THE LOSERS **½

Sylvain White directed this Action/Thriller Watch Preview featuring: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans, Idris Elba, Columbus Short, Holt McCallany, Oscar Jaenada, Jason Patric, Peter Macdissi. Rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence, a scene of sensuality and language. Run time is one hour and thirty-eight minutes.

The members of an elite U.S. Special Forces unit are sent into the Bolivian jungle on a search and destroy mission. They find themselves the target of a lethal betrayal instigated from inside by a powerful enemy known only as Max. Presumed dead, the group makes plans to even the score when they're joined by the mysterious Aisha, a beautiful operative with her own agenda.

I wasn't counting on this being much of a picture and it's certainly never going to win an Oscar. But, it's  more entertaining than expected. I watched this with several other males (you didn't think there'd be a large female contingent for this, did you?) and they all had the same comment: better than I thought it would be. It's has the over-the-top action males are attracted to and it's not remotely realistic. But there are enough plot twist and turns to keep you interested and the production values are good. Perhaps the better than average plot is due to one of the writers, Peter Berg, who's best known as an actor. I wouldn't recommend this as a date movie but males should like it just fine. Watch it here.

THE BACK-UP PLAN **½

Alan Poul directed this Romantic comedy Watch Preview starring: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O'Loughlin, Eric Christian Olsen, Michaela Watkins, Anthony Anderson, Noureen DeWulf, Melissa McCarthy, Danneel Harris.  Rated PG-13 for sexual content including references, some crude material and language. Running time is one hour and forty-six minutes.

After years of dating, Zoe (Jennifer Lopez) has decided waiting for the right one is taking too long. Determined to become a mother, she commits to a plan, makes an appointment and decides to go it alone. On the day of her artificial insemination, Zoe meets Stan (Alex O'Loughlin) – a man with real possibilities.

This is your basic formula chick-flick where you know every thing that's going to happen and how it's going to end. The only potential surprises are how good the actors are and how well they relate on screen. Well, they do fine and relate well. Production values are good and the film moves right along without dragging. To me this is an easily  forgettable film but my wife enjoyed it very much and that should tell you who the audience will be. There are a few laughs, mainly provided by Anthony Anderson, so it won't be a total loss for the guys as a date movie. Watch it here.

Worthwhile (or not), 4/23/2010

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film). The choices are pretty obvious this week: a nature film, an art film, a chick flick or a male-oriented action film. I've seen two of the four and thought they were a little better than the national critics would lead you to believe.

36 Back-up Plan, The,

75 Greenberg,
45 Losers, The,

79 Oceans

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 BACK-UP PLAN and THE LOSERS will be posted after 4:30 pm today (Friday).

Opening, 4/22-23/2010

For Wichita show times select a theatre at the end of each synopsis. For other cities, click any theatre name below the synopsis of interest and enter a town and state's name in the upper left below "Change Location" and press enter. Friday times appear Wednesdays.

Opens Thursday, 4/22

OCEANS [G] 1 hr. 24 min. Documentary Watch Preview Cast: Pierce Brosnan. Plot: nearly three-quarters of the Earth's surface is covered by water and "Oceans" dives deep into the very waters that sustain all of mankind—exploring the playful splendor and the harsh reality of the weird and wonderful creatures that live within. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

Opens  Friday, 4/23

THE BACK-UP PLAN [PG-13] 1 hr. 38 min. Romantic comedy Watch Preview Cast: Jennifer Lopez, Alex O'Loughlin, Eric Christian Olsen, Michaela Watkins, Noureen DeWulf, Melissa McCarthy, Danneel Harris. Plot: after years of dating, Zoe (Jennifer Lopez) has decided waiting for the right one is taking too long. Determined to become a mother, she commits to a plan, makes an appointment and decides to go it alone. On the day of her artificial insemination, Zoe meets Stan (Alex O'Loughlin) – a man with real possibilities. Showing at: Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren West.

GREENBERG [R] 1 hr. 47 min.  Comedy/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Ben Stiller, Greta Gerwig, Rhys Ifans, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Chris Messina, Brie Larson, Juno Temple. Plot: Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller), single, fortyish and at a crossroads in his life, finds himself in Los Angeles, house-sitting for six weeks for his more successful/married-with-children brother. In search of a place to restart his life, he soon finds himself spending more and more time with his brother's personal assistant Florence (Greta Gerwig), an aspiring singer and also something of a lost soul. Despite his best attempts not to be drawn in, Greenberg and Florence manage to forge a connection, and Greenberg realizes he may at last have found a reason to be happy. Showing at: Warren East.

THE LOSERS [PG-13] 1 hr. 38 min. Action/Thriller Watch Preview Cast: Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Zoe Saldana, Chris Evans, Idris Elba, Columbus Short, Holt McCallany, Oscar Jaenada, Jason Patric, Peter Macdissi. Plot: the members of an elite U.S. Special Forces unit are sent into the Bolivian jungle on a search and destroy mission. They find themselves the target of a lethal betrayal instigated from inside by a powerful enemy known only as Max. Presumed dead, the group makes plans to even the score when they're joined by the mysterious Aisha, a beautiful operative with her own agenda. Showing at: Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 4/22/2010

Derby Plaza - Diary Of A Wimpy Kid, Bounty Hunter
Movie Machine - Clash Of TheTitans
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - The Wolfman, Dear John
Starlite Drive-In - Open Weekends Only
Warren East 13th -The Runaways
Warren Old Town - Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?
Warren West 21st - Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?

KICK-ASS ***½

Matthew Vaughn directed this  Action/Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Clark Duke, Evan Peters,  Chloe Moretz, Nicolas Cage. Rated R for strong brutal violence throughout, pervasive language, sexual content, nudity and some drug use - some involving children. Running time is one hour and fifty-seven minutes. Based on the comic, Kick-Ass.

An unnoticed high school student and comic book fan (Johnson) decides to become a super-hero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so. He and his friends (Duke and Peters) soon run afoul of the local crime lord (Strong) and his son (Mintz-Plasse), who are also being hunted by Big Daddy (Cage) and his daughter, Hit-Girl (Moretz).

This one caught me completely by surprise.After looking at the previews I thought I knew exactly what I was going to see, a typical, utterly forgettable, teen romp. After all it had the faces I'd seen in those movies before. Boy, was I wrong. This is a well-paced, extremely violent, dark comedy that's one of the more entertaining films I've seen in some time. Cage is not the lead character; Johnson is, closely followed by 13-year-old (she was eleven when this was filmed) Chloe Moretz, who is absolutely astounding in her role as a well-trained killer with the face of an angel (I'm aware there must have been stunt doubles involved...but still!). She also has a real mouth on her and utters one vulgarity that will raise the hackles on some. Due to the level of violence, not everyone is going to like this. But, if violence, mayhem and vulgarity don't bother you much, and you appreciate well written, funny dialogue, this is one you don't want to miss. I guarantee you this is one they're going to be talking about Monday. See  it here.

DEATH AT A FUNERAL *½

Neil LaBute directed this Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Loretta Devine, Peter Dinklage, Ron Glass, Danny Glover, Regina Hall, Martin Lawrence, James Marsden, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Zoe Saldana, Columbus Short, Luke Wilson. Rated R for language, drug content and some sexual humor. Running time is one hour and thirty minutes.

A day in the life of an American family come together to put a beloved husband and father to rest. As mourners gather at the family home, shocking revelations, festering resentments, ugly threats, blackmail and a misdirected corpse unleash mayhem. This is an American remake of the hilarious 2007 Frank Oz British comedy.

If you have any interest in seeing the difference between really good comedy and what passes for it in America most of the time, compare this film with the 2007 original.  The difference is night and day even though the two share a screenwriter and an actor. The original featured  dry, understated British wit that was laugh-out-loud funny which has been replaced in this American version with the crude, vulgar and scatological action/dialogue that passes for humor so often of late. To me, this film was boring and mostly unfunny, not a description you'd want for a film that's supposed to be a comedy. If you're in the mood for a good laugh, rent the 2007 version and give this one a pass. See it here.

Worthwhile (or not), 4/16/2010

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film). Only two films this week. The first is a comedy based on the British film of the same name and the second is a action/mayhem pic based on a comic book. Younger patrons will do OK with the remake while an older crowd may find the comic book film surprisingly entertaining.

49 Death at a Funeral,

69 Kick-Ass

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  DEATH AT A FUNERAL and KICK-ASS will be posted after 4:30 pm today (Friday).

Opening, 4/16/2010

For show times select a theatre in the Showing at: section at the end of each synopsis. Friday times appear starting Wednesdays.

DEATH AT A FUNERAL [R] 1 hr. 31 min.Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Loretta Devine, Peter Dinklage, Ron Glass, Danny Glover, Regina Hall, Martin Lawrence, James Marsden, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Zoe Saldana, Columbus Short, Luke Wilson. Plot: a day in the life of an American family come together to put a beloved husband and father to rest. As mourners gather at the family home, shocking revelations, festering resentments, ugly threats, blackmail and a misdirected corpse unleash mayhem. This is a remake of the hilarious 2007 Frank Oz British comedy. Showing at: Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

KICK-ASS [R] 1 hr. 58 min. Action Watch Preview Cast: Aaron Johnson, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Mark Strong, Chloe Moretz, Nicolas Cage. Plot: an unnoticed high school student and comic book fan decides to become a super-hero, even though he has no powers, training or meaningful reason to do so. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren West.

Leaving 4/15/2010

Derby Plaza - Hot Tub Time Machine
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - Valentine's Day, Dr. Parnassus, The Blind Side
Starlite Drive-In - Open Weekends Only
Warren East 13th -Green Zone, She's Out Of My League
Warren Old Town - The Bounty Hunter
Warren West 21st - Avatar

DATE NIGHT **

 Shawn Levy directed this Comedy Watch Preview. Cast: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, James Franco, Leighton Meester, Common, Taraji Henson, Kristen Wiig, Ray Liotta, Mila Kunis, Mark Ruffalo, William Fichtner, Olivia Munn. Rated PG-13 for sexual and crude content throughout, language, some violence and a drug reference. Running time is one hour and twenty-eight minutes.


A bored married couple's (Carell, Fey) date night is turned upside down - way upside down, when they're mistaken for another couple (Ruffalo, Kunis).

This film starts out with an interesting premise and a few laughs but doesn't maintain its opening quality and ends up a dud. The last half hour isn't funny at all. The actors are fine, it's the plot that lets them down. The most entertaining parts of the film are the out takes during the credits and at the very end, after the credits. Those will give you some idea how much improvisation was used during the filming. The supporting cast is good but this is Carell and Fey's film. They have good screen chemistry, it's just too bad they didn't get a script that enhanced it. See it here.

Worthwhile (or not), 4/9/2010

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film). The national critics seem to have liked DATE NIGHT a little better than I did. LETTERS TO GOD evidently wasn't screened for the critics but it wouldn't make any difference for a film of this type...whatever audience it gets won't be affected by critics. RUNAWAYS seems to be the winner this week, as long as you like their music.

58 Date Night,
xx Letters to God,

65 Runaways, 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  DATE NIGHT will be posted after 4:30 pm today (Friday).

Opening, 4/9/2010

For show times select a theatre in the Showing at: section at the end of each synopsis. Friday times appear starting Wednesdays.

DATE NIGHT [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Comedy Watch Preview Cast: Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mark Wahlberg, James Franco, Leighton Meester, Common, Taraji Henson, Kristen Wiig, Ray Liotta, Mila Kunis, Mark Ruffalo, William Fichtner, Olivia Munn. Plot: a run-of-the-mill married couple's date night is turned upside down - way upside down, when they're mistaken for another couple. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine,  Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

LETTERS TO GOD [PG] 1 hr. 54 min. Drama Watch Preview Cast: Ralph Waite, Bailee Madison, Maree Cheatham, Robyn Lively. Plot: the story of what happens when one boy's faith crosses paths with one man's search for meaning—resulting in a transformational journey that touches the lives of everyone around them. Read The Book. Showing at: Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren West.

THE RUNAWAYS [R] 1 hr. 49 min. Biographical Music Drama Watch Preview Cast: Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon, Danielle Riley Keough, Scout Taylor-Compton, Stella Maeve, Tatum O'Neal, Plot: story of the ground-breaking, all girl, teenage rock band of the 1970s: The Runaways. Get The Music. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving 4/8/2010

Derby Plaza - Alice In Wonderland
Movie Machine - The Bounty Hunter
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - Edge Of Darkness, Alvin & The Chipmunks, When In Rome
Starlite Drive-In - Open Weekends Only
Warren East 13th -Chloe, Shutter Island, Repo Man
Warren Old Town - Alice In Wonderland
Warren West 21st - She's Out Of My League, Remember Me, Shutter Island, Green Zone

CLASH OF THE TITANS 3D **

Louis Leterrier directed this Action/Fantasy Watch Preview Cast: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Danny Huston, Gemma Arterton, Mads Mikkelsen, Jason Flemyng, Alexa Davalos, Izabella Miko, Nicholas Hoult, Pete Postlethwaite. Rated PG-13 for fantasy action violence, some frightening images and brief sensuality. Running time is one hour and fifty-eight minutes.

The ultimate struggle for power pits men against kings and kings against gods. But the war between the gods themselves, Zeus (Neeson) and Hades (Fiennes) could destroy the world, especially when they face the son of Zeus, Perseus (Worthington).

Nothing much to get excited about here, no matter what all the TV advertising might indicate. This is the typical Gods vs. Humans sillyness Hollywood has been making for years. The animatronics have gotten better and this film is in 3D, but there's nothing here you'll be thinking about thirty minutes after you leave the theatre. The 3D is acceptable but certainly not state of the art. This was filmed in 2D and converted to 3D as an afterthought. The effect is there but nothing jumps out and grabs you. If you've got time on your hands and money to burn, go for it. If that's not the case, I'm sure something better is just around the corner. See  it in 2D.  See  it in 3D.

Worthwhile (or not), 4/2/2010

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film). I've seen the first two films and neither one is anything to lose sleep over. The Tyler Perry pic was evidently not screened for the national critics but there's really no reason to. He has an audience that will come to his films no matter what anyone says.

 

39 Clash of the Titans,
33 Last Song, The,

xx Why Did I Get Married Too

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  THE LAST SONG is already on site and CLASH OF THE TITANS will be posted after 4:30 pm today (Friday).

THE LAST SONG *

Julie Anne Robinson directed this.Drama featuring: Miley Cyrus, Bobby Coleman, Liam Hemsworth, Hallock Beals, Nick Lashaway, Carly Chaikin, Nick Searcy, Kate Vernon, Kelly Preston, Greg Kinnear. Watch Preview   Rated PG for thematic material, some violence, sensuality and mild language.Running time is one hour and forty-seven minutes.

Based on best-selling novelist Nicholas Sparks' novel, "The Last Song" is set in a small Southern beach town where an estranged father (Greg Kinnear) gets a chance to spend the summer with his reluctant teenaged daughter (Miley Cyrus), who'd rather be home in New York.

This will probably open well due to the teenage female audience it will attract. But the older you are, the sillier and stupider this film will seem. The plot never rings true and is about as emotionally manipulative as any I've seen in a long time. Compound that with the fact Cyrus is nowhere close to being a competent, believable actress and you get what was for me almost two hours of tedium. The boy who plays her brother, Coleman; her real life boyfriend as well as screen boyfriend, Hemsworth; and especially Kinnear, can simply act circles around her. There's nothing offensive in this film except for Cyrus' acting, but adults are going to find this a poor entertainment investment. See It Here.

Opening, 3/31-4/2/2010

For show times select a theatre in the Showing at: section at the end of each synopsis. Friday times appear starting Wednesdays.

Opens Wedneday, 3/31

THE LAST SONG [PG] 1 hr. 47 min.Drama Watch Preview Cast: Miley Cyrus, Bobby Coleman, Liam Hemsworth, Hallock Beals, Nick Lashaway, Carly Chaikin, Nick Searcy, Kate Vernon, Kelly Preston, Greg Kinnear. Plot: based on best-selling novelist Nicholas Sparks' novel, "The Last Song" is set in a small Southern beach town where an estranged father (Greg Kinnear) gets a chance to spend the summer with his reluctant teenaged daughter (Miley Cyrus), who'd rather be home in New York. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Warren East, Warren West.

 Opens Friday, 4/2

CLASH OF THE TITANS 3D [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Action/Fantasy Watch Preview Cast: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Danny Huston, Gemma Arterton, Mads Mikkelsen, Jason Flemyng, Alexa Davalos, Izabella Miko, Nicholas Hoult, Pete Postlethwaite. Plot: the ultimate struggle for power pits men against kings and kings against gods. But the war between the gods themselves could destroy the world. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine,  Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

TYLER PERRY'S WHY DID I GET MARRIED TOO? [PG-13] 1 hr. 45 min. Comedy/Drama Watch Preview Cast: Tyler Perry, Sharon Leal, Janet Jackson, Malik Yoba, Jill Scott, Lamman Rucker, Richard T. Jones, Tasha Smith, Michael J. White, Cicely Tyson, Louis Gossett Jr. Plot: the next chapter in the lives of eight college friends struggling with the challenges of marital life. Showing at: Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving 3/30, 4/1/2010

Derby Plaza - (Shutter Island drops 3/30), She's Out Of My League
Movie Machine - (Percy Jackson, She's Out Of My League drop 3/30), Alice In Wonderland
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - Old Dogs, Legion, Princess & The Frog, New Moon
Starlite Drive-In - Open Weekends Only
Warren East 13th - (Cop Out, Remember Me drop 3/30), Percy Jackson, The Crazies, Our Family Wedding
Warren Old Town - Crazy Heart, Repo Man, She's Out Of My League
Warren West 21st - (Percy Jackson, The Crazies drop 3/30), Repo Man

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 3D ***

Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders directed this Animated fantasy adventure  featuring the voices of: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrara, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Craig Ferguson, Kristen Wiig, T.J. Miller.  See Preview  Rated PG for sequences of intense action and some scary images, and brief mild language. Running time is 1 hour and thirty-eight minutes.

Set in the mythical world of burly Vikings and wild dragons, and based on the book by Cressida Cowell, the action comedy tells the story of Hiccup, a Viking teenager who doesn’t exactly fit in with his tribe's longstanding tradition of heroic dragon slayers. Hiccup's world is turned upside down when he encounters a dragon that challenges he and his fellow Vikings to see the world from an entirely different point of view.

The plot and animation are nothing to write home about with this film but the 3D is very, very good and worth the price of admission. The story is simple and quite predictable with a few scary parts, but children old enough to be taken to a theatre should enjoy it, as will their parents. My personal opinion is this would be fairly bland without the 3D, so go for that process and see it on as large a screen as possible. This is not Pixar quality but it's still  very good. SEE IT HERE 2D.  SEE IT HERE 3D.

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE **½

Steve Pink directed this Comedy starring: John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Crispin Glover, Lizzy Caplan, Chevy Chase, Sebastian Stan, Lyndsy Fonseca, Collette Wolfe, Charlie McDermott, Kellee Stewart.  See Preview Want the soundtrack? Rated R for strong crude and sexual content, nudity, drug use and pervasive language.Running time is one hour and forty minutes.

Follows a group of best friends who've become bored with their adult lives: Adam (John Cusack) has been dumped by his girlfriend; Lou (Rob Corddry) is a party guy who can't find the party; Nick's (Craig Robinson) wife controls his every move; and video game-obsessed Jacob (Clark Duke) won't leave his basement. After a crazy night of drinking in a ski resort hot tub, the men wake up in the year 1986, giving them a chance to kick some past and change their futures.

This film will have to fall in the "guilty pleasure" category. Frankly, I wasn't expecting much from this film but was pleasantly surprised. If you're offended by female nudity, bad language and general crude behavior, this picture isn't for you. But if those things don't bother you when there's some humor and quality film making, you might want to give this some consideration. I found myself chuckling throughout and actually laughed out loud a few  times. It's never going to win any awards but if you're in the mood for a few laughs this could be one you want to see. SEE IT HERE.

Worthwhile (or not), 3/26/2010

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 your choice is between an adult, erotic thriller; a rude and crude teen flick starring adults; and an animated 3D family film. You won't go wrong with any of the picks. I've seen two of the three and heard good things about the third.

 

49 Chloe,
64 Hot Tub Time Machine,

75 How to Train Your Dragon

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  HOT TUB TIME MACHINE and HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON will be posted after 4:30 pm today (Friday).

Opening, 3/26/2010

For show times select a theatre in the Showing at: section at the end of each synopsis. Friday times appear starting Wednesdays.

CHLOE [R] 1 hr. 39 min. Drama/Thriller See Preview Cast: Julianne Moore, Amanda Seyfried, Liam Neeson, Max Thieriot. Plot: a married woman (Julianne Moore) hires a prostitute (Amanda Seyfried) to find out whether her husband (Liam Neeson) is cheating on her. The prostitute, however, cons her about the nature of her husband's fidelity, a move that puts the family in jeopardy. Showing at: Warren East.

HOT TUB TIME MACHINE [R] 1 hr. 39 min. Comedy See Preview Cast: John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Crispin Glover, Lizzy Caplan, Chevy Chase, Sebastian Stan, Lyndsy Fonseca, Collette Wolfe, Charlie McDermott, Kellee Stewart. Plot: follows a group of best friends who've become bored with their adult lives: Adam (John Cusack) has been dumped by his girlfriend; Lou (Rob Corddry) is a party guy who can't find the party; Nick's (Craig Robinson) wife controls his every move; and video game-obsessed Jacob (Clark Duke) won't leave his basement. After a crazy night of drinking in a ski resort hot tub, the men wake up in the year 1986, giving them a chance to kick some past and change their futures. Want the soundtrack? Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2D and 3D [PG] 1 hr. 30 min. Animated fantasy adventure See Preview Cast: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrara, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Craig Ferguson, Kristen Wiig, T.J. Miller. Plot: set in the mythical world of burly Vikings and wild dragons, and based on the book by Cressida Cowell, the action comedy tells the story of Hiccup, a Viking teenager who doesn’t exactly fit in with his tribe's longstanding tradition of heroic dragon slayers. Hiccup's world is turned upside down when he encounters a dragon that challenges he and his fellow Vikings to see the world from an entirely different point of view. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine,  Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving, 3/25/2010

Derby Plaza -Avatar, Green Zone
Movie Machine - Cop Out
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - An Education, It's Complicated
Starlite Drive-In - Open Weekends Only
Warren East 13th - Last Station, Brooklyn's Finest, Crazy Heart, Avatar
Warren Old Town - Green Zone, Shutter Island
Warren West 21st - Dear John, Valentine's Day, Brooklyn's Finest, Crazy Heart, Our Family Wedding

THE BOUNTY HUNTER **½

Andy Tennant directed this Action comedy starring: Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler, Jason Sudeikis, Dorian Missick, Joel Marsh Garland, Christine Baranski.  See Preview  Rated PG-13 for sexual content including suggestive comments, language and some violence. Running time is one hour and fifty minutes.

A down-on-his-luck bounty hunter (Butler), gets his dream job when he is assigned to track down his bail-jumping ex-wife (Aniston).

If the plot description looks a little sparse it's because that pretty well describes the plot. This is a predictable comedy where there are no surprises. That said, the two leads are fine and have good screen chemistry. There are a few laughs although not as many as you might like. Basically, this is your stereotypical "chick" flick, but one most women will enjoy, and it makes a good date film. See It Here.

Worthwhile (or not), 3/19/2010

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film). The films pretty much run the gamut this week. BOUNTY HUNTER is clearly aimed at the female and dating crowd, WIMPY KID is clearly for harried parents trying to find entertainment for the kids during Spring break, GHOST WRITER is getting good reviews and is aimed at the sophisticated, adult crowd and REPO MEN is aimed at the teen/twenties market.

 

31 Bounty Hunter, The,
64 Diary of a Wimpy Kid,

77 Ghost Writer, The,
29 Repo Men

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  THE BOUNTY HUNTER will be posted after 4:30 pm today (Friday).

Opening, 3/19/2010

For show times select a theatre in the Showing at: section at the end of each synopsis. Friday times appear starting Wednesdays.

THE BOUNTY HUNTER [PG-13] 1 hr. 51 min. Action comedy See Preview Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler, Jason Sudeikis, Dorian Missick, Joel Marsh Garland, Christine Baranski. Plot: a down-on-his-luck bounty hunter, gets his dream job when he is assigned to track down his bail-jumping ex-wife. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID [PG] 1 hr. 40 min. Family Comedy See Preview Cast: Zachary Gordon, Chloe Moretz, Steve Zahn, Rachael Harris, Robert Capron, Devon Bostick, Grayson Russell. Plot: based on the best-selling illustrated novel "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" by Jeff Kinney, which chronicles the adventures of  a wise-cracking middle school student who must somehow survive the scariest time of anyone's life: middle school. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine, Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren West.

THE GHOST WRITER [PG-13] 2 hrs. 09 min. Thriller See Preview Cast: Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Cattrall, Olivia Williams, Tom Wilkinson, Timothy Hutton, Eli Wallach. Plot: a successful British ghostwriter agrees to complete the memoirs of a former British Prime Minister when his agent assures him it's the opportunity of a lifetime. But the project seems doomed from the start—not least because his predecessor on the project died in an unfortunate accident. Based on the best selling novel, The Ghost. Showing at: Warren East.

REPO MEN [R] 1 hr. 51 min. Action/Thriller See Preview Cast: Jude Law, Forest Whitaker, Liev Schreiber, RZA, Alice Braga, Carice van Houten. Plot: in this futuristic action-thriller humans have extended and improved their lives through highly sophisticated and expensive mechanical organs created by a company called The Union. The dark side of these medical breakthroughs is that if you don't pay your bill, The Union sends its highly skilled repo men to take back its property... with no concern for your comfort or survival. Showing at: Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving, 3/18/2010

Derby Plaza - Valentine's Day, Cop Out
Movie Machine -Valentine's Day
Northrock 14 -
Palace West -Youth In Revolt, The Lovely Bones
Starlite Drive-In - Open Weekends Only
Warren East 13th -Dear John, The Messenger, Valentine's Day
Warren Old Town - Cop Out, Avatar
Warren West 21st - Cop Out

GREEN ZONE ***

Paul Greengrass directed this Thriller which stars: Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Amy Ryan, Brendan Gleeson, Jason Isaacs, Khalid Abdalla.  See Preview  Rated R for violence and language. Running time is one hour and fifty-five minutes.

During the U.S.-led occupation of Baghdad in 2003, a Chief Warrant Officer (Damon) and his team of Army inspectors are dispatched to find weapons of mass destruction believed to be stockpiled in the Iraqi desert. Rocketing from one booby-trapped and treacherous site to the next and helped by a CIA agent (Gleeson), the men search for deadly chemical agents but stumble instead upon an elaborate cover-up led by a military intelligence agent (Kinnear) and inadvertently aided by a Wall Street Journal reporter (Ryan) that inverts the purpose of their mission.

If non-stop action is your thing, here's your picture. While I like action films this one, especially at the beginning, bordered on frenetic. Either it eventually slowed down or I got used to the pace because I was comfortable with the speed by the end. The story is basically what this country has been arguing about since the start of the Iraq War. Did we know there were no weapons of mass destruction before we started the war or were we actually surprised by the fact. The film has a definite viewpoint so your feelings about the film may depend on whether or not you agree with the filmmakers. Production values and  the cast are  first rate. A big screen and surround sound definitely add to the impact.

Worthwhile (or not), 3/12/2010

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film). There's plenty of action in GREEN ZONE, bordering on too much at times. FAMILY WEDDING appears to be a formula film with very limited prospects. REMEMBER ME should give some indication whether or not Rob Pattinson can help what appears to be a here and gone film. OUT OF MY LEAGUE is aimed at the young crowd and the people I talked to who watched it thought it was pretty funny.

60 Green Zone,
36 Our Family Wedding,

40 Remember Me,
48 She's Out of My League

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  GREEN ZONE will be posted after 4:30 pm today (Friday).

Opening, 3/12/2010

For show times select a theatre in the Showing at: section at the end of each synopsis. Friday times appear starting Wednesdays.

GREEN ZONE [R] 1 hr. 55 min. Thriller See Preview Cast: Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Amy Ryan, Brendan Gleeson, Jason Isaacs, Khalid Abdalla. Plot: during the U.S.-led occupation of Baghdad in 2003, a Chief Warrant Officer and his team of Army inspectors are dispatched to find weapons of mass destruction believed to be stockpiled in the Iraqi desert. Rocketing from one booby-trapped and treacherous site to the next, the men search for deadly chemical agents but stumble instead upon an elaborate cover-up that inverts the purpose of their mission. Theatres & times: Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

OUR FAMILY WEDDING [PG-13] 1 hr. 50 min. Comedy See Preview Cast: Forest Whitaker, America Ferrera, Carlos Mencia, Regina King, Lance Gross. Plot: when a couple return from college and suddenly announce their marriage plans, they soon discover their fathers -both with  highly competitive over-the-top egos - can wreak a major amount of havoc on their special day. Theatres & times: Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren West.

REMEMBER ME [PG-13] 1hr. 52 min. Romance/Drama See Preview Cast: Robert Pattinson, Emilie de Ravin, Chris Cooper, Lena Olin, Tate Ellington, Ruby Jerins, Pierce Brosnan. Plot: a rebellious young man  meet a girl through an unusual twist of fate and begins to fall in love. But soon,the circumstances that brought them together threaten to tear them apart. Theatres & times: Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren West.

SHE'S OUT OF MY LEAGUE [R] 1 hr. 45 min.  Romantic comedy See Preview Cast: Jay Baruchel, Alice Eve, T.J. Miller, Nate Torrence, Krysten Ritter, Geoff Stults, Lindsay Sloane, Mike Vogel. Plot: an average Joe can't believe his luck when a successful and outrageously gorgeous babe falls for him. Now he has to figure out how to make the relationship work. Theatres & times:  Movie Machine,  Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving, 03/11/2010

Derby Plaza -
Movie Machine -The Tooth Fairy, The Wolfman
Northrock 14 - Avatar, Dear John, Sherlock Holmes, The Wolfman
Palace West -Daybreakers, Leap Year
Starlite Drive-In - Open Weekends Only
Warren East 13th - Blind Side, Sherlock Holmes, When In Rome, The Wolfman
Warren Old Town -Valentine's Day, The Wolfman
Warren West 21st -The Tooth Fairy, Blind Side, Edge Of Darkness, The Wolfman

ALICE IN WONDERLAND 3D **½

Tim Burton directed this Fantasy adventure starring: Johnny Depp, Mia Wasikowska, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, Matt Lucas, Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Christopher Lee, Paul Whitehouse, Barbara Windsor.  See Trailer  Rated PG for fantasy action/violence involving scary images and situations, and for a smoking caterpillar. Running time is one hour and forty-eight minutes.

Alice (Wasikowska),  returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with : the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, the red Queen (Carter), the white Queen (Hathaway) and of course, the Mad Hatter (Depp). Shown in 2D and 3D.

I saw this in the 3D version and the 3D and CGI effects are quite impressive. The cast is fine with Wasikowska doing a fine Alice, Depp appearing quite mad, Carter being appropriately despotic, and Hathaway being underused. When all was over, however, I found myself singularly uninvolved in the whole drama. It's nice to look at but there's no one here you're really going to care about and I think you'll have forgotten all about it within 30 minutes.. Younger generations will find this more entertaining than will those, say, over 40. I'd expect large crowds during the opening week but it shouldn't be hard to find a seat after that. There are a lot of 3D films being released this Spring and only a limited number of 3D auditoriums, so I don't expect to see this here for an extended stay. 3D theatres & times. 2D theatres & times. 

Worthwhile (or not), 3/5/2010

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film). A fairly decent variety this week: a kid/family film in 3D, a gritty cop pic, and a drama about the military. I saw ALICE and think the younger you are the better you'll like it. As usual, the "art" film has the highest numbers and will no doubt have the lowest attendance.

55 Alice in Wonderland,
40 Brooklyn's Finest,
77 Messenger, 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 ALICE IN WONDERLAND will be posted after 4:30 pm today (Friday).

Opening, 3/5/2010

For show times select a theatre in the Showing at: section at the end of each synopsis. Friday times appear starting Wednesdays.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND 3D [PG] 1 hr. 49 min. Fantasy adventure See Trailer Cast: Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, Matt Lucas, Mia Wasikowska, Alan Rickman, Stephen Fry, Michael Sheen, Timothy Spall, Christopher Lee, Paul Whitehouse, Barbara Windsor. Plot: Alice,  returns to the whimsical world she first encountered as a young girl, reuniting with her childhood friends: the White Rabbit, Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat, and of course, the Mad Hatter. Shown in 2D and 3D. Showing at: Movie Machine,  Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

BROOKLYN'S FINEST [R] 2 hrs. 13 min.  Crime drama See Trailer Cast: Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke, Don Cheadle, Jesse Williams, Ellen Barkin, Wesley Snipes, Lili Taylor, Brian F. O'Byrne, Shannon Kane, Will Patton, Vincent D'Onofrio. Plot: in the course of one chaotic week, the lives of three conflicted New York City police officers are dramatically transformed by their involvement in a massive drug operation. Showing at: Warren East, Warren West.

THE MESSENGER [R] 1 hr. 45 min. Drama See Trailer Cast: Ben Foster, Woody Harrelson, Samantha Morton, Jena Malone, Eamonn Walker. Plot: a U.S. Army officer who has just returned home from a tour in Iraq is assigned to the Army's Casualty Notification service. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving, 03/04/2010

Derby Plaza -
Movie Machine - nothing
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - Invictus, Nine, Planet 51
Starlite Drive-In - Open Weekends Only
Warren East 13th -Up In The Air, Edge Of Darkness, The Tooth Fairy, From Paris With Love, The Book Of Eli
Warren Old Town - Percy Jackson And The Olympians
Warren West 21st - The Book Of Eli

COP OUT *½

 Kevin Smith directed this Crime comedy starring: Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, Adam Brody, Kevin Pollak, Guillermo Diaz, Seann William Scott, Jason Lee, Ana de la Reguera. See Preview Rated R for pervasive language including sexual references, violence and brief sexuality. Run time is one hour and forty-seven minutes.

Two longtime NYPD partners (Willis and Morgan) on the trail of a stolen, rare, mint-condition baseball card find themselves up against a merciless, memorabilia-obsessed gangster. The veteran detective is searching for the  missing collectible as it's his only hope to pay for his daughter's upcoming wedding, while his "partner-against-crime" is so preoccupied with his wife's alleged infidelity he has trouble keeping his eye on the ball.

I watched this with a group of college age students who seemed to find it more enjoyable than did I. In fact, I don't remember laughing once although there were a few mildly amusing moments. Willis plays his usual cop character but for me Morgan was absolutely annoying throughout the film. He can be amusing at times in short bits on SNL but his persona is absolutely grating over the long haul. Scott wasn't much better.Production values as well as the rest of the supporting cast were fine. My guess is anyone over thirty is not going to think they got their money's worth. Teens and twenties may find it acceptable.

Worthwhile (or not), 2/26/2010

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film). Looks like you'll have to go for the art film if you want a pic the national critics like. I can certainly attest to the fact most adults will find COP OUT a dismal excuse for entertainment. Since most adults aren't much into horror films, that may leave many of you at a loss for this weekend. Oh well, there's always the final weekend of the Olympics.

32 Cop Out,
59 Crazies, The,
76 Last Station, 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 COP OUT will be posted after 4:30 pm today (Friday).

Opening, 2/26/2010

For show times select a theatre in the Showing at: section at the end of each synopsis. Friday times appear starting Wednesdays.

COP OUT [R] 1 hr. 50 min. Crime comedy See Preview Cast: Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan, Adam Brody, Kevin Pollak, Guillermo Diaz, Seann William Scott, Jason Lee, Ana de la Reguera. Plot: two longtime NYPD partners on the trail of a stolen, rare, mint-condition baseball card find themselves up against a merciless, memorabilia-obsessed gangster. Jimmy (Bruce Willis) is the veteran detective whose missing collectible is his only hope to pay for his daughter's upcoming wedding, and Paul (Tracy Morgan) is his "partner-against-crime" whose preoccupation with his wife's alleged infidelity makes it hard for him to keep his eye on the ball. Showing at: Derby Plaza, Movie Machine,  Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

THE CRAZIES [R] 1 hr. 41 min. Horror drama See Preview Cast: Timothy Olyphant, Radha Mitchell, Danielle Panabaker, Joe Anderson. Plot: the sheriff of a small town where everything is safe and happy is faced with friends and neighbors going quickly and horrifically insane. In an effort to keep the madness contained, the government uses deadly force to close off all access and won't let anyone in or out – even those uninfected. Showing at: Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren West.

THE LAST STATION [R] 1 hr. 52 min. Historical drama See Preview Cast: Christopher Plummer, Helen Mirren, James McAvoy, Paul Giamatti, Anne-Marie Duff, Kerry Condon. Plot: a tale of two romances, one near its end (Leo Tolstoy and his wife), one beginning (Tolstoy's assistant and a free thinking follower of Tolstoy). A complex, funny, rich and emotional story about the difficulty of living with love and the impossibility of living without it. Based on the book with the same name. Showing at: Warren East.

Leaving, 2/25/2010

Derby Plaza -nothing
Movie Machine - From Paris With Love
Northrock 14 -
Palace West - The Road, Did You Hear About The Morgans, 2012, Couples Retreat
Starlite Drive-In - Closed for the Winter
Warren East 13th -Broken Embraces
Warren Old Town - Dear John
Warren West 21st - Sherlock Holmes, From Paris With Love, When In Rome, Legion

SHUTTER ISLAND ***½

Martin Scorsese  directed this Pschological thriller starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson, Emily Mortimer, and Max von Sydow. SEE PREVIEW  Rated R for disturbing violent content, language and some nudity. Running time is two hours and eighteen minutes.

Two U.S. marshals (DiCaprio, Ruffalo) are summoned to a remote and barren island off the cost of Massachusetts to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a murderess (Mortimer, Clarkson) from the island's fortress-like hospital for the criminally insane.

Let me warn you, I'm well aware many will not share my opinion of this film. I found it fascinating because the probable ending became obvious to me within ten or fifteen minutes  after the film's start and I spent the remaining time trying to verify my original conclusion. If you haven't watched as many film as I have you may not have the same experience and the ending will come as something of a shock. I've talked to those who have both loved and hated this film but I have no way of predicting who will fall into each camp. The production values are first rate and the acting is superb. Scorsese is perhaps a little heavy handed in setting the atmosphere but it is effective. There is some full frontal male nudity, so those who may find that offensive have been advised. Pay particular attention to the very last line of the film as I think it changes the meaning of the ending, but it's easy to miss. You will not get the same impact this film has on a large screen by watching it on your home TV. See it here.

BROKEN EMBRACES **½

Pedro Almodóvar directed this Drama starring: Penelope Cruz, Lluis Homar, Blanca Portilla, Rossy de Palma, Kiti Manver, Chus Lampreave, Lola Duenas, A:ngela Molina. SEE PREVIEW  Rated R for sexual content, language and some drug material. Running time is two hours and seven minutes.

A film director (Homar) who lost his sight and lover (Cruz) in an accident continues life as a screenwriter with the help of his longtime assistant (Portilla).

 I am aware this director is very well thought of but I couldn't help but notice the difference in polish between this work and your average American film. This felt amateurish to me although the cast is good and Cruz is luminous when she's on screen. Even though it in no way looks like an American film it is entertaining once it gets started and I'm glad I saw it. The English subtitles were a little hard to read on occasion but that was a minor problem (the film is in Spanish).  I suspect women will enjoy this more than men but it isn't a bad couple's movie. See it here.

CRAZY HEART **½

 Scott Cooper wrote and directed this Musical Drama starring: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, and Robert Duvall. See Preview Rated R for language and brief sexuality. Running time is one hour and fifty-two minutes.

A broken-down, hard-living country music singer (Bridges) who's had way too many marriages, far too many years on the road, and one too many drinks way too many times, can't help but reach for salvation with the help of a journalist (Gyllenhaal).

Bridges has been nominated for Best Actor and Gyllenhaal for Best Supporting Actress for their roles in this picture. I'll go along with Bridges, he's very believable as a burned out alcoholic, but I don't seen anything extraordinary about Gyllenhall's performance. More to the point, I didn't believe for a minute in the relationship between Bridges and Gyllenhall, and that's the core of the film. Nor, did I find the resolution of their relationship at all believable. If you want to catch the major Oscar nominated films before the awards, by all means check it out, but there are better films available.

Worthwhile (or not), 2/19/2010

Here's MetaCritic's numerical rank of this week's films (xx/100 - the higher the number, the better the critics liked the film).Your choice for a new film this week is between an European romance drama and an American psychological thriller. I've seen both and while they are both very good, most Americans are going to find SHUTTER ISLAND more to their liking than BROKEN EMBRACES.

76 Broken Embraces,
63 Shutter Island

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 SHUTTER ISLAND and BROKEN EMBRACES will be posted after 4:30 pm today (Friday).

Opening, 2/19/2010

For show times select a theatre in the Showing at: section at the end of each synopsis. Friday times appear starting Wednesdays.

BROKEN EMBRACES [R] 2 hrs. 8 min. Drama/Thriller SEE PREVIEW Cast: Penelope Cruz, Lluis Homar, Blanca Portilla, Rossy de Palma, Kiti Manver, Chus Lampreave, Lola Duenas, Angela Molina. Plot: a film director who lost his sight and lover in an accident continues life as a screenwriter. In Spanish with English subtitles. Showing at: Warren East.

SHUTTER ISLAND [R] 2 hrs. 18 min. Pschological thriller SEE PREVIEW Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Patricia Clarkson, Max von Sydow. Plot: two U.S. marshals  are summoned to a remote and barren island off the cost of Massachusetts to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a murderess from the island's fortress-like hospital for the criminally insane. Showing at: Derby Plaza,  Northrock 14, Warren East, Warren Old Town, Warren West.

Leaving, 2/18/2010

Derby Plaza -When In Rome
Movie Machine - Alvin: Squeakquel, Book Of Eli, Edge Of Darkness
Northrock 14 - Lovely Bones, Princess And The Frog
Palace West - Brothers, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Hurt Locker
Starlite Drive-In - Closed for the Winter
Warren East 13th -Legion, An Education
Warren Old Town - From Paris With Love
Warren West 21st - It's Complicated, Lovely Bones, Alvin: Squeakquel

THE WOLFMAN **½

Joe Johnston directed this Horror Drama  starring: Benicio Del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving, Geraldine Chaplin, and Art Malik. SEE PREVIEW  Rated R for bloody horror violence and gore. Running time is two hours and five minutes.

A haunted nobleman (Del Toro) is lured back to his family estate by his brother's fiancée (Blunt) after his brother vanishes. Reunited with his estranged father (Hopkins), he sets out to find his brother... and discovers a horrifying destiny for himself.

This film was made as an homage to the original 1941 film of the same name that starred Lon Chaney, Jr.  For the most part they seem to have been faithful to the original story, but with the film enhancements that are now possible you're not going to mistake this version for the original. Production values are first rate and the CGI effects are at times startling as well as horrifying. The cast is fine although Hopkins is the dominant performer. Blunt is rather wasted in her role which is a shame for an actress of her ability.If you like horror films and would like to see one that's well made as opposed to the shoddy slasher films prevalent today, you should put this on your list.

VALENTINE'S DAY **

Garry Marshall directed this  Romantic Comedy starring: Jessica Alba, Kathy Bates, Jessica Biel, Bradley Cooper, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Jennifer Garner, Topher Grace, Anne Hathaway, Ashton Kutcher, Queen Latifah, Taylor Lautner, George Lopez, Shirley MacLaine, Emma Roberts, Julia Roberts, Taylor Swift.  SEE PREVIEW  Rated PG-13 for some sexual material and brief partial nudity. Running time is two hours and five minutes.


Follows the intertwining storylines of a group of Los Angelinos as they find their way through romance over the course of one Valentine's Day.

This is a picture that will do well this weekend no matter what any reviewer says. It's is an amiable enough film, with a few laughs scattered throughout. But, the very thing that makes it interesting, the humongous cast, is the thing that gives it problems. It's hard to focus on a character or plot thread when so many are doing so much. You never get to know any character well and for me, that kept me from getting involved in the story. Plus, this is a little lengthy for a light comedy and I was getting bored before it was over. My wife watched this with me and enjoyed it much more than I did. She said she would have given it ***. It will do just fine for a Valentine's Day date movie but I'll be surprised if it hangs around for many weeks after. There are a few outtakes during the end credits that are amusing so you may want to stay a few minutes longer than usual.