Good Luck Chuck

Directed by: Mark Helfrich
Starring: Dane Cook, Jessica Alba, Dan Fogler, Lonny Ross
Running Time: 1h 36min

There are four reasons to see this film. Jessica Alba.

Grade: D+

3:10 to Yuma

Directed by: James Mangold
Starring: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Logan Lerman, Ben Foster, Peter Fonda
Running Time: 1h 57min

I continue to state that I am not a fan of westerns. Yet every couple of years I'm forced to admit that the film I accidentally stumbled upon, or was forced to watch, is indeed a great film, filled with great acting and locations, and is indeed a western. In this category go the films Unforgiven, Shane, Tombstone and now, 3:10 to Yuma.

Great acting can elevate any film, and this film benefits immensely from the contrasting forces of a soft spoken, do right father figure played by Bale, and his counterpart, the tough talking, bad boy played by Crowe. Both actors infuse their characters with enough menace and sentimentality, that it is hard to convincingly root for either of them. Though Bale's honesty and integrity weigh out above Crowe's character's cold bloodedness, there's still enough charm and charisma in Crowe for us, and more complexly, Bale's teenage son, to enjoy his company.

The story builds slowly enough, yet moves at a pace that keeps the viewer intrigued. The ending really is any one's guess, as you can see these locomotives headed for a collision, and it's really up in the air if good will triumph over evil. The uncertainty arises out of a series of dialogues between the two leads, which set up an unnerving third act. You can see these two diametrically opposed individuals, slowly rubbing off on each other, yet staying steadfast to who they are at their cores. Cutaway scenes to Crowe's crazy crew help to fuel the fire fight that is the culminating sequence, placing insurmountable odds in front of our hero.

3:10 to Yuma has received some excellent reviews, all very deserving. Don't be surprised if it finds its way on some year end best lists, as it executes the genre to perfection. So, i humbly admit, westerns, when done to perfection, can be some of the best films around.

Grade: B+

Hairspray

Directed by: Adam Shankman
Starring: Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley
Running Time: 1h 57min

John Water's original B-movie of the same name, which then spawned a surprise Broadway hit musical, which then spawned this A-list cast film, was a sweet treat of Baltimore 50s nostaligia, packed with a powerful message. The heart of the movie was the fight against racism, with the window dressing of smooth dances and smoother hairstyles.

This update shifts that focus from fighting racism, to an increased emphasis on the dance numbers, seeing as its more an adaptation of the stage show than a remake of the original source material. This results in some positives and negatives. The negative being a movie that pushes the plot aside at times, so the kids can just dance and sing. The positives are that the dance numbers really do pop and sizzle, in a way the original film hinted at, but never had the production dollars to put over the top.

The Hollywood players really have a great time camping in their roles, and its great to see the performances that come out of Travolta, Pfeiffer, and Walken. Very humerous, and in the spirit of Water's ouevre. Still, the real standout in this version is the crop of young talent in the roles of the students. It's no wonder that Disney's High School Musical is such an overwhelming success, with talent in spades. Blonsky's fairy tale casting story is well documented and turns out to be a great call, but the real stars are Efron and Kelley, who seem to be destined for big success.

If there's anything Waters' can claim from his body of work, it's finding magic in small packages, and making the most of his ideas. His subversive films were done in his unimitable Baltimore bred style, with a lot of love for his characters, flaws and all. The new Hairspray polishes up the flaws, makes it sparkle and shine, yet loses a little heart and soul in all the glamour. Still, it's probably the most fun you can have in the theatre in a long time, and you'll certainly be singing a song or two on your way home.

Grade: B+

I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry

Directed by: Dennis Dugan
Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Jessica Biel, Dan Aykroyd, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi
Running Time: 1h 50min

A complete waste of time, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry probably didn't even seem funny at the pitch meeting, but got the green light based on the success of the lead actors, and the amazing supporting cast, who should all be sentenced to some sort of community service after giving us this atrocity.

Rarely can films be given demeanor status, but this pathetic "comedy" is a crime against humanity. Not only is it not in the least bit funny, it also manages to insult our intelligence and sensitivity with its ridiculous premise. Imagine, if you will, two firefighters (can't get any more butch than that) who pretend to be gay to receive an insurance policy. Then, to complicate matters, an exhibitionist insurance policy fraud investigator, played swimmingly by Biel, looks into the matter, managing to insult insurance policy investigators and exhibitionists everywhere. At least she looks good while doing it.

Sandler and James, on the other hand, looked pained as they go through the motions, letting sad dialogue fly from their lips, while their eyes scream "Save us". They seem uncomfortable spitting out homophobic jokes, and equally uncomfortable pretending to be gay. Which is fine, because the audience feels equally uncomfortable, wondering if this film wants to be a crass, hateful throwback to a less tolerant time, or a morality lesson on gay rights. Well, that lesson comes too late, after a deluge of homophobic jokes that we were supposed to laugh at (but didn't) at the beginning of the film but now we should feel ashamed that we did because gays are people too. It's as though it wants to have its homophobic cake and eat it too.

Which gets me to why this movie didn't deserve an F. In actuality, i can't honestly remember, having erased most of this film from my mind. However, i think the C+ was redeemed through a good dose of fat jokes, a section of the population that does not yet have advocate groups. In these moments, you do get a sense that Sandler and James could bring a bit of that Abbott and Costello, Laurel and Hardy, Spade and Farley magic to the film. Just not this film.

Grade: C+

War

Directed by: Philip G. Atwell
Starring: Jet Li, Jason Statham, John Lone, Devon Aoki, Luis Guzmán, Saul Rubinek, Mathew St. Patrick, Nadine Velazquez
Running Time: 1h 43min

Truly unmemorable film starring two great action stars who have given us much better work. War is a complete misnomer (more like "grudge"), as the action is quite limited and the storyline convoluted. In the end, it all makes a little more sense, through some flashback and revealing, that could have saved us all about half an hour, had we been given that information in the first place.

After starring in some innovative action films that always gave us at least one new interesting set piece or fight scene, Jet Li and Jason Statham are just going through the motions on this one. A 10 minute documentary on the choreography of their past films would have had more drama and thrills than this entire movie. It's a surprise this didn't go straight to video. Just another installment in the action genre.

Grade: C

Superbad

Directed by: Greg Mottola
Starring: Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bill Hader, Seth Rogen
Running Time: 1h 54min

It's hard not to hate the hype surrounding Judd Apatow and his league of comedy superheroes, as every thing they've ever done is being pulled out and branded as "from the guys who brought you The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up." Now those are two good movies, but compared to the hilarity of Superbad, they should be honoured to be mentioned in its presence.

Superbad is a nice return to those teen comedies of the 80s, only more raw and realistic. These kids swear. A lot. There isn't any pandering to what we wish teens were, but rather a hyper realised dream of what one wild night in pre-college American teen life could turn out to be. The search for sex, by way of booze, by way of fake IDs, by way of ridiculous teenage forging is on! This is Porky's, Weird Science, and Revenge of the Nerds, all rolled into one. Only with more swearing.

Each scene one ups the previous one, and the hi jinks are gut busting funny. Cera plays a great foil to Hill's foul mouthed buffoon, balancing crass with class. Mintz-Plasse is piss your pants funny as the king of the nerds, McLovin, sure to be a teen reference for years to come. Hader and Rogen, showing up as a pair of cops, bring the absurd to the film, giving us the requisite adult characters found in these films, but not quite as we expected them to be.

Yet despite all the great lines, inventive staging, and silly situations these teens get themselves into, it is the heart at the center of their friendship that really elevates this film above mere teen comedy. Its sentiment saves it from being a boy's fantasy night on film to an honest depiction of the confusing growth a teenage boy must navigate on his way to maturity. The coming of age storyline is nicely laid underneath it all, giving value to what could easily be throwaway gags and staged guffaws.

What is really great about Superbad, is how the dialogue is so funny, yet so realistically coming out of the mouth of these teens. There are so many quotable lines that you'll have to watch it several times to soak it all in. And like only the best comedies do, it will get funnier and funnier each time you see it. A sure to be future classic, a shoe in for the Teen Sex Comedy Hall of Fame.

Grade: A-