Tooth Fairy

I did not intend to see this film but the timing worked so I could get to see the other movies on my schedule for the day, Edge of Darkness and When In Rome. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson stars as Derek Thompson an aging hockey player that unfortunately dashes kid's hopes and dreams because he let his slip away due to an old injury. The movie has some great hockey hits as you would expect with the Rock and is a kids movie through and through. The cast includes Julie Andrews as the head of the Tooth Fairy department, Seth MacFarlane as a scamming Fairy with counterfeit supplies for sale, and Stephen Merchant as Derek's case worker who has "wing envy". One of the better kids films out right now that will give dads a few sight-gag induced laughs and moms the joy of the Rock shirtless - enjoy.

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Suicide Girls: The First Tour DVD

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Legion

After a last minute IT emergency, I just barely made it in time to see this film with @therealereed who met me at the theater with dinner from Chick-fil-A in hand - best friend ever! This movie was much better than we expected and we both really enjoyed it. Paul Bettany stars as the archangel Michael who refuses to carry out an order that he does not believe in to save the life of a single unborn child and possibly the whole human race from a God who has lost faith in his own creation again. The scares are very good and the special effects are top-notch with a cameo by Doug Jones as the freaky ice cream man. Although not quite a horror film to me, the film is well worth seeing just for the fight sequences between the archangels Michael and Gabriel alone.

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The Lovely Bones

Peter Jackson's film adaption of Alice Seybold's best seller has finally made it to screen and it is visually stunning as expected and the story is still very good if softened from the novel for the screen. As a last minute fill-in for the role of the father, Mark Wahlberg seems to do a fine job but the paid critics seem to not like his performance at all. The story is about Susie Salmon, played by relative newcomer Saoirse Ronan, who is killed by a neighborhood pedophile and must reconcile her life and that of her family by hopefully helping solve her murder from the "in between" so she can pass on. Stanley Tucci is terrifying as the pedophile and really sucks in the audience to his skewed world view and obsession that he cannot keep in check and is preparing to let loose again. Jackson really knows how to get every ounce of emotional tension from a scene - check this out if you have the time.

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The Spy Next Door

Jackie Chan is back as Bo Ho, an Undercover spy, who is trying to win over the children of the neighbor woman he is dating while not being discovered as a spy. Of course this does not last long and the Q like props come out and the over the top family-friendly fight sequences begin. The best part of this movie is the opening clip sequence of Jackie's past movies showing him as a spy. Supporting roles are fleshed out with Disney go to family guy Billy Ray Cyrus and George Lopez in very forgettable roles. Try to avoid this movie if you can until it shows up on the Disney Channel.

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Leap Year

Amy Adams stars in this romantic comedy about a girl, Anna Brady, who flies to Ireland to purpose to her boyfriend based on an old Irish legend. The premise is very weak and the comedy meager. The other drawback is that the chemistry between Anna and Jeremy, her current boyfriend played by Adam Scott, and between Anna and Declan, her new love interest played by Matthew Goode, is almost non-existent. No chemistry makes for a lackluster romantic comedy. Unfortunately this is a lame movie for a very talented actress so save your money and pass on this unless you are a die hard Adams fan.

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Book of Eli

Albert and Allen Hughes's post-apocalyptic film starring Denzel Washington as a mysterious loner, Eli, who is on a quest to save a mysterious book from those in his path who would take it for themselves and overpower others with it, has made it to the screen. The cast includes Gary Oldman as the town's big boss who is trying to get his hands on any book he can find, Mila Kunis as the local bar maid who wants to learn from Eli how to survive, and Jennifer Beals as the boss's kept woman and mother of the bar maid. As one critic said, are there any post-apocalyptic films that aren't washed out and gray? I have to agree that this has been over done but it still works for this film. A descent film but I still have no idea way this kept getting pushed back for actual release and the twist makes the film even more poignant.

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Daybreakers

Finally a vampire movie that has blood, a real story beyond teenage hormones, and the vampires are the opposite of sparkly. Ethan Hawke plays Edward Dalton, a vampire hematologist, who is working against the clock on a human blood substitute before the world's supply disappears in the next thirty days in a world filled with vampires and only a few remaining humans. The blood and gore is not gratuitous but when the scenes come up an orgy of blood abounds and it rocks. Sam Neill and Willem Dafoe play the head corporate vampire in charge of the remaining human blood supply and a former vampire who was cured in a bizarre automobile accident respectively. In the finest tradition of George A. Romero's Dead films, the social commentary abounds and makes for a very a good film that I think all would enjoy - except Abigail.

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The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus

Terry Gilliam and Heath Ledger's film is out and continues to confirm Gilliam's standing as a cult maverick director with a unique fantastical vision. The story is about a series of bets between Dr. Parnassus, played by Christopher Plummer, and Mr. Nick, played by Tom Waits, for the doctor's first born when she turns sixteen and the traveling show where the audience gets to choose between the the forces of light and dark in exchange for their souls. Tony, played in the real world by Heath and in the Imaginarium by Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell, joins the show and his own mysterious past is revealed. Although not as good as The Adventures of Baron Munchausen and Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, the film is still vintage Gilliam and a must see for his fans. Tony was Heath's last film role and he will be remember for it but it still does not surpass his Oscar winning performance in The Dark Knight.

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Youth In Revolt

This film had a good trailer but with Michael Cera's last film, Year One, being a total waste I was hesitant on seeing this until I was handed a free screening pass. Being pleasantly surprised, I found the film was funny, darkly satirical, and brimming with teen hormones run amuck. There are not enough films based in trailer parks these days. Portia Doubleday was great as Sheeni Saunders, the focus of Nick Twisp's affections, hopeful taker of Nick's virginity as the very mature daughter of a local preacher. Cera's hits comedy gold this time out and it is very much worth the price of admission.

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The Road

Technically this was the second film for me in 2010 - the first being a repeat viewing of Sherlock Holmes - and to say it is a dismal story is being kind but it is a good film. A film that could easily shortcut itself in to horror manages to escape this trap by treating the more horrific elements as matters of existence and what you would expect to happen at the "end of the world". Viggo Mortensen turns in an Ocsar worthy performance as the father trying to save his world, or his son, after the loss of his wife. No spoilers here but I am still in awe of Charlize Theron, arguably one of the most beautiful starlets in Hollywood, who still pushes off the the glamor roles to play more realistic and unflattering roles and does them well. And for those who have followed Viggo's career, there is a cameo by Robert Duvall for the Western fans and the ladies get to see Viggo's bare ass again but it is not as enjoyable a scene as in Eastern Promises.

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Sherlock Holmes

First things first, the Iron Man 2 trailer on the big screen looked fantastic and I cannot wait to see the movie when it opens on May 7th, 2010.

Guy Ritchie, the cult favorite direct behind such gritty, hardcore, action films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, brings us an updated and adrenaline fueled re-imagining of the world's most infamous detective. Holmes and Watson, played by Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, are supposedly going their separate ways when their last case comes back to haunt them as Lord Blackwood seems to have risen from the dead to take revenge on London. All the elements you love being a fan of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's creation are here but tweaked to ramp up the pace and cement the duo's friendship. I could have done with a few more sexy scenes with Rachel McAdams but it looks like all of them were accounted for in the trailer. The film is fun and a must see for all Downey fans making it a worthwhile Christmas Day movie event.

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Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel

As the movie title states it is a squeakquel and all of the stops are pulled out. Those stops of course being the appearance of The Chipettes voiced by none other than Christina Applegate, Anna Farris - luv her - and Amy Poehler. Alvin causes trouble, there is a rift between the boys while Dave is recuperating in a hospital, a musicical competition is on the line and the Chipmunks and Chipettes band together to save the day and their school. The plot is a given for anyone over the age of ten but who does not love a signing Chipmunk? My niece Morgan will love this film when she finally gets to see it and it was an OK diversion for me as I wait to go to my best friends's house for the holiday.

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Happy Holidays to one and all!

Did You Hear About the Morgans?

I walked in to see this movie because it was there and it was not going to cost me anything except my time. The chemistry between Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker is non-existent and the the comedy painful and best served by the trailer. The only saving grace for me in this film is Sam Elliott and Mary Steenburgen - who I can watch in anything - as the Wheeler's who must protect our witness relocated couple. No matter how much your date loves SJP and Sex In The City, skip this film and go see Up In The Air. You will be thanking me later.

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Up In The Air

Jason Reitman, the director of Thank You for Smoking and Juno, brings us a comedy drama dealing with a traveling corporate killer, played by George Clooney, who is being pulled from the field due to budget cuts but gets one last reprieve as he must mentor a new start colleague, played by Anna Kendrick. The movie seems appropriate for the times we are living in and the comedy moments involving Ryan Bingham's travel rules of the road are hilarious. Vera Farmiga plays a traveling love interest for Clooney who shares in his travel obsession who is too perfect to be true. Clooney is always good and gives a great performance here but I don't think it is Oscar award winning worthy. A good date movie and an alternative to seeing It's Complicated.

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Avatar

The wait is finally over and James Cameron's much hyped and anticipated 3D epic is now playing on the big screen and I got my ticket. Unfortunately I did not pre-order a ticket for the IMAX version so I will be waiting awhile to see it in that format. The film is glorious, beautiful and everything I hoped for even if the plot was telegraphed to me like a haymaker - you just have to see it. The best comment on the movie was Cameron's interview with Kevin Pereira on Attack of the Show where he said the goal of the CGI animators was to ensure that Neytiri - played by Zoe Salana - was doable and oh my she most certainly is! Lastly, Sam Worthington adds another big action film to his resume to go along with Terminator Salvation and next year's Clash of the Titans remake - grab that golden ring my man while you can!

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Young Frankenstein @ The Kennedy Center

My friend Sharon promised me we would go see this show for my birthday when it came to the Kennedy and we lucked in to box seats - the box left of the Presidential box in the Opera House - oh yeah! Outside of this being a live musical version of one of my favorite horror comedies by Mel Brooks, it had the bonus of featuring the original Broadway cast leads such as Roger Bart and Shuler Hensley as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein and The Monster. The stage set was awesome and I got to snap a pic of the stage before a couple next to us got busted by the ushers because they used a flash - how foolish can you be. All in all a great evening with fantastic music even if some of the jokes worked better in the movie than on the stage. A great birthday treat and thank you again Sharon - smooches!

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The Princess and the Frog

I have always been a fan of the classic Disney animation style and liked the look and sound of this film from seeing the first trailers in the theater. Mixing up the classic fairy tale with a New Orleans sensibility was inspired and the featuring of a black heroine has been long overdue for Disney. I was not expecting the story to deal with the death of a main character so well and have to attribute this to Executive Producer, John Lasseter, who we all know as the genius behind all of the Pixar films. The original soundtrack by Randy Newman is awesome and will definitely have to be added to my iPod collection. If there is one family film out there you need to see this holiday season, it is this soon to be Disney classic.

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Invictus

Any Clint Eastwood directed film is a must see and his latest film retelling the story of Nelson Mandela and how he helped inspire the South African national rugby team to win the 1995 Rugby World Cup and unite the South African people in a common goal is no exception. Toss in Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar, the rugby team captain, and you have a trifecta. The story is truly inspiring and the rugby is so real that Damon had to let his stunt double fill in for him because it was so rough and nothing was being pulled in the scenes. I like biopics and this was a pleasant surprise to see there were still great stories to be told dealing with the final fall of Aparthied and the rise of Nelson Mandela as President of South Africa. I recommend seeing this film to everyone.

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The Slammin' Salmon

The Broken Lizard troupe who brought us Puddle Cruiser, Super Troopers, Club Dread, and Beerfest now take their swing at the restaurant business with Kevin Heffernan taking the directorial reins. The Slammin' Salmon is a high end Miami restaurant owned by boxing great Cleon Salmon who sets up up a contest that the highest selling waiter gets a $10,000 bonus and the lowest earning one gets a beating all so so he can pay off a gambling debt. This is only a premise the Lizard guys could pull off and they do it well with a huge roster of Hollywood favorites making cameos. These cameos include Vivica A. Fox, Morgan Fairchild, Lance Henriksen and Michael Clarke Duncan as Slammin' Cleon Salmon himself. If you are a fan of the Broken Lizard guys like me, this movie is a must see and great for huge belly laughs.

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