NANNY McPHEE RETURNS
This latest installment in the misadventures of the doughy, warty, spectacularly stern titular governess is every bit as wonderful as the first film.
MAO'S LAST DANCER
Mao's Last Dancer is one of those well-meaning rousing biopics that is relatively compelling while watching it, sticks in your craw long enough for you to Google the real person when you get home, then is completely gone from your subconscious by the next morning.
EAT PRAY LOVE
Something interesting happened to me while I was watching the big-screen adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert’s bestselling memoir: I found myself fully engaged and moved by all the supporting players in the film, but decidedly put off by the central character.
THE EXPENDABLES
What a great idea to throw a couple hefty fistfuls of the biggest movie action stars ever into one big, booming movie! Too bad it's about 20 years too late.
CHARLIE ST. CLOUD
Charlie St. Cloud made me cry. More than once. It tugged at exactly the right heartstrings. But is it a good movie? Erm, not really.
DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS
A friend of mine hated Napoleon Dynamite, because rather than laughing at nerdy Napoleon, she was severely uncomfortable because she related to him. I didn't feel that strongly about Steve Carell's "idiot" Barry in Dinner for Schmucks... but he pretty much had me on his side from the beginning. I mean, LOOK at those mouseterpieces!
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT
A long-time married couple face a mid-life crisis as the kids want to find out more about their real dad. Chaos ensues. Oh, did I mention that the marrieds are a couple of lesbians, and the donor dad is a hottie? Edit to say controversy ensues!
THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE (Flickan som lekte med elden)
Noomi Rapace's Lisbeth Salander is easily the coolest, strangest, and most interesting character to hit the screens in awhile. So, because The Girl Who Played with Fire is all Lisbeth, all the time, the movie totally worked for me.
