Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

3 1/2 out of 5 Stars



This is the first time I've incredibly enjoyed a Harry Potter film since Prisoner of Azkaban. David Yates takes the first part of the final installment in a wonderful direction not only keeping close to the books but directing a well made film. The acting continues to improve and the overall look of the film is incredible. Although there wasn't a full conclusion as it was half of two parts, I felt a sense of closure at the end of the film. It's what I didn't get at the end of the sixth film and felt like I should have. Even without a complete end the first half of seven still feels like it can stand on its own. It's intriguing and well put together. Should be enjoyable for fans of the books and the movies alike.

Unstoppable

3 1/2 out of 5 Stars



Unstoppable is an intriguing thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat despite the predictable ending. Inspired by a true story this film is pieced together very well. It flows in a way that keeps the viewer wanted to know what happens next. Denzel Washington and Chris Pine deliver great performances as well. It's a decent story but is a pretty good thriller. It's a fun ride and full of action. Definitely worth a look if you're a thriller or action fan or if you like trains.

Skyline

1 out of 5 Stars



Good special effects. Nothing else. Absolutely terrible. Awful. Painful. It tries to be Independence Day but with no plot and characters that no one cares about. When the movie ends still nothing makes sense. There's lots of blue lights and weird alien looking creatures. It's a melting pot of science fiction ideas that have absolutely no logical thread of reasoning and has no talent in it. It's the modern day piece for what should be scrutiny of Mystery Science Theater. It's B-movie material with a large budget.

Morning Glory

3 out of 5 Stars



Overall a pretty fun movie. Not much to the story but the cast is chosen well. Harrison Ford delivers some great scenes that allow for some very fun moments in this comedy. There's really nothing much to expect here but it's still an enjoyable movie with some nice substance beneath the surface. A mix of romantic comedy and general comedy, this workplace movie is working quite a bit on the talents of Rachel McAdams and Harrison Ford. What it lacks in story it makes up for in humor.

Megamind

3 out of 5 Stars



There are some good moments with clever characters in this film and some fun as well but this is not one of Dreamworks best though definitely better than Shrek 4. The story is interesting, though it falls a little short, and the characters are clever. But Will Ferrell and Jonah Hill were not the best choices for voices for two of the main characters. Overall a decent family film but still with some pretty good sized flaws in the works. After How To Train Your Dragon this just doesn't cut it for the animation company.

Due Date

3 out of 5 Stars



Although not hilarious, Due Date still delivers quite a few laughs and while still being funny adds some good substance. It's a fun road trip movie from the guy who directed The Hangover but less disturbing. There are some good times and Robert Downey Jr. makes for a good cast. Nothing amazing, but worth a viewing.

Secretariat

4 out of 5 Stars



From Disney comes this true story of an unlikely horse that won the triple crown. Like most inspirational movies they are filled with a lot of material to make people feel good and the end is always seen from the beginning. But Secretariat is done so well that even if the end is seen from the beginning its still hard not to get caught on the edge of your seat during the races. The acting is great, the story is endearing, and there is lots of hope and excitement. A great movie based on a true story.

Catfish

2 out of 5 Stars



Nev meets someone online. Then he meets the rest of the family. The family includes a mother, an 8 year old daughter named Abby who paints incredible paintings, a daughter named Megan who begins to flirt with Nev, and a husband named Vince. Things start to seem a little strange so they decide to go visit them up in Michigan. The advertising scheme: Don't Let Anyone Tell You What It Is. Yeah, if they did there would be no movie.

This is supposed to be based on real life events. After Nev is in communications with Angela, the mother, for a while one of his brothers decides to start documenting it. Of course in the end it turns into the movie that was released, somehow picked up by Universal. Without a marketing campaign this movie would have gone nowhere. If you have a little bit of intellect you can figure out where the story is going pretty darn fast. I mean, think about it. Meeting an entire family on facebook who gets along with you? You do the math. It's an intriguing film and makes you want to see it through to the end, unlike the fake documentary style films that have been released. But it's still ridiculous. It's a story that's just not interesting enough to warrant a 90 min. film. It should have been closer to an hour. Sure, it was edited pretty well and it was surprising some of the footage they captured but by the end of the movie there really isn't anything that surprising. It's terribly predictable what happens considering the technological world we live in the parameters that facebook allows. There is nothing to be amazed at here. It is a bit of a cautionary tale about meeting people through social networking but that's about it. Beyond that it's something anybody could have done had they owned a camera and the same event happened to them. The difference? Somehow these guys managed to get a studio to pick it up. Sure there is a bit of a story here but nothing for a feature film. Maybe a short story. It's an intriguing film but certainly not anything great. Far from it. In fact, I think I'll start recording my life now. Maybe something interesting will pop up and I can make thousands off a documentary I get Warner Bros. to pick up.

Saw 3D (aka Saw 7)

"I want to play a game."

1 1/2 out of 5 Stars



I want to play a game. This time, everyone must die. Of course the idea of Jigsaw capturing people and forcing them to play sick games for the purpose of learning a lesson is back. Of course, Jigsaw has been dead since the third movie so others have been doing his dirty work, mainly the former detective Hoffman who has taken up the screen the past couple movies. In this installment Dr. Gordon (from the first film) is back and we open on his escape from the room. Now some time later a man has claimed to be a victim of the Jigsaw traps. There is only one problem. He is a fraud and has written a book that has garnered acclaim as well as a healing support circle. Of course only his agents and lawyers know the truth, other than Jigsaw and his accomplices. Now Hoffman is out to finish the game and end the life of Jigsaw's wife. By the end of this final installment who will survive?

Part of what made the first Saw work so well was that it was a psychological horror film that dealt very little blood. Sure it was still there but in mild doses. More than anything it was images that got into your subconscious that was really effective. Than in the second film half of that was kept while moving in a different direction that involved more blood and more disturbing deaths. Pretty soon each film felt like it was trying to top the last. And somewhere around the fourth film a heavy element of a police investigation came into play, making the films less about the work of the man known as Jigsaw and more about the people being murdered and the "game" being played. Of course in these games everyone could somehow survive, even if there was a consequence to doing so. As long they did the right thing they would survive. Of course someone always died but that didn't mean everyone did. Then in the sixth film the rules changed. Now not everyone could get out alive. Someone had to die. Suddenly the justice was no longer so justified. Of course by then it wasn't really Jigsaw doing the work. It was a legacy that continued on in bloodshed and brutal murder that evolved away from the feeling of Jigsaw's original message. The message of redemption, valuing life, and justice were soon lost beneath ten layers of grotesque gory murders.

Then came along the seventh film which was heavily promoted on the 3D. And it is pointless 3D as well, even though filmed with 3D technology. 3D has quickly become a tiresome fad with films. The more films there are in 3D the less exciting they are. In the end the 3D was most likely necessary for the marketing considering that the only thing left it had going was the fact that this is supposed to be the final chapter. Will this be the final chapter, though? I think so. At least for the Jigsaw storyline. The end of the film wraps up nicely bringing it back full circle. But that doesn't save the film from the tremendous number of flaws that it holds. These films (at least the later ones) have been coined "torture porn." I can see why since every person that dies, or almost does, is tortured in some way and the audience is the voyeur watching the sick display.

Saw 7 takes it too many steps further. The man who is a fraud is brought into a game to face his demons and is set in a number of scenarios where he must save people he knows. There is always that chance someone will survive. Well except for the beginning of the movie when a trap is set up for the entire public to watch in a glass cage and at least one person must die and guts fly at the screen. But even when there is a chance someone could survive no one will. That's just how this movie will play out. No surprise considering how the sixth installment went. So by the end of the film not only must everyone in the game die but so must anyone who could keep the Jigsaw line going. It's a giant pot that mixes a mild dose of psychological horror with the police investigation and a most of the pot with blood and guts. That is, people die every 15 minutes with insides flying and blood spraying. The story just doesn't work. The message is lost. They try too hard to top the last film. It's a film for horror enthusiasts who go to films to see if there is any way to get more grossed out.

What they needed was another film like the first in the franchise. Then it would have been great. The beginning was good. The end was a fitting end. But when you have a terrible middle, you have no movie.

Life As We Know It

3 out of 5 Stars



Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) and Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel) are set up on a date by their good friends who are married with a young kid. But the date never gets past the car and the two where never supposed to be together again. But they both kept in close touch with the couple and on an unsuspecting night the parents are killed in a car crash and it is soon discovered that they left custody of the child to the two most unlikely people, Holly and Eric.

The film as whole works in its premise and basic storyline. For the most part it's a feel good comedy that borders between a chick flick and a comedy for both genders. It also has a little bit of the flair of an independent feel where there are a good few points that feel a bit depressing, something that big budget Hollywood comedies usually only thrown in near the end of the film. Not so here. Heigl and Duhamel make a pretty good team in this piece and considering how heavily the story relies on the infant I would say they did a pretty good job with filming it. The film really falls a bit with its length and ending. The film could have been a little shorter as it dragged a little at times. And the ending was typical Hollywood happy ending where the two people get together. It works but not as well as it could have with a different ending. These movies always seem to bring the happily ever after ending into play even though sometimes it would work just as well to have a different ending without leaving the audience feeling depressed. This is one of those movies. Overall an enjoyable film but nothing that great.

Paranormal Activity 2

1 out of 5 Stars



Their back with the next most pointless sequel in a history of sequels. Once again the film follows a group of people, this time a family with a baby and a dog, in which things go bump in the night and something intense happens by the end. In this family the mother is actually the sister of the character from the last film and this film is a prequel/sequel. So the events of this one begin before the events of the first one take place. But the reality is that if you've seen the first one, you've basically seen this one, except now there is a dog and a baby. And of course they still pretend like it was a real event.

I personally hate these films. So why did I see it? For the heck of it because I got to for free. But I'm always so bored in these movies. It takes over half the movie for anything to happen and by the time something does I'm too bored to even think about being scared. Probably 85-90% of the movie is watching the mundane events of life (much like watching a home movie) until something (actually quite predictable) happens. That is not my idea of a good movie. If I want to watch a home movie, I'll do that. When I go to the theater I want to see something that takes me out of my life. I want to escape the mundane, not revel in it. Many people are scared by these movies but really they are not that frightening. Not really. Unless you're scared easily but then just about anything could scare you. In reality these movies are terrible. They aren't quality. It's just the new Blair Witch. And documentary style film just doesn't work. Not with the way story needs to be. And if good film = good story. Then documentary style film = bad film because the story always seems to fall flat.

But I think that Roger Ebert puts it quite well in his review:

http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101022/REVIEWS/101029991

RED

3 out of 5 Stars



RED. Retired Extremely Dangerous. But then the retired agents come out of retirement because the government is trying to cover their tracks for a mishap in Guatemala that the agents knew about. Know these agents must find a way to survive. On top of this one of the agents has met a girl so now they must protect her as well. Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, John Malkovich, and Morgan Freeman star in this action thriller.

For the most part this movie is fun. There is a lot of over the top (and completely unrealistic) explosions, super fun fight scenes, and some good wit. But only about the first half of the film really moves well. Then it just starts to really drag. But what really makes this movie worth watching is John Malkovich. Without his character there really isn't much to be saved from this movie other than the fun of fights and explosions. Bruce Willis definitely gives far from his best performance and Morgan Freeman just isn't in the movie enough. Overall it was enjoyable but only an alright film.

My Soul To Take

2 1/2 out of 5 Stars



My Soul To Take is the new horror from Wes Craven, the same man who brought us the original Nightmare On Elm Street. In a small town a killer known as the Riverton Ripper was killed many years ago and now seven teenagers who were born on the same day as the killer's death begin to drop dead. Now Bug, the miracle child that survived after the killer attacked his wife, must try and stop him.

This movie feels a good bit like what Wes Craven might have done with Nightmare On Elm Street had he made it today, except of course that there is a different story. It's very much a horror movie with a slasher feel. The movie as a whole is not that great. The writing isn't very good and at times it is downright cheesy. At the same time that is precisely how some of these movies used to feel except nowadays they don't work as well on audiences. The acting most of the time is mediocre. But at the same time the movie still works on a level that makes it fun and entertaining. There may be a lot of flaws but it feels like a movie that isn't meant to be flawless but rather enjoyed for what it is. So sit back, suspend belief, and enjoy the ride.

The Social Network

4 out of 5 Stars



The Social Network is quite an incredible film. The story follows the creation of what has become one of today's biggest phenomena, facebook. Jesse Eisenberg stars in this intriguing drama that follows the story through a court case. It is definitely the most relevant movie to our time and very well constructed. But it's also not the kind of movie one should go into expecting a lot of action or a super fast paced movie. It drags a couple times but overall succeeds in so many ways. It's fun, it's witty, and the young generation will completely relate to it. It's definitely worth seeing.

Let Me In

3 out of 5 Stars




It wasn't too long ago that Let The Right One In, the Swedish film coming of age story about a young boy who befriends a vampire, came out. Now there is this film. This is Let The Right One In, American style. There are some changed elements with how the vampire moves on screen, the cast is different, and there is a bit more of an attempt to turn the film into what other American horror would be, over the top intense. But the reality is that this film is creepy, not necessarily scary, with a great coming of age story. At times it is intense but most of the time the film isn't trying to scare people. But the films flaws really are the American elements and remaking a film so soon after it came out. Especially since probably over half the film is done exactly the same way as the first one. If you've seen Let The Right One In you've seen Let Me In. If you haven't seen either it really doesn't make much difference which you see first though I still think the Swedish original is better. I liked some of the acting a little more in this one but that's about it. Overall great story but an completely unnecessary remake.

Case 39

3 out of 5 Stars



Renee Zellweger stars in this horror thriller about a woman who rescues a young girl who's parents are trying to murder. But of course when the woman adopts the girl she discovers there is something unnatural about her and people close to her begin dying. This is a pretty predictable film but there are some fun thrills along the way. It's not terrible but nothing great. It definitely rests in the middle. However Renee Zellweger doesn't really work that well in a horror thriller. But Bradley Cooper does give a pretty good supporting role. Although the ending in cliche there is some pretty good stuff in the middle.

Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole

3 1/2 out of 5 Stars



Soren has been told the stories of the Guardians of Ga'Hoole since he was young and now dreams of them often. One night while out of the tree with his brother they wind up on the ground, not able to fly yet, and are captured by a group of owls who turn out to work for the evil Metalbeak. Soren escapes and now must find the guardians in order to stop the evil owl from fulfilling his plans.

This film takes the simple good versus evil tale of fantasy in creating a story about owls. It's a kids fantasy that soars above many of the kid's fantasy films that have been made recently. It's evidently a film made more for a young crowd than an older one, which makes it harder for older audiences to enjoy as much, but there is no denying that the film is visually stunning. In this Zack Snyder still has not failed. He truly is a visionary director. Even though there are a few moments that are a little slow and some of the lines are almost too epic for the film or a little cheesy, this film is still quite enjoyable. The flight sequences and action sequences are quite exciting to watch. It's very much an enjoyable film and great for the 8 to 12 year old age it is geared towards. I certainly would have loved it at that age. There are few films made so directly for a younger audience that work these days and this one does.

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

2 out of 5 Stars




Oliver Stone returns with his sequel to Wall Street rejoining with Michael Douglas as money tycoon Gordon Gecko. Shia LeBeouf joins the cast as Jake Moore along with Carrie Mulligan as Gordon's daughter Winnie. Jake is dating Winnie and is involved in the wall street market and soon tries to get to know Gordon now that he is out of jail. Of course there is always more to things then they seem as Jake finds himself in the middle of various scandals.

Wall Street is fabulously acted. There is no question there. Oliver Stone has directed his actors very well. That is the great aspect of this film. Beyond that there is very little. There are some great one liners that pertain directly to us in our economy today but the majority of great lines can be seen in the trailer for the film. For the most part the film falls short of intrigue and fills half the movie with wall street jargon that isn't understood outside of wall street and economics. It's a film that slows down to a point that the storyline and movement falls to the wayside. It becomes more about the behind the scenes details then the story itself many times. Overall it was interesting but ultimately boring.

The Town

3 out of 5 Stars



Doug MacRay has been raised in Charlestown, Boston, a city with a high robbery rate where it has become a career passed down by generations. But after the latest robbery Doug has met a girl and decides he wants out. Now he works on his plans to get out in an attempt to leave with the girl.

The Town is a very well acted film and well directed. The heist scenes are interesting and catching and the characters are intriguing. But the film still suffers from a good few flaws, mainly plot points that get left out and a few supporting characters that have very little purpose other than to give an advance to small portions of the story. So mainly the film suffers from writing it seems. Otherwise it's an enjoyable heist film with a bit of a love story masked underneath.

Devil

3 out of 5 Stars



On an average day five strangers happen to enter the same building and into an elevator at the same time. The elevator stops running and pretty soon weird things begin to happen and one of these five people is supposed to be the devil. It soon becomes a battle for survival in an attempt to find the guilty member.

Devil is nothing special but it is interesting. The story comes from M. Night Shyamalan but fortunately that is all. Airbender proved he's lost his writing touch but this film proves he still has some good story ideas. The film is well directed for a story that primarily takes place in one location. The dialogue at times is a little cheesy but overall written pretty well. A few of the ideas about the devil a little more than interesting but overall it works well. And even though it's not the best mystery thriller it did keep me guessing until the end, which is precisely what it needed to do for what kind of movie it was. Overall, a decent horror thriller entertaining all the through though the ending could have been a little stronger.

Easy A

3 1/2 out of 5 Stars



Olive is an unnoticed high school girl until one day when she decides to help out a friend and pretend she "did it" with him but really didn't. Now the word has spread and more guys want in on the action and soon Olive has a full fledged business going. But of course these things have a way of coming back and biting. Although a modern day retelling of the Scarlett Letter, Easy A is also a parody on 80's teen comedies.

This film is not only funny but it also has a good moral tale about what happens when you spread lies. It successfully bridges the gap between teen comedy and parody without being ridiculous. It's a film that takes us back to the 80's and raises those ideas of how we wish life was more like a film. And Emma Stone is perfect in this role. When it comes to casting, this film was cast just right. It's super fun. It does slow down a slight bit at a couple points but not enough to lose interest. All in all Easy A is a well worthwhile film to see.

Resident Evil: Afterlife

2 out of 5 Stars



The Resident Evil film franchise has never known to be good. In fact, like most video game movies, they are known to be downright awful. And really, there isn't much beyond the special effects and action to really say these movies are good. But they have built a reputation of stories about a corporation that unleashes a virus that has turned the world into zombies save a select few and now Alice is out to stop them. And of course the films always end with a cliffhanger. The fourth installment is no different. There is plenty of action, plenty of zombies, and a cliffhanger that leaves it open for another film. There really was no surprise there. But these films aren't about surprises. They are about fun. And Resident Evil is fun in an over the top way all the more accentuated by the excessive 3D. Yes, of course the 3D is unnecessary. That's okay, though, it's fun. But if you're looking to save some money you'll want to find a theater that has it in 2D. There really is nothing great about 3D, especially not here. But this film is one fun thrill ride that, for the most part, is pretty exciting.

Machete

3 out of 5 Stars



Machete is a completely ridiculous and over the top piece of nonsense. And that is precisely what makes it so entertaining. This is Robert Rodriguez's tribute to Grindhouse pictures, as style of films that never were anything of quality. Rather they were completely ridiculous and over the top. That is exactly what is captured here with crazy action, ridiculous plots, over the top characters, and catchy one liners. To go into this movie expecting something good is like turning on a Sci-Fi B-movie and expecting it to be Star Wars. This movie is meant to be bad and it is. This is a movie made for entertainment and in it Danny Trejo shines. Jessica Alba isn't quite as good but Michelle Rodriguez gives a fun performance as well. This is ridiculous fun that brings back horrible film making in a different way. It falls right up there with the ridiculousness of Piranha and entertains just as well while filling up with a plot that's twice as good.

Going The Distance

3 out of 5 Stars



Going the Distance is another to add to the pile of mediocre comedies. Justin Long and Drew Barrymore star in this romantic comedy with a raunchy flare. Although Long and Barrymore show great chemistry on screen the film doesn't quite hold the right amount of charm and substance that is needed to balance out the raunchiness in a comedy. That being said I still enjoyed the film. It was better than I anticipated and I certainly laughed. It's a story that does have some valuable lessons. Unfortunately, like many raunchy comedies, much of that gets lost among the humor. But it's a fresh take on an age old idea.

The Switch

2 1/2 out of 5 Stars



The Switch is precisely what it looks like and is about the common result to be expected from a film coming from Mandate Pictures. They specialize in films that are a little different from the rest that have a slightly indie feel with a big budget. This is no different but it isn't on the same par as Juno or Whip It. Rather it is on the same level as Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, one of lesser quality works to come from them. But even though it is mediocre it is still enjoyable. What could have been a horrible failure turned out to be decent entertainment. The biggest problem with the film really is the script. The biggest save for the film was the little boy and how well Jason Bateman worked along side him. Unfortunately Jennifer Aniston just really isn't that enjoyable in this film. They could have picked someone better to fill her shoes. But all in all I enjoyed the film in it's own right. Just don't expect too much from it.

The American

2 1/2 out of 5 Stars



George Clooney plays an assassin who grows tired of his life and heads to a small town in Italy to do one last job before getting out. In the mean time he falls for a prostitute and is hunted down but he doesn't know by who.

There are some great things done with The American. The character is interesting. His proficiency with weapons is intriguing to witness on screen and quite captivating. The film uses very little music and even then not until over halfway into the film. Before that any music is in the background. It's very fitting for the film. It's a character study on an assassin and a very interesting one at that. The pieces fit together quite well. Surprisingly well considering that the entire film is based around the character and therefore the story falls a bit to the wayside. It's a film made for the critics, not for the general populous.

So there are also a lot of problems with this film. It doesn't move very fast therefore it starts to feel very long after a while. Even though the character is interesting his reasons and decisions must be completely interpreted because it's not all plain and obvious. If there hadn't been a plot summary I'm pretty sure I would have been a bit confused as to what the film was about. The plot is thin with lots of unanswered questions about why he is being hunted. It's an art house film and even though I like many artistic films this was just much too slow. There are unfortunately more boring moments than anything despite how interesting the character is.

The Last Exorcism

2 out of 5 Stars



When Reverend Cotton decides to do one final exorcism to expose them as a fraud he invites a documentary crew along to tape it. Along the way he begins to find things he doesn't expect and isn't prepared for. What seems like it could be an interesting story ends up being slow and uninteresting. I've never liked the documentary style film making much but I feel it could be interesting though it would be difficult to make happen. This is just another addition to this style and it doesn't pull out well. Although the acting is quite good, the rest of the film is not. It's interesting and entertaining when it shows how the reverend is making things happen in the exorcism but beyond that nothing really happens. We sit through over an hour of the film with practically nothing happening. When something finally does it might be interesting but also very short. Then by the time things really start to heat up and get interesting the film ends. Overall the film is more of a bore than anything. It's certainly not scary and only interesting for the fact of seeing what happens behind a fake exorcism. If liked Paranormal Activity, Blair Witch, or similar movies you'll like this most likely. Either way, the ending is terrible.

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World

4 1/2 out of 5 Stars



Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World is based upon a series of graphic novels of the same name. At the beginning of the movie Scott is dating a Chinese high school girl named Knives Chau and he's in a band. They are Sex Bob-Omb. He lives in Toronto, Canda. Then Scott meets Ramona Flowers, an American girl who has just moved to Toronto. They start dating. Then Ramona's evil exes begin to attack him because they have formed the League of Evil Exes in order to control Ramona's love life. Now Scott must defeat her seven evil exes to be with her.

The plot really is pretty simple. There isn't a whole lot to it. But that withstanding it really isn't that noticeable by the time the movie is done. It is done that well. The film was directed by a Canadian, the same guy who directed Hot Fuzz, and the film is American but doesn't feel that way. Scott Pilgrim is a unique piece of work unlike any other film to date. It's like a cross between a video game movie, graphic novel, and young adult comedy. It's a film specifically geared towards a younger generation that grew up in the advent of video games (though it doesn't mean that older generations can't enjoy it.) Scott Pilgrim is a super good time from beginning to end.

Despite Michael Cera being the lead in this movie it is quite amazing. He actually fits in the role of Scott Pilgrim and is balanced out nicely with the rest of the cast including Ellen Wong and Mary Elizabeth Winstead. The movie is also pretty darn good. But when it comes to creativity, this film really takes it too a fun level. It's funny and clever. The references are done wonderfully. This is one of those movies that is a disappointment it does so terribly in the box office because it is so amazing. This is one of the handful of movies this year I have absolutely loved. If you haven't seen Scott Pilgrim then you should.

Nanny McPhee Returns

3 out of 5 Stars



I must admit, I remember very much enjoying the first movie, though now I don't remember much about it. And I definitely enjoyed the second film. The Nanny McPhee movies aren't necessarily top notch but they are some truly great children's fantasy with very important lessons. The fact is that these truly are cautionary tales for naughty children at the same time as being a story about learning your lessons. Such lessons include learning how to share and not fighting. And of course there is the fun of the Nanny McPhee character as well. "When you need me and do not want me I must stay. When you want me but do not need me I must go." It's really quite entertaining really, especially if you like fantasy. And it's the kind of story that kids will enjoy. Though it does tackle some somewhat heavy thematic material in the middle for young kids. And it really could have done without the pigs doing synchronized swimming. But all in all it was a fun film to watch.

Eat Pray Love

1 1/2 out of 5 Stars



About the only thing I liked about this movie was the experience of difference cultures and the Italians pointing out that Americans work too much. Beyond that I greatly disliked it. I understand it is much more of a movie for women but I like a lot of chick flicks. What I didn't like about this movie was how it seemed to condone making choices on a whim without a second thought or without trying to work out your problems. Basically I didn't like how it seemed to condone the thinking of modern America. Sure, I understand that we do these things and that from those mistakes we must learn but I hardly got that from this movie. Rather I got all kinds of other mixed messages, many of them negative, all jumbled into one film that seemed to lack enough coherence. I read plots for the film and I can't figure out where parts of those plots were ever brought out. And it certainly feels much too long. It's as long as Inception after all but feels twice as long. It didn't help that I already didn't like the character from the start. She annoyed me. I liked nothing about her. I'm not a huge fan of Julia Roberts either. But that really wasn't why I didn't like her character.

Piranha 3D

2 1/2 out of 5 Stars



A small town most of the time but not during spring break. During spring break hundreds of college kids come to party at the lake. But now there is one problem, thousands of ancient piranhas have been discovered and now wreak havoc on the college kids. This is what makes a ridiculous B-movie. At the same time, watching Piranha you get the sense that the filmmakers understood that's exactly what the movie is. It is a ridiculous B-movie that is made in a way that it is purposefully bad. It truly is by no means a good movie. In fact, it's down right terrible other than some of the acting. But it is a riot, a fun film to be watched for the sheer joy of completely mindless entertainment. It is also what could be considered the perfect mainstream college guy flick. It is a film that is jam packed with nudity, blood and gore. But I do wonder what it's saying when all the porn stars die. But in the end Piranha won't scare you. Rather it will make you laugh. And really I think that's the point.

The Expendables

3 out of 5 Stars




Written and Directed by Sylvester Stallone, The Expendables pits a massive crew of action stars in one film making this really a pretty darn epic action movie. Although the plot is quite simple the action is incredibly fun. Lots of things blow up and there are plenty of fights with various different weaponry. Really it has a conspiracy plot that revolves around a drug trade. But Stallone works around the story in a way that it's fun and entertaining. It's also obviously more of a guy movie. It just has that vibe, a good way to set off things for it coming out the same weekend as Eat, Pray, Love. So basically, if you want to see lots of big action stars and lots of fights and explosions than this truly is a fun movie. And of course it also has Jet Li.

Vampires Suck

1/2 out of 5 Stars



An obvious spoof of the Twilight films that does only one thing right; the actors pull off good mimicking of what happens in the actual films. The rest is just pure horrible film making. Of course these are the people who made Scary Movie, Epic Movie, and Meet The Spartans. Therefore the jokes aren't clever. There is lots of sexual references. And thus the movie is basically like the mind of a thirteen year old boy somehow finding its way onto the big screen. Unlike spoofs such as Spaceballs and Robin Hood Men In Tights, Vampires Suck is exactly what it sounds like. A movie that sucks. Unfortunately these movies keep making money. We need another Robin Hood Men In Tights, not this crap.

The Other Guys

3 out of 5 Stars



Terry Hoitz (Mark Wahlberg) and Allen Gamble (Will Ferrel) are the other guys, two cops who a little off. The hero cops of the precinct, Highsmith and Danson, have set a bar for the way work is done. But after tragedy strikes their spots are left open and Terry and Allen move to step into those shoes, mostly by the coaxing of Terry. But Allen doesn't want to go into the field and would rather sit behind the safety of his desk. But Terry is determined to get out into field assignments. Ultimately their attempts to be good cops put them in a situation where they get more than they bargained for dealing with people with very high connections that nobody wants to mess with.

The Other Guys is a comedy that is funny mainly in the vain of stupid comedies. So in essence, it's similar to other Will Ferrel comedies. But despite that it's a dumb comedy it's still funny in that right with a nice pair up between Ferrel and Wahlberg who seem to work quite well together. At the same time the jokes still rise to a higher level that complete stupidity to make it work. I think that buddy cop comedies can just be hard to pull off effectively and this year The Other Guys was the one that worked, a nice refreshment from the previous buddy cop movie earlier this year, Cop Out.

But people who don't like dumb comedy really won't enjoy this film. The reality is that the characters really are quite one dimensional and just plain unintelligent. It's evident what they do and why they do it has more to do with setting up jokes than actually dealing with the character. Which honestly works in a film like this. But I think what helped this film was the cast and the addition of Steve Coogan in the mix. I think he balanced it out and allowed for the film to not be dumb as it could have been. And as someone who normally doesn't like Will Ferrel I actually enjoyed him in this film.

Step Up 3D

2 out of 5 Stars



Moose is headed off to college with his best friend Camille. He has told his family he is going to give up dancing but then on his first day on campus he gets into a dance battle with one of the toughest dancers and wins. Then Luke, who films dancing as a hobby, invites Moose home and he meets a whole crew of dancers who don't have homes and have gathered as a family. Now they plan to take their moves to the ultimate battle which becomes more important when their building is going to be taken because they are behind on their payments. Moose deals with the hardships of doing school as well and Luke meets Natalie, an attractive dancer who joins their team and he falls for. And it's all in 3D.

For a year of movies that have fallen to the bandwagon of 3D, this one actually succeeds. Not the movie itself but the 3D. Apparently the entire film was shot in 3D and it shows. Every shot has true dimension and the 3D actually enhances the dancing scenes. In fact, that is what makes the movie fun to watch. The dancing scenes. And for a year of mediocre to horrendous 3D in movies I must applaud them for actually filming a movie entirely in 3D rather than converting in post. Unfortunately the positive aspects of this film don't go much further. The acting is surprisingly decent for a cast chosen primarily for their dance skills. The dance scenes are also incredible, especially if you love dance, mainly break dancing. It's creative what they do with the moves and the different dance battles.

But the reality is that beyond the dancing and the incredible 3D there is not much of anything to be had. The characters aren't the kind that you get really attached to and it's always evident where the story is headed. It's not the really well done predictable, though. Rather it's the kind of predictable that sets a lot of movies on a low bar for a reason. And really it wasn't trying to be anything amazing. It was a dance movie. It was about the dancing. It really wasn't about anything else but they needed a story to make it work as a film rather than just a super extended music video. Reality is that it's a terrible film with truly entertaining dance scenes in wonderful 3D. Best 3D of the year hands down.

Dinner For Schmucks

3 out of 5 Stars



Dinner For Schmucks follows Tim (Paul Rudd), a businessman with a steady job and relationship. He is about to get a promotion but there is one catch. The higher ups have a dinner where they all invite "idiots" to dinner to make fun of them. This puts Tim in a bind because, although he doesn't approve and plans to go through with it to get the promotion, his girlfriend is completely against. And then Tim meets Barry (Steve Carell), a well meaning taxidermist who uses mice to recreate famous paintings and create some of his own. This is Tim's perfect guest. He is then sent on a wild ride that brings ex-girlfriends back into the picture and turns Tim's life upside down before the big dinner hits.

I think the biggest problem with this movie is how it was advertised. It seemed that the movie who go something like this: Tim has dinner. Tim has to bring and idiot and finds Barry. A really big dinner with lots of laughs ensue. But the reality is that the dinner itself is less than a third of the movie. That doesn't mean it's not funny. In fact, there are plenty of laughs along the way, many of which are caused due to Barry doing things he really shouldn't. But it gave me the impression that I would sit through an extended dinner scene. Personally I'm glad the dinner wasn't so long and that the story moved into other places. I think it helped it work better and created more laughs.

The film also has a lot of heart. Despite Tim's initial intentions to make fun of Barry he starts to get attached to him. And what makes Barry's character so likable is that he is oblivious to the stupid things he does. He really is a charming man who just happens to be a little odd. And that is why I was able to cheer for him and hope everything turned out well for him. It also helped enhance the lessons that Tim learned throughout the film at the same time as making some entertaining comedy. When it comes to Steve Carell this year, this made up for Date Night. I actually felt like I laughed enough this time and I enjoyed the characters more.

Charlie St. Cloud

2 out of 5 Stars



Charlie St. Cloud is a typical teenager in his personality. He is not typical in that he enjoys boating, something he is also very good at. Then there is his kid brother, Sam, who is going to go out for the baseball team. Charlie promises his brother that everyday he will practice with his brother when he gets off work for the rest of the summer. But one night he decides to go to a party and Sam ends up tagging along. They are hit by a drunk driver and Sam is killed. Years later Charlie now plays catch with Sam in the woods everyday after work at the cemetery. But he soon meets a girl who he begins to fall for and is torn between two words. Soon he finds that the girl is missing and he goes after her.

Charlie St. Cloud is a weird mix of a teen drama, love story, and ghost story. It's a strong moral of family bonds, finding love, and learning to let go. But Zac Efron is the kind of actor that, although fits the role, just doesn't seem to pull it off quite right. Instead of feeling sympathetic I ended up feeling more annoyed with him. After all, he was still playing catch with his deceased brother three years later. And at that point he was out of high school. He gave up college and his passion just because he couldn't let go. It was just a bit too much considering that's the majority of the movie.

Now the other casting was surprisingly decent and worked for the material. It was a story that had important lessons and for that I applaud it. We all do need to let go of loved ones when they pass at some point. We can't hold on forever. And the thematic elements were handled better than I expected. On top of that there were some very clever transitions and cinematography.

But the movie just doesn't resonate well enough. Perhaps it's close to the source material but if it is then I don't want to read it. It tries to hard to be too many things and doesn't succeed and becoming what it felt it was supposed to. I feel this would have worked better as a thriller rather than a teenage melodrama. Overall it was an entertaining ride but just not quite entertaining enough.

Cats and Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore

1 out of 5 Stars



Nearly a decade ago they made Cats and Dogs. It was ridiculous but still fun in it's mediocre kid movie way. Now they decided they needed to bring a sequel to a movie that already hardly held up. This time there is a new recruit, a police dog put out of service because he always seems to get into trouble on every case. Now he is part of the secret spy dogs and his owner searches for his lost dog. And of course now there is an evil cat, Kitty Galore, who is planning on basically putting out a high frequency radio signal that will essentially render animals virtually useless. So now the cats and dogs decide to team up.

Even the wonderful CG animated road runner cartoon before the movie couldn't warrant paying for this movie in theaters. It really is that bad. It never should have gotten past a direct to DVD release. It's a kid's movie that is terrible even when that is kept in mind. Even Shrek 4, another bad kid's movie of the year, was much better than this. The story is boring, the characters uninteresting, and the jokes awful. And of course the majority of the jokes only adults will understand because they are punch lines and many other movies. I think most of the simple few word one liners from other films were thrown in throughout the entire movie. It lacks heart and it lacks fun.

So what warrants it having one star? The effects were decent and there was a great voice cast. In fact, the voice cast is what saves the film at all. Unfortunately it is also a waste of a great voice cast. Since kid's movies are going to be continue to be made they could at least work on only putting quality family films in theaters. Leave the rest for DVD.

Salt

3 out of 5 Stars



Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie), a rogue CIA agent, is put on the run after being accused of being a Russian spy. Now she sets out to protect her husband and clear her name. Her supervisor, Winter (Liev Schreiber), believes her story but counterintelligence officer Peabody doesn't and will do anything to bring her in.

Salt is a film that uses a lot of plot cliches including twists. Because of this it is not predictable. In that case it's not that great of a movie. But it's an intriguing film and keeps the viewer interested until the end. Perhaps it isn't the fastest paced thriller but it's still exciting, despite that it's really not very realistic. But what a lot of spy thrillers do terribly wrong this movie does well. It's engaging in it's own right. And Angelina Jolie passes surprisingly well as a Russian. I don't know about a Russian spy. But definitely a Russian. And surrounded by a decent cast this film turns out to be a lot of fun. It won't necessarily keep you guessing for most people but for some people it may keep them asking what side is everyone on. In the end though, this is a political action thriller.

Ramona and Beezus

1 1/2 out of 5 Stars



Ramona and Beezus is based off the best selling books by Beverly Cleary about a young girl who continuously causes mischief but not on purpose. The film follows Ramona on a quest to raise money to help save their house because her dad just lost her job. At the same time she must deal with her older teenage sister and help her aunt with guy problems.

This film had promise from the books. At least what I know from the books. I don't remember if I actually read them or not. But the idea of the character is an idea that could make a fun movie. This was not that movie. The cast was surprising, including newcomer Joey King as Ramona, but not even the acting can save the film. But on another plus note it promotes the imagination of kids, something that should be nurtured and not completely squandered. And in this case that is how Ramona is a bit odd but is what also what makes her special.

But the rest of the movie is terrible. The film attempts to touch on every theme a young child could possible have to deal with besides death of a family member. Family job loss, divorce, marriage, loneliness, bullying, etc. There are far too many themes explored for one movie. And it was far to reminiscent of another horrible film this year, Diary of A Wimpy Kid. But Ramona still flies higher, primarily because the characters are likable. Though there is another level that feels like this is just another movie for transferring a Disney pop star out of the pop star. In this case that would be Selena Gomez. Ultimately what could have been a fun popular book turned movie was a haphazard story attempting to encompass too much of life's troubles into a movie that was supposed to be fun.

Inception

4 out of 5 Stars



Inception is Christopher Nolan's next film after The Dark Knight. It follows the story of Cobb, a skilled extractor, someone who extracts information from people's dreams. We soon learn that after something that went wrong with his wife he has been forced to live out the United States. Now he ends up taking a job that could allow him to go back home. But this job requires inception, planting an idea into someone's brain and letting it grow inside them. This is a very difficult task but Cobb manages to assemble of team of skilled people to infiltrate a man's dreams and accomplish the task. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page, Ken Wantanabe, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

Apparently Nolan worked on his script of Inception for ten years. And it definitely shows. The ideas and concepts in Inception are so deep and complex it could have easily been written as ultra confusion. And the fact that he was working on his script for so long I can forgive the eerily coincidental story arc of Leo's character from Shutter Island. But the reality is that Inception is incredibly well written. Few films have so directly dealt with the idea of dreams and so very few succeed. Inception is a film that not only succeeds in it's ideas but also manages by the end of the film to play with your mind, causing you to think. But really that is the best way to engage with the audience and many of the best films find ways to truly engage their audience. It's a story that delves into the deep reaches of the human subconscious that are not often thought about and plays with the ideas of dreams while continuously asking "What if?" Because after all, at it's heart it is still half a science fiction film, the other half a heist film.

Inception is also acted very well with an interesting but great cast and has a wonderful and enticing score. It's even directed pretty darn well. It's evident that Christopher Nolan put a lot of heart into this project. I must admit I really did like this film. It was a nice refresher but a big budget summer blockbuster that just explodes. Instead it actually caused you to think, something that the US might consider doing a bit more often. And really it's in the story and it's complexities made less complex by great writing and acting that make this film a real treat.

But there is one major problem. Inception isn't necessarily too long. After all, Return of the King was three and a half hours and needed to be for the importance of story. The problem is more that Inception just feels too long. A little over two hours starts to feel like almost three and by the time the movie is over the only thing that really truly draws you back is that end shot, causing you to ask so many questions. But re-watching it just brings up more questions and doesn't provide much of any answers. And it's in that feel of length that Inception finds it's flaw for no matter how good I feel a movie is, if it doesn't move enough it's hard for me to get into. I've probably seen more movies this year so far in theaters and on DVD than any other single year. And because of that I'm finding myself bored with more movies and it takes more to intrigue me. So the reality is that if Inception would have moved a little bit faster I could have given it my ultimate elusive rating. But the reality is that even The Karate Kid was over two hours and didn't feel like more than two.

The Sorceror's Apprentice

2 1/2 stars out of 5



This movie is suggested by the animated short from Fantasia, that one that many people know and love. And really that is most of this film's real draw. Except now there is more of a story than just a short. The idea is that Nicholas Cage plays a sorcerer who was one of three of Merlin's closest confidants. Only one of them turned evil and joined with Morgana. Now only the prime Merlinian can stop him and that's where Jay Barucel's character comes in. And then the quest to stop evil while still trying to have a social life kicks in.

This film is exactly what it looks like and tries to be; a fun action adventure movie. It's nothing more. It is from the same team as National Treasure after all. It was never supposed to be anything wonderful. But it is something fun. And obviously it's not believable. But all the same the cast is enjoyable, the special effects pretty good, and it's fun to see how they bring a concept to life in a bigger story. And Alfred Molina works as a pretty darn good villain.

If anything this is the film that most people won't see in theaters just because of ticket prices but will probably rent once it comes out. Because really it is fun to watch. And it's a whole lot better than it looked out to be. And every once in a while some of us just need these ridiculous action adventure movies just for the sake of entertainment so we can just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

Despicable Me

4 out of 5 Stars




Gru is a super villain. He also isn't that good at it. In fact, another super villain who is new in town just stole a pyramid. That is Vector. Then Gru concocts a plan for the ultimate heist, to steal the moon. So he steals a shrink ray but then Vector steals it from him but he can't get into the heavily guarded fort. So Gru ends up adopting three little girls who sold cookies to Vector and works on carrying out his plan but things don't always go quite accordingly to plan as the girls begin to take a place in his heart. And all the while he is helped by little yellow minions.

Despicable Me is the kind of kids movie that makes movies truly fun, especially for kids. This is a film that is filled with great humor, good voice acting, and truly enjoyable characters. And with a year with so few great films it's nice that at least the animated films still hold up this year, the other films being Toy Story 3 and How To Train Your Dragon. Sure the plot is simple and predictable but it's a move geared to kids. It's not meant to be unpredictable. After all as one person I know put it about Toy Story, "You expect the toys to actually die?" There is a reality that in a kid's movie (basically anything rated G) there are just certain themes that are too intense for young kids to handle.

But what Despicable Me has is many laughs, great morals, and much heart. It's easy to know what is going to happen. But at the same time there is enough heart that you can feel for the the characters as you come along for the ride. And of course the addition of the minions makes for a clever and originally creative twist. Really it's a clever rendition of a simple plot. Really, it's the fun that somehow manages to be missed in a good many kids movies. And it's also the fun that somehow Shyamalan managed to miss in Airbender.

Predators

2 1/2 out of 5 Stars




Predators is a direct sequel to Predator. It opens on a bunch of people falling through the sky and finding parachutes they never knew they had. Soon they discover each other and are led through the jungle by Adrian Brody's character and find that they are being hunted by alien creatures known as predators. But of course some people know more than others.

Predators is from what I hear beyond a reasonable doubt much better than the former predator film sequels. I'll just have to take their word for it. All the same, this film is more of a fan film for those who enjoy the franchise more than anything. By all means it's a decent action film with fun sequences throughout the second half of the film. The cast does a surprisingly good job at acting in a film with such a ridiculous plot. It's so simple and mundane that it's storyline follows that of basically hundreds of B-movies but succeeds where they don't. And the acting really does help the films cause.

But the action in the film can't save it from it's mediocrity and slow and mundane first half. Very little seems to happen until close to the one hour mark and therefore causes a sleep inducing feeling before finally picking up the action. And when a film is known as an action film and not much more there is a problem. It was better than I necessarily expected but that didn't save it. I was still too bored. I wanted more action. I wanted more drive. Instead I got lots of walking around and exposition. At least they throw in a samurai and a katana fight.

The Last Airbender

1 1/2 out of 5 Stars




The Last Airbender, M. Night Shyamalan's new film, is based off the popular TV show and follows the first season or book. The avatar is the only one who can control the four elements and bring peace to the nations but he's been missing for a hundred years and the fire nation has waged war. Then Katara and Sokko find Aang, the last airbender and avatar. The only problem is that Aang doesn't know how to control the elements yet so they head out to find teachers all while being chased down by the fire nation.

I have to admit. I really did enjoy this film. Unfortunately, that doesn't necessarily make the film that good. The TV show was a gem. Something unexpected in the realm of kid's animation. Unfortunately Shyamalan didn't translate it very well to the screen. All the characters are there and cast surprisingly well. The general plot is in tact. And it also is a visual feast. And for these things it can be enjoyable but possibly more so if they would have left out the 3D. In that realm almost every film this year has been frustratingly thrown into this madness.

So unfortunately when I think harder about the film after my initial reaction there really is little to the film that makes it good. Much like the Golden Compass the film does not do justice to the source material. The plot may exist in the film but by the end if you've never seen the series you may be trying to fully piece it together. The characters jump from one space to another without any real connection. The major events are still in tact but transitions are missing. Appa and Momo still make appearances but once they do just seem to disappear. And the biggest dilemma of all is that humor seems almost void and turns this film into a fantasy drama. It's an entertaining feast for the eyes but falls far short of what it could have been. So basically, here is another big budget popcorn flick. This is the first time I personally have ever been disappointed in M. Night. I even liked The Happening. So I may have enjoyed this but the reality is that this film just really needed help.

The Twilight Saga: Eclipse

2 out of 5 Stars




First there was Twilight. Then there was New Moon. Now welcome back to the teenage melodrama with Eclipse. This time around, Bella faces her inner turmoil as she wrestles with the reality that she loves Edward and Jacob. At the same time Victoria is still after her for Edward killing her mate and an army of newborn vampires is created that could wipe everyone out if they aren't taken care of or the infamous Volturi step in.

Truly, Eclipse is the best in the series so far. Sadly, that says very little. Twilight was alright. New Moon was terrible. Eclipse is still pretty bad. These stories are basically the closest thing you could get to a big budget soap opera. And where they went wrong has (at least I believe) nothing to do with the filmmakers. The score was quite excellent. The cinematography absolutely wonderful and I think the best of the three. The acting even improved (though not by a lot). And there was even more action (but only slightly). The different take on the story helped a bit and I think the director must have worked a little on less awkward characters but that doesn't save them from their ridiculous scenarios and dialogue.

Eclipse further exemplifies that Stephanie Meyers books just make horrendous films, especially when realizing how faithful they are to the source material. The books might be enjoyable, at least possibly the first time around, but the reality is that some books should never be movies. This series is a good example. Although Eclipse is the closest they have come to bringing a good film to the screen in this franchise, if they stay true to the books closely there is no possible way to succeed after this. In fact, if so the next film will most definitely be worse. Basically, there is not much of any redemption for this series when it comes to quality. And when it comes to "Team Edward" and "Team Jacob" I realize I start to side with "Team Bella's Father." And that's just because he adds a desperately needed small dose of humor to this laughable film.

Twilight made vampires "cool." Well, vampires were never meant to be cool. For good reason. And then it gave young girls a false reality. To say that this series is like teenie bopper softcore porn doesn't seem to far off the map it seems. Especially if you start comparing it to the idea of romance novels. Now in the midst of it's shortcomings it at least turns on the grounds of modern cinema and advocates abstinence. Unfortunately that can't save this sad storytelling from being so laughable. This is a generational film series and one that has a very influential impact on society but one that falls far short of such series of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. At least those series have some quality. Here, we just have young girls ogling muscular guys with their shirts off.

Killers

3 out of 5 Stars



Katherine Heigl is Jen, a recent bachlerotte who takes a trip with her parents to Nice, France. Ashton Kutcher is Spencer, a spy working for the CIA. Spencer meets Jen. Jen and Spencer fall in love. Then they get married and Spencer gives up his former life. There is only one problem, now a bounty has been put out on Spencer's head so everyone he knows is trying to kill him.

The plot of this film feels a bit contrived and teeter totters between action conspiracy and comedy and balances just enough to find a place to withstand falling. Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl are two actors who are in the realm of people you sometimes like on screen but many people don't. But in this film they seem to pull it off in a quirky way. I think their roles work more in a world of suspended belief than reality but at the same time have a kind of real world charm that pushes you towards wanting to root for them.

But really it's the entertainment factor if anything that saves the film. The comedy is actually funny at times and the action is entertaining. There is also a good moral tale beneath about taking responsibility for your actions, second chances, and the opportunity to change into a different person from your past. The supporting cast also rounds out this film and of course Tom Selleck has an awesome mustache. In the end, Killers isn't much for plot, but it's still fun and entertaining. Though it's still hard to buy Ashton Kutcher as a spy.

Grown Ups

2 out of 5 Stars




Grown Ups follows five childhood friends who won a basketball championship under a coach of theirs. This coach was a close figure in their life. Now they have all grown up to be successful or not so much but the coach dies and his funeral all brings them back together along with their families. Soon they are all staying at an old lake house from their childhood where many boyish antics occur.

This film is one of those comedies that is not only ridiculous but incredibly stupid. For the majority the humor is immature, gross, or just plain wrong. On occasion the humor takes a direction that causes to film to actually be funny, but rarely. A large ensemble cast is set up with noticeable names; Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, David Spade, and Rob Schneider. However the talents of some of these actors are wasted. It's a story about learning to grow up that doesn't quite get to anything good and seems to skimp around the point a bit too much. It basically feels like a reminiscent film and trying to remember what it was like to be twelve except at the age of forty.

However, Grown Ups is a good morality tale relevant to the current dilemma faced with the new generation of kids growing up in a technological world. During the film most of the kids are spoiled, stuck up brats. They soon learn that there is more to life than video games, cell phones, and all else that relies on technology and discover the great things that older generations grew up on. And it does have an important message that we all need to take responsibility when we get older, not just live in the past. But even so, that doesn't save this sort of chuckle comedy from its drastic fall into immaturity.