Movies
Movies are rated on a letter-grade scale, from A to F. Opinions by R-J movie critic Carol Cling (C.C.) are indicated by initials. Other opinions are from wire service critics.
Motion Picture Association of America ratings:
G - General audiences, all ages.
PG - Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.
PG-13 - Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children under 13.
R - Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or guardian.
NC-17 - No one under 17 admitted.
NR - Not rated.
BRIDESHEAD REVISITED
(B) More than 25 years after the hit British miniseries captivated PBS audiences, novelist Evelyn Waugh's classic tale of pre-World War II England shifts to the big screen, as young artist Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) becomes embroiled with gay Oxford classmate Sebastian (Ben Whishaw) and his aristocratic family (including Emma Thompson as Sebastian's chilly, intensely Catholic mother and Hayley Atwell as Sebastian's sensuous sister). Julian Jerrold ("Becoming Jane") directs this lush, intellectual adaptation, which ventures where the fabled '80s miniseries couldn't. (135 min.) PG-13; sexual content.
THE DARK KNIGHT
(B) Why so serious? This sequel to 2005's "Batman Begins" wants desperately to be taken seriously. Mostly, it deserves to be -- but it sometimes takes itself too seriously for its own good, as the Joker (an indelible Heath Ledger) wreaks havoc in Gotham City, prompting the interest of not only the Caped Crusader (Christian Bale) but crusading new D.A. Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart). So overstuffed with characters, plots and counterplots that Batman sometimes seems like a supporting character, but Ledger's Joker is one for the ages. Even without the actor's tragic death, this sequel cloaks itself in funereal black, as if somebody sprinkled ashes in the popcorn. (152 min.) PG-13; intense violence and menace. (C.C.)
ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD
(B+) Filmmaker Werner Herzog investigates Antarctica -- and the thousand or so people, from physicists to plumbers, who (like Herzog) gravitate to life on the edge. Beyond the astounding landscapes (a welcome sight for parched desert dwellers), "Encounters" wonders whether we really are approaching the end of the world. Yet, unlike some sound-the-alarm documentaries with overt political agendas, this one takes after its creator, who allows his extraordinary subjects, human and otherwise, to speak for themselves. (99 min.) G; mature themes. (C.C.)
FLY ME TO THE MOON 3-D
(D) Buzz kill: In the first animated feature created for 3-D, a trio of houseflies stow away aboard Apollo 11 and try to stop a conniving Soviet spy fly from sabotaging the moon shot. Alas, this animated kiddie cartoon is as tedious and irritating as a real fly. (89 min.) G; all ages.
GET SMART
(C+) Missed it by that much: Steve Carell steps into the (phone-equipped) shoes of Don Adams to play bumbling Maxwell Smart, a world-class intelligence analyst who gets the chance to trade his desk job for a globe-trotting field assignment, accompanied by savvy Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway). By grafting a typical origin story onto a typically breakneck espionage plot, this fails to capture the delirious slapstick lunacy of the classic '60s sitcom that inspired it. Sorry about that, Chief. (110 min.) PG-13; rude humor, action violence, profanity. (C.C.)
HANCOCK
(C) After he's saved by a boozy, surly superhero (box-office king Will Smith), a struggling L.A. marketing expert (Jason Bateman) volunteers to rehabilitate the snide good guy's tarnished image. An intriguing concept, but iffy execution -- and director Peter Berg's inability to meld the movie's jokey first half with its anguished, emotional conclusion -- makes for a bumpy ride indeed, even with Charlize Theron rounding out the classy starring cast. (92 min.) PG-13; intense sci-fi action and violence, profanity. (C.C.)
HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY
(B) When the mythical world rebels against humanity, hoping to take over Earth, demon superhero Hellboy (Ron Perlman) and his team -- including pyrokinetic girlfriend Liz (Selma Blair) -- lead the charge to save the planet. Like its 2004 predecessor, this has a middling storyline, made memorable by the freaky visions of writer-director Guillermo del Toro, who seems to have transplanted every weird creature he couldn't cram into "Pan's Labyrinth." In case you're wondering, that's a good thing. (110 min.) PG-13; sci-fi action and violence, profanity.
HENRY POOLE IS HERE
(C) In this comic parable, the depressed title character (Luke Wilson) tries to isolate himself in a new house, but can't escape his friendly neighbors (Radha Mitchell, "Babel's" Adriana Barraza) -- or the crowds who show up when an image of Jesus appears on his backyard wall. Filmmaker Mark Pellington's pleasant, if insubstantial, sermon on community, connection and faith preaches to the converted; believers will find reaffirmation, while nonbelievers are likely to remain unmoved. (101 min.) PG; thematic elements, profanity.
JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH
(B-) In your face, in more ways than one: The first live-action feature shot in digital 3-D is an update of Jules Verne's durable 1864 fantasy, about an absent-minded professor (Brendan Fraser), his surly teenage nephew (Josh Hutcherson) and an Icelandic guide (Anita Briem) on a fantastical, and possibly fatal, journey to the title realm. Without 3-D, it's just another empty-calories cinematic thrill ride; with 3-D, it's still a thrill ride, but at least it's a relatively fun one, with reach-out-and-touch images guaranteed to make you giggle, squirm -- or both at the same time. (92 min.) PG; intense adventure action, scary moments. (C.C.)
MAMMA MIA!
(C) S.O.S.: Meryl Streep (having a blast, even when we're not) turns singing-and-dancing queen in this adaptation of the hit ABBA musical about a former rock singer, now living on a Greek island, whose three ex-flames (Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsg?rd) show up at her daughter's wedding. Occasionally entertaining, often excruciating, this boasts a stellar cast (augmented by "Big Love's" Amanda Seyfried and scene-stealers Christine Baranski and Julie Walters), but the narrative thread's flimsier than dental floss -- and director Phyllida Lloyd, who helmed the stage original, hasn't the slightest idea how to direct a movie. (108 min.) PG-13; sexual references. (C.C.)
MAN ON WIRE
(B+) French street performer Philippe Petit's daring (and illegal) 1974 high-wire walk between the twin towers of New York's World Trade Center inspires a heart-stopping, knee-buckling -- and transcendent -- documentary that boasts the fast pacing of a crime flick and a breathtaking climax. (94 min.) PG-13; nudity, sexuality, drug references.
MIRRORS
(D) Shine off: A fire-ravaged department store harbors a horrific secret that threatens a cop-turned-security guard (Kiefer Sutherland) and his family. Inane, dull and about as scary as a bottle of Windex, this "Shining" rip-off substitutes a deserted department store for "Shining's" hotel and a strung-out Kiefer Sutherland for strung-out Jack Nicholson, making this minor chiller a major downer from talented "High Tension" director Alexandre Aja. (100 min.) R; strong violence, disturbing images, profanity, brief nudity.
THE MUMMY: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR
(C-) The third time's definitely not the charm for this poor man's Indiana Jones franchise, which reaches new depths of absurdity as intrepid Rick O'Connell (a game Brendan Fraser) and his archaeologist wife Evelyn (miscast Maria Bello, replacing Rachel Weisz), retired from globe-trotting, head to China after their rebellious son (a charmless Luke Ford) unearths the remains of a cursed, shape-shifting emperor (martial arts whiz Jet Li). More often labored and lumbering than fun, this proves the "Mummy" saga should stay buried. (112 min.) PG-13; adventure action, violence. (C.C.)
PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
(B-) Reefer madness: In the latest romp from producer Judd Apatow's comedy factory, a hapless stoner ("Knocked Up's" Seth Rogen, who also co-wrote the script) witnesses a murder -- and runs for his life, his even more hapless pot dealer (a delightfully childlike James Franco) in tow. Powered by their pricelessly dopey repartee, "Pineapple Express" proves uproarious in fits and starts, but eventually falls victim to its own randomness -- and a nasty violent streak that undercuts the movie's sweetly addled bromance. (111 min.) R; pervasive profanity, drug use, sexual references, violence. (C.C.)
THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS 2
(B) The magic jeans are an even better fit the second time around, as the four title characters (America Ferrara, Blake Lively, Alexis Bledel and Amber Tamblyn) face the first summer after freshman year on their own, from a Vermont theater festival to an archaeological dig in Turkey, before reuniting on the picturesque Greek isle of Santorini. All four, especially standouts Ferrara and Tamblyn, are far more nuanced performers than they were in the 2002 original, and while this isn't exactly deep, it is deeply felt -- and a refreshing change from most movies aimed at, and about, teenage girls. (117 min.) PG-13; mature material, sexual references.
SPACE CHIMPS
(D) The wrong stuff: Astronaut chimps, led by the slacker grandson of the first chimp in space (voiced by "Saturday Night Live's" Andy Samberg), go ape during a mission to a distant planet. The plot couldn't be more boring, the unattractive animation evokes the Teletubbies (not a good thing) and young kids won't get some of the jokes -- not that they're funny. Sure, it's just a G-rated romp, but does that mean it has to be dull and unimaginative? Anybody who's seen "Wall-E" knows the answer to that. (81 min.) G; all ages.
STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS
(C) The "Star Wars" saga explores a new cinematic galaxy -- animation -- as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Master Yoda lead the Jedi knights struggling to save the Galactic Republic. Harmless and mostly charmless, this truly cartoonish animated adventure is to "Star Wars" what karaoke is to pop music, making the special magic of that long-ago galaxy seem far, far away indeed. (98 minutes.) PG; sci-fi action violence, brief profanity and smoking.
STEP BROTHERS
(C-) "Talladega Nights" teammates Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly take a big step downward for this alleged comedic romp about two overgrown cases of arrested development forced together when one's mother (Mary Steenburgen) marries the other's dad (Richard Jenkins). Ferrell and Reilly share a fearless, anything-for-a-laugh abandon, but the doofus deadpan chemistry that made "Talladega Nights" such a hoot has all but vanished, replaced by a strident obnoxiousness bordering on desperation. (95 min.) R; crude and sexual content, pervasive profanity. (C.C.)
SWING VOTE
(B-) A beer-guzzling Joe Sixpack (Kevin Costner) becomes the sole deciding vote in a deadlocked presidential election, sparking a media circus in his New Mexico hometown -- and a chance for his precocious daughter (Madeline Carroll) to get her goofball dad to act his age. This timely, yet timeless, political comedy boasts a winning supporting cast (including Kelsey Grammer, Dennis Hopper, Nathan Lane and Stanley Tucci) and provides a welcome reminder that Costner can still make contact when he gets a pitch he can hit. (110 min.) PG-13; profanity. (C.C.)
TROPIC THUNDER
(B+) When the studio pulls the plug on their bloated Vietnam War movie, the self-absorbed stars (Robert Downey Jr., Jack Black and Ben Stiller, who also directs) bungle into the jungle -- and wind up battling real-life bad guys. Gory, vulgar and wickedly funny, this equal-opportunity offender gleefully bites the Hollywood hand that feeds it before licking the very same hand and hoping nobody will take it too personally. (Especially the folks who finance big-budget movies like "Tropic Thunder.") Even so, this wimps out far less than most wannabe showbiz satires -- and the top-chop cast, led by the brilliant Downey, makes the most of its irreverence. (107 min.) R; pervasive profanity, sexual references, violence, drug use. (C.C.)
VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
(A-) Another year, another minor Woody Allen masterpiece. This one's a deceptively blithe, breezy tale of two American students in Spain -- one sexually adventurous and free-spirited (Scarlett Johansson), the other strait-laced and engaged (Rebecca Hall) -- who become entangled with a seductive painter (Javier Bardem) and his fiery ex-wife (Penélope Cruz). This bittersweet meditation on love and art may not be Allen's best, but it's definitely his best in years. (96 minutes.) PG-13; sexual references, smoking.
THE WACKNESS
(B) College-bound misfit Luke Shapiro (former Nickelodeon star Josh Peck) spends the summer of '94 peddling dope, trading marijuana to his pothead psychiatrist (Ben Kingsley) in exchange for therapy while he pursues the doctor's stepdaughter ("Juno's" Olivia Thirlby). Writer-director Jonathan Levine's quirky coming-of-age comedy is less a story than a series of moments -- some funny, some poignant -- but the heartfelt script and fine performances make it an unexpected treat. (95 min.) R; pervasive drug use, profanity, sexuality.
WALL-E
(A) Play it again, Pixar: "Finding Nemo" writer-director Andrew Stanton strikes again with a wonderful, full-of-wonder tale about a lonely garbage-compactor robot, stranded on an abandoned 29th-century Earth, who follows an alluring probe droid back to her mother ship -- and discovers what happened to the humans who used to occupy the planet. Skipping from poignant comedy to sly satire, "Wall-E" deftly synthesizes cinematic influences from Charlie Chaplin to "Star Wars' " R2-D2, yet it never feels derivative, thanks to a magical blend of soaring imagination and down-to-earth emotions. (97 min.) G; all ages. (C.C.)
WANTED
(C-) Un-"Wanted": Angelina Jolie plays a kick-butt killer training a mild-mannered office drone ("Atonement's" James McAvoy) to take his place in a clandestine society of assassins. This mindless, soulless action workout confuses quantity with quality, style with substance, adrenaline with artistry. Not content to concentrate on mere mayhem, it aims for something more and winds up achieving less, trying to pass off a heaping helping of the old ultra-violence as something visionary and profound. (110 min.) R; strong bloody violence, pervasive profanity, sexual situations. (C.C.)
THE X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE
(C) We want to believe in this sequel to 1998's first "X-Files" movie (not to mention the cult-fave TV series that left the airwaves in 2002), but this gloomy, serpentine follow-up will make believers of no one who's not already a diehard X-phile. This time around, reclusive ex-FBI agent Fox "Spooky" Mulder (David Duchovny) and partner Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), now a surgeon, join FBI agents (Amanda Peet, Alvin "Xzibit" Joiner) investigating a defrocked priest (Billy Connolly) who claims psychic powers. Alas, director Chris Carter throws out such a hodgepodge of stalker and serial killer clichés that whatever point he's trying to make remains puzzling, vague and, well, unbelievable. (104 min.) PG-13; violent and disturbing content, mature themes.
