MacGruber

Release Date: May 21, 2010 

Runtime: 1 hr. 39 min. 

Director: Jorma Taccone 

Cast: Will Forte, Kristen Wiig, Ryan Phillippe, Val Kilmer, Powers Boothe. 

After a hiatus of SNL skit-turned-movies, there is a new hero in town by the name of “MacGruber.” He’s highly trained, highly awarded…and a total case for disaster. Like many SNL members before him, Will Forte steps into his first lead role as a spoof of the tv character MacGyver. Known for his stylish mullet and tendency to get sidetracked, MacGruber never [always] fails to disarm a bomb. Unfortunately, we don’t get a glimpse of the skit format until the very end. Unlike “Austin Powers,” which relied heavily on absurdity and puns, this film primarily focuses on crude jokes and exterior exposure to get the audience laughing. It does provide humor at times, but the main character does little to appear appealing or likable. In lieu of this, Kristen Wiig does a great job in offering some consolation as the trusty sidekick, Vicki St. Elmo. Nevertheless, this is one film that’s acquired through multiple viewings rather than enjoyed the first time around. 

Rating: 2 stars

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time

Release Date: May 28, 2010 

Runtime: 1 hr. 56 min. 

Director: Mike Newell 

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Gemma Arterton, Ben Kingsley, Alfred Molina, Steve Toussaint.

Joining the slew of video game adaptations comes “Prince of Persia,” starring Jake Gyllenhaal in his first big action-hero role. Known for his boyish good looks and taking on more serious roles lately, the question becomes: can he pull it off? While physically fitting for the role, the accent is less than convincing, giving it a comical twist that was probably unintentional. Together with quick-rising star, Gemma Arterton, they set out to save the world with a magical dagger and a glass full of sand. Being as farfetched as it sounds, the film has its moments, offering up plenty of action and special effects. Still, the villain is predictable and the story plays without much thought. But while this is no “Pirates of the Caribbean,” it at least gets the job done in being an entertaining popcorn flick of the summer. Expect little and get enough. 

Rating: 2½ stars

Shrek Forever After

Release Date: May 21, 2010 

Runtime: 1 hr. 33 min. 

Director: Mike Mitchell 

Cast: Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Julie Andrews. 

When “Shrek” first emerged in 2001, it was clever, humorous and contemporary. Its sequel was equally entertaining, while the third, not so much. Needless to say, the fourth and final chapter proves to be no different. The repetitive nature of the script and overly outdated jokes keep this film from reaching new ground. While the premise of “what if” seemed promising at first, the story quickly becomes formulaic, even going as far as borrowing ideas from the second film. Perhaps the only redeeming quality is the nature of the characters and their ability to evolve. This time around, we find Shrek as a ‘family man’ who feels nostalgic of his days as a liberated ogre. He’s certainly grown into the role, even if he’s just a green and animated version of Mike Meyers. The opening sequence is jumbled and accelerated, though it at least gives some sense of time lapse. Then, the story unfolds in a typical manner until at last, like any fairytale, there’s nothing else to do but say, “the end.” Let’s just hope DreamWorks learns from this and stops at two for future outings. 

Rating: 2 stars

Iron Man 2

Release Date: May 07, 2010 

Runtime: 2 hr. 4 min. 

Director: Jon Favreau 

Cast: Robert Downey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell. 

With the iron power of Robert Downey, Jr. and a heavily anticipated follow-up, “Iron Man 2” takes the coveted spot of being the first of many in this summer’s lineup. Aside from the common flaws of a sequel to a stellar predecessor, this film takes you on a joy ride worth having. If I had to pinpoint what makes this mediocre flick a blockbuster, it’s Robert Downey, Jr.’s aptitude to have fun while engaging the audience with his charm. His blasé attitude, in addition to the surprising chemistry with Gwenyth Paltrow’s Pepper Potts, gives it a sheer entertainment value that can’t be ignored. Mickey Rourke as the villain, on the other hand, comes and goes with a whole lot of muscle but little fighting power. The climax appears rather anticlimactic compared to the other exuberant scenes. The plot mainly suffers from trying to achieve too much at once. As two different stories parallel and more characters are introduced, the sole focus of Iron Man becomes lost and muddled. It’s obvious that the filmmakers are really trying to push the “Avengers” movie with full force, dropping clues that would make any fanboy (or girl) giddy. Wait around for the after-credits Easter Egg though. This is only the beginning of the onslaught of comicbook movies to come. Overall, a nice way to start off the summer race. 

Rating: 3½ stars

Kick-Ass

Release Date: Apr 16, 2010 

Runtime: 1 hr. 57 min. 

Director: Matthew Vaughn 

Cast: Aaron Johnson, Nicolas Cage, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Chloe Moretz, Omari Hardwick, Xander Berkeley. 

One of the biggest things to come out of Comic-Con last year was this little known film called “Kick-Ass.” Raising controversy for its outright violence and profanity, it quickly garnered enough interest to make it to the big screen. And kick-ass it is. First off, this is not a film for kids despite the younger cast of self-proclaimed superheroes. Much like Tarantino, there’s no excuse for violence but rather a need for it. Secondly, this is raw filmmaking at its best. Only can an 11-year-old girl named Hit-Girl, kill dozens of men and still be considered adorably innocent. Having already displayed her adolescent mind in “500 Days of Summer,” Chloë Moretz gives an outstanding performance that pretty much makes the film 10 times better than it already is. The other superheroes fend well for themselves as vigilantes in the pseudo-realistic comic book world. Nic Cage can consider this his brief career revival, as the highly-trained and ready, Big Daddy. Christopher Mintz-Plasse proves there’s life beyond “McLovin” while Aaron Johnson will mostly likely gain more recognition. While the story gets to a slow start, the plot rapidly unravels with blood, violence and unabashed humor. Think “Superbad” meets “Watchmen,” only way cooler and uncompromising. Easily one of the early favorites of 2010 and that says a lot already. 

Rating: 4 stars

Clash of the Titans

Release Date: Apr 02, 2010 

Runtime: 1 hr. 50 min. 

Director: Louis Leterrier 

Cast: Sam Worthington, Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Flemyng, Gemma Arterton. 

Remakes are the current trend, which makes it no surprise that “Clash of the Titans” follows suit. With advancements in computer graphics, this should have bested the original by a mile but sadly, doesn’t gain much momentum. When the title character barely has dialogue in the beginning of the film, you know the story’s already in trouble. Consequently, this should signal some epic battle scenes, but even then is it only mediocre. The story moves so quickly that no details are spared and scenes are lazily mashed together. The special effects are no better, with Medusa looking faker than, well, the Kraken. Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes, as Zeus and Hades respectively, add no star power other than wearing glittery outfits and running through their lines. Much has changed from the original so don't expect a true remake. It's a film on its own but hardly a good one at that. 

Rating: 2 stars

How to Train Your Dragon

Release Date: Mar 26, 2010 

Runtime: 1 hr. 38 min. 

Director: Dean DeBlois 

Cast: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera, Jonah Hill, Christopher Mintz-Plasse. 

DreamWorks’ latest adventure takes us to the world of the Vikings, where dragons run wild and poach the sheep stock. The protagonist is an awkward and lanky boy, aptly named Hiccup, who is the son of the Viking Chief. Voiced by the similarly built Jay Baruchel, the cast is solid in terms of matching personalities with characters. While the story isn’t original, being based on a book of the same title, the way it is brought to life on screen is magical in its own sense. The cinematography is beautiful and the animation has greatly improved to match almost that of Pixar. The best of the film comes from the actual dragons, which are wonderfully designed and choreographed to the tee during the flying scenes. With high-tense action and a moving script, it’s a story anyone at any age can enjoy. This may well be my favorite DreamWorks piece to date, even surpassing “Shrek.” Well-done. 

Rating: 4½ stars

Hot Tub Time Machine

Release Date: Mar 26, 2010 

Runtime: 1 hr. 40 min. 

Director: Steve Pink 

Cast: John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson, Clark Duke, Crispin Glover. 

Vying to ride the success of “The Hangover” comes another comedy about four adult guys just trying to have some fun. The title itself should be reason enough to watch what could be the most ridiculous concept ever, but the film succeeds only halfway. While raunchiness and madness ensues as quickly as the hot tub warps speed, they don’t quite reach the level of hilarity that lasts. By the time the credits roll, the jokes are forgettable, other than the ones present in the trailer. Still, the high points come with every scene Rob Corddry and Craig Robinson are in. All of their smaller, sidekick roles in the past have finally paid off to give them the bigger spotlight they deserve. Even the coveted cameo of Chevy Chase does little to take away their stride, his role almost appearing meaningless. Memorable or not, this is a mindless comedy that should be seen with low expectations in order to have a good time. 

Rating: 2½ stars

Alice in Wonderland

Release Date: Mar 05, 2010 

Runtime: 1 hr. 49 min. 

Director: Tim Burton 

Cast: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway, Helena Carter, Matt Lucas. 

Interpreting the classic tale of "Alice in Wonderland" through the brilliant but atypical mindset of Tim Burton should have been a no brainer. Yet the much anticipated fall into 'Underland' begins and ends with a dull stupor. While the film is visually eye-popping, from floral landscapes to talking animals, the dreariness overtakes the generally vibrant world. What begins as a grown-up version of "Alice" quickly becomes a diluted version of "Narnia." The chosen one. Check. The evil queen. Check. Battle scene. Check and mate. The story was almost too 'normal' for a Burton film, even with the trademark characters. But Johnny Depp does deliver again with his unparalleled take on the Mad Hatter, wide-eyed and charming. I just wish there was more fantasy and unexpectedness over the theme of empowerment. 

Rating: 2½ stars

Shutter Island

Release Date: Feb 19, 2010 

Runtime: 2 hr. 18 min. 

Director: Martin Scorsese 

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Kingsley, Michelle Williams, Max von Sydow.

After several months of delay, Scorsese returns with a throwback to film noir thrillers in style. From start to finish, the intensity is palpable, sending you on a mind-numbing chase that twists and turns. Setting up each scene is the ominous drone of classical music that further adds to the enigmatic ambiance. As the film delves deeper, we see the protagonist, played by the ever-talented Leo DiCaprio, gradually begin to deteriorate amid manipulation and remorse. Along with a superb cast of Sir Kingsley, Ruffalo, Michelle Williams and Jackie Earle Haley, this film is nothing short of acting at its finest. While fairly predictable in nature and deliberate in unveiling the plot, the end result is well-honed and brought to fruition. There is an uneasiness that lingers like any Dennis Lehane adaptation, but the open-endedness is what makes it so worthwhile. Overall, a terrific thriller that provides an abundance of suspense, as well as some frights. 

Rating: 4 stars

Valentine's Day

Release Date: Feb 12, 2010 

Runtime: 1 hr. 57 min. 

Director: Garry Marshall 

Cast: Julia Roberts, Emma Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Jessica Biel, Jennifer Garner, Shirley MacLaine, Kathy Bates, Bradley Cooper, Ashton Kutcher, Topher Grace, Eric Dane, Patrick Dempsey, George Lopez, Queen Latifah, Hector Elizondo, Jamie Foxx, Taylor Lautner, Taylor Swift.

Take every cliché about love, over a dozen A-list actors and you get an unoriginal rom-com appropriately titled "Valentine's Day." So where does any movie with such a star-studded cast go wrong? The plot lines become thin, stories uninspired and you get a bevy of attractive people whose fate seems to rely heavily on this aforementioned day. It's 'cute' and enjoyable for the female crowd but it lacks an intelligence that "Love Actually" so successfully obtained through a similar formula. Director Garry Marshall doesn't quite bring his A-game like he's done in the past with "Pretty Woman" or even "The Princess Diaries." As a result, you're left with another sappy movie that only garners attention to the cast and not to the theme of love. Let's hope "New Year's Eve" proves differently but I highly doubt it. 

Rating: 1½ stars

Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Release Date: Feb 12, 2010 

Runtime: 2 hr. 0 min. 

Director: Chris Columbus 

Cast: Logan Lerman, Brandon Jackson, Alexandra Daddario, Jake Abel, Sean Bean.

Hoping to join the ranks of "Harry Potter" comes yet another adaptation of a young-adult fantasy series. Despite an easy premise of Greek gods and a teenage boy's journey of self-discovery, "Percy Jackson" has difficulty in finding a niche amongst the target audience. Some scenes are expectantly cheesy while others may be too violent for kids. As quickly as the story begins, no details are spared for what is to be a fast-paced movie with special effects but a weak storyline. What saved this film for me was the sole basis of Greek mythology itself. Nothing beats seeing Uma Thurman with a head full of snakes. That is, until "Clash of the Titans" makes its remake-debut in early April. 

Rating: 2½ stars

The Lovely Bones

Release Date: Jan 15, 2010 

Runtime: 2 hr. 15 min. 

Director: Peter Jackson 

Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, Stanley Tucci, Michael Imperioli. 

Having not read the book, I watched this film going in with awe and coming out with a bitter taste in my mouth. The story is anything but uplifting when it's about the murder of a 14-year-old girl. As she looks on from heaven, her family struggles to cope with their new life and a case which no detective can solve. Saoirse Ronan does a terrific job of playing the lead role, already having proved her acting chops in "Atonement," while Stanley Tucci equally delivers as the antagonist. The visuals are stunning, if not sometimes a bit over the top. Peter Jackson captures a heaven of ethereal beauty that is reminiscent of Dali but personalized for Susie Salmon. The only downfall comes in the end when things feel unresolved and apathetic. There is no sense of fulfillment when all things are said and done. Maybe if I had read the book then I would have been less keen to judge. Overall, a beautiful yet tragic story of love, loss and life. 

Rating: 3 stars