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Written by Lisa Miller/special to the World
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Wednesday, 09 July 2008 |
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(Ratings are out of four stars.)
HANCOCK
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by Peter Berg
Starring Will Smith, Jason Bateman, Charlize Theron, Jae Head
Sony/Rated PG-13/Fantasy, Comedy/92 min
 Disgruntled superhero Hancock is a drunk who can’t fly straight. While defeating bad guys or saving the unwary, he’s prone to knock a train off its tracks, sink a ship or shave corners off tall buildings. The citizens of Los Angeles have had it and they want Hancock gone. His reasons for staying are unclear, though the warm weather favor favors Hancock’s lifestyle. Outfitted in sloppy shorts, a frayed T-shirt and filthy knit cap, drunken Hancock passes out on a city bench. When a little boy insists he get up to apprehend some very bad men, the superhero’s rudeness prompts the kid to call him precisely what he appears to be, an a--hole.
It’s a term aptly applied to Hancock many times over the course of this film. Played by the normally charming Will Smith, Hancock is mean to most kids, some of whom deserve it. Things have so gotten bad for Hancock that he is being charged with destruction of property by the district attorney.
 In need of a serious attitude adjustment, the errant hero is talked into accepting an image makeover by good-hearted PR man, Ray (Jason Bateman). Hancock is adored by Ray’s sweet young son (Jae Head), who gives the superhero his favorite plastic dinosaur, but Ray’s otherwise loving wife, Mary (Charlize Theron) looks upon Ray’s new friend with utter disdain.
“Hancock,” the movie treats its hero’s reckless destruction as nothing more than an expensive joke. He causes freeway pileups and worse, yet time and again only the bad guys get hurt. Another sticky problem finds a chastened Hancock discovering that his powers prevent him from having the one thing he wants most. He has every reason to be angry and do some serious superhero mourning. But no. Fixated on possible sequels, the filmmakers (Smith is one of the producers) give us a politically correct, stoic superhero. It’s a very PC outcome and one missing everything that makes the franchise fun.
COMING SOON
HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY
(2008)
PR: * * *1/2
Directed by Guillermo del Toro
Starring Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Luke Goss, Thomas Kretschmann, Doug Jones, Jeffrey Tambor, Luke Goss, Anna Walton, Brian Steele, Roy Dotrice, John Hurt
Universal/Rated PG-13/Action, Fantasy/
When an army of evil creatures is unleashed, it falls to Hellboy (Perlman) and friends to stop it. Finally content with Liz Sherman (Blair) as the pair prepare to become parents, Hellboy wants nothing more than a normal life. His efforts to fit in fall by the wayside when earth is attacked by an otherworldly Prince (Luke Goss) who looks something like Jeremy Irons character in the “Time Machine.” The prince hopes Hellboy will join his army of monstrous warriors planning to enslave mankind. Visually astute and marvelously inventive, del Toro’s second “Hellboy” movie finds the balance between character development, great storytelling, and spellbinding special effects.
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH
(2008)
PR: * *1/2
Directed by Eric Brevig
Starring Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem
New Line/Rated PG/Sci-Fi/92 min
This latest film adaptation of a classic novel is all about fab special effects in 3-D. Fraser appears as Trevor, a geologist teamed with his nephew, Sean (Hutcherson), to find Max,the lad’s missing dad. Long a believer in the truth of Jules Verne’s hidden world, Max went exploring beneath the earth’s surface and never returned. Following Max’s trail, the duo find the entrance to a wondrous realm deep inside our planet. There are many dangers such as spitting water, fanged piranhas, and especially a very “Jurassic Park” T-Rex. Playing like a theme park ride for the big screen, the film races from set piece to set piece, barely stringing it all together with its loose storyline.
MEET DAVE
(2008)
PR: * *
Directed by Brian Robbins
Starring Eddie Murphy, Elizabeth Banks, Gabrielle Union, Scott Caan, Ed Helms, Kevin Hart, Austyn Lind Myers
Fox/Rated PG/Comedy, Sci-Fi/90 min
A crew of tiny, extraterrestrial humanoids arrive on earth in a space ship that takes the form of an earthling. The man-ship goes by Dave (Murphy), a human size replica of the ship’s 1-inch-tall captain (Murphy again). Instead of fulfilling their mission, Dave becomes infatuated with a gorgeous earthling (Banks). Having forgotten how to procreate, the remaining crew must gather earth’s salt to ensure the survival of their kind -- unless Dave can help them rediscover their lost knowledge. On another note, who’s idea was it to promote “Dave” by hauling 15-foot-tall Murphy-heads around on flatbed trucks? Art is imitating life and it’s really creepy.
NOW PLAYING
KIT KITTREDGE: AN AMERICAN GIRL
(2008)
CR: * * *
Directed by Patricia Rozema
Starring Abigail Breslin, Stanley Tucci, Joan Cusack, Julia Ormond, Glenne Headly, Jane Krakowski
New Line/Rated G/Drama/100 min
“Kit Kittredge” excels as both a family movie and socially aware film. Set during the depression, the story, adapted from a series of popular childrens books, follows Kit’s (Breslin) efforts to become a kiddie journalist. Mom (Ormond) makes a meager living taking in borders -- a magician (Tucci), a dance instructor (Krakowski) and a librarian (Cusack). Kit’s eyes are opened when she meets a pair of homeless, hungry orphans shortly before someone steals the mortgage money her mother has saved. Kit and her pals race to solve the crime before the bank forecloses. Though neither frivolous nor overly sentimental, the film’s delicate handling of serious issues is enough to make many adult dramas jealous.
KABLUEY [limited]
(2007)
CR: * * * *
Directed by Scott Prendergast
Starring Scott Prendergast, Lisa Kudrow, Christine Taylor, Conchata Ferrell, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Teri Garr
Regent Releasing/Rated PG-13/Comedy/87 min
This darling of the festival circuit has been dubbed “A genuine discovery” by critics at The Hollywood Reporter. Writer-director Scott Prendergast was inspired by his own real-life experience. Here, Lisa Kudrow plays Leslie, a midwestern mother of two brats intent on killing their unemployed uncle Salman (Prendergast), arriving after their dad is sent to the Middle East. While seeking a job to help Leslie make ends meet, Salman carefully negotiates breakfast cereal laced with thumbtacks by the boys. Finally, Salman is hired to hand out fliers while wearing a goofy blue costume featuring a blank, huge round head. As if things weren’t bad enough, Leslie’s depression turns to anger toward Salman in this black and blue comedy that wanders far off the beaten path.
DIMINISHED CAPACITY [limited]
(2008)
PR: * *
Directed by Terry Kinney
Starring Matthew Broderick, Alan Alda, Virginia Madsen, Dylan Baker, Louis C.K.
IFC Films/Not Rated/Comedy/89 mins
Long suffering Cubs fans get little relief though their favorite team is showcased. Cooper (Broderick) takes a vacation from his Chicago newspaper job to help his senile uncle Rollie (Alda). With Charlotte (Madsen), Cooper’s highschool sweetheart in tow, Cooper and Rollie head for a baseball memorabilia show planning to sell Rollie’s rare baseball card from the Cubs’ long ago World Championship. While Cooper romances Charlotte, Rollie is conned into parting with the card for a mere $500 bucks. Cooper must try to set things right while earning Charlotte’s respect. A winsome premise, this broad comedy suffers from awkward plotting and overly serious story passages. On the bright side, Alda shines as an unpredictable father-figure to the addled Cooper.
WALL-E
(2008)
* * * 1/2
Directed by Andrew Stanton
Voices of Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, Macintalk, John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy, Sigourney Weaver
Disney and Pixar/Rated G/Animated Sci-Fi/97 min
When Earth becomes so polluted that mankind must leave, clean-up robot, Wall-E, is left behind. Hundred of years later, a scout ‘bot arrives from space. Hiding in the rubble, Wall-E watches, then gets to know robot, Eve, before he hitches a ride on her space ship. Wall-E is in love. In “Wall-E,” Pixar has created a nonspeaking protagonist though no one seeing the little robot’s expressive binoculars-for-eyes, could doubt his feelings. With much of the story occurring off-planet, and mankind’s fate hanging in the balance, Pixar has created an intriguing cautionary tale. Additionally, the film wins the cute robot wars, even besting R2-D2.
WANTED (2008)
CR: * * *
Directed by Timur Bekmambetov
Starring James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, Terence Stamp, Thomas Kretschmann
Universal/Rated R/Sci-Fi/110 min
The summer’s highest octane flick casts Angelina Jolie as a highly tattooed uber assassin. Based on Mark Millar’s explosive graphic novel series, the film, directed with plenty of razzle dazzle by visually astute Timur Bekmambetov (”Day Watch” and “Night Watch”), offers up warriors bending space and time with their minds. McAvoy appears as Wesley Gibson, a worker drone who learns his father had a secret life with the Fraternity, a covert society of assassins operating according to an unbreakable code. Group overseer, Sloan (Freeman), guides Wes in locating his dormant powers while fellow operative, Fox (Jolie), imparts wisdom such as, “Kill one, save a thousand.” As Wes progresses, he begins to suspect things are not as they seem. Part “Matrix,” and part “Transporter,” “Wanted” creates the myth and spectacle summer crowds crave.
FINDING AMANDA [limited]
(2008)
CR: * *
Directed by Peter Tolan
Starring Matthew Broderick, Brittany Snow, Maura Tierney, Steve Coogan, Peter Facinelli
Magnolia Pictures/Rated R/Comedy/90 min
An alcoholic, addicted gambler, television producer, Taylor (Broderick), travels to Vegas. Though the neon city is filled with temptations, Taylor’s wife (Tierney), delegates him to rescue her niece, Amanda (Snow), fallen into prostitution. Persuading Amanda to leave is a long process requiring Taylor to take numerous breaks that allow him to run up a huge gambling debt. Meant to be touching, tragic and funny, the superficial film squanders much of its comic potential. Since Magnolia Pictures has already placed the film on DISH’s On-Demand service, it should be a short hop to DVD.
GET SMART
(2008)
* *
Directed by Peter Segal
Starring Steve Carell, Anne Hathaway, Dwayne Johnson, Alan Arkin, Terence Stamp, Terry Crews, David Koechner, James Caan
Warner/Rated PG-13/Action, Comedy/110 min
Though the film casts Hollywood it-man, Steve Carell, as agent Maxwell Smart, the film’s haphazard humor lacks the wit and verve of the 1960s TV series. Anne Hathaway occupies the role of Agent 99, but her loose timing dulls the sharp edge needed to counter Smart’s klutzy agent 86. An overreaching plot has CONTROL infiltrated by KAOS, the evil crime syndicate. With most agents’ identities compromised, eager beaver analyst Smart gets promoted and teamed with veteran agent 99 (recruited out of high school?) and ill-tempered, super agent 23 (The Rock). CONTROL’s pay phone entrance remains intact. Hopefully it still gets a dial tone so someone can call No-Sequels-911.
THE LOVE GURU
(2008)
CR: *1/2
Directed by Marco Schnabel
Starring Mike Myers, Jessica Alba, Romany Malco, Ben Kingsley, Justin Timberlake
Paramount/Rated PG-13/Comedy/87 min
Mike Myers pens a comedy loosely constructed around his latest muse, a fame-seeking guru and his longtime obsession, the Toronto Maple Leafs Hockey team. Myers’ fantasy includes foxy team owner, Jane, played by Jessica Alba (accepting yet another bad role because it met her salary demands). Jane hires The Love Guru (Myers) to help her devastated star player (Malco) win back his wife, now shacked up with L.A. Kings’ goalie, Jacques “Le Coq” (Timberlake). At least Myers, who co-wrote this mess, creates pithy names. Case in point: Ben Kingsley as Guru Tugginmypuddha (Kingsley), and the Love Guru’s Indian home village of Harenmahkeester. Had equal effort gone into this overlong skit, “Love Guru” might have earned our affection.
BRICK LANE [limited]
(2007)
* *1/2
Directed by Sarah Gavron
Starring Tannishtha Chatterjee, Satish Kaushik, Christopher Simpson
Sony Pictures Classics/Rated PG-13/Drama/102 min
A handsome picture, “Brick Lane” opens with Nazneen’s idyllic life in the Bangladesh countryside before she is transported to London for an arranged marriage. Fast forward 16 years and Nazneen (Chatterjee) is trapped in virtual servitude to her oafish husband, Chanu (Kaushik), father of her two daughters. When Chanu loses his job, Nazneen takes in sewing. Her new occupation leads to meeting a young entrepreneur, who, in the wake of 9/11 is poised to embrace radical Islam. Nazneen’s adventures take some predictable turns before her life changes in surprising ways. Though slow moving, the characters lead us on a rewarding journey.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by Louis Leterrier
Starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth, William Hurt, Tim Blake Nelson, Christina Cabot, Lou Ferrigno
Universal/Rated PG-13/Action, Fantasy/112 min
If do-overs are for sissies and movies, then this second, more macho version makes Ang Lee’s earlier attempt look like a wimp. Marvel Studios’ influence can be seen in a 25-minute set piece pitting the big green machine against his enemy, the Abomination (Roth). A humanoid version of Godzilla, the Abomination is bigger and more toad-like than our angry hero. Geneticist, Bruce Banner (Norton), tries to control his hair trigger temper, lest he transform into the unjolly Green Giant. William Hurt appears as a military general determined to harness the Hulk as a weapon. Liv Tyler intones Betty Ross, Banner’s love interest, with a little girlish voice, while Norton tries not to drown in his character’s angst. Watch for an Iron Man cameo.
YOU DON’T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN
(2008)
CR: * *1/2
Directed by Dennis Dugan.
Starring Adam Sandler, Alex Luria, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Lainie Kazan, Rob Schneider, Sayed Badreya, Shelley Berman
Columbia Pictures/Rated PG-13/Comedy/113 min
Do you buy Adam Sandler as a well endowed playboy? How ‘bout as a super secret-agent? To escape his Israeli government job tracking down and defeating Arab terrorists, Zohan (Sandler) fakes his death and heads for New York city. A Paul Mitchell acolyte, Zohan changes his name to Scrappy Coco, and builds a clientele of elderly ladies whom he “does” in more ways than one. The only salon operator willing to hire Zohan is the beautiful, Palestinian, Dalia (Chriqui). When romantic sparks fly with his new boss, Zohan vows to save her block from being turned into a shopping mall. Co-writing the script with Judd Apatow results in Sandler wearing a really bad wig, appearing to do the splits and to grill fish using his buttocks. In other words, business as usual.
KUNG FU PANDA
(2008)
CR: * * *
Directed by Mark Osborne, John Stevenson
Stars: Jack Black, Dustin Hoffman, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu, Seth Rogen, Jackie Chan, Ian McShane
DreamWorks Animation/Rated PG/Comedy/91 min
Po the Panda (Black) realizes his dream of training under martial arts expert, the tiny red panda, Master Shifu (Hoffman) because the village sage turtle claims Po is their long-awaited Dragon Warrior. Po’s right to the title is disputed by the Tai Lung (Ian McShane), a vicious snow leopard. Yep, it’s the week’s second action-comedy, but one aimed at the whole family. Po’s attempts to fulfill his promise appear bleak until Master Shifu teaches him to harness his love of food as an offensive weapon, and to defend himself using his generous belly. Po is joined by the Furious Five: Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Viper (Lucy Liu), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Crane (David Cross) and Monkey (hello Jackie Chan). Hoffman’s house cat sized character delivers the film’s nuanced, breakout performance, while McShane’s leopard, brimming with menace, makes a fine foil for Black’s hi jinks.
SEX AND THE CITY
(2008)
* * *
Directed by Michael Patrick King
Starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Cattrall, Cynthia Nixon, Chris Noth, David Eigenberg
New Line/Rated R/Comedy/145 min
Finally, a chick flick with legs -- eight of them, to be exact. Those lovely gams belong to New Yorkers, Carrie Bradshaw (Parker) and her three best friends, Samantha (Cattrall), Charlotte (Davis) and Miranda (Nixon), reunited to celebrate Carrie’s engagement. Chris Noth returns as Mr. Big -- Carrie’s billionaire love interest whose given name is finally revealed -- the culmination of a 10-year wait. Miranda, having married her baby’s daddy (Eigenberg), struggles to stay on the career fast track while holding her marriage together. Charlotte has adopted a Chinese daughter, and everybody is wearing anybody who’s somebody in design. Fashionistas or “Project Runway” contestants unable to catch a showing, should check out MovieWeb’s trailers -- three of which spotlight the extensive wardrobes that surely account for half the film’s $65 million dollar budget.
THE STRANGERS
(2008)
CR: * *1/2
Directed by Bryan Bertino
Starring Scott Speedman, Liv Tyler, Gemma Ward, Kip Weeks, Laura Margolis, Glenn Howerton, Alex Fischer and Peter Clayton-Luce
Rogue Pictures/Rating R/Horror/90 min
I forgive the weak casting of Speedman and Tyler as a nice couple on the verge of a break up, because this well executed horror marks the debut of talented writer-director, Bryan Bertino. After arriving at a vacation home in the woods owned by James’ (Speedman) family, he and Kristen’s plan for a last intimate weekend is interrupted by a home invasion. Terrorized by three masked assailants working their way up to murder, I can only guess at the answer to Kristen’s repeated question, “Why us?” -- after all, isn’t there always an explanation in movies? This flaw aside, Bertino ably stages the assault and the pair’s efforts to survive the attack -- in what amounts to a persuasive argument for squirreling away a handgun and knowing how to use it.
INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Starring Harrison Ford, Cate Blanchett, Shia LaBeouf, Karen Allen, Ray Winstone, John Hurt
Paramount/Rated PG-13/Action/124 min
Steven Spielberg’s first film since 2005’s “Munich,” returns the director and Harrison Ford to a much beloved series. When archaeologist, Indiana Jones (Ford), competes with the Russians to locate powerful artifacts, he comes face-to-face with Soviet villainess, Irina (Blanchett), a femme fatale able to out run, out punch, and out kick the aging adventurer. During an archeological race that leads him through the Amazon rain forest, Indy and his sidekick, Mac McHale (Winstone), are joined by Marion (Allen) -- Indy’s girlfriend from the first film, young Mutt Williams (LaBeouf), and an aging professor (Hurt) possessing knowledge of ancient languages. If it sounds like “National Treasure” and “The Mummy,” with different characters, it’s because those franchises have closely studied “Indiana Jones.” Not to worry. Our favorite matinee idol still has a trick or two up his sleeve.
THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN
(2008)
* *1/2
Directed by Andrew Adamson
Starring Ben Barnes, Georgie Henley, Skandar Keynes, Anna Popplewell, Peter Dinklage, William Moseley, Sergio Castellitto
Walt Disney/Rated PG/144 min
The Pevensie siblings (Henley, Keynes, Moseley and Popplewell) return to Narnia, the beloved alternate universe they freed from the White Witch’s icy grip in the first chapter, one year earlier. However, time is calculated differently in the magical kingdom, where 1300 years have passed. Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes), the rightful heir to Narnia’s throne, has been targeted for assassination by his tyrannical uncle, King Miraz (Castellitto). The Pevensie kids align themselves with Prince Caspian, Aslan, the mighty lion (voiced by Neeson), the Red Dwarf (Dinklage), and a valiant mouse (intoned by Izzard). Many new characters move the story through this dark era, but Narnia’s beauty and whimsical creatures remain. Numerous battles and assaults punctuate the suspenseful saga, adapted from the fifth Narnia book by C.S. Lewis. A third adaptation based on book four, “The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader,” is scheduled for release in 2009. Magically switching the order of the books was necessary to match the ages of the film’s young leads to the story.
IRON MAN
(2008)
* * * *
Directed by Jon Favreau
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Leslie Bibb Shaun Toub, Faran Tahir
Paramount/Rated PG-13/Action/126 min
When industrial designer, Tony Stark (Downey Jr.), travels to Afghanistan to assess U.S. weaponry needs, he is kidnapped by local warlords and forced to build them a missile. Instead, Stark assembles an Iron Man suit used to decimate the guards, and outfitted with jet propulsion to fly him back to the USA. Subsequently, the industrialist loses all interest in warfare, but he becomes Iron Man once again when Stark’s partner -- played by a wickedly salivating Bridges -- steals the technology for himself. Fifteen years getting off the ground, the film adaptation owes much to marvel comic book hound and director Jon Favreau. Having persuaded the principals, including Paltrow and Howard, to sign on for a three-picture deal, Favreau is the iron man inside “Iron Man.”
MADE OF HONOR
(2008)
CR: *1/2
Directed by Paul Weiland
Starring Patrick Dempsey, Michelle Monaghan, Kevin McKidd, Kelly Carlson, Busy Philipps, Sydney Pollack, Kathleen Quinlan
Sony/Rated PG-13/Comedy/100 min
A turnabout on “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” this rom-com casts Dempsey as Tom, a womanizer who realizes his best friend, Hannah (Monaghan), is the only girl for him immediately after she becomes engaged to Scotsman, Colin McMurray (McKidd). Hannah asks Tom to be her maid of honor, a role he accepts knowing they’ll spend quality time together that he hopes will ignite a romantic fire. Competing for Hannah’s attention with her hunky etrothed, Tom must endure the sarcastic scrutiny of Colin’s wealthy, uppity clan. Fresh off his “Enchanted” success, Dempsey can’t enliven the “been there, done that” plot, while Monaghan trudges through her shopworn role.
BABY MAMA
(2008)
CR: * * *
Directed by Michael McCullers
Starring Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Sigourney Weaver, Greg Kinnear, Dax Shepard, Maura Tierney, Steve Martin
Universal/Rated PG-13/Comedy/96 min
By the time unmarried, high-powered business woman, Kay (Fey), realizes her biological clock is ticking, pregnancy is no longer an option. Encouraged by an agent for surrogate mothers (Weaver), Kay hires Angie (Poehler) to incubate Kay’s baby, but their professional relationship becomes intensely personal when Angie needs a place to live and moves into Kay’s perfectly appointed apartment. While shopping for upscale baby items, Kay meets a handsome and available juice store owner (Kinnear). However, her efforts to pursue romance and prepare for the baby’s arrival are hampered by Angie’s juvenile behavior and by Kay’s underdeveloped social skills. It isn’t the sort of movie you’ll want to coo at, but “Baby Mama” scores one for the unconventional woman.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 July 2008 )
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