Movie Reviews
Hot-buttered opinion on the latest flicks
Review: The American Basically a George Clooney Coffee-Table Book
Review in a Hurry: If you like beautifully composed, static shots of George Clooney being kinda quiet in Italy, this is your movie. If you were hoping for much else, it ain't.
Review: The Last Exorcism's Comedy-Horror Schizm
Review in a Hurry: A nasty spirit may (or may not) be causing all sorts of schizophrenic mayhem on numerous Linda Blair wannabes. But producer Eli Roth's The Last Exorcism doesn't reconcile the real identity crisis: a script that can't stop making jokes, undermining the scary stuff with too many giggles and not enough shrieks.
Review: Takers Almost a Good Little Heist Movie
Review in a Hurry: A well-rounded cast of character actors (plus Paul Walker) tries to pull off a big robbery while obnoxious alcoholic cop Matt Dillon attempts to stop them. Very nearly a good little heist movie, Takers generates the occasional interesting plot twist but fails at the most basic level of creating characters worth caring about.
Review: Piranha 3D Is Campy, Bloody, Horny Fun
Review in a Hurry: A cast of familiar faces dives headfirst into waters infested with prehistoric predators and screaming coeds. And it's Elisabeth Shue and Ving Rhames to the rescue in this low-tech drive-in throwback, complete with corny jokes, unnecessary gore, stunt casting and plenty of skin.
Review: Lottery Ticket Can't Overcome Stale Clichés
Review in a Hurry: On the surface it's a goofy caper about a kid who hits the jackpot, but just underneath is a gritty movie about the mean streets. The flip-flop in tone can be awkward, but Lottery Ticket refuses to condescend to its audience. How refreshing.
Review: Nanny McPhee Returns With Great Cast, Kids
Review in a Hurry: The surprise hit from across the pond is back with more plot but less Nanny. Writer/star Emma Thompson hopes you won't notice, by enlisting Maggie Gyllenhaal, Ralph Fiennes and some terrific child actors. But yeah, you'll notice.
Review: The Switch Better Than Most Bad Jennifer Aniston Movies
Review in a Hurry: For a movie that's supposed to be filled with sympathetic, lonely people, it's tough to care whether Wally (Jason Bateman) and Kassie (Jennifer Aniston) hook up in the end. The story is boosted by some decent acting and a few genuine laughs, but not enough to justify the cost of a theater ticket.
Review: Vampires Suck Even Worse Than Twilight
Review in a Hurry: From the comic "geniuses" who gave us Date Movie, Epic Movie, Disaster Movie, Meet the Spartans...'Nuff said? Now writer-directors Jason Friedberg & Aaron Seltzer sink their not-so-sharp teeth into the vampire genre—and drain it of all humor. Fangs for nothing.
Review: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World Totally Geeky, Totally Kick Ass
Review in a Hurry: A fun, frenetic, video-game-flavored comedy that racks up the bonus points through a snappy script, savvy casting and smart use of pop references that only occasionally go too far.
Review: Eat Pray Love? More Like Sit Stare Yawn
Review in a Hurry: There are fanatics of Elizabeth Gilbert's best-seller who are going to love this Julia Roberts movie no matter what—when, in fact, most of what made the book connect with so many is entirely missing here.
