Hope Springs (Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones, Steve Carell) in Theatres on August 22, 2012

Hope Springs (2012)

Audience
Rating: 3.6/5
Liked the Movie: 69% (n=11,235)

Critics
Rating: 3.4/5
Reviews Counted: 75% (n=110)


Reviews

"Led by a pair of mesmerizing performances from Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones, Hope Springs offers filmgoers some grown-up laughs -- and a thoughtful look at mature relationships." - rottentomatoes.com

"Director to Jones: "Just be yourself." Works for me. Master class in acting from the two leads." - Richard Roeper, richardroeper.com

"A surprise that sneaks up and moves you, "Hope Springs" has the courage of its awkwardness, and this is said admiringly in the spirit of the film, which is irony-free and unfashionably earnest." - Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

"Yes, this is the fascinating stuff, a rare (in pop culture) look at the complex nature of the love-sex equation -- when it's too direct, when it's too vague, when it breaks down completely." - Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

"If the film doesn't really explore the pain and bitterness of this marriage, it's still leagues ahead of most such attempts." - Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

"It's gratifying to see a movie that doesn't have anything to do with superheroics or the end of the world, merely ordinary heroics of the human heart." - Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

"It will make you want to go home and have sex with your spouse afterward. Or at least share a longer hug or a more passionate kiss." - Christy Lemire, Associated Press


Movie Info

Kay (Meryl Streep) and Arnold (Tommy Lee Jones) are a devoted couple, but decades of marriage have left Kay wanting to spice things up and reconnect with her husband. When she hears of a renowned couple's specialist (Steve Carell) in the small town of Great Hope Springs, she attempts to persuade her skeptical husband, a steadfast man of routine, to get on a plane for a week of marriage therapy. Just convincing the stubborn Arnold to go on the retreat is hard enough - the real challenge for both of them comes as they shed their bedroom hang-ups and try to re-ignite the spark that caused them to fall for each other in the first place. -- (C) Sony

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 1 hr. 40 min.

Genre: Drama, Comedy

Directed By: David Frankel

Written By: Vanessa Taylor

Distributed By: Sony Pictures

Cast
Meryl Streep (Kay)
Tommy Lee Jones (Arnold)
Steve Carell (Doctor Feld)
Ben Rappaport (Brad their son)
Jean Smart (Eileen Kay's friend)
Elisabeth Shue (Karen the bartender)
Mimi Rogers (Carol the neighbor)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Brave (Kelly Macdonald, Emma Thompson) in Theatres on August 1, 2012

Brave (2012)

Audience
Average Rating: 4/5
Liked the Movie: 82% (n=114,380)

Critics
Rating: 3.5/5
Liked the Movie: 77% (n=183)


Reviews

"I really hope that people will give this imaginative little fairy tale a chance, and I can't wait to show it to my 6-year-old daughter." - Dana Stevens, Slate

"In addition to being fast, funny, and unpretentious, Brave is a happy antidote to all the recent films in which women triumph by besting men at their own macho games..." - David Edelstein, New York Magazine

"Brave offers young audiences and fairy tale fans a rousing, funny fantasy adventure with a distaff twist and surprising depth." = rottentomatoes.com

"The tone is uneven and more often morose than joyful. The pacing is slow and at times almost tedious. The end result is something that feels like it was put together from a jumble of Disney clichés tacked onto the skeleton of Beauty and the Beast." - James Berardinelli, ReelViews

"It's a subpar story that seems to exist mainly to sell a new Disney Princess in the form of wild-haired Merida." - Nancy Churnin, Dallas Morning News

"While co-directors Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman and Steve Purcell have successfully made a family action fantasy featuring a girl hero - a long-overdue revolution - the story is not as special as the princess inside it." - Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

"We would expect this kind of overstuffed joyride from Dreamworks Animation or the folks at Fox or even Disney itself. But it's terribly ordinary for Pixar, and ordinary is no longer enough." - Ty Burr, Boston Globe

"Brave" isn't a bull's-eye, but it's close enough. - Tom Long, Detroit News


Movie Info

Merida is a skilled archer and impetuous daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). Determined to carve her own path in life, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the uproarious lords of the land: massive Lord MacGuffin (Kevin McKidd), surly Lord Macintosh (Craig Ferguson) and cantankerous Lord Dingwall (Robbie Coltrane). Merida's actions inadvertently unleash chaos and fury in the kingdom, and when she turns to an eccentric old Witch (Julie Walters) for help, she is granted an ill-fated wish. The ensuing peril forces Merida to discover the meaning of true bravery in order to undo a beastly curse before it's too late. -- (C) Disney

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 hr. 33 min.

Genre: Animation, Kids & Family, Comedy

Directed By: Brenda Chapman, Mark Andrews

Distributed By: Walt Disney Pictures

Cast
Kelly Macdonald (Merida)
Billy Connolly (King Fergus)
Emma Thompson (Queen Elinor)
Julie Walters (Wise Woman)
Kevin Mckidd (Lord MacGuffin)
Craig Ferguson (Lord Macintosh)
Robbie Coltrane (Lord Dingwall)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

The Dictator (Sacha Baron Cohen, Ben Kingsley, Anna Faris) in Theatres on July 25, 2012

The Dictator (2012)

Audience
Rating: 3.3/5
Liked the Movie: 53% (n=130,686)

Critics
Rating: 3/5
Liked the Movie: 58% (n=194)


Reviews

"For once, Baron Cohen has a real script and a supporting cast as skilled at improv as he is. And those complementary elements make a difference." - Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

"On the laughmeter The Dictator is closer to Borat than to the misfired Bruno, which is to say it's funny for about half of its brisk 83 minutes." - Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

"Most of The Dictator had me neither laughing nor shocked, but just staring at the screen in anxious is-that-all-there-is? silence." - Dana Stevens, Slate

"Of course it's offensive and tasteless. That's the point. Sometimes the jokes are excruciatingly funny." - Richard Roeper, richardroeper.com

"Clearly, Baron Cohen is a smart, gifted and versatile actor; it's time for him to stretch his abilities and dictate to himself a new kind of challenge." - Christy Lemire, Associated Press


Movie Info

The heroic story of a North African dictator who risks his life to ensure that democracy would never come to the country he so lovingly oppressed. -- (C) Paramount

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 hr. 23 min.

Genre: Comedy

Directed By: Larry Charles

Distributed By: Paramount Pictures

Cast
Sacha Baron Cohen (Aladeen / Efawadh)
Anna Faris (Zoey)
Ben Kingsley (Tamir)
Megan Fox as Herself

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Ice Age: Continental Drift 3D (Jennifer Lopez, Jeremy Renner, Queen Latifah) in Theatres on July 12, 2012

Ice Age: Continental Drift 3D (2012)

Critics
Rating: 3/5
Liked the Movie: 52% (n=25)

Audience
Like to See the Movie: 93% (n=20,677)


Reviews

"The gang of walking, talking, mammalian chums prove as reliably consistent as ever." - Steve Newall, flicks.co.nz

"This isn't just the fourth silver screen outing for 'history's greatest heroes'. It's the Ice Age gang's most action-packed film to date." - Graham Young, Birmingham Mail

"Weighed down with daft new characters and an overstretched story, the prehistoric saga is looking a bit old. On the other hand, it still has Scrat -which is all any movie really needs..." - Paul M. Bradshaw, Total Film

"The wit and charm of the series' earlier entries, and much of their visual splendour, appears to have evaporated." - Shaun Munro, What Culture

"Despite impressive visuals and voice work, this fourth instalment feels uninspired and unnecessary." - FILMINK (Australia)

"This latest installment feels like a rudderless ship of ice floating in tropical waters." - Anton Bitel, Film4

"I hate to be the one to break it to everyone... but it's time these animals were put to sleep." - Matthew Toomey, ABC Radio Brisbane


Movie Info

Scrat's nutty pursuit of the cursed acorn, which he's been after since the dawn of time, has world-changing consequences - a continental cataclysm that triggers the greatest adventure of all for Manny, Diego and Sid. In the wake of these upheavals, Sid reunites with his cantankerous Granny, and the herd encounters a ragtag menagerie of seafaring pirates determined to stop them from returning home. -- (C) Official Site

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 hr. 34 min.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family, Comedy

Directed By: Steve Martino, Michael Thurmeier

Distributed By: 20th Century Fox

Cast
Ray Romano (Manny)
John Leguizamo (Sid)
Denis Leary (Diego)
Queen Latifah (Ellie)
Seann William Scott (Crash)
Josh Peck (Eddie)
Jennifer Lopez (Shira)
Jeremy Renner (Gutt)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Magic Mike (Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey) in Theatres on July 11, 2012

Magic Mike (2012)

Audience
Rating: 3.7/5
Liked the Movie: 69% (n=48,120)

Critics
Rating: 3.5/5
Liked the Movie: 77% (n=132)


Reviews

"If you're looking for a romance with 100 percent prime beefcake? Get your singles out and ready, ladies. "Magic Mike" is in the house." - Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

"Soderbergh has created a spicy yet lucid, surgingly high-energy yet smartly modernistic musical." - Richard Brody, New Yorker

"It's one of the year's best surprises, and so is its frequently underrated star." Rafer Guzman, Newsday

"At the very least, it is exceptional and one of the best and most original pictures to come along in 2012." - Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

"A weirdly guilty pleasure." - Stephen Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

"Magic Mike has a conventional structure, yet a teasing question percolates beneath: If selling yourself is as much fun as this movie makes it look, what could be wrong with it?" - Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

"The dance numbers, choreographed by Allison Faulk, are inventive and athletic, but not really erotic; Soderbergh never lets you forget that, for these men, dancing is above all a job." - Ben Sachs, Chicago Reader

"If filmmaker Soderbergh had paid as much attention to relationship dynamics as he does to dance number mechanics, this film would have gotten closer to living up to the magic in its name." - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times


Movie Info

Set in the world of male strippers, Magic Mike is directed by Steven Soderbergh and stars Channing Tatum in a story inspired by his real life. The film follows Mike (Tatum) as he takes a young dancer called The Kid (Pettyfer) under his wing and schools him in the fine arts of partying, picking up women, and making easy money. -- (C) Warner Bros.

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 hr. 50 min.

Genre: Drama, Comedy

Directed By: Steven Soderbergh

Written By: Reid Carolin

Distributed By: Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast
Channing Tatum (Magic Mike)
Alex Pettyfer (Adam, The Kid)
Matt Bomer (Ken)
Joe Manganiello (Big Dick Richie)
Matthew McConaughey (Dallas)
Cody Horn (Brooke, Paige)
Olivia Munn (Joanna)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

"Big Miracle" (Drew Barrymore, John Krasinski, Kristen Bell) in Theaters on July 4, 2012

Big Miracle (2012)

Audience
Rating: 3.4/5
Liked the Movie: 63% (n=29,488)

Critics
Rating: 3.1/5
Liked the Movie: 74% (n=95)


Reviews:

"Big Miracle uses real-life events as the basis for a surprisingly satisfying family drama." - rottentomatoes.com

""Big Miracle" gets off to a shaky start, but once revved up, it becomes an involving work-against-the-clock-and-the-odds action movie." - Rachel Saltz, New York Times

"Cold War-era bonding over whales? It would sound utterly absurd if it weren't based on fact. And that's part of what makes this movie fun for adults." - Stephanie Merry, Washington Post

"It is a whale of a comic tale, if also one overly crowded with characters and incidents." - Peter Howell, Toronto Star

""Big Miracle" might be subtitled, "How Hollywood Turned a Real Story Into Bogus Fiction." - Rafer Guzman, Newsday

"If you think it's absolutely not your kind of thing, you might be surprised." - Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies


Movie Info

Inspired by the true story that captured the hearts of people across the world, the rescue adventure Big Miracle tells the amazing tale of a small town news reporter (John Krasinski) and an animal-loving volunteer (Drew Barrymore) who are joined by rival world superpowers to save a family of majestic gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle. -- (C) Universal

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 hr. 46 min.

Genre: Drama, Action & Adventure, Romance, Comedy

Directed By: Ken Kwapis

Written By: Jack Amiel, Michael Begler

Distributed By: Universal Pictures

Cast
John Krasinski (Adam Carlson)
Drew Barrymore (Rachel Kramer)
Kristen Bell (Jill Jerard)
Dermot Mulroney (Colonel Scott Boyer)
Ted Danson (J. W. McGraw)
Tim Blake Nelson (Pat Lafayette)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Kimmy Dora and the Temple of Kiyeme (Eugene Domingo, Dingdong Dantes, Alodia Gosiengfiao) in Theatres on June 13, 2012

Kimmy Dora and the Temple of Kiyeme (2012)

Hazel's
Comment: I came across this trailer while browsing Facebook. I never got to watch the first Kimmy Dora film (which catapulted Eugene Domingo to fame) that was released in 2009 but after watching this, I plan to watch both movies. The trailers are hilariously funny and Eugene Domingo is dubbed the goddess of Philippine comedy =)


Movie Info

The adult twin daughters of an aging business mogul find themselves haunted by a terrifying ghost. The two dig into their family's past, and they travel to South Korea to try and find a way to appease the angry spirit.

Directed By: Joyce Bernal

Written By: Chris Martinez

Genre: Comedy

Released By: Star Cinema

Cast
Eugene Domingo (Kimmy & Dora Go Dong Hae)
Dingdong Dantes (Johnson)
Zanjoe Marudo (Barry)
Ariel Ureta (Luisito Go Dong Hae)
Miriam Quiambao (Gertrude)
Alodia Gosiengfiao (Sang Kang Kang)


This is the trailer of the first Kimmy Dora movie. Hopefully, I get to watch this film first before the sequel...



Source: clickthecity.com

Glee: The 3D Concert Movie (Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Dianna Agron) in Theatres on September 21, 2011

Glee: The 3D Concert Movie (2011)

Audience
Rating: 3.7/5
Like the Movie: 72% (n=13,038)

Critics
60
Rating: 2.9/5
Like the Movie: 60% (n=85)


Reviews

"You get the feeling that you're actually there, with the best seat in the house." - Jessica Bakeman, Minneapolis Star Tribune

"I'm still not a Gleek, but I can see what all the fuss is about." - Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

"The unconverted will remain just as perplexed as ever, but for gleeful Gleeks, The 3D Concert Movie delivers exactly what it promises." - rottentomatoes.com

"One of the many self-actualized real-life Gleeks featured in "Glee: The 3-D Concert Movie" tells the audience, "Be proud of yourself. Don't be afraid. Stand up for what you believe in." OK. I stand for hating "Glee."" - Kyle Smith, New York Post

"I'm calling bullsh** on this 3D concert movie. The movie plays like an evangelical prayer meeting, though I'd hold the hallelujahs." - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone


Movie Info

The multi-generational phenomenon that has inspired millions to embrace their inner-Gleek will soon bring them together to experience Glee a whole new way. -- (C) Official Site

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 hr. 40 min.

Genre: Documentary, Musical & Performing Arts, Comedy

Directed By: Kevin Tancharoen

Distributor: 20th Century Fox

Cast
Dianna Agron (Quinn Fabray)
Chris Colfer (Kurt Hummel)
Darren Criss (Blaine Anderson)
Kevin McHale (Artie Abrams)
Lea Michele (Rachel Berry)
Cory Monteith (Finn Hudson)
Heather Morris (Brittany)
Amber Riley (Mercedes Jones)
Naya Rivera (Santana Lopez)
Mark Salling (Noah 'Puck' Puckerman)
Jenna Ushkowitz (Tina)
Harry Shum Jr. (Mike)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Horrible Bosses (Kevin Spacey, Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell) in Theatres on September 21, 2011

Horrible Bosses (2011)

Audience
Rating: 3.8/5
Like the Movie: 76% (n=60,266)

Critics
Rating: 3.1/5
Like the Movie: 70% (n=189)


Reviews

"Horrible Bosses takes a dark premise -- three buddies band together to off their bosses -- and rings it for a solid, steady stream of laughs." - Adam Graham, Detroit News

""Horrible Bosses" is funny enough to give America's embattled working folk an outlet for their frustration, and America's employer classes a bad case of nerves." - Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

"There's an underlying, nearly universal relatability to "Horrible Bosses" that can't be denied and that screenwriters Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein use to great advantage." - Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

"It's nasty, uneven, and far from original, but thanks to a smartly assembled cast that makes the most of a solid premise, Horrible Bosses works." - rottentomatoes.com

"For something like Horrible Bosses to sparkle, the actors have to shine... and shine they do." - James Berardinelli, ReelViews

"Here's a hit-and-miss farce that leaves you wishing it was funnier than it is. Why? Because it wussies out on a sharp premise. Because it wastes a killer cast that's ready to rock it. " - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

"If you're bright enough to count your change at the popcorn stand, you're too smart to see "Horrible Bosses." - Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

"It's a film that's wildly, brazenly stupid -- but also, you know, fun." - Christy Lemire, Associated Press


Movie Info

For Nick (Jason Bateman), Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) and Dale (Charlie Day), the only thing that would make the daily grind more tolerable would be to grind their intolerable bosses (Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, Jennifer Aniston) into dust. Quitting is not an option, so, with the benefit of a few-too-many drinks and some dubious advice from a hustling ex-con (Jamie Foxx), the three friends devise a convoluted and seemingly foolproof plan to rid themselves of their respective employers... permanently. There's only one problem: even the best laid plans are only as foolproof as the brains behind them. -- (C) Warner Bros

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 hr. 37 min.

Genre: Comedy

Directed By: Seth Gordon

Written By: Michael Markowitz, John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein

Distributor: Warner Bros. Pictures

Cast
Jason Bateman (Nick Hendricks)
Jason Sudeikis (Kurt Buckman)
Jennifer Aniston (Dr. Julia Harris)
Kevin Spacey (Dave Harken)
Charlie Day (Dale Arbus)
Jamie Foxx (Dean 'MF' Jones)
Colin Farrell (Bobby Pellit)
Donald Sutherland (Jack Pellit)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Zookeeper (Kevin James, Rosario Dawson, Adam Sandler) in Theatres on September 21, 2011

Zookeeper (2011)

Audience
Rating: 3/5
Like the Movie: 45% (n=30,539)

Critics
Rating: 1.7/5
Like the Movie: 14% (n=117)


Reviews

"Did we mention that things just go better with Kevin James? Well-trodden comedy hooks become strangely more amusing. Goofball physical shtick elicits broader smiles. The bumblingly stupid is made endearing." - Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

"Casting carries "Zookeeper" over its roughest patches. The vocal guest stars are inspired." - Sean O'Connell, Washington Post

"Zookeeper smothers Kevin James with a sodden script and a surfeit of jokes inappropriate for the young viewers who would be intrigued by its juvenile storyline." - rottentomatoes.com

"A children's comedy about talking animals that feels as if it were written by children or, perhaps, by talking animals." - Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

"Little kids - hence the G rating - and those who think poop-tossing is funny will be amused by Zookeeper. The rest of us are better off not feeding the animals." - Linda Barnard, Toronto Star

"There's little to recommend about Zookeeper, a movie that's flat, lacking in surprises and very dull." - Gary Dowell, Dallas Morning News


Movie Info

In Zookeeper, the animals at the Franklin Park Zoo love their kindhearted caretaker, Griffin Keyes (Kevin James). Finding himself more comfortable with a lion than a lady, Griffin decides the only way to get a girl in his life is to leave the zoo and find a more glamorous job. The animals, in a panic, decide to break their time-honored code of silence and reveal their biggest secret: they can talk! To keep Griffin from leaving, they decide to teach him the rules of courtship - animal style. -- (C) Sony Pictures Publicity

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 hr. 41 min.

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Directed By: Frank Coraci

Written By: Jay Scherick, David Ronn

Distributor: Columbia Pictures

Cast
Kevin James (Griffin Keyes)
Rosario Dawson (Kate)
Leslie Bibb (Stephanie)
Ken Jeong (Venom)
Donnie Wahlberg (Shane)
Adam Sandler (Donald the Monkey)
Cher (Janet the Lioness)
Jon Favreau (Jerome the Bear)
Sylvester Stallone (Joe the Lion)
Nick Nolte (Bernie the Gorilla)

Source: rottetomatoes.com

Johnny English Reborn (Rowan Atkinson, Gillian Anderson, Pierce Brosnan) in Theatres on September 15, 2011

Johnny English Reborn (2011)

Audience
Rating:
Like to See the Movie: 72% (n=6,916)

Critics
Rating:
Like the Movie: 100% (n=2)


Reviews

"Action and humour are rolled into a grand, fizzling ball as the thrills of a spy story collide with Atkinson's inspired buffoonery" - Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile

"Is funnier and more complete than the original, with Atkinson in fine fettle, displaying the unique style of comedy he has honed into an artform" - Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile

"Got a chance to preview the late coming sequel. Obviously the jokes are quite a lot similar to Mr. Bean and the original Johnny English, but Rowan did it in a cleverer way. At least it's not a Bean in suite with pistol. You may like it, if you are a true fan of Blackadder and Mr. Bean." - Ray Wong


Movie Info

In the years since MI7's top spy vanished off the grid, Johnny English (Rowan Atkinson) has been honing his unique skills in a remote region of Asia. But when his agency superiors learn of an attempt against the Chinese premier's life, they must hunt down the highly unorthodox agent. Now that the world needs him once again, Johnny English is back in action. With one shot at redemption, he must employ the latest in hi-tech gadgets to unravel a web of conspiracy that runs throughout the KGB, CIA and even MI-7. With mere days until a heads of state conference, one man must use every trick in his playbook to protect us all. For Johnny English, disaster may be an option, but failure never is. -- (C) Official Site

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 hr. 41 min.

Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

Directed By: Oliver Parker

Written By: Hamish McColl, Neal Purvis

Distributor: Universal Pictures

Cast
Rowan Atkinson (Johnny English)
Gillian Anderson
Dominic West
Rosamund Pike
Daniel Kaluuya
Burn Gorman
Ben Miller
Pierce Brosnan
Richard Schiff
Mark Ivanir
Togo Igawa

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World (Jessica Alba) in Theatres on September 14, 2011

Spy Kids 4: All the Time in the World (2011)

Audience
Rating: 2.9/5
Like the Movie: 42% (n=19,276)

Critics
Rating: 2/5
Like the Movie: 22% (n=49)


Reviews

"Like its predecessors, a tediously cartoonish candy-colored rollercoaster." Nick Schager, Village Voice

"It's much inferior to the earlier films, though kids will probably like it." - Philip French, Observer [UK]

"It simply entertains at a basic level without leaving a lasting impression." Lisa Wilton, Jam! Movies

"Kids might enjoy the cheesy jokes, the shiny gadgets and the pooping dog but for adults it is snooze time all the way." Jackie K. Cooper, jackiekcooper.com

"Rodriguez directs the movie with his trademark kineticism, but a flimsy and uninventive script means there's little investment in the characters or their actions." - Simon Reynolds, Digital Spy

"The presence of Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino is sorely missed. Then again, more power to them for staying away from a movie that would smell in any dimension." - Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing

"Feels more like a cheap kids' TV series than an actual movie." - Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall

"Life is too short for Spy Kids: All the Time in the World" - Todd McCarthy, Hollywood Reporter


Movie Info

On the surface, Marissa Cortez Wilson (Jessica Alba) has it all...married to a famous spy hunting television reporter, a new baby and intelligent twin step kids. But in reality, trying to mother Rebecca (Rowan Blanchard) and Cecil (Mason Cook), who clearly don't want her around, is her toughest challenge yet. Also, her husband, Wilbur (Joel McHale), wouldn't know a spy if he lived with one which is exactly the case - Marissa's a retired secret agent. Marissa's world is turned upside down when the maniacal Timekeeper (Jeremy Piven) threatens to take over the planet and she's called back into action by the head of OSS, home of the greatest spies and where the now-defunct Spy Kids division was created. With a little help from a couple of very familiar Spy Kids, Carmen (Alexa Vega) and Juni Cortez (Daryl Sabara), they just may be able to save the world and possibly bring their family together while they're at it. -- (C) Weinstein

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 hr. 29 min.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Kids & Family, Mystery & Suspense, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

Directed By: Robert Rodriguez

Distributor: Weinstein Company

Cast
Jessica Alba (Marissa Cortez Wilson)
Joel McHale (Wilbur Wilson)
Jeremy Piven (Danger D'Amo / Tick Tock)
Alexa Vega (Carmen Cortez)
Daryl Sabara (Juni Cortez)
Rowan Blanchard (Rebecca Wilson)
Mason Cook (Cecil Wilson)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Bad Teacher (Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake) in Theatres on August 31, 2011

Bad Teacher (2011)

Audience
Rating: 3/5
Like the Movie: 41% (n=56,201)

Critics
Rating: 2.7/5
Like the Movie: 45% (n=166)


Reviews

"Hard to root for such a selfish lead, but "Bad Teacher" has just enough politically incorrect humor to warrant a grade of B." - Richard Roeper, richardroeper.com

"In spite of a promising concept and a charmingly brazen performance from Cameron Diaz, Bad Teacher is never as funny as it should be." - rottentomatoes.com

"Diaz performs with gusto, but the screenplay doesn't give her many funny things to say." - Eric Snider, film.com

"If you're looking for a funny comedy about a cynical, hard-partying school teacher transformed by his students into a paragon of pedagogical awesomeness, skip Bad Teacher and go rent School of Rock instead." - Dana Stevens, Slate

""Bad Teacher" immediately brings "Bad Santa" to mind and suffers by the comparison." - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"Everyone loves an anti-hero, but usually there's something redeeming about the character that makes you want to root for them in the end. Not so much in Bad Teacher." - Adam Graham, Detroit News

"Bad Teacher is a promising concept in need of more promising material." - Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

"The best lines were harvested for the trailer -- so if you've seen that, you've seen it all." - Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle


Movie Info

Some teachers just don't give an F. For example, there's Elizabeth (Cameron Diaz). She's foul-mouthed, ruthless, and inappropriate. She drinks, she gets high, and she can't wait to marry her meal ticket and get out of her bogus day job. When she's dumped by her fiancé, she sets her plan in motion to win over a rich, handsome substitute (Justin Timberlake) - competing for his affections with an overly energetic colleague, Amy (Lucy Punch). When Elizabeth also finds herself fighting off the advances of a sarcastic, irreverent gym teacher (Jason Segel), the consequences of her wild and outrageous schemes give her students, her coworkers, and even herself an education like no other. -- (C) Sony Pictures

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 hr. 31 min.

Genre: Comedy

Directed By: Jake Kasdan

Written By: Gene Stupnitsky, Lee Eisenberg

Distributor: Sony Pictures

Cast
Cameron Diaz (Elizabeth)
Justin Timberlake (Scott Delacorte)
Jason Segel (Russell Gettis)
John Michael Higgins (Principal Wally Snur)
Molly Shannon (Melody)
Lucy Punch (Amy Squirrel)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Cars 2 (Owen Wilson, Larry The Cable Guy) in Theatres on August 24, 2011

Cars 2 (2011)

Hazel's
Rating: 2/5
Review: The worst Pixar movie I have ever watched. I really liked the original 2006 Cars movie and I'm totally disappointed with this sequel. I even slept at some parts!

Audience
Rating: 3.4/5
Like the Movie: 59% (n=71,410)

Critics
Rating: 2.8/5
Like the Movie: 37% (n=187)


Reviews:

"Visuals look spectacular and action sequences take full advantage of the 3D format so you feel like you are burning rubber down winding roads at dizzying speed." - Catherine Jones, Liverpool Echo

"It is all quite jolly and fast-paced, a feast for the eyes, but there's not much for the mind or the heart." - Derek Malcolm, This is London

"Cars 2 is as visually appealing as any other Pixar production, but all that dazzle can't disguise the rusty storytelling under the hood." - rottentomatoes.com

"Pixar's first bad film relies more on merchandising opportunities than storytelling ones." - Wesley Lovell, Oscar Guy

"Cars 2 is beautifully animated but it's also frequently dull and painfully unfunny, thanks to an irritating lead character, an overstuffed script, several poorly conceived jokes and a plot that's probably too complicated for its target audience." - Matthew Turner, ViewLondon

"Although it would be unfair to label Cars 2 as unwatchable, it is surprisingly tedious in parts and not as satisfying as one might expect." - James Berardinelli, ReelViews

"Someone must like Mater, who's already had his own spinoff TV show. Just as someone must like Larry the Cable Guy, who voices him. But that someone isn't me, and if it isn't you, you're in for one very long matinee." - Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

"Cars 2 demonstrates that not every hit movie merits a sequel." - Carla Puig, USA Today

"One for the scrapheap." - David Edwards, Daily Mirror [UK]

"Not much engine-power here." - Peter Bradshaw, Guardian [UK]

"Sweet turbo mother of fuel injections, what is this?" - Nell Frizzell, Little White Lies


Movie Info

Star racecar Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) and the incomparable tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) take their friendship to exciting new places in Cars 2 when they head overseas to compete in the first-ever World Grand Prix to determine the world's fastest car. But the road to the championship is filled with plenty of potholes, detours and hilarious surprises when Mater gets caught up in an intriguing adventure of his own: international espionage. Mater finds himself torn between assisting Lightning McQueen in the high-profile race and towing the line in a top-secret mission orchestrated by master British super spy Finn McMissile (Michael Caine) and the stunning spy-in-training Holley Shiftwell (Emily Mortimer). -- (C) Disney

Rated: G

Running Time: 1 hr. 52 min.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Kids & Family, Comedy

Directed By: John Lasseter, Brad Lewis

Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures / Pixar

Cast
Owen Wilson (Lightning McQueen)
Larry The Cable Guy (Mater)
John Turturro (Francesco Bernoulli)
Eddie Izzard (Miles Axlerod)
Michael Caine (Finn McMissile)
Emily Mortimer (Holly Shiftwell)
Bonnie Hunt (Sally)
Vanessa Redgrave (Mama Topolino)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (Eugene Domingo, Cherry Pie Picache) in Theatres on August 3, 2011

Ang Babae sa Septic Tank (2011)

Audience
Rating: 3.9/5 (n=10)


Reviews

"A spectacular lead performance and strong direction keep the film thoroughly watchable and generally entertaining, but the total package lacks something vital. " - Philbert Ortiz Dy, clickthecity.com

"Ang Babae sa Septic Tank is definitely one of the wittiest comedies I’ve ever seen. What may otherwise come out as a boring subject has been turned into a laugh out loud masterpiece. They make use of every possible trick in the book to make the audience laugh. There are the snappy lines and funny quips, the hilarious montages of scenes, the utilization of music, quirky actors and over-the-top acting, and just to keep things funny for sure, there’s a bit of slapstick in the end too." - Ariane Astorga, candidheadlines.wordpress.com

"All in all, Babae sa Septic Tank is a likeable movie (hello, they have Eugene Domingo in it, what’s not to like about her?). If you’re one big Indie Film fan, an aspiring film maker,a Kean Cipriano fangirl and a Eugene Domingo fan, this movie is for you! Relate na relate. It’s a smart film, definitely worth your 150P.' - mynosebleed.com


Movie Info

Synopsis: Three would-be filmmakers are trying to produce the film that will send them to festivals abroad. As they deal with the pressures of pre-production, they imagine various versions of their film: from poverty porn, to musical, to mainstream spectacular.

MTRCB Rating: PG-13

Genre: Comedy

Director: Chris Martinez, Marlon Rivera

Released By: Star Cinema

Cast
Eugene Domingo
Cai Cortez
Cherry Pie Picache
JM de Guzman
Kean Cipriano
Mercedes Cabral

Source: clickthecity.com

Larry Crowne (Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts) in Theatres on August 3, 2011

Larry Crowne (2011)

Audience
Rating: 3.2/5
Like the Movie: 51% (n=23,093)

Critics
Rating: 2.5/5
Like the Movie: 35% (n=176)


Reviews

"Too cute for its own good, Larry Crowne is nonetheless hard to dislike." - Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

"As obvious and predictable as this story might be, it still works - in large part because we care about the human beings inhabiting this motion picture." - James Berardinelli, ReelViews

"This is film as comfort food, and even if it has very little nutritional value, its pleasantly bland texture will help keep you occupied until your next job interview or layoff notice." - Tom Long, Detroit News

"Next semester, the stars should drop Speech 217 and enroll in Chemistry 101 -- they dearly need some." - Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

"Despite the relaxed, easy chemistry of stars Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, Larry Crowne is surprisingly bland and conventional." - rottentomatoes.com

"It's about as close to real comedy as a cup of milky tea is to a real meal." - Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

"You wonder who thought any of this was funny." - John Anderson, Wall Street Journal

"Larry Crowne is more than a missed opportunity. It's alarmingly, depressingly out of touch." - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

"Neither the relationship of the two leads, nor any encounter between any of the film's other humans, seems to proceed according to the emotional or sociological customs of our culture." - Dana Stevens, Slate

"Even if you wander into this congealed mess with nothing more demanding in mind than to spend a little time with two charming favorites, do not expect Forrest Gump or Pretty Woman." - Rex Reed, New York Observer

"Larry Crowne" has Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts and a good premise and a colorful supporting cast, but what it doesn't have is a reason for existing." - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

"Movie stars may be less valued than they used to be, but it's still puzzling to see Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts stuck in a romantic comedy as flat-footed and tone deaf as Larry Crowne." - Justin Chang, Variety


Movie Info

Until he was downsized, affable, amiable Larry Crowne (Tom Hanks) was a superstar team leader at the big-box company where he's worked since his time in the Navy. Underwater on his mortgage and unclear on what to do with his suddenly free days, Larry heads to his local college to start over. There he becomes part of a colorful community of outcasts, also-rans and the overlooked all trying to find a better future for themselves...often moving around town in a herd of scooters. In his public-speaking class, Larry develops an unexpected crush on his teacher Mercedes Tainot (Julia Roberts), who has lost as much passion for teaching as she has for her husband. -- (C) Universal Pictures

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 1 hr. 38 min.

Genre: Drama, Comedy

Directed By: Tom Hanks

Written By: Tom Hanks, Nia Vardalos

Distributor: Universal Pictures

Cast
Tom Hanks (Larry Crowne)
Julia Roberts (Mercedes Tainot)
Bryan Cranston (Dean Tainot)
Cedric the Entertainer (Lamar)
Taraji P. Henson (B'Ella)
Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Talia)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Bridesmaids (Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph) in Theatres on July 20, 2011

Bridesmaids (2011)

Audience
Rating: 4/5
Like the Movie: 83% (n=60,959)

Critics
Rating: 3.8/5
Like the Movie: 90% (n=215)


Reviews

"Bridesmaids" is a female version of "The Hangover"--from the coarse language to the cringe-inducing grossout gags to the Vegas road trip that goes horribly wrong." - Richard Roeper, richardroeper.com

"That rarest of treats: an R-rated romantic comedy from the Venus point of view." - Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

"The warring impulses within Wiig set a wonderfully skittish tone for the painfully hilarious new movie Bridesmaids, a screwy tale of female friendship and wedding planning from hell." - Ella Taylor, NPR

"A marriage of genuine characters, gross out gags, and pathos, Bridesmaids is a female-driven comedy that refuses to be boxed in as Kristen Wiig emerges as a real star." - rottentomatoes.com

"The only question is: Will Kristen Wiig ever be this good again? The answer is, let's hope so. Bridesmaids rocks. Hopefully, a movie star is born." - Tom Long, Detroit News

"It goes pretty much as expected, but it does seem earned, in part because the writing is so sharp." - Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies

"The brilliant Saturday Night Live player Kristen Wiig finally gets the big-screen vehicle she deserves." - J.R. Jones, Chicago Reader

"In the end, Bridesmaids is touching and funny and a tiny bit sickening. Just like a real wedding." - Siri Agrell, Globe and Mail

"If this is only a chick flick, then call me a chick." - Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

"By the time two hours had dragged by, I felt a lot like I had sat through a five-hour wedding." - Lou Lumenick, New York Post

"Just as Apatow redefined leading men in a more realistic manner, Wiig may well change the way Hollywood looks at ladies." - Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News


Movie Info

This spring, Universal Pictures and producer Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin) invite you to experience Bridesmaids. Kristen Wiig leads the cast as Annie, a maid of honor whose life unravels as she leads her best friend, Lillian (Maya Rudolph), and a group of colorful bridesmaids (Rose Byrne, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey and Ellie Kemper) on a wild ride down the road to matrimony. Annie's life is a mess. But when she finds out her lifetime best friend is engaged, she simply must serve as Lillian's maid of honor. Though lovelorn and broke, Annie bluffs her way through the expensive and bizarre rituals. With one chance to get it perfect, she'll show Lillian and her bridesmaids just how far you'll go for someone you love. -- (C) Universal

Rated: R

Running Time: 2 hr. 4 min.

Genre: Comedy

Directed By: Paul Feig

Written By: Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig

Distributor: Universal Studios

Cast
Kristen Wiig (Annie)
Maya Rudolph (Lillian)
Rose Byrne (Helen)
Melissa McCarthy (Megan)
Wendi McLendon-Covey (Rita)
Ellie Kemper (Becca)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Prom (Aimee Teegarden, Thomas McDonell) in Theatres on July 20, 2011

Prom (2011)

Audience
Rating: 3.2/5
Like the Movie: 51% (n=14,839)

Critics
Rating: 2.6/5
Like the Movie: 34% (n=77)


Reviews

"There are new tweeners every year. To them, the characters and plot devices in this perfectly competent film might well seem fresh." - Neil Genzlinger, New York Times

"Prom" is pure bubble gum, from its shiny wrapping to its mushy insides to its fleeting aftertaste. And sometimes, there's nothing wrong with chewing bubble gum." - Tom Horgen, Minneapolis Star Tribune

"She's a conformist overachiever, he's a troubled soul; a third-grader could tell that the two will fall hard for each other by the movie's halfway point." - Sandie Angulo Chen

"Given its flatly descriptive title and live-action Disney pedigree, Prom is more nuanced and less cynical -- but also just as corny and cliched -- as you might expect." - rottentomatoes.com

"Except for a couple of nice touches, "Prom" is a remedial class in cliches." - Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

"You certainly don't expect a Disney live-action movie to be ambitious or edgy, but you don't necessarily expect this degree of sloppiness either." - Andrew O'Hehir, salon.com

"Less engrossing than a Clearasil commercial and more synthetic than a Rebecca Black video." - Nel Minow, Chicago Sun-Times

"Prom" is so strenuously inoffensive it makes Disney's "High School Musical" look almost racy by comparison." - Lou Lumenick, New York Post

"By and large "Prom" is exactly what the prom-haters in the cast say it is, a lot of build-up for something that isn't remotely as "special" as those obsessed with it wish it to be." - Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

"Nussbaum's crew works hard to maintain a fresh-scrubbed look to the school, its students and the small community that contains it. They succeed all too well. Couldn't there have been at least one wall with graffiti?" - Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter


Movie Info

At "Prom," every couple has a story and no two are exactly alike. Several intersecting stories unfold at one high school as the big dance approaches; "Prom" portrays the precarious passage from high school to independence as some relationships unravel and others ignite. For Nova Prescott (Aimee Teegarden), it's a battle of wills as she finds herself drawn to the guy (Thomas McDonell) who gets in the way of her perfect prom. Fellow seniors Mei (Yin Chang) and Tyler (De'Vaughn Nixon) harbor secrets, while others face all the insecurity and anticipation that surrounds one of high school's most seminal events. There are hundreds of nights in high school, but there's only one "Prom." -- (C) Disney

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 hr. 49 min.

Genre: Comedy

Directed By: Joe Nussbaum

Distributor: Walt Disney Pictures

Cast
Aimee Teegarden (Nova Prescott)
Thomas McDonell (Jesse Richter)
De'Vaughn Nixon (Tyler Barso)
Siu Yin Chang (Mei Kwan)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Monte Carlo (Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, Cory Monteith) in Theatres on July 1, 2011

Monte Carlo (2011)

Audience
Rating:
Like to See the Movie: 68% (n=6,079)


Movie Info

Three graduates fulfill their dreams of vacationing in Paris. They accidentally find themselves in a lavish world, where they live like royalty and experience romance. But at the end of their journey, they discover the true magic of friendship. -- 20th Century Fox

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 hr. 49 min.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Romance, Comedy

Directed By: Thomas "Tom" Bezucha

Written By: Thomas Bezucha, April Blair, Maria Maggenti, Ronald Bass, Jules Bass

Distributor: 20th Century Fox

Cast
Leighton Meester (Meg)
Katie Cassidy (Emma)
Cory Monteith (Owen)
Andie MacDowell (Pam)
Selena Gomez (Cordelia Winthrop Scott)
Nicole Kidman

Source: rottentomatoes.com

Mr. Popper's Penguins (Jim Carrey, Angela Lansbury) in Theatres on June 17, 2011

Mr. Popper's Penguins (2011)

Hazel's
Rating: 3.5/5
Review: Expect to have some hearty laughs while watching this movie. Though there were some boring parts (I found my mom sleeping beside me and waking up more than once), due to cliche and its kiddie story.

Audience
Rating: 3.5/5
Like the Movie: 67% (n=15,637)

Critics
Rating: 2.6/5
Like the Movie: 46% (n=92)


Reviews

"Mr. Popper's Penguins bears almost no resemblance to the classic children's book of the same name. But that's not necessarily a bad thing." - Claudia Puig, USA Today

"A slick, soulless adaptation of the children's book classic..." - Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

"Thanks to plucky performances and some perfectly precious pets, "Mr. Poppers Penguins" provides a pleasant, if obviously packaged, pursuit." - Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

"You probably won't come away from the movie with any newfound appreciation for penguins, but you'll get what you came for from Jim Carrey." - Cole Smithey, colesmithey.com

"Why is Jim Carrey standing around watching penguins be funny? Why isn't he in a movie where Jim Carrey is funny?" - Tom Long, Detroit News

"What the heck became of Carrey's career as a comic genius?" - Andrew O'Hehir, salon.com

"Be prepared for the oh-so-real possibility that your kid -- or your wife -- is going to want a penguin for Christmas after seeing this movie." - Joy Tipping, Dallas Morning News


Movie Info

Synopsis: In this family comedy, Jim Carrey is Mr. Popper, a driven businessman who is clueless when it comes to the important things in life - until he inherits six penguins. Popper's penguins turn his swank New York apartment into a snowy winter wonderland - and the rest of his life upside-down. Filmed on a refrigerated soundstage with real Emperor Penguins, Mr. Popper's Penguins is a contemporary adaptation of the classic book. -- (C)Fox

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 hr. 34 min.

Genre: Comedy, Kids & Family

Directed By: Mark Waters (VIII)

Written By: Sean Anders, John Morris, Jared Stern

Distributor: 20th Century Fox

Cast
Jim Carrey (Mr. Popper)
Carla Gugino (Amanda)
Angela Lansbury (Mrs. Van Gundy)


Source: rottentomatoes.com