"The Bourne Legacy" (Jeremy Renner, Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton) in Theatres on August 8, 2012

The Bourne Legacy (2012)

Critics
Rating: 3/5
Liked the Movie: 43% (n=14)

Audience
Like to See the Movie: 85% (n=109,132)


Reviews

"Sets the stage for better and fuller adventures to come." - Kate Erbland, Boxoffice Magazine

"Writer and director Tony Gilroy, who penned all three previous episodes, has come up with an elegant solution that manages to widen out the story without feeling like a Hollywood cash-in." - James Mottram, The List

"Although there isn't nearly as much action as the original three movies, it's doubtful anyone will leave Legacy not wanting to see more of Renner and Weisz in these roles." - Edward Douglas, comingsoon.net

"Subbing character actor Jeremy Renner into a franchise that requires Matt Damon-caliber magnetism, series scribe Tony Gilroy takes over the helming duties with an overlong sequel that features too little action and an unnecessarily complicated plot." - Peter Debruge, Variety

"Stellar photography and effects cannot quite make up for the staleness of the series and the flatness of the principal character when compared to Matt Damon." - Harvey S. Karten, Compuserve

"Gilroy is an intelligent writer but he is not a technically skillful action director, and so he tries to compensate with a detailed but not very involving tale and characters that like to talk in one too many indoor scenes." - Emanuel Levy, emanuellevy.com

"The Bourne Legacy disgraces the family name" - Blake Howard, 2UE That Movie Show


Movie Info

The narrative architect behind the Bourne film series, Tony Gilroy, takes the helm in the next chapter of the hugely popular espionage franchise that has earned almost $1 billion at the global box office: The Bourne Legacy. The writer / director expands the Bourne universe created by Robert Ludlum with an original story that introduces us to a new hero (Jeremy Renner) whose life-or-death stakes have been triggered by the events of the first three films. For The Bourne Legacy, Renner joins fellow series newcomers Rachel Weisz, Edward Norton, Stacy Keach and Oscar Isaac, while franchise veterans Albert Finney, Joan Allen, David Strathairn and Scott Glenn reprise their roles. -- (C) Universal

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 2 hr. 5 min.

Genre: Mystery & Suspense, Action & Adventure

Directed By: Tony Gilroy

Distributed By: Universal Pictures

Cast
Jeremy Renner (Aaron Cross)
Edward Norton (Retired Col. Eric Byer)
Rachel Weisz (Dr. Marta Shearing)
Joan Allen (Pam Landy)
Albert Finney (Dr. Albert Hirsch)
Stacy Keach (Retired Adm. Mark Turso)
Scott Glenn (Ezra Kramer)
Oscar Isaac (Outcome #3)

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

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

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

Paul (Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Seth Rogen) in Theatres on June 1, 2011

Paul (2011)

Audience
Rating: 3.8/5
Like the Movie: 75% (n=59,955)

Critics
Rating: 3.2/5
Like the Movie: 71% (n=178)


Reviews

"If it's escapist fun you want, just go with Paul" - Andrew L. Urban, Urban Cinefile

"A good-hearted, funny movie." - Linda Holmes, NPR

"While not as consistently funny or sharp as their previous pairings, Paul is a heartfelt tribute to friendship, what lies beyond the stars, and being a nerd." - Matt Neal, The Standard

"It doesn't measure up to Pegg and Frost's best work, but Paul is an amiably entertaining -- albeit uneven -- road trip comedy with an intergalactic twist." - rottentomatoes.com

"Paul is a fun tribute to sci-fi films (and film geekery in general), but did it have to be so ... dumb?" - Simon Miraudo, Quickflix

"The poster is cute, the trailer cuter. "Paul" the movie? Don't ask." - Glenn Lovell, CinemaDope

"Well, that's one joke. Ninety more minutes to go." - Rafer Guzman, Newsday


Movie Info

Synopsis: Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead) reunite for the comedy adventure Paul as two sci-fi geeks whose pilgrimage takes them to America's UFO heartland. While there, they accidentally meet an alien who brings them on an insane road trip that alters their universe forever. For the past 60 years, an alien named Paul (Seth Rogen) has been hanging out at a top-secret military base. For reasons unknown, the space-traveling smart ass decides to escape the compound and hop on the first vehicle out of town -- a rented RV containing Earthlings Graeme Willy (Pegg) and Clive Gollings (Frost). Chased by federal agents and the fanatical father of a young woman that they accidentally kidnap, Graeme and Clive hatch a fumbling escape plan to return Paul to his mother ship. And as two nerds struggle to help, one little green man might just take his fellow outcasts from misfits to intergalactic heroes. Paul is directed by Superbad's Greg Mottola, from a story by Pegg & Frost. Joining the comedy's cast are Jason Bateman, Kristen Wiig, Bill Hader, Blythe Danner, Joe Lo Truglio, John Carroll Lynch, David Koechner and Sigourney Weaver. -- (C) Universal

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 hr. 40 min.

Genre: Art House & International, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy

Directed By: Greg Mottola

Distributed By: Universal Pictures

Cast
Simon Pegg (Graeme Willy)
Nick Frost (Clive Gollings)
Seth Rogen (Paul)
Jason Bateman (Agent Zoil)
Kristen Wiig (Ruth Buggs)
Bill Hader (Haggard)
Blythe Danner (Tara Walton)
John Carroll Lynch (Moses Buggs)
Sigourney Weaver (The Big Guy)
Joe Lo Truglio (O'Reilly)
David Koechner (Gus)
Steven Spielberg (As Himself)
Jane Lynch (Pat Stevens)

Source: rottentomatoes.com

"Little Fockers" (Robert de Niro, Ben Stiller) in Theatres on January 8, 2011

Little Fockers

Audience
Average Rating: 3.3/5
Like the Film: 51% (n=80,869)

Critics
Average Rating: 1.7/5
Like the Film: 10% (n=134)


Reviews

"Carving knife + severed artery = tons of bloody fun." - Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

"I did not find Little Fockers to be particularly excruciating. Indeed, I laughed pretty hard several times." - Glenn Kenny, MSN Movies

"As star-studded as it is heartbreakingly lazy, Little Fockers takes the top-grossing trilogy to embarrassing new lows." - rottentomatoes.com

"If you've seen one, you've seen 'em all". - Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

"The million-dollar cast doesn't make the vulgar penny-ante jokes any funnier." - Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

"It may be time to try another household for laughs." - Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

"Rarely does a comedy bring such an overpowering sense of sadness." - James Berardinelli, ReelViews


Movie Info

Genre: Comedy

Synopsis: The story is set around Greg and Pam, from Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers, raising their mischievous son who makes their lives a wreck.

Rated: PG-13 for mature sexual humor throughout, language and some drug content

Running Time: 1 hr. 38 min.

US Box Office: $124.0M

Distributor: Universal Pictures

Directed By: Paul Weitz

Written By: Larry Stuckey, John Hamburg

Cast
Robert De Niro (Jack Byrnes)
Ben Stiller (Greg Focker)
Owen Wilson (Kevin Rawley)
Dustin Hoffman (Bernie Focker)
Blythe Danner (Dina Byrnes)
Teri Polo (Pam Byrnes-Focker)
Jessica Alba (Andi Garcia)
Harvey Keitel (Randy Weir)
Barbra Streisand (Roz Focker)