 min. Comedy/Romance Trailer Cast: Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin McKidd, Kathleen Quinlan, Sydney Pollack, Plot: a man's delightful best friend and the one constant in his life goes overseas to Scotland on a six-week business trip... and he is stunned to realize how empty his life is without her. He resolves he'll ask her to marry him – but is floored when he learns that she has become engaged and plans to move overseas. When she asks him to be her "maid" of honor, he reluctantly agrees to fill the role... but only so he can attempt to woo her and stop the wedding before it's too late. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

Leaving 5/1/2008

Derby Plaza - Leatherheads, 21
Movie Machine - Leatherheads
Northrock 14 - Street Kings, 88 Minutes, 21, Meet The Browns
Palace West - Juno
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri/Sat only
Warren East 13th - Smart People, Drillbit Taylor, Superhero Movie, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day, Street Kings
Warren Old Town - 21
Warren West 21st - The Forbidden Kingdom, Street Kings, Superhero Movie, Shutter, The Ruins

Worthwhile (or not) 4/25/08

Here's how MetaCritic numerically ranks the films (xx/100). This week's offerings seemed directed at very specific audiences. Mama for women, Deception for men, Harold & Kumar for teens and college age and Moon for the art and Latino crowd.

55 Baby Mama,
35 Deception,
56 Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay,
59 Under the Same Moon

Click on the title links to see if the ratings change as more reviews come in.

BABY MAMA **

Writer and first time director Michael McCullers helms this comedy starring: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg Kinnear, Dax Shepard, and Sigourney Weaver. Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual humor, language and a drug reference the film is one hour and 35 minutes long.

Fey is a successful and single businesswoman who has long put her career ahead of a personal life. Now 37, she's finally determined to have a kid on her own but discovers she has only a million-to-one chance of getting pregnant. Undaunted, she allows a South Philly working girl (Poehler) to become her unlikely surrogate with the assistance of Weaver. While Poehler tries to work out her relationship with her common-law husband, Shepard, Fey starts a romance with Kinnear.

The chemistry between the characters is good as are the production values. But for me, this story dragged on too slowly until the very end when the resolution seemed abrupt. Steve Martin is also in the film but in a completely unessential part that should have been cut. Women will probably enjoy this much more than men but both will be best served by waiting for the DVD.

DECEPTION **

Novice director Marcel Langenegger was in charge of this action thriller which stars: Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, and Michelle Williams. Rated R for sexual content, language, brief violence and some drug use it is one hour and fifty minutes long.

McGregor is an accountant with a dull life who is introduced to a mysterious sex club known as The List by a recent acquaintance, Jackman. But in this new world, after a few random sexual encounters, he becomes the prime suspect in a woman's disappearance (Williams) and involved in a multi-million dollar heist.

While there are several other actors involved in this film they are little used for the most part since the three above have all the screen time. Production values are good but once again a potentially interesting film is hampered by a plot that is too simplistic and obvious. That leads to a lack of interest in what really happens to the characters and that's the kiss of death in a thriller. The pace of the story is good and will keep you involved for awhile but eventually the lack of a good story and a couple of questionable plot twists take their toll. You can wait for the dollar DVD for this one.

Opening 4/25/08

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

BABY MAMA [PG-13] 1 hr. 35 min. Comedy Trailer Cast: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Greg Kinnear, Dax Shepard, Romany Malco, Maura Tierney, Holland Taylor, Sigourney Weaver. Plot: a successful and single businesswoman has long put her career ahead of a personal life. Now 37, she's finally determined to have a kid on her own but discovers she has only a million-to-one chance of getting pregnant. Undaunted, she allows a South Philly working girl to become her unlikely surrogate. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Nothrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

DECEPTION [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Action/Thriller Trailer Cast: Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, Michelle Williams, Maggie Q, Natasha Henstridge, Rachael Taylor. Plot: an accountant is introduced to a mysterious sex club known as The List by a lawyer friend. But in this new world, he soon becomes the prime suspect in a woman's disappearance and a multi-million dollar heist. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st Street Warren.

HAROLD & KUMAR ESCAPE FROM GUANTANAMO BAY [R] 1 hr. 40 min. Adventure/Comedy Trailer Cast: John Cho, Kal Penn, Rob Corddry, Roger Bart, Neil Patrick Harris. Plot: the two slacker anti-heroes get themselves in trouble trying to sneak a bong onboard a flight to Amsterdam. Being suspected of terrorism, they are forced to run from the law and try to find a way to prove their innocence. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st Street Warren.

UNDER THE SAME MOON [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Drama Trailer Cast: Kate Del Castillo, Adrian Alonso, Jesse Garcia, Kate del Castillo, Eugenio Derbez, Maya Zapata, Carmen Salinas. Plot: tells the parallel stories of nine-year-old Carlitos and his mother, Rosario. In the hopes of providing a better life for her son, Rosario works illegally in the U.S. while her mother cares for Carlitos back in Mexico. Unexpected circumstances drive both Rosario and Carlitos to embark on their own journeys in a desperate attempt to reunite. This appears to have an English soundtrack. Showing at: 13th Avenue Warren.

Leaving 4/24/2008

Derby Plaza - Street Kings
Movie Machine - College Road Trip, The Ruins
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - Charlie Bartlett, Step Up 2: The Strets, Semi-Pro
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri/Sat only
Warren East 13th - Stop-Loss, The Ruins, 10,000 B.C.
Warren Old Town - Street Kings, Leatherheads
Warren West 21st - Smart People, Stop-Loss, 10, 000 B.C., Drillbit Taylor

Worthwhile (or not) 4/18/08

Here's how MetaCritic ranks the films. I didn't get a chance to watch more than an hour of FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL so I didn't write a review, but that appears to be the picture to see this weekend, although the R rating is well deserved. EXPELLED is propaganda for the Intelligent Design crowd and not very good propaganda at that if the rating is to be believed. FORBIDDEN KINGDOM is for the martial arts bunch and considering the cast, should be well received.

11 88 Minutes,
40 Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed,
55 Forbidden Kingdom, The,
70 Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Click on the title links to see if the ratings change as more reviews come in.

88 MINUTES ½

Jon Avnet directed this thriller (?) starring: Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman, and Neal McDonough. Rated R for disturbing violent content, brief nudity and language, it is one hour and fifty minutes long.

Pacino is a college professor who moonlights as a forensic psychiatrist for the FBI. He receives a death threat claiming he has only 88 minutes to live. He must use all his skills and training to narrow down the possible suspects, who include his teaching assistant (Witt), his secretary (Brenneman), a student (Sobieski), and a serial killer (McDonough) who is already on death row, before his time runs out.

Everyone involved with this film, especially Pacino, should be ashamed. I can only assume he needs money because there is certainly no artistic reason for him to have been involved. The plot and dialogue are ludicrous and it's obvious something is wrong from the beginning when obvious red herrings constantly appear. The plot totally spins out of control as the ending nears and that ending is a real groaner. Obviously the film company knew this was a loser since it's been on the shelf for over a year. Don't waste your money or your time on this mess.

Opening 4/18/08

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

88 MINUTES [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Thriller Trailer Cast: Al Pacino, Alicia Witt, Leelee Sobieski, Amy Brenneman, Deborah Kara Unger, Benjamin McKenzie, Neal McDonough. Plot: a college professor who moonlights as a forensic psychiatrist for the FBI receives a death threat claiming he has only 88 minutes to live. He must use all his skills and training to narrow down the possible suspects, who include a disgruntled student, a jilted former lover, and a serial killer who is already on death row, before his time runs out. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st St. Warren.

EXPELLED, NO INTELLIGENCE ALLOWED [PG] 1 hr. 35 min. Documentary Trailer Cast: Ben Stein. Plot: about the controversial subject of evolution and how some educational professionals (doctors, professors, scientists, etc) have been recently blacklisted from universities and journals because of their theories disagreeing with Darwinism. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, 21st St. Warren.

THE FORBIDDEN KINGDOM [PG-13] 1 hr. 55 min. Action/Martial Arts Trailer Cast: Jet Li, Jackie Chan, Michael Angarano, Collin Chou, Crystal Liu Yi Fei, Li Bing Bing. Plot: an American teenager, obsessed with Hong Kong cinema and kungfu classics, finds an antique Chinese staff in a pawn shop: the legendary stick weapon of the Chinese sage and warrior, the Monkey King . With the lost relic in hand, he unexpectedly finds himself transported back to ancient China. Showing at: Derby Cinema, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Starlite Drive-In, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st St. Warren.

FORGETTING SARAH MARSHALL [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Comedy/Romance Trailer Cast: Jason Segel, Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Russell Brand, Bill Hader, Kala Alexander. Plot: the producers of "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and "Knocked Up" present a comic look at one guy's arduous quest to grow up and get over the heartbreak of being dumped. Showing at: Northrock 14, 13th Avenue Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st St. Warren.

Leaving 4/17/2008

Derby Plaza - The Ruins
Movie Machine - The Superhero Movie
Northrock 14 - 10,000 B.C., Drillbit Taylor, Shutter
Palace West - nothing
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri/Sat only
Warren East 13th - Shutter, Meet The Browns, Vantage Point, Shine The Light
Warren Old Town - Run Fat Boy Run, The Ruins
Warren West 21st - Run Fat Boy Run, Never Back Down

Opening 4/11/08

For showtimes select your theatre under the SHOWIMES AT: header in the left column. Weekend times normally start appearing on Wednesday.

PROM NIGHT [PG-13] 1 hr. 30 min. Horror Trailer Cast: Brittany Snow, Scott Porter, Jessica Stroup, Dana Davis, Collins Pennie, Kelly Blatz, James Ransone, Brianne Davis, Johnathon Schaech, Idris Elba. Plot: a high school senior and her friends must find a way to escape the sadistic rampage of an obsessed killer, and survive a night "to die for." Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock 14, 13th Ave. Warren, 21st St. Warren.

SMART PEOPLE [R] 1 hr. 35 min. Comedy/drama/romance Trailer Cast: Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page, Thomas Haden Church, Ashton Holmes, Christine Lahti. Plot: a widowed college professor with an acid-tongued, over achieving teenage daughter receives an unexpected visit from a brother intending on an extended visit at the same time he accidentally encounters a former coed student. The circumstances cause often comical, sometimes heartbreaking, consequences for himself and everyone around him. Showing at: 13th Ave. Warren, 21st St. Warren.

STREET KINGS [R] 1 hr. 30 min. Crime/Drama Trailer Cast: Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, Naomie Harris, Jay Mohr, John Corbett, Cedric the Entertainer, Amaury Nolasco, Terry Crews, Common, The Game. Plot: a veteran LAPD Vice Detective sets out to discover the killers of his former partner. He teams up with a young Robbery Homicide Detective and the two track down the murderers and confront them in an attempt to bring them to justice. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock 14, 13th Ave. Warren, Warren Old Town, 21st St. Warren.

Leaving 4/10/2008

Derby Plaza - Superhero Movie, Drillbit Taylor
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 - Jumper, Drillbit Taylor, Bucket List
Palace West - Untraceable, Witless Protection, The Eye, Meet The Spartans
Starlite Drive-In - Open Fri/Sat only
Warren East 13th - College Road Trip, The Bank Job, Never Back Down, Run Fat Boy Run
Warren Old Town - Drillbit Taylor, Horton Hears A Who
Warren West 21st - Meet The Browns, College Road Trip, The Bucket List

Worthwhile (or not) 4/4/08

Here's how MetaCritic ranks the films. The documentary SHINE A LIGHT clearly has the highest score initially and THE RUINS obviously wasn't screened for the critics which tells you what the distributor thought its chances were. At least there's something for everyone this week: a sports comedy, a family drama, a horror film and a rock documentary.

55 Leatherheads,
54 Nim's Island,
xx Ruins, The,
74 Shine a Light

Click on the title links to see if the ratings change as more reviews come in.

LEATHERHEADS ***

Produced, directed and starring George Clooney, this sports comedy/romance also stars Renée Zellweger, John Krasinski, Jonathan Pryce, and Stephen Root. Rated PG-13 for brief strong language it is one hour and fifty-five minutes long.

Clooney portrays a charming, brash football hero who is determined to guide his team from bar brawls to packed stadiums. After the players lose their sponsor due to poor attendance and the entire league faces certain collapse, he convinces a college football star (Krasinski) who is also a war hero to join his ragtag ranks in the hope he will draw crowds. But a spitfire newswoman (Zellweger) suspects there are holes in the stars' military background and is promised an assistant editorship if she can discover and report what they are.

Between the previews and similar type films you've no doubt seen, there's absolutely no mystery in this plot. You know exactly where this is headed within ten minutes. The enjoyability comes from watching Clooney, Zellweger and Krasinski go through their highly polished paces in an entirely delightful manner. You won't believe anything for a minute but it sure is fun watching. Character actors Pryce and Root add to the fun in their roles as a scheming agent, and boozy sports reporter whose stories are all dictated by Clooney, respectively. The dialogue is above average including a few lines that will go right over the heads of many. If you watch closely you can see Randy Newman, who wrote the score around a number of 30's classics, portray a speakeasy piano player who knows how to swing a mean bottle when a brawler comes too near. This is not a film that will be up for awards or on top 100 lists, but it will provide a great deal of entertainment for a couple of hours.