DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS **½

Jay Roach directed this Comedy. Watch Preview Cast: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Jemaine Clement, Jeff Dunham, Bruce Greenwood, Ron Livingston, Stephanie Szostak, Lucy Davenport, Kristen Schaal. Rated PG-13 for sequences of crude and sexual content, some partial nudity and language. Running time is one hour and fifty-four minutes.

A guy (Rudd) on the verge of having it all must find the perfect guest to bring to his boss' monthly Dinner for Extraordinary People, an event where the winner of the evening brings the most eccentric character as his guest. He chooses to bring a man (Carell) he hit with his car and who's hobby is creating works of art using dead mice. His girlfriend (Szostak) is disgusted by the idea of the dinner.

This is a mildly amusing film that elicited a few chuckles from me but no real laughs. It's a rather cruel comedy in that the humor is all based on Carrell's character, a man with almost no social skills and who raises havoc with everyone with whom he comes in contact. So, in order to laugh you've got to laugh at someone. Younger crowds will find this more amusing than older audiences will. There's nothing in this film that makes a large screen or great sound essential.

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT **

Lisa Cholodenko co-wrote and directed this Drama. Watch Preview Cast: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, Mark Ruffalo. Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some teen drug and alcohol use. Running time is one hour and forty-six minutes.

Two teenaged children (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson) get the notion to seek out their biological father and introduce him into the family life that their two mothers (Bening and Moore) have built for them. Once the donor (Ruffalo) is found, the household will never be the same, as family ties are defined, re—defined, and re—re—defined.

Most critics are raving about this one but I think most audiences will be disappointed. If you're looking for first rate acting and a film that feels real, this may be for you. But, if you're looking to be entertained, this misses the mark by a wide shot. Just so you understand, the fact the "Moms" are gay or their children were conceived via a sperm donor, didn't bother me at all.  What bothered me was how incredibly boring this film was. If I want to experience "real", I can stay at home and be as bored as I was at the theatre.  Also, the film is being listed as a comedy but the humor was extremely sparse. There is some very graphic sexual content if that's a concern for you. A big screen or spectacular sound isn't needed for this one, your TV will do just fine if you're willing to wait to see it.

Worthwhile (or not), 7/30/2010

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film). This week you have your choice between four films. Check out the previews in the opening section below if you're not familiar with them. I've seen two of the four and didn't think that much of either.

30 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore,

38 Charlie St. Cloud,

57 Dinner for Schmucks,

86 Kids Are All Right, The

Click on the title links to see if the ratings change as more reviews come in, and to read your favorite national critic's review. My reviews of Dinner for Schmucks and The Kids Are All Right will be posted after 4:30 pm today (Friday).

Opening 7/30/10

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

CATS AND DOGS: REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE 2D & 3D[PG] 1 hr. 25 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Christina Applegate, Michael Clarke Duncan, Neil Patrick Harris, Sean Hayes, James Marsden, Bette Midler, Nick Nolte, Joe Pantoliano, Katt Williams, Chris O'Donnell, Jack McBrayer, Fred Armisen, Paul Rodriguez. Plot: Kitty Galore, formerly an agent for cat spy organization MEOWS, has gone rogue and hatched a diabolical plan to not only bring her canine enemies to heel, but take down her former kitty comrades and make the world her scratching post. Faced with this unprecedented threat, cats and dogs are forced to join forces for the first time in an alliance to save themselves - and their humans. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Starlite Drive-In, Warren East, Warren West.

CHARLIE ST. CLOUD [PG-13] 1 hr. 39 min. Romance/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Zac Efron, Amanda Crew, Donal Logue, Charlie Tahan, Kim Basinger, Ray Liotta. Plot: a young man survives an accident that lets him see the world in a unique way and begin a romantic journey in which he embraces the dark realities of the past while discovering the transformative power of love. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS [PG-13] 1 hr. 54 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Steve Carell, Paul Rudd, Jemaine Clement, Jeff Dunham, Bruce Greenwood, Ron Livingston, Stephanie Szostak, Lucy Davenport, Kristen Schaal. Plot: a guy on the verge of having it all must find the perfect guest to bring to his boss' monthly Dinner for Extraordinary People, an event where the winner of the evening brings the most eccentric character as his guest. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT [R] 1 hr. 46 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, Mark Ruffalo. Plot: two teenaged children (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson) get the notion to seek out their biological father and introduce him into the family life that their two mothers (Bening and Moore) have built for them. Once the donor (Ruffalo) is found, the household will never be the same, as family ties are defined, re—defined, and re—re—defined. Showing at:  Warren East, Warren Old Town.

Leaving, 7/29/2010

Derby Plaza -
Movie Machine - Inception, The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - Jonah Hex
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Solitary Man, Cyrus, The Secret In Their Eyes
Warren Old Town - The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Twilight Saga: Eclipse, The Last Airbender, Predators
Warren West 21st - nothing

SALT **½

Phillip Noyce directed this Action/Thriller. Watch Preview Cast: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action. Running time is one hour and forty minutes.

A CIA officer, Evelyn Salt's (Jolie) loyalty is tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. She goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture.

This is pretty much what I expected (and was looking for). An extremely photogenic lead actor, good supporting cast, lots of action, fast pacing and just over and hour and a half long. What's not to like? For me, I was disappointed I knew how this was going to end 15-20 minutes into the film. Otherwise, this would easily have been a three star film. Clearly this has the potential to have a sequel if this film does well and the sequel possibility is established at the film's end. You will really enjoy this more on a very large screen and with good sound. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not), 7/23/2010

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film). This week you have your choice between a family film, an action film or a foreign language film. Check out the previews in the opening section below if you're not familiar with them. The only one I saw this week was SALT and I found it entertaining.

55 Ramona and Beezus,

64 Salt,

81 Secret in Their Eyes, The

Click on the title links to see if the ratings change as more reviews come in, and to read your favorite national critic's review. My review of SALT will be posted after 4:30 pm today (Friday).

Opening 7/23/10

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

RAMONA AND BEEZUS [G] 1 hr. 44 min. Family Watch Preview Cast: Selena Gomez, Joey King, John Corbett, Bridget Moynahan, Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Duhamel, Sandra Oh. Plot: the adventures of young Ramona Quimby (newcomer Joey King) and her big sister Beezus (Selena Gomez) come to life in this all new film based on the best-selling books (over 30 million…and counting) by Beverly Cleary. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren West.

SALT [PG-13] 1 hr. 40 min. Action/Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Angelina Jolie, Liev Schreiber, Chiwetel Ejiofor. Plot: a CIA officer, Evelyn Salt's (Jolie) loyalty is tested when a defector accuses her of being a Russian spy. She goes on the run, using all her skills and years of experience as a covert operative to elude capture. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Starlite Drive-In, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

THE SECRET IN THEIR EYES [R] 2 hrs. 7 min.  Crime/Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Ricardo Darín, Soledad Villamil, Pablo Rago, Javier Godino, Guillermo Francella, José Luis Gioia, Carla Quevedo, Bárbara Palladino, Rudy Romano. Plot: a criminal court employee, recently retired and with time on his hands, decides to write a novel. He can draw on his own past for a true, moving and tragic story in which he was once very directly involved: the rape and murder of a beautiful young woman. Won the Oscar this year for best foreign language film. Subtitled. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving, 7/22/2010

Derby Plaza -
Movie Machine - Twilight Saga:Eclipse, Toy Story 3
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - Clash Of The Titans
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Standing Ovation, Karate Kid
Warren Old Town - nothing
Warren West 21st - Standing Ovation, Karate Kid, Toy Story 3 3D, The Last Airbender 3D

INCEPTION ***½

Christopher Nolan directed this Sci-Fi/Action feature. Watch Preview Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Dileep Rao, Tom Berenger, Michael Caine. Rated PG-13 for sequences of violence and action throughout. Running time is two hours and twenty-eight minutes.

A man who can steal valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during dreaming (DiCaprio) is instead given the task of planting an idea (into Murphy) by a Japanese industrialist (Watanabe) in return for being allowed to go back home  He undertakes the difficult task with the aid of a handpicked team (Gordon-Levitt, Page, Hardy and Rao) but is hampered by dreams of his wife (Cotillard) and children.

If you are, like me, tired of seeing films whose ending is clearly known five minutes into the story, here's a film where that does not occur. I had no idea where this film was headed and I think I probably need to watch it again to make sure I have a real grasp on its complexities. The intricate, well written plot is evenly matched with stunning graphic effects and pacing that keeps the two and a half hour feature engrossing throughout. This is a film people are going to be talking about so see it if you don't want to be left out of the conversations. A large screen with good sound is a must for maximum impact.  Theatres/Times.

THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE ***½

Jon Turteltaub directed this Adventure/Comedy. Watch Preview Cast: Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, Monica Bellucci, Toby Kebbell and Alice Krige. Rated PG for fantasy action violence, some mild rude humor and brief language. Running time is one hour and fifty minutes.

A sorcerer (Cage) and his hapless apprentice (Baruchel) are swept into the center of an ancient conflict between good and evil as an evil sorcerer (Molina) attempts to release sorceress Morgana (Krige) from imprisonment and aid in her plan to rule the world. Distracting the apprentice from his training is a long time love interest (Palmer).

Featuring almost perfectly proportioned elements of action, humor, computer graphics wizardry, and romance this family friendly film has something for everyone and should be a major summer hit. Strongly reminiscent of the National Treasure films it has the potential to be the start of another winning series for Cage, which is definitely alluded  to if you wait until the very end of the credits. Fans of Disney films will appreciate the homage to Fantasia with an updated version of the Sorcerer's Apprentice sequence from that classic. Cage has this kind of role perfected and Molina and Krige are as good as they always are as villains. Australian beauty Palmer and relatively unknown Baruchel are perfectly adequate. There's nothing too scary for the kids so the whole family can enjoy this one together.Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not), 7/16/2010

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film). Quite a variety this week. Check out the previews in the opening section below if you're not familiar with these films. I thought Sorcerer was better than this rating indicates and Inception will have people talking for quite awhile. There's usually a good reason for not screening a film for critics, i.e. Ovation.

 

73 Cyrus,

76 Inception,
46 Sorcerer's Apprentice, The,

xx Standing Ovation

Click on the title links to see if the ratings change as more reviews come in, and to read your favorite national critic's review. My reviews of  THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE is already online and INCEPTION will be posted after 4:30 pm today (Friday).

Opening 7/14, 16/10

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Opens Wednesday, 7/14

THE SORCERER'S APPRENTICE [PG] 1 hr. 50 min. Adventure/Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Teresa Palmer, Monica Bellucci, Toby Kebbell. Plot: a sorcerer and his hapless apprentice are swept into the center of an ancient conflict between good and evil. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Starlite Drive-In, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Opens Friday, 7/16

CYRUS [R] 1 hr. 31 min. Comedy/Drama Watch Preview Cast: John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei, Catherine Keener, Matt Walsh, Katie Aselton. Plot: a down on his luck divorcee finally meets the woman of his dreams, only to discover she has another man in her life – her son. Showing at: Warren East.

INCEPTION [PG-13] 2 hrs. 28 min. Sci-Fi/Action Watch Preview Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page, Tom Hardy, Cillian Murphy, Tom Berenger, Michael Caine. Plot: a man who can steal valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during dreaming is given the task of planting an idea instead. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

STANDING OVATION [PG] 1 hr. 48 min. Musical Watch Preview Cast: Kayla Jackson, Alexis Biesiada, Na'Jee Wilson, Pilar Martin, Kayla R, Alanna P, Dexter Darden, Joei DeCarlo, Sal Dupree, London Clark. Plot: a group of friends compete in a national tween music video competition. Showing at: Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving, 7/13, 15/2010

Derby Plaza - (Tue)-Knight & Day
Movie Machine - (Tue)-The Last Airbender, (Thu)-Grown Ups
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - (Thu)-Splice, The Last Song, The Back-Up Plan
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - (Thu)-Harry Brown, The A-Team, Mother and Child
Warren Old Town - (Tue)-Toy Story 3 3D, (Thu)-Knight & Day
Warren West 21st - (Thu)-The A-Team

PREDATORS **½

Nimród Antal  directed this Action/Thriller. Watch Preview Cast: Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins, Laurence Fishburne, Danny Trejo, Oleg Taktarov, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, Louiz Ozawa. Rated R for strong creature violence and gore, and pervasive language. Running time is one hour and forty-six minutes.

A mercenary (Brody) reluctantly leads a group of elite warriors who come to realize they've been brought together on an alien planet... as prey. With the possible exception of a disgraced physician (Grace), they are all cold-blooded killers -  human "predators" that are now being systemically hunted and eliminated by a new breed of alien Predators.

 I didn't hold out much hope for this as the others in the series subsequent to the original have not been good. This one, however, was a pleasant surprise in that it was better than expected. There's plenty of "Predator" type violence although you really don't see the Predators that much. The plot isn't totally predictable and even has a twist at the end I didn't see coming. Action fans should be reasonably satiated. Theatres/Times.

DESPICABLE ME **½

Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud  directed this Animated/Comedy. Watch Preview Cast (spoken): Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, Danny McBride, Miranda Cosgrove, Jack McBrayer, Mindy Kaling, Jemaine Clement, Julie Andrews. Rated PG for rude humor and mild action. Running time is one hour and thirty-five minutes. 

Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) is planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon. Delighting in all things wicked, and armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad.

I can't say I was personally enthralled with this pic but I can see where children and their parents will enjoy it. There are no outright laughs but the story is pleasant enough and the ending is happy and for this kind of picture that's all that really matters. I watched the 3D version without suffering any negative effects and found the quality to be good. Parents with smaller children, go for it. If you're older and have no kids to entertain, I don't think you'll get your money's worth. Theatres/Times 2D.  Theatres/Times 3D.

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For most other cities, select any theatre below a synopsis or review and enter other town/state below "Change Location", press enter. Next times, just press change. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

DESPICABLE ME 2D/3D [PG] 1 hr. 35 min. Animated/Comedy Watch Preview Cast (spoken): Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, Danny McBride, Miranda Cosgrove, Jack McBrayer, Mindy Kaling, Jemaine Clement, Julie Andrews. Plot: Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) is planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon. Delighting in all things wicked, and armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Starlite Drive-In, Warren East, Warren West.


MOTHER AND CHILD [R] 2 hrs. 5 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Naomi Watts, Annette Bening, Samuel L. Jackson, Kerry Washington, Jimmy Smits, David Ramsey, David Morse, Eileen Ryan, Marc Blucas, Cherry Jones, Shareeka Epps, Lisa Gay Hamilton, S. Epetha Merkerson. Plot: Three women's lives  have all been profoundly affected by adoption. Karen (Annette Bening) had a baby at 14, gave her up at birth, and has been haunted ever since by the daughter she never knew. Elizabeth (Naomi Watts) grew up as an adopted child; she's a bright and ambitious lawyer, but a flinty loner in her personal life. Lucy (Kerry Washington) is just embarking with her husband on the adoption odyssey, looking for a baby to become their own. Showing at: Warren West.


PREDATORS [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Action/Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins, Laurence Fishburne, Danny Trejo, Oleg Taktarov, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, Louiz Ozawa. Plot: a mercenary reluctantly leads a group of elite warriors who come to realize they've been brought together on an alien planet... as prey. With the exception of a disgraced physician, they are all cold-blooded killers -  human "predators" that are now being systemically hunted and eliminated by a new breed of alien Predators. Showing at:  Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

SOLITARY MAN [R] 1 hr. 30 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Michael Douglas, Susan Sarandon, Danny Devito, Mary-Louis Parker, Jenna Fischer, Jesse Eisenberg, Imogen Poots, Ben Shenkman. Plot: the story of  a fifty-something New Yorker and former successful car dealer, who through his own business and romantic indiscretions loses his entire business. Showing at: Warren West.

Leaving, 7/8/2010

Derby Plaza - The Karate Kid
Movie Machine - The Karate Kid
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - Furry Vengeance, Death At A Funeral
Starlite Drive-In -
Warren East 13th - Prince Of Persia, Get Him To The Greek, Killers
Warren Old Town - The A-Team
Warren West 21st - Prince Of Persia

THE LAST AIRBENDER 2D & 3D **

Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan; Action/Fantasy Watch Preview. Cast: Noah Ringer, Nicola Peltz, Jackson Rathbone, Dev Patel, Jessica Jade Andres, Aasif Mandvi, Shaun Toub, Cliff Curtis, Keong Sim. Rated PG [See Full Rating] for fantasy action violence. Running time is one hour and forty-three minutes.
 
A young, reincarnated, successor (Ringer) to a long line of Avatars puts his childhood ways aside to stop a century old war. Based on the hugely successful Nickelodeon animated TV series.

I think Mr. Shyamalan must have been taking some powerful hallucinogenics when he came up with this plot. The story is just plain silly and the dialogue at times is even worse. Perhaps if he'd taken the time to stage this as an alternate universe he could have gotten away with it, but he didn't so it just doesn't make sense. Supposedly, on this world there are "benders" who can manipulate either air, water, fire or earth, and the avatar can bend them all. He's basically around to keep the peace when one of the kingdoms tries to gain too much power. Oh, and there are gods and goddesses around also, although we're never quite sure why. I will say the production values are good with some impressive special effects but it's all negated by the lack of a believable plot. I thought the 3D was very good for a "live" film. The depth effect was there without being intrusive. Still, most will be just as happy going to the 2D version and saving a little money. If this makes enough money to justify a sequel they set that up for the ending, rather blatantly I might add.

TWILIGHT SAGA: ECLIPSE **½

David Slade  directed this Drama/Romance/Thriller. Watch Preview Cast: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner, Xavier Samuel, Bryce Dallas Howard, Ashley Greene, Billy Burke, Peter Facinelli, Elizabeth Reaser, Nikki Reed, Kellan Lutz, Jackson Rathbone, Dakota Fanning. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence, and some sensuality. Running time is two hours and four minutes.

Bella (Stewart) once again finds herself surrounded by danger as Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire (Howard) continues her quest for revenge. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward (Pattinson)  and her friendship with Jacob (Lautner) — knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf.

I'd describe this as all romance/drama with about fifteen minutes of thriller thrown in for the males who have been dragged along. The primary audience has to be girls and women. This is full of endless talking about feelings and love, replete with long scenes of soulful staring. Can you tell I am less than impressed? My rating is an average of what I thought, and what I feel most girls/women will  think, which should give you a pretty good idea of my personal opinion! The film is well made, Stewart isn't totally glum and morose this time around, and believe it or not, there's actually a laugh or two. If you're a Fanning fan, forget it...she has about two minutes of screen time. Guys, figure out some excuse to avoid this and encourage your wife/girlfriend to attend with a group of her friends. You'll both be happier. Theatres/Times.

Worthwhile (or not), 7/1/2010

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film). Not a particularly good week unless you're aa rabid fan of the Twilight series. I didn't think much of either of these although Twilight is the better of the two, just barely.

25 Last Airbender, The,

57 Twilight Saga: Eclipse, The

Click on the title links to see if the ratings change as more reviews come in, and to read your favorite national critic's review. My reviews of  THE LAST AIRBENDER and TWILIGHT SAGA: THE ECLIPSE will be posted after 4:30 pm today (Thursday).