The Change-Up

Director: David Dobkin
Stars: Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Mann, Olivia Wilde
Rating and Length: R / 112 minutes
Genre: Comedy

Eh. Two dudes change bodies, they have fun being each other, and in the end realize they want their own lives back.  Pretty mediocre story for such funny actors.  The movie relies too heavily on gross out humor and slap stick (there is a knife throwing baby. really?) when it should be relying on how funny Bateman, Reynolds and Mann are, which is very funny.  It does get some good laughs and there are a few touching moments, but all-in-all it doesn't live up to the expectation of how good Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds should be together.  

My Rating

***

Crazy, Stupid, Love

Directors: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

Stars: Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Julianne Moore, Emma Stone, Analeigh Tipton, Jonah Bobo, Marisa Tomei, Kevin Bacon

Rating and Length: PG-13 / 118 minutes

Genre: Comedy / Romance / Drama

This movie follows three generations of romance, centering on Cal (Carell) and his failing marriage.  It has the perfect combination of sweetness and comedy without being too cheesy or predictable.  What really makes this film is that all of the actors are fantastic and everyone has great chemistry (Gosling and Stone really stand out).   While you don't get the typical 'happy ending' the resolution still leaves you feeling pretty good.

My Rating

****

Cowboys & Aliens

Director: Jon Favreau
Stars: Daniel Craig, Harrison Ford, Olivia Wilde, Adam Beach, Sam Rockwell
Rate and Length: PG-13 / 118 minutes
Genre: Action / Sci-Fi / Western / Thriller

A Sci-Fi and a Western at the same time?  Who knew that was possible, and I'm still not quite sure it should have been done.  Indiana Jones and James Bond in chaps fighting aliens; sounds pretty great but ... it just doesn't quite work.  The good part is that the western aspect was really well done, the action and fight scenes were good, and there were some scary moments that got a good jump out of me.  However, none of the characters are fully developed (Adam Beach was pretty good though), the alien motive is weak, and there is a pretty lame plot twist about halfway through.  They should have taken tips from Will Smith and added some humor, but instead this movie takes itself way too seriously for such a ridiculous plot.  

My Rating

**

(Alternative perspective: The guy I saw this with says it is the best movie of the year and gives it five stars)

Friends With Benefits

Director: Will Gluck
Stars: Mila Kunis, Justin Timberlake, Patricia Clarkson, Jenna Elfman, Woody Harrelson, Richard Jenkins
Rating and Length: R / 109 minutes
Genre: Comedy / Romance

I feel like I just saw this movie a couple months ago.  Once again we see two friends, Dylan and Jamie, who try to begin a physical relationship while staying just friends.  What's good is that it acknowledges how cliché this whole plot is (and actually makes fun of cheesy romcoms), what's bad is that it doesn't do anything to add or change up the clichés and has some pretty cheese worthy moments of its own.  It's your typical romantic comedy trying to hide as a  raunchy comedy.  Even though I knew how the story would end (and every step along the way) I still liked watching Kunis and Timberlake play out the plot.  They had good chemistry and were funny together, and the great supporting roles (Woody Harrelson is pretty hilarious) really helped.  All in all pretty conventional but still entertaining.  

My Rating

***

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 2

Director: David Yates
Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Ralph Fiennes, Alan Rickman, Michael Gambon, Helena Bonham Carter
Rating and Length: PG-13 / 130 minutes
Genre: Action / Adventure / Fantasy

Eight movies and ten years later and the Harry Potter adventure is over.  Now I won't be able to anxiously await the next installment every year to find out what kind of hijinks Harry, Ron and Hermione will get into next.  This final film in the series follows the trio of friends as they try to destroy Lord Voldemort and save their wizarding world.  I knew that this movie would be dark and violent, but was surprised by the delightfully placed humor and heart of all the characters.  It is amazing how far these young actors have come since the beginning of this series.  We have literally been able to watch them grow up and turn these characters into household names that will cross generations.  If you haven't seen any of the other Harry Potter movies (or read the books) you obviously shouldn't see this one because you'll have no idea what is going on, but if you have, this one is definitely worth seeing in the theater.  It is a visually beautiful film with the perfect balance of action and quiet astute moments that bring humanity to the overwhelming tragedy that is playing out on the screen.  I could have done without the epilogue (I feel that way about most epilogues), but this film is by far the best of the monumental series.

My Rating

****

Zookeeper

Director: Frank Coraci
Stars: Kevin James, Rosario Dawson, Leslie Bibb
Rating and Length: PG / 104 minutes
Genre: Comedy / Family

This movie starts with a botched proposal by Kevin James, which foreshadows the rest of this botched film.  James did the best he could with what he was given, but talking animals just don't seem to work as well if they're not in an animated movie. The best part was the Happy Feet 2 Trailer beforehand.  Just kidding ... kind of.  The only saving grace is Rosario Dawson (I'm not sure what she is doing in this movie, but I guess even she needs to pay the bills). The scene with her and James dancing together was the only charming part, and even that was quickly ruined with a slapstick accident.  I supposed kids might like it for the  animals (they are a little amusing) but it was pretty boring to watch the talking animals try to help the zookeeper win back his ex-girlfriend who I never understood why he was with in the first place.  Even the hilarious Ken Jeong (The Hangover) couldn't sell it.  Oh well, better luck next time Kevin James, at least you'll always have Hitch.

My Rating

**

Monte Carlo

Director: Thomas Bezucha
Stars: Selena Gomez, Leighton Meester, Katie Cassidy, Pierre Boulanger, Luke Bracey, Cory Monteith
Rating and Length: PG / 109 minutes
Genre: Romance / Comedy / Family

This is a cute movie, but the plot and romances are pretty cliche and it feels like a made for TV Disney movie.  Grace (Gomez) is a small town girl from Texas who goes to Paris with her best friend (Cassidy) and step-sister (Meester).  There she switches places with a look-alike heiress and the trio travels to Monte Carlo on a dream vacation.  Gomez is cute but nothing special in her role, but Meester and Cassidy are funny as her side-kicks.  This is definitely a good movie for tween and teenage girls, anyone else probably doesn't need to watch it.

My Rating

**