On paper, it’s unpromising: Woody Allen rolls out a New York comedy about a naïve Southern belle who comes to the city and falls for a curmudgeonly genius who is so annoying that he even talks directly to the audience. But Larry David can do curmudgeon in his sleep, Allen’s writing is witty and light, and Evan Rachel Wood (the belle) is so adorable and funny that – what do you know – it works!
Grade: B
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You’d think a movie about guys with machine guns and hatcheck girls would be more fun, but Public Enemies drags on like a three-hour funeral dirge. Yeah, Johnny Depp is pretty cool, but overall, the film feels as heavy as a wet fedora.
Grade: C
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Note to Woody Allen from a pissed off fan: Why don’t you take two or twenty years off and TRY TO COME UP WITH SOME NEW IDEAS? Whatever Works is the eightieth time you’ve remade Manhattan, and if I wanted to see that again, I would have WATCHED THE FRICKING DVD!
Grade: D
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A classic case of “the best jokes are in the trailer.” What’s left over isn’t worth discussing.
Grade: D
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In this loose, heartwarming comedy, two 30-somethings about to have their first baby travel around the country, learning about themselves as a couple and as future parents. Maya Rudolph and John Krasinski are endearing in the starring roles, and some of the supporting characters are hilarious (Allison Janney and Maggie Gyllenhaal stand out), but at times the story gets so loose it unravels.
Grade: B
Another triumph for Pixar Studios, Up is a charming story with wonderful characters, flawless animation, sly jokes and moments of sweet sadness. Today my favorite part is the touching scene of Ellie visiting the recuperating Carl; tomorrow it may be the funny glimpse of the dogs playing poker.
Grade: A+
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With a paint-by-numbers plot and characters possessing all the emotional complexity of Jan Brady, My Life In Ruins is nothing more than writer Nia Vardalos’ tedious attempt to recycle the “Greeks-are-weird” shtick she perfected in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. I’ve seen episodes of Full House that were less predictable than this.
Grade: D
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Be warned, The Hangover is about as raunchy as a movie can get without receiving an NC-17 rating, but it’s also brutally funny and wildly clever. Most of all, it has a sunny, good-natured vibe that reminded me of the best moments in Animal House and Bachelor Party.
Grade: B+
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The plot of this film is truly a mess of Biblical proportions, but somehow director Ron Howard distills it down into a fairly coherent thriller. If you can hold your nose through all the secret-hidden-symbols-across-Rome crapola, Angels & Demons is moderately enjoyable.
Grade: B-
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Even if you don’t know a Klingon from a Vulcan, you’ll like this well-crafted space adventure, with special effects that are strong but don’t overwhelm the story. If you do remember the 1960s TV series, you will love the way this movie revives the spirit of the original, with its engaging interplay of characters, sly humor and “fascinating” (as Spock would say) tension between logic and emotion.
Grade: A
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