THE HANGOVER REVIEW

I have no one but myself to blame for spoiling part of The Hangover experience by watching too many clips and trailers before seeing the film. If you haven't yet seen every clip out there, I strongly suggest you hold off until after watching the movie. Although the trailer and clips don't completely ruin the experience, The Hangover's one of those comedy's where it's best to go in knowing as little as possible. That way the surprises are bigger, the pay-offs are much more hilarious, and the 'what the hell oh no they didn't' moments - which there are a ton of - work on a grander scale.

The basic premise is a tried and true one. Guys take off for a rowdy weekend to celebrate the impending end of their buddy's life as a single dude. But The Hangover explores everything that could possibly go wrong in such a completely riotous way that even what's old feels new again. And even the jokes that don't quite work are at least played out to the full extent. Nothing's held back and no subject matter is off limits. And if you stay for the credits, you'll see some things you may never have seen before in a big studio feature film. I'm not saying it's stuff you'd necessarily want to ever, ever see again. It's just different and even kind of envelope-pushing.

The Story

Junior high school teacher Phil (Bradley Cooper), dentist Stu (Ed Helms) and the wacky man-child Alan (Zach Galifianakis) join Doug (Justin Bartha) for a roadtrip to Vegas a couple of days before his wedding. Phil's the unofficial leader of the group, Stu is the voice of reason, and Alan...well, he's just plain weird. So this motley group checks in to Caesar's Palace and makes their way to the roof for a toast to the impending loss of Doug's bachelorhood. Flash forward eight or so hours and it appears as though all hell has broken loose in their hotel suite.

Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms and Bradley Cooper in 'The Hangover.'

© Warner Bros Pictures

Stu comes to on the floor next to a chicken (why? we'll never know) missing a tooth and without a single memory of how he spent last night. Same goes for Alan who, clad only in his undies, stumbles into the bathroom only to be forced into a fully awakened state by the appearance of a tiger. Phil's in no better shape, although he does escape having a startling encounter with an animal as his first conscious thought after coming to. A chair is smoldering away, the place looks like a tornado blasted through it, Doug's nowhere to be found, and there's a baby - yes, a baby - in a closet. And not one of these guys remembers anything.

And so The Hangover takes off from there. Retracing their steps, the guys discover their time in Vegas was loaded with some of the most bizarre encounters and events imaginable. And if you haven't seen the trailer, I'm not going to blow any surprises for you here by going into all the juicy details of their night on the town. Suffice it to say, their exploits symbolize what makes 'what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas' such a powerfully important edict.

The Cast

You know, there's not a bad apple in the The Hangover bunch. Bradley Cooper's usually the best friend or part of the ensemble and although this is also an ensemble piece, Cooper's given more to work with here than in most of his previous films. Cooper takes full advantage of the opportunity, fully embracing the role of a married teacher who may look like a player on the prowl but who really is a dedicated family man just out for one night of unadulterated fun. Zach Galifianakis is annoyingly funny as a clueless guy with a surprisingly good heart hidden under layers of social ineptness. And The Office's scene-stealing Ed Helms is terrific as Stu the dentist, a guy who finds his orderly world turned on its head when he wakes up without an incisor and wed to a stripper. Of all the characters in The Hangover, it's really Stu you're empathizing and connecting with. You want him to grow a pair and get rid of his harpy girlfriend (played by Rachael Harris), and you root for him to come out of this weekend nightmare stronger for having gone through the experience.

The Hangover also benefits from some strong comedic performances in supporting roles including Bartha as the missing for most of the film groom-to-be, Heather Graham as Stu's stripper wife, Ken Jeong (seen naked in the trailer) as the film's villain, and Mike Tyson as Mike Tyson. Who knew the heavyweight had a sense of humor and enough acting ability to not make a fool of himself onscreen?

The Bottom Line

Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms in 'The Hangover.'

© Warner Bros Pictures

The Hangover has a Judd Apatow-esque style to it and blends well the raunchy comedy with screwball antics and a little heart (contributed by Helms' character, Stu). It's also got some surprisingly difficult and hilarious action scenes that you wouldn't expect from a comedy about three hungover guys in Vegas.

A baby, a tiger, a chicken, and Mike Tyson (no, that's not the beginning of a 'So, a...walked into a bar' joke) contribute a lot of absurdity and laughs to this over-the-top R-rated comedy directed by the guy who brought us Old School. The Hangover's nutty, naughty fun that never takes itself the least bit seriously.

GHOSTS OF GIRL FRIENDS PAST REVIEW

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past is a spirited twist on the Dickens story A Christmas Carol that had me laughing more than any other comedy released (thus far) in 2009. It's smart, charming, sticky sweet in places, and it's got a bit more of a bite to it than most romantic comedies. Plus, it has Matthew McConaughey playing a total cad, a role which the rom com veteran was able to slip into quite nicely.

Definitely one just for the ladies, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past hits theaters the same day as Hugh Jackman's X-Men Origins: Wolverine. It's a good, strategic move to place Ghosts opposite a film that skews toward the men as women won't feel bad about leaving their males to fend for themselves while they take in this above average chick flick.

The Story

Connor Mead is a professional photographer who likes his women beautiful, easy, and not too clingy. Connor's got no desire whatsoever to settle down having learned at a young age from his now deceased playboy uncle, Wayne (Michael Douglas), that there's no need to settle for one fish when there's so many in the sea to choose from. Connor's a one night stand kind of guy who has no intention of changing.

Emma Stone and Matthew McConaughey in 'Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.'

© New Line Cinema

But as in A Christmas Carol, someone needs to learn a hard lesson and in this rendition of the classic Dickens story it's Connor's turn to take a romp through his past, get a peak at the present without anyone knowing he's there, and see what the future holds in store for him if he doesn't change his ways. All this happens after he gives his baby brother one of the worst rehearsal dinner toasts ever uttered by a human being. Uncle Wayne appears, tells him to pay attention to three spectral visitors, and wise up before it's too late. Uncle Wayne was a party animal to the end, which Connor appreciates and emulates, but he died a lonely man because he never found love. Wayne doesn't want that to happen to his nephew and is willing to go to great lengths to make sure Connor's eyes are opened to the possibility of romance and true love.

The Cast

Matthew McConaughey has done his share of romantic comedies, most recently a generic rom com that didn't sit well with audiences (the disappointing Fool's Gold). But Ghosts of Girlfriends Past steps outside the cookie cutter mold and lets McConaughey pour all of his considerable charm into the role of a player who, despite his raffish behavior, is deep down a guy who wants to be in a relationship - although it takes three ghosts to get him to recognize the fact.

Jennifer Garner, also a veteran of the genre, is the perfect yin to McConaughey's yang. Garner's Jenny (the only woman Connor ever lasted more than a few days dating) is solid and responsible. McConaughey's Connor's got a devil may care attitude and is completely unreliable. Both actors fit snugly in these roles which seem taylor made for their talents. And they have a surprising amount of chemistry - I would never have pictured these two together prior to Ghosts but it actually works well.

The supporting cast includes Breckin Meyer as McConaughey's monogamist brother who is the only one that wants Connor around for the wedding, Lacey Chabert as Meyer's bride-to-be who gets into bridezilla mode as Connor screws up the wedding plans, and Noureen DeWulf as Connor's patient, long-suffering assistant - the one female who doesn't succumb to Connor's charms. All are given their moments to shine, but it's Emma Stone as the Ghost of Girlfriends Past who absolutely steals this film away from everyone, including McConaughey and Garner. When Stone's on the screen, Ghosts is at its brightest and funniest. As an over-the-top, lost in the '80s dynamo, Stone chews up the scenery and makes the best of every single second of her screen time.

The Bottom Line

Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner in 'Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.'

© New Line Cinema

Timing-wise, the beginning of May isn't a bad time to drop a romantic comedy into theaters. But it is a little strange that this one has Christmas release written all over it and yet we're seeing it at the start of summer. The snowy setting is understandable as it's a take off on A Christmas Carol and in fact one of the most memorable lines from the film involves McConaughey waking up after his ghostly visits, throwing open his window and yelling down to a boy shoveling snow - a scene lifted from A Christmas Carol - but the boy's response is priceless and unique to Ghosts.

Yes, this is a boy meets girl, boy loses girl (actually boy leaves girl), and boy tries his best to get girl back story. But there's more to it than that. The writing is impressive and snappy, and McConaughey and Garner make for quite an onscreen team. Director Mark Waters (Freaky Friday, Mean Girls) keeps the tone light even when the subject matter turns heavy. Waters doesn't let Ghosts of Girlfriends Past take itself too seriously, while at the same time he never plays down to his target audience. We don't see McConaughey roaming around needlessly shirtless. The jokes aren't cheap and don't come at the expense of a generic romantic comedy supporting player.

Ghosts of Girlfriends Past goes from lightheartedly fluffy comedy to a bittersweet tale of love lost and love found without ever turning sappy. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past is fun, fast-paced, and a refreshingly different sort of romantic comedy.

FIGHTING

See Fighting for the fight scenes and you're bound to be disappointed. A better title might have been Talking as fighting plays second fiddle, maybe even third fiddle, in this gritty tale set in the world of New York street fighting. Written and directed by Dito Montiel and starring Channing Tatum - their second collaboration (the first being A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints) - Fighting is more interested in who its characters are and their motivation for taking to the streets, than it is in living up to the audience's expectation of action.

While fighting dominates Fighting's trailer, it is not the focal point of the film itself. This one's more about the struggles of two troubled men, and that may make those who came just for the action sequences impatient and antsy. Montiel doesn't rush through the story and those wanting basically a MMA match onscreen are barking up the wrong tree - actually, they'll find themselves sitting in the wrong theater.

The Story

Tatum plays Shawn MacArthur, a recent transplant from Alabama to New York who gets by selling questionable items at a make-shift stand on a NY street. Terrence Howard is a much more street-wise and savvy hustler named Harvey who sets his pack of no-gooders on Shawn, snatching up the small amount of money he earned and sending potential customers scurrying away. Shawn doesn't take this invasion of his sales space lying down, and delivers a beating on Harvey's young cohorts that sets Harvey's mind to spinning. It's easy to see Shawn's got fighting skills and this makes Harvey think twice about the kid they just robbed.

Channing Tatum and Zulay Henao in 'Fighting.'

© Rogue Pictures

Sure that Shawn has a future in the underground world of high stakes street fighting, Harvey - fairly easily - convinces Shawn to let him set up some fights so they both can earn some decent cash. The catch: the loser of these fights walks away with nothing but a broken body. Only the winner is paid off, but that pay-off can be huge. Shawn goes for it as he's desperately in need of lots of money. Why? we're never really let in on that answer.Although Shawn's a bit of a hot head with father issues, he's also got a softer side to him which is revealed in his courting of Zulay (played by Zulay Henao). Shawn acts the gentleman, even dealing with an overprotective grandmother (the scene-stealing Altagracia Guzman) who doesn't want a guy who looks like a hoodlum anywhere near her pretty granddaughter. But when he's fighting, Shawn's single-mindedly focused on pummeling his opponent, using mixed martial arts moves and any available handy object that could inflict some damage.

Harvey sets up fights, Shawn does his thing, and they're both on their way to the biggest payday of their lives. But of course there are obstacles blocking their path to the fight of Shawn's life. Some obstacles present themselves in the form of managers of their opponents; some are inner demons they have yet to face down. And because this isn't just about fighting, there's a lot of talking that has to be done and a lot of deep thought must take place before the big showdown can occur.

The Bottom Line

Channing Tatum and Terrence Howard are a formidable onscreen team, and Zulay Henao isn't just a pretty face in the male-dominated production. Montiel gets the best out of Henao and Tatum (Saints is still Tatum's best work to date), but it's Howard that holds this film together with his performance. Howard's Harvey is a hustler who knows his limits and a guy who lives by an interesting code of ethics. Howard is quietly contemplative in moments where other's would have taken the character big, and in that restraint Howard shows just how talented he is.There's a natural flow to the dialogue that suggests most of what's spoken on screen was improvised. Conversations sound like real conversations. There are mistakes in wording, moments of silence as characters collect their thoughts, and some lines are stumbled over and mumbled through. The quieter moments in which Shawn talks with Harvey about his background and his needs, or when Shawn tries to work his way into Zulay's life by playing nice with her grandmother, make it feel as though we're flies on the wall in apartments of real people. Nothing's rushed. The dialogue isn't there just to feed the way into another action scene.

Terrence Howard and Channing Tatum in 'Fighting.'

© Rogue Pictures

While the dialogue was stellar and the acting was terrific, the actual storyline left a lot to be desired. There are gaps in logic throughout the film that are never plugged. When does Shawn work out? He looks cut, but the only time we see him do anything to get in shape is a brief segment on a deserted train in which he does a few minutes of exercise. Also, the first fight scene is more like a dance than hand-to-hand combat and it looks staged. On the other hand, the final fight is down and dirty and ruthlessly violent and almost painful to watch. The contrast between the two is astonishing, and Fighting would have been a better film had Montiel captured all the action the way he did in the film's big action showdown.

FRIED UP

About halfway through Fired Up, the totally inept cheerleading comedy directed by Will Gluck, the characters in the film sit down for a screening of Bring It On!. They know all the words and repeat them in a reverent whisper as they worship at the altar of arguably the best teen cheerleading comedy. As the camera pans back and forth between Bring It On! and the Fired Up crowd, sitting in a darkened theater surrounded by actual high school cheerleaders it was impossible for me not to wish for the ability to stop the camera from ever returning to Fired Up.

Oh, the wicked sense of humor first time feature film director Gluck and screenwriter Freedom Jones have! Surely they laughed manically after putting together the film knowing full well how painful it was going to be for the audience to be teased with that glimpse of a much, much better film of the genre and then slammed back into the madness and mess that is Fired Up.I actually was under the mistaken belief going into the screening of Fired Up that this film with the flimsiest of plots (think Wedding Crashers but without the laughs) was about college students. I must have just tuned out the part of the trailers that stressed this was a movie about high schoolers. Maybe it was the fact the lead actors, Eric Christian Olsen and Nicholas D'Agosto, are way out of their teen years that threw me off. Olsen is 31. D'Agosto is 28, but could maybe pass for a high school senior in a pinch if there weren't any teen actors out there capable of tackling a starring role in Fired Up. But, based on what I saw onscreen, anyone who'd ever graced the stage in a high school production could have handled his part. It wouldn't have mattered. The dialogue and direction sabotaged any chance any actor would have had in making this movie work.

The Story

Olsen and D'Agosto play Nick and Shawn, two horndog football players who decide to pass on football training camp in the hot desert and attend cheerleading camp instead. There will be hotties galore, plenty of opportunities to score, and they won't have to put up with a football coach who says sh*t so often that he's a walking drinking game.

Sarah Roemer (center) in 'Fired Up.'

© Screen Gems

So they make it to cheerleader camp after convincing their school's squad that by golly they DO like handsprings and splits and basket tosses more than tossing around the pigskin and getting hammered by big guys in shoulder pads. The only one not really buying into their act is Carly (Sarah Roemer, Disturbia). Carly's the head cheerleader and even though her squad sucks – they always finish dead last in competition – she's leery about Nick and Shawn's motives.Because Fired Up does nothing to break out of its totally generic plot bubble, Shawn falls for Carly who, despite being the smartest girl at the cheerleading camp, has a douchebag for a boyfriend. 'Dr. Rick' as he calls himself because he's in med school (yes, that's the level of jokes in Fired Up) is blatantly obnoxious and using Carly (even a toddler could figure that out), but she is blind to his faults. Meanwhile, Nick's hot for teacher. And then it all wraps up with people learning lessons and everyone competing in the big cheerleading competition, which, by the way, is horribly shot so even that aspect of the film is totally unsatisfying.

The Cast

Olsen and D'Agosto can't rise above the script, although they do at least seem to have tried their best to bring this turkey to life. Both have great comedic timing and as a buddy team, they would do well in a film that actually allowed them to be real people rather than just caricatures of teen movie types. Roemer's fine though she doesn't have much to do. John Michael Higgins' funny performance as the head of the cheerleading camp is just wasted in this mess. And Molly Sims, as Higgins' wife and the teacher who Nick sets his sights on, is not given anything to do other than look pretty. No one else in the cast makes enough of an impression to deserve a mention.

The Bottom Line

This film's full of quips and lines obviously written down and recited on cue. There's not a natural bit of dialogue in Fired Up. It's also loaded with pretty young girls with perfect bodies who apparently sleep with any member of the opposite sex who hands them a line. Fired Up is definitely not about female empowerment. And as if making all the female characters look like easy bimbos wasn't bad enough, Fired Up shows us that these cheerleaders have no self-esteem, no winning attitude, and are totally lost without two football players moving in on their turf and turning their lives around.

Nicholas D'Agosto and Sarah Roemer in 'Fired Up.'

© Screen Gems

And I just have to get back to this age issue one more time because it bothered me while I was suffering through the screening. At least twice Olsen makes cracks about Molly Sims' age. In reality, they are just a couple of years apart. Making it worse, Olsen and Sims look the same age onscreen. It's just bizarre to me that after hiring Olsen for the role, the age jokes weren't just cut out of the script.Because it's 'cute', the cheerleaders repeatedly chant FU and that's supposed to be funny. It's also supposed to be funny that all male cheerleaders - except the two football players masquerading as cheerleaders - are gay. And a coach who cusses (but doesn't use the f-word – this is only a PG-13 film) is also the height of hilarity. Are we really this hard up for comedy that Fired Up's tired jokes make us laugh? Please let the answer be no. Avoid Fired Up and rent Bring It On!. You'll save yourself a headache.

FAST AND FURIOUS

Fast and Furious features the foursome who starred in the first film of the car-crazy franchise, The Fast and the Furious, back together again for the first time since that 2001 hit. But the fact Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, and Jordana Brewster reunite for this third sequel isn't enough to make this latest Fast movie outgun the previous three films. Unfortunately for Fast fans, this one runs out of gas early on, hits speed bump after speed bump in its mid-section, and then stalls itself out way before reaching the finish line.

The Story

Dom (Diesel) is still wanted by the law when we catch up with him and Letty (Rodriguez) at the beginning of Fast and Furious. Fugitives from justice, Dom and his main squeeze/accomplice are hiding out in the Dominican Republic, hanging with a new gang and make a living outside the law. But when Dom gets word the cops are closing in on his illegal operation, he hightails it out of there – and out of Letty's life – so that his girl and his buddies won't be sucked down with him.

Michelle Rodriguez in 'Fast and Furious.'

© Universal Pictures

Of course leaving your girl behind and sneaking off in the middle of the night without even saying good-bye is never a good idea. When Dom leaves, Letty heads back to the U.S. and that's what ultimately prompts Dom to return home, despite the fact he's still a wanted man. Something drastic occurs (no spoilers here) and Dom's sister Mia (Brewster) needs her brother by her side. And once Dom's back on United States turf he quickly discovers he has the same goal as his old nemesis, FBI Agent Brian O'Conner (Walker). That leads to lots of posturing, angry exchanges, and zooming around in fast cars for the most ludicrous of reasons.

The Bottom Line

There's not a single member of the large ensemble cast who's able to rise above what they were given with the Fast and Furious script. And although it should be fun to see Walker and Diesel square off, that joy is ruined by an absurd plot that makes little or no sense.

Paul Walker and Jordana Brewster share a quiet moment in 'Fast and Furious.'

© Universal Pictures

It would be sort of okay to forget about applying a logical storyline to Fast and Furious given that most people who pay for a ticket to a film of The Fast and the Furious franchise aren't doing so to watch Shakespeare performed onscreen. No, you buy your ticket, you expect some fantastic, white-knuckle car chases. Toss a few scantily clad women into the background of a scene and then let the engines rev and the tires burn rubber. That's what Fast fans are really after, but too little of that is delivered in Fast and Furious.

EXTRACT

Writer/director Mike Judge's latest film, Extract, is loaded with unlikeable characters doing silly, irresponsible things. However, if Extract was half as funny as Judge's Office Space, I could forgive its characters' shortcomings and its lame plot. But Extract can't hold a candle to Office Space. People still quote Office Space today, 10 years after that film's release. Odds are moviegoers won't remember a single line from Extract upon exiting the theater.

The Story

Jason Bateman plays Joel Reynolds, owner of an extract factory where incompetence is the norm and where employees apparently must flunk aptitude tests in order to be hired. The main players in this factory world are Mary (Beth Grant), a harpy who complains about everything, Rory (TJ Miller), a wannabe rocker who should be the last person on earth allowed to drive a forklift, and Step (Clifton Collins Jr), a hard-working simpleton whose goal in life is to be placed in charge of the factory's floor.By the time we meet Joel, he's ready to hand over his company and its collection of idiots to a big corporation. General Mills wants to buy him out, and Joel's overjoyed by the prospect of saying adios to the world of extracts. But Joel's plans of an early retirement are put in jeopary when Rory and Mary disobey every workplace safety regulation and cause poor Step to lose a testicle.

Now Step, being the good ol' boy that he is, only wants the insurance pay-out and to get back to work. But no, into the picture pops con artist cutie, Cindy (Mila Kunis). Cindy weasels her way into a temp job at the factory and into Step's life, scamming to get rich quick by convincing Step to sue Joel. If Step gets paid, then Cindy figures she'll get paid too by convincing Step she's the love of his life.

Jason Bateman and Kristen Wiig play a married couple with relationship issues.

© Miramax Films

Of course, Joel, being married to a woman who won't have sex often and never past 8pm, falls for Cindy without knowing what she's up to. And Joel's best friend, Dean (Ben Affleck looking all scruffy), is about as big an idiot as anyone on Joel's staff, so the solution he comes up with involves hiring a gigolo (Dustin Milligan) to seduce Joel's wife - and taking drugs. All sorts of drugs, some in massive quantities.

The Bottom Line

Getting stoned by way of a really big bong is always funny, right? Umm, no. And repeating the same set-up over and over again because it's bound to pay off at least once is the way to win over audiences, right? No again. And limiting the two funniest characters to sporadic appearances and too-short scenes is the way to really elicit laughs, right? You get the point here by now. Extract is guilty of pushing what doesn't work too far while veering sharply away from anything that looks like it might have actually gone somewhere interesting.

I wanted to laugh. I was ready to laugh, but Extract let me down. It also let down the cast of usually very funny actors, in particular Kristen Wiig as Bateman's 'once the sweatpants are on, there's no chance in hell of sex' wife. She's wasted here. Same can be said of J.K. Simmons as Bateman's business partner. The only actor who makes an impression, and it's because his character is annoying - and relatable - is David Koechner. Koechner plays Nathan, Joel's stalker-ish neighbor who, on a nightly basis, waylays Joel and prevents him from making it home by the 8pm sex curfew.

Ben Affleck and Jason Bateman

© Miramax Films

The further into the realm of ridiculousness Extract pushes, the less funny it gets. Even the ever-charming and usually dependable Jason Bateman winds up a victim of a thin plot and jokes that lack a real punch. For a movie set in a food flavoring factory, Extract's half-baked comedy is bland and unappetizing.

DUPLICITY

If you feel the need to grab a pen and paper and chart out what's happening onscreen while watching Duplicity, you're not alone. This is a film that demands you pay attention – forget the bathroom, soda and popcorn breaks – for its entirety. Duplicity, the latest adult drama from Tony Gilroy (Michael Clayton), is a crazy spy vs spy tale of intrigue and corporate espionage that works well due mostly to the chemistry of its two leads – Clive Owen and Julia Roberts.

Duplicity plays a bait and switch game with its viewers, pushing one plot twist after another at the audience. First it's the story of rival agents, then it's a sophisticated romantic comedy, and finally it flips the story on its head in an attempt to pull off a real ah-ha moment. Which, if you play along and don't analyze or spend time poking holes in the logic, is kind of a fun little twist. But if you're unwilling to give it the benefit of the doubt, then you'll feel duped by Duplicity. The film's definitely one which will divide audiences. Either you go along with the playfulness of the plot or you won't like the film.

The Story

Clive Owen in 'Duplicity.'

© Universal Pictures

Paul Giamatti plays Dick Garsik, the head honcho of a company that churns out all sorts of cosmetics and hair products and such. Tom Wilkinson is Howard Tully, the bigwig of a rival company. Since both companies serve the same market, one beating the other to the punch on a new product can mean the difference between a profitable year and a negative one. As the war between the two companies heats up, former MI6 agent Ray Koval (Owen) takes a job at Garsik's company. Meanwhile ex-CIA officer Claire Stenwick (Roberts) has already been working with Tully to make sure his company's secrets don't fall into enemy hands.Backing up a bit, we find out early on that Ray and Claire have a history. He picked her up at a party; she got the upper-hand after a night in bed, drugged him, stole a secret document and left him without saying good-bye. Ray's had it out for Claire ever since. But things are not as they seem. Ray and Claire are both looking to cash in on the rivalry between the multinational corporations, which leads to much double-dealing, double-crossing, and some juicy romantic encounters.

The Cast

In Closer, Clive Owen and Julia Roberts played a married couple with major relationship issues. That film, directed by Mike Nichols, had Owen and Roberts playing angry and suspicious. This film lets the chemistry between Owen and Roberts shine through. Given some real saucy dialogue and a chance to partake in some old school pillow talk, Owen and Roberts are entertaining and engaging.In supporting roles, Giamatti and Wilkinson make for believable ruthless corporate heads who'll stop at nothing to get the drop on their primary competitors. Also helping to sell this tale of rival spies at rival companies are Lisa Roberts Gillan, Dan Daily, Oleg Stefan, Denis O'Hare, Tom McCarthy, and Carrie Preston. Preston (True Blood) steals a scene right from under Julia Roberts in one of the film's funnier moments.

Julia Roberts in 'Duplicity.'

© Universal Pictures

The Bottom Line

The setting could have been banking (but Owen just did that in The International) or any other milieu in which major corporations play high-stakes games of one-upmanship. The fact Duplicity is set in the world of cosmetics only serves to make the set-up that much funnier.Duplicity is fast-paced, a little confusing, but ultimately a decent new entry in the lengthy list of con-man films.

DEFIANCE

Daniel Craig will always be associated with the James Bond film franchise having tackled the lead role in two highly successful Bond movies (with a few more on the horizon). Craig's superb as the super-spy and boy can he handle action scenes. But Craig's not just Bond. He's taken on a diverse collection of film roles over the past 15 years, delivering outstanding performances as a killer in Infamous, a member of the Israeli team assembled after the massacre of Israeli Olympic athletes in Munich, and a business man never referred to by name whose plans for retirement from the drug trade are put on hold in Layer Cake.

Craig adds yet another exceptional performance to his resume with his starring role in the dramatic thriller, Defiance, set in 1941. Directed by Edward Zwick (Glory, Blood Diamond) and adapted for the screen by Zwick and Clay Frohman from the non-fiction book by Nechama Tec, Defiance tells the true story of three brothers - Tuvia, Zus and Asael Bielski - who beat incredible odds and ultimately kept thousands of Jews safe from being murdered by the Nazis and their supporters.Defiance is an absolutely heartbreaking and heroic tale, and one that hadn't seen the light of day on the big screen prior to this film. The real Bielski brothers never sought fame or recognition for their bravery and so this is one true story that will be new to most moviegoers. And it's definitely one that deserves to be shared with a worldwide audience as the Bielskis accomplished the near-impossible and saved untold lives.

The Story

Tuvia (Craig), Zus (Liev Schreiber), and Asael Bielski (Jamie Bell) escaped into the forest surrounding their family's home in Stankevich (now Belarus) after discovering Nazi collaborators had murdered their parents. Farmers by trade, the brothers were capable, resourceful men able to live off the land. But the Bielskis didn't just want to hide out and try to survive the massacre of their fellow Jewish citizens. The brothers wanted to avenge the deaths of their family and friends and did so by saving men, women, children, and the elderly from falling into the hands of the Nazis and their supporters.

Jamie Bell and Liev Schreiber in 'Defiance.'

© Paramount Vantage

At the urging (basically under the direct order of) Tuvia, the oldest brother, anyone seeking food and shelter was accepted into the Bielskis' shelter in the forest. Zus initially wasn't a supporter of Tuvia's plan to take in all refugees, believing they would weaken the group's chances at survival. But Tuvia prevailed and the gathering grew into a society of 1,000+ people, all tasked with working to help the group survive. Temporary housing was built, booby traps were set out to protect the camp, and those capable of handling a gun patrolled the settlement's perimeter. The refugees survived by dealing with farmers and other merchants sympathetic to their situation as well as stealing resources meant for the army.Tuvia, the group's leader, did whatever was necessary to keep order in this makeshift community. He had strict rules everyone in the community had to adhere to and punishment for disobeying could be brutal. But whatever Tuvia did, he did for the good of this group which became known as the Bielski otriad. Thousands who would have perished in the Holocaust lived as the direct result of his actions.

The Cast

Surprisingly, the fact Craig, Schreiber, and Bell in no way resemble brothers doesn't distract from the film. Craig and Schreiber play tough as nails men who butt heads but also obviously love and respect each other. Jamie Bell is slight in build and seems slightly out of place, but his presence is strong enough to carry off the part of the younger brother who finds love in this makeshift community.

Mark Feuerstein and Allan Corduner deliver fine performances as intellectuals whose appearances in scenes allow the audience to take a step back from the action and brutality, and to see the situation through the eyes of men who put everything into perspective. And Alexa Davalos, Iben Hjejle, and Mia Wasikowska are each terrific in the film's key female roles.

The Bottom Line

I haven't read Nechama Tec's book, Defiance: The Bielski Partisans, and so I can't say with any certainty how closely Zwick and Frohman stuck to the source material. As with most films based on books, artistic license was probably taken to make the story flow cinematically. In interviews, Craig and Schreiber said in actuality there was much more brutality and killing than is portrayed in the film. And I have to believe Zwick and Frohman added in more romance than Tec's book revealed. But the basic story is supposedly much the same as how it played out back in 1941.

Liev Schreiber and Daniel Craig in 'Defiance.'

© Paramount Vantage

It's incredible to me that I knew nothing about this story after all these years and all these tales of heroics by Germans keeping Jewish citizens safe (such as recounted in Schindler's List). Filmed in the forest outside of Vilnius, Lithuania instead of on a soundstage to add as much realism as possible to this retelling of the Bielskis' story, Defiance is a compelling human drama of revenge, honor, hope, and survival. It's also an engaging action film, although the action never overwhelms the story. Craig, Schreiber and Bell give performances that remind us this is above all the story of men making a stand during one of the bleakest moments in history.

DISTRICT 9

District 9 was made by a first time feature filmmaker, stars a guy no one outside of his family (and hometown) know much about, and was done for a budget of around $30 million. That combination of elements adds up to one of the best sci-fi films of the decade and one of the most entertaining movies of 2009. Writer/director Neill Blomkamp shows talent and imagination as he delivers one of the more intelligent, engaging, and original films to hit theaters in quite a while.

Back in 2006 Neill Blomkamp had been tapped to direct a Halo movie for Universal Studios and 20th Century Fox, with Peter Jackson producing. Blomkamp had only directed commercials and short videos prior to being handed what looked like the opportunity of a lifetime, but before long 20th Century Fox put the Halo film on hold. That move, fortunately for moviegoers, didn't signal the end of a Blomkamp and Jackson collaboration.Jackson asked Blomkamp if he had any other ideas for movies and Blomkamp suggested this story of aliens stranded in Johannesburg. And after watching District 9, you can't help but wish Blomkamp had been allowed to move forward with Halo. What he does with $30 million on District 9 rivals any CG effects film Hollywood's popped out in the last dozen years. And effects aside, District 9 shows real heart and soul, something sorely lacking in most 2009 big-budget summer releases. See Hollywood, this is what can be accomplished for a reasonable budget at the hands of a true storyteller.

The Story

27 years ago an alien spacecraft came to a halt over Johannesburg. Breaking into the ship, it was discovered the extraterrestrial creatures onboard were in horrible shape and had to be evacuated from their ship to a special fenced-in area (detainment camp/ghetto) referred to as District 9. Flash forward to the present and these 'prawns' (a derogatory nickname based on their crustacean-like appearance) are being forced to vacate their camp by the Multi-National United (MNU) corporation, the entity charged with overseeing alien affairs.

A scene from 'District 9.'

© TriStar Pictures

Civil unrest has made it no longer safe for the aliens to be in such close proximity to the citizens of Johannesburg. MNU agents - backed by heavily armed security personnel - go door to door informing the aliens they're being moved, obtaining their signatures on eviction forms to prove they've been notified. This operation is led by Wikus van der Merwe (Sharlto Copley), a by-the-book young man just promoted to the job of overseeing the transfer of the prawns to District 10. Wikus has a loving wife who just happens to be his boss' daughter, an optimistic attitude, and a thorough knowledge of the rules and regulations regarding all things alien. MNU has a vested interest in keeping the aliens close; they want the powerful weapons the creatures brought with them. But thus far they haven't been able to get a weapon to fire when it's held by a human (they're configured to activate only when in contact with an alien).Through documentary-style footage, we hear Wikus' friends and co-workers talking about the man, and we watch as Wikus conducts his campaign of notifying the aliens they're to be relocated. He's proud as punch to uncover weapons stashes, and equally thrilled to show off how to abort alien babies.

But in one shack, Wikus makes a discovery that changes his life forever. Without disclosing any spoilers (the less you know about District 9 going in, the more you'll enjoy the film), suffice it to say Wikus, a corporate yes-man who toed the party line and committed atrocities against these creatures, learns what it's like to be on the receiving end of his company's mistreatment of aliens.

The Acting

Sharlto Copley does a positively amazing job portraying this twitchy, even unlikable, mid-level manager. Copley's performance is riveting, his commitment to his character's strange arc is nothing less than award-worthy. Wikus goes through an emotional and physical transformation and Copley conveys every change completely convincingly. And you would never know watching the film that Copley was most often acting opposite absolutely nothing. Never once does he waver from making this District 9 world feel like reality.

The Bottom Line

Blomkamp chose to shoot much of the film documentary-style, using handheld cameras and telling the story from the filmmaker's point of view. Many scenes have a news scroll on the bottom portion, adding to the film's gritty realism. Blomkamp's visual style makes you believe this aggression between humans and unwanted alien visitors is going down right here, right now.

A 'District 9' alien

© TriStar Pictures

Blomkamp shot the film in his native South Africa and of course it's a commentary on apartheid and the oppression of South Africans under that system. You could substitute any oppressed people for the aliens, but this is in no way a preachy, pushy film. It has many layers, but you can accept it just as an entertaining sci-fi film and be fine with that.District 9 contains some of the most incredible CG creatures ever integrated into a film. These aliens speak using a series of groans and clicks, and look like huge ambulatory shrimp, yet Blomkamp manages to infuse them with individual personalities. The lead prawn, Christopher Johnson, is even more relatable and humane than Wikus.

District 9 doesn't skimp on the action, but it also doesn't sacrifice character development. Masterfully done and totally engaging, District 9 is the perfect finishing touch to the summer action movie season.

CORALINE

The creepy, kooky film Coraline breaks new ground as the first stop motion animated movie to be shot in 3D. Director Henry Selick's no stranger to the art form having already tackled The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach, and Neil Gaiman's Coraline proves to be the perfect canvass for Selick to show off his skills while taking stop motion animation to a whole new level. Definitely not for everyone – and maybe too scary for kids who frighten easily – Coraline is strange and bizarre and undeniably beautiful.

The Story

Coraline Jones (voiced by Dakota Fanning) is a spunky 11 year old girl who moves into a new apartment with her absent-minded mother (Teri Hatcher) and father (John Hodgman). Her parents are busy writing gardening books and don't have much time to talk to or otherwise pay attention to Coraline, so she takes it upon herself to explore her new surroundings. After checking out an abandoned well in the woods, and meeting and sort of making friends with a pesky kid named Wybie (Robert Bailey Jr), Coraline explores the rooms in her new home and discovers a tiny locked door basically hidden from view.Coraline, being an inquisitive child, goes through the doorway and follows a passage to a house that looks strangely just like her own home. There's even a mom – known as Other Mother - and a dad – called Other Father - inhabiting this Other World who are mirror images of her own real parents but with one major difference: Other Mother and Other Father have buttons for eyes. These big black orbs reveal nothing of what's going on within Other Mother and Other Father's heads, but their words and actions indicate they love Coraline. Other Mother and Other Father want Coraline to stay with them in their world where they promise to lavish love and attention on her in ways her own parents have been neglecting to do.

Wybie (voiced by Robert Bailey Jr.) and Coraline (voiced by Dakota Fanning) in the Other World in 'Coraline.'

© Focus Features

At first Coraline's absolutely captivated by these strange people with button eyes who feed her delicious full course meals and really listen to her, something her parents haven't done in quite a while. But as she spends more time in this Other World, Coraline sees the evil behind the button eyes and false smiles.

The Bottom Line

When I walked out of the screening my first thought was, "I have no idea who the target audience for this is." But I actually do know who's going to go for Coraline. I loved it and Nightmare fans will love it, as well anyone who enjoys stop motion animation. The problem is that the first 30 minutes or so play to a young audience while the last hour is definitely aimed at more mature adults. But that doesn't mean younger viewers won't be transfixed by this incredibly detailed, incredibly vivid imaginary world of secret passageways leading to evil faux parents. Coraline could inspire a few nightmares involving creatures with button eyes and ghost children trapped in this world, so it's a tough call for parents on whether or not to let anyone younger than 13 check out this film in theaters.

Coraline's all but certain to be one of the finalists in next year's race for the Best Animated Film Oscar. It's gorgeous and visually fascinating, with its vibrant palette of colors showcasing stop motion animation at its very best. It's also one of the best 3D films ever to hit theaters. In fact the effects in the 3D sequences in which Coraline crawls through the tunnel between the two worlds actually made me a little nauseated. Normally, that's not a selling point for a film, but it does illustrate how real the spinning psychedelic tunnel felt to me as I watched Coraline.Neil Gaiman's book was a twisted tale of a brave young girl who wanders into a strange world inhabited by alternate versions of her mother and father. The book was creepy, but writer/director Selick takes Gaiman's tale and ups the ante by adding an even more eerie, otherworldly tone to the subject matter.

Other Mother (voiced by Teri Hatcher)'s creepy true nature is revealed to Coraline (voiced by Dakota Fanning) in 'Coraline.'

© Focus Features

Anyone who owns a copy of The Nightmare Before Christmas is going to want to snatch this one up when it hits DVD, although I suggest Nightmare fans see Coraline in theaters first to get the full effect of the 3D animation.

CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC

So, we're barely into 2009 and already we've had our share of women in love, lust, or some other sort of relationship that doesn't necessarily show the female gender in the most positive light. Bride Wars served up life-long friends who tore each other to pieces after accidently booking the same wedding date. New in Town found a corporate exec looking down her perky nose at the fine folks of Minnesota before ultimately realizing they are actually people – gasp! And then He's Just Not That Into You showed how women tend to be helpless and hopeless when it comes to matters of the heart.

That's a lot of female-driven films to enter theaters just six weeks into 2009. And of course that's not a bad thing – we women deserve to have Hollywood tune into the fact we will buy tickets to movies if they interest us. But we do deserve better than we've been offered thus far this year.Now, opening over Valentine's Day weekend, comes Confessions of a Shopaholic. Based on the bestselling books by Sophie Kinsella, Confessions of a Shopaholic is out of touch with the current financial market and the overall state of the economy. I can't imagine many moviegoers nowadays breaking out in a "You go, girl," chorus as the film's lead character spends, spends, spends without thinking of the consequences. There is sort of a 'credit is bad, don't spend above your limits' lesson in Confessions of a Shopaholic – if you turn your head sideways and squint a little. But in many other ways, Confessions of a Shopaholic actually promotes buying pretty, sparkly items because buying new things makes one a happy person.

There's undeniably a mixed message spouted by this romantic comedy, yet if we are being totally honest with ourselves, not many of us go to the movies (in particular, to a romantic comedy) to learn important life lessons. We go to be entertained, and Confessions of a Shopaholic is entertaining - mostly thanks to the adorable Isla Fisher who could be this generation's Lucille Ball.

The Story

Hugh Dancy and Isla Fisher in 'Confessions of a Shopaholic'

© Touchstone Pictures

Fisher plays the shopaholic, Rebecca Bloomwood, a vivacious young woman who hears the siren song of mannequins beckoning her to forget all else and succumb to the pleasures of purchasing designer togs. Rebecca goes deeply into debt but she can't help herself – she needs new dresses and boots and gloves and pants, etc. etc. etc - the problem being she doesn't have the financial means to support her habit. So, with an ever-rising stack of credit card bills the elephant in the room she's trying her best to ignore, Rebecca loses her job as a journalist at an outdoor magazine. But never fear – the handsome, serious-minded Luke Brandon (Hugh Dancy) hires her (without checking her background) to write an advice column for his fledgling financial magazine which is struggling to establish its own identity.Of course Rebecca doesn't want to be working at a financial magazine – her dream job is writing for a high fashion magazine – but she takes Luke up on his job offer, despite the fact she's just about the worst person on the planet to be doling out advice on how to stay out of debt. Hounded by a debt collector she explains off by claiming he's an ex-boyfriend stalking her, and knowing all the while she's ill-equipped to dispense financial advice, Rebecca keeps up the pretense of being this 'tell it like it is but in simple terms a 12 year old could understand' guru while longing for a gig writing about fashion. And to complicate Rebecca's already mixed up life, she falls for her boss who has no idea she's $16,000 in debt.

The Cast

Fisher's just fantastic as the shopping addict who hasn't ever encountered a store she didn't like. Fisher can handle the physical gags as well as the quieter moments in Confessions of a Shopaholic. When she tackles scenes we've witnessed time and again in romantic comedies (running around in high heels, enduring that awkward moment when the guy she likes introduces her to his date, disappointing her best friend by being thoughtless), she makes them seem fresh and unique.Dancy's a handsome Brit who has onscreen chemistry with Fisher. He's not called on to stretch any acting muscles, but he does provide adequate support for Fisher to strut her stuff. Joan Cusack (who is only 13 years older than Fisher) and John Goodman are terrific, though under-used, as Fisher's loving parents. Krysten Ritter, a talented actress who seems to be relegated to best friend roles, is perfectly cast as Fisher's – you guessed it – best friend.

Krysten Ritter and Isla Fisher in 'Confessions of a Shopaholic'

© Touchstone Pictures

The Bottom Line

Yes, Confessions of a Shopaholic's release in theaters seems ill-timed due to the current disastrous financial predicament we find ourselves in. And yes, this shopaholic's wasteful ways would have been better suited for a film released 10 years ago. But Fisher, under the direction of romantic comedy veteran PJ Hogan (Muriel's Wedding,My Best Friend's Wedding), makes us connect with this film that's ultimately about taking responsibility and admitting your faults. But put aside what it's about, forget trying to interpret the message, and just take Confessions of a Shopaholic for what it is – a goofy, likeable enough chick flick.

BRUNO

I used the word fearless to describe Sacha Baron Cohen and Borat, and that word applies equally as well to Brüno. But Brüno takes everything to an even crazier level. If Borat offended you, Brüno will leave you flabbergasted and morally outraged. If you believe Borat was the funniest film of 2006, then Brüno is a sure bet for one of the top spots on your list in 2009. Controversial, uncomfortable, and hilarious, Brüno enthusiastically attacks prejudices and intolerance, and tosses in jabs at celebrities who'll do anything for attention just for good measure.

Baron Cohen knows how to tap into what makes us squirm while so thoroughly entertaining us we can't look away. With director Larry Charles once again in charge, Baron Cohen vamps it up as gay Austrian fashionista Brüno, the fired host of an Austrian show called Funkyzeit. Left jobless, Brüno wants nothing more than to achieve worldwide fame and he doesn't care why he's famous or who he has to sleep with to get there.Wearing outlandish outfits, this raging egomaniac is ready to take on more than just the fashion world. Brüno and his assistant, Lutz (Gustaf Hammarsten), come to America to seek fame. Setting up interviews with celebrities to discuss their charitable activities, Brüno gets American Idol host Paula Abdul to sit on a Mexican landscaper positioned to look like a chair. But she does balk at eating sushi off the naked chest of another gardener. Score one point for Abdul. And when the interviewing gig doesn't propel him into the spotlight, he decides making a sex tape with someone famous is the way to go. Enter politician Ron Paul. But when Brüno starts up the sexy music, lights some candles, and begins gyrating his pelvis, Paul flees the room. However, unfortunately for the politician, he does so while raving about Brüno being "queer". Brüno even tries to get a real terrorist - yes, a real terrorist - to kidnap him. Why? Because terrorists release videos of their hostages and those videos are seen worldwide.

Sacha Baron Cohen as Brüno with his adopted son.

© Universal Pictures

Other set-ups include a visit to a National Guard facility, a camping trip with four good old boys from the South that ends with armed hunters ready to use their weapons on a human target once they find out Brüno's gay, and a visit to a Dallas talk show with Brüno's adopted black baby (one he traded for an iPod in Africa). Brüno even attends a straight swingers party and goes through gay deprogramming when he deduces that being gay may be the reason why he hasn't become an international superstar. In a truly bizarre twist, the real evangelical therapist he turns to looks ready to give into Brüno's sexual advance...Each of these segments has a very specific target for its barbed humor, a target Baron Cohen doesn't gently poke and prod but instead subjects to an un-lubricated anal probing. For some reason, people open up around Brüno, as they did Borat, revealing their prejudices with shockingly blunt statements. But I actually think the most interesting and enlightening of all of Brüno's encounters is when he auditions babies to pose for a photo shoot with his adopted son, OJ. Brüno asks the parents questions you'd think any rational mom or dad would be put off by, and instead these stage parents are ready and willing to subject their children to just about any indignity in order for their child to book a modeling job. Lose 10 pounds in a week? No problem. Are they willing to allow their child to push a wheelbarrow with a Jewish baby toward an oven? Sure, why not?

I can't believe the mothers and fathers not only said yes to these questions but didn't even bat an eye, didn't even take a moment to consider the impropriety of these questions. You've got to wonder how the friends and families of these people are going to react if they see the film. It's a given none of the parents interviewed will ever be named mom or dad of the year.

The Bottom Line

Baron Cohen as Brüno places his sexuality front and center and nothing is held back. There are no closed bedroom doors here or shots that leave what's going on in Brüno's love life up to your imagination. From butt bleaching to miming oral sex to full on bondage, Brüno is limit-pushing R-rated comedy. With lots of full frontal male nudity - some would say too much penis - Brüno is unquestionably outrageous. It's also a little more mean-spirited than Borat. Baron Cohen's Borat was a simple, innocent man trying to get by in a world he knew nothing about. There's nothing innocent about Brüno.

Sacha Baron Cohen as Brüno.

© Universal Pictures

Baron Cohen is fabulous as Brüno, and actually he looks gorgeous in character. I know a lot of women who'd kill for skin that smooth and flawless. And, as I said earlier, Baron Cohen is fearless when it comes to putting himself out there to make a point and get a laugh. Of course there's a lot of controversy over this film and Baron Cohen's portrayal of a flamboyantly gay man. And, yes, in a way he does feed into the stereotype. But so what? The audience gets the point and leaves entertained. It works.

BRIDE WAR

There seems to be a trend forming of wedding comedies starting off the year. If that's the case, I have a request of Hollywood: Please stop now. If you can't come up with a funnier bridal comedy than Bride Wars, leave the subject alone. Please. I'm asking nicely.

The Story

Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson, two pretty adorable women, take on the lead roles in the chick flick Bride Wars. Hathaway and Hudson are Emma and Liv, best friends forever who turn into catty, shrewish monsters when their weddings are accidentally booked on the same day at the same location - the much sought-after Plaza Hotel in New York. Emma and Liv grew up dreaming about their weddings, picturing themselves walking down the aisle at the Plaza Hotel in all their bridal glory. But that dream turns into a nightmare when they both wind up engaged at around the same time and decide to go together to visit a wedding planner (played by Candice Bergen).The wedding planner's soon-to-be-unemployed assistant screws up booking their June dates, and voila! Liv and Emma won't be available to attend the other's wedding as each will be smack dab in the middle of her own ceremony. That is, they'll be unavailable unless one budges off the date and agrees to having the ceremony performed somewhere other than the Plaza.

Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway in 'Bride Wars.'

© 20th Century Fox

But let's back up this tale a bit to fill in some needed info… Liv is a high-powered attorney used to getting her way at all times. Emma is a push-over school teacher who never says no. So obviously it has to be Emma who dons her gown and hoofs it down an aisle not at the Plaza, right? No. Emma for once decides to grow a pair and stands up for herself, shocking Liv and leading to some horrible antics. The BFF go at each other in a myriad of silly ways, some of which lead to blue hair, orange tans, and a five pound weight gain. There's also a bizarre dance off at a strip club that barely deserves mentioning... Seriously, a strip-off to see who's the sexiest bride? Really? Hello - did anyone consider the target audience for this movie when planning out that scene?

The Cast

Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway aren't the problems here. That friendship vibe comes across just fine. And both Hudson and Hathaway can handle the physical comedy aspects of Bride Wars. Supporting player Bergen is regal as the premiere wedding planner of New York, and Kristen Johnston is terrific playing an obnoxious, demanding co-worker of Hathaway's. Johnston delivers some of the film's best lines and her character's one of the most entertaining of the bunch. The acting's not what brings Bride Wars down. It's the plot.

The Bottom Line

We barely get to know the two lovely ladies before they sink their claws into each other, but from what we are able to discern from the opening 15 minutes or so of the movie is that these two women definitely love each other. They've been there for one another their entire lives. That's a given from the information we're provided in the beginning of the film. So when they lose sight of their friendship and become obsessed with having their weddings at the Plaza Hotel, it's more sad than funny. There's something wrong with how quickly they turn on each other.Plus, I have problems with movies in which characters are moseying along all nice and sweet and then suddenly out of nowhere become evil just because it helps progress the plot. That happens with the fiancé of Emma. He's loving and supportive and then suddenly it's as if he took an ugly pill. Where did that come from?

Kate Hudson and Anne Hathaway in 'Bride Wars.'

© 20th Century Fox

Also, Emma's this sweetheart who'll do anything for anybody, yet she doesn't have a real friend outside of Liv. Emma and Liv share friends, but not a single one sides with Emma even though of the two women she makes a better friend. That doesn't make sense.

Bride Wars is loaded with improbable circumstances and silly little twists. And it doesn't speak well of how women treat each other, although of course there is the requisite 'big lesson learned' moment at the end of the film. There are a few laughs scattered throughout this romantic comedy, but Bride Wars is more mean than funny.

ANGELS AND DEMONS

I'm thinking Dan Brown's Robert Langdon books weren't meant to be made into movies. They're an enjoyable read, but there's so much backstory to digest, so many minute but important details involving the cases Langdon becomes involved in that neither The Da Vinci Code nor Angels and Demons have translated well into feature films. Plus, whether a conscious decision or just one made to make the films flow smoother cinematically, they're a whitewashed version of Brown's controversial swipes at the Catholic Church.

While Angels and Demons is a better movie than The Da Vinci Code (just the fact Tom Hanks' hairdo doesn't look ridiculous in this film, as it did in Da Vinci Code, is an improvement), it's not nearly as entertaining as the source material. Those who've read Brown's books are likely to walk away from this film sadly disappointed. And for those who haven't read Angels and Demons, the experience isn't going to be all that much better.Without giving anything away, much of the power of the ending of the book Angels and Demons is sadly missing from the film adaptation. And one of the more interesting central characters has been completely removed from the film version. It's an action film minus serious thrills, a whodunit that doesn't pull in the audience the way it needs to.

The Story

The Pope passed away and now it's time to elect a new one. Crowds gather in front of the Vatican and the College of Cardinals is prepared to go into seclusion in order to elect the next leader of the Catholic Church. But wait, there's a huge monkey wrench tossed into their plans: there's a bomb on the premises and the four favorites to be elected Pope are suddenly missing.

Armin Mueller-Stahl and Ewan McGregor in 'Angels and Demons.'

© Columbia Pictures

Enter Robert Langdon, noted Harvard symbologist and one of the few people on the planet who has studied the secret organization behind the plot to blow up Vatican City. Langdon knows as much as one can about the Illuminati without actually being a member of the renegade group. He'll have help tracking down clues and trying to find the bomb from a gorgeous scientist (played by Ayelet Zurer). She and her father were employed by CERN, the world's largest particle physics laboratory, and devised a method to create antimatter, a tiny, tiny amount of which was stolen and is set to explode at midnight. And those cardinals that are missing? Well, the Illuminati will execute one an hour leading up to midnight.So, let's recap Langdon's tasks: Find the clues, follow where they lead, try and save each cardinal before he's killed in a horrifying manner, work around the Church's security personnel who don't really believe in the Illuminati or in the fact they will be annihilated at midnight, try and find the bomb, and then figure out the best way to render it harmless. All this must be accomplished in just a matter of hours, including the research necessary to figure out the Illuminati's secret hiding places - something no one has ever done. Given that Angels and Demons the book is set before The Da Vinci Code (though the film isn't), it's unlikely our hero will perish while trying to save the Vatican.

The Cast

Tom Hanks is fine as Langdon, and it truly is a blessing that he's not being forced to wear that silly wig again. When Hanks was initially cast in the role of Robert Langdon back in 2004, I was skeptical because he isn't anything like how I pictured the character while reading Brown's book. But director Ron Howard knew what he was doing in casting his friend/frequent collaborator in the lead. Both films needed someone charismatic, relatable, and able to talk us through the ins and outs of the hunt, and frankly there aren't that many actors in Hanks' age group who fit that bill.Hanks is the best thing about Angels and Demons. Although he's surrounded by a talented group of supporting players that includes Stellan Skarsgard, Ewan McGregor, and Armin Mueller-Stahl, none makes an impact the way Hanks does. Even his lovely co-star, Israeli actress Ayelet Zurer, doesn't stand out. She's relegated to being a minor player in the film, while in the book her role in the action was greatly expanded.

The Bottom Line

Tom Hanks in 'Angels and Demons.'

© Columbia Pictures

Yes, Angels and Demons succeeds in ways The Da Vinci Code failed, but that doesn't mean it's worth devoting your time to in a movie theater. Watching Hanks as Langdon do his impression of a Tasmanian Devil racing all around Rome trying to get to specific Illuminati-related locations in time to stop murders is only mildly fun.

Angels and Demons is bedeviled with problems in logic, the majority of which were spelled out in the book but were lost in translation on the way to the screen. And then there's that final act...one which I won't spell out here...that's a tepid version of the book's. That alone was enough to ruin Angels and Demons for me.

17 AGAIN

The seriously cute, seriously corny 17 Again is Zac Efron’s first real challenge as an actor outside the safety of the High School Musical cocoon. Sure, he played the heartthrob in Hairspray, but that role didn’t require him to stretch his acting muscles. He sang well and provided teen girls with some eye candy, and that was pretty much all that was required of him. But with 17 Again, Efron actually proves he can handle the lead in a non-musical. Surprise, surprise.

17 Again isn’t ground-breaking cinema. The story’s been done many, many times before and in some cases much, much better. Still, the moral is an important one and if it gets through to even 10% of Efron’s fanbase, then I guess you could say its recycled premise was worth revisiting.

The Story

Matthew Perry plays Mike O’Donnell, a man disappointed with every choice he's made since one fateful day in high school. Sad and bitter, Mike just got passed over for a promotion at work and he’s in the process of divorcing Scarlet (Leslie Mann), his wife of 20 years. The two were high school sweethearts but now Mike seems to believe it’s all Scarlet’s fault he didn't follow his dreams and has become, at least in his mind, a failure.At 17, Mike was a basketball stud on the verge of earning a scholarship to college. However the day the college scouts showed up to watch him play was the same day Scarlet told him she was pregnant. Mike chose to wed his pregnant girlfriend instead of grabbing his one chance at a future in hoops, and has regretted passing up his shot at being something ever since.

Zac Efron and Thomas Lennon in '17 Again.'

© New Line Cinema

Now 37, Mike makes a wish that he could be young again and voila, a ‘spirit guide’/high school custodian makes that wish a reality. Mike wakes up as Zac Efron (because this is a fantasy tale we have to just go with the idea that Perry looked like Efron at 17). Totally confused and weirded out, Mike seeks help from his lifelong best friend, Ned. Ned’s a geeky billionaire with no social life and a house filled with the sort of movie memorabilia every comic book fanboy would kill to own. After a battle involving light sabers and other props, Ned comes to terms with Mike’s sudden regression. Ned thinks the best way to deal with the bizarre transformation is to enroll in the same high school they attended growing up - the same high school where Mike’s two kids now spend their days.At first Mike’s convinced he’s been sent back to change his own destiny. But soon after enrolling in school Mike gets to talk to - really talk to, not talk at - his kids and quickly learns he really knows nothing about them. He also figures out that maybe helping them through the trials and tribulations of their teen years is what his spirit guide actually meant for him to do. That insight leads him back to his old home and back into the life of his soon-to-be-ex-wife who sees an astonishing resemblance between this new kid and the guy she dated in high school. And you just know that all this interaction with his family leads to everyone involved learning significant lessons about life and doing what’s right.

The Cast

Efron’s terrific as Mike, engaging and sweet, and showing real comedic timing. Plus, he actually pulls off the more dramatic moments with surprising success. Thomas Lennon plays nerdy Ned with a lot of gusto, and truth be told Ned’s the most fascinating character of the bunch. 17 Again would have only benefited from more shared screen time between Lennon and Efron. The always dependable Leslie Mann once again shows why audiences just adore her onscreen. Mann helps keep the film real and grounded, playing a strong, determined mom who’s tried her best to save her marriage but who’s prepared to move on when she realizes it’s a lost cause.Melora Hardin as the high school principal and newfound object of Ned’s affection is good though underused. Michelle Trachtenberg as Mike’s kind of wild daughter and Sterling Knight as Mike’s introverted son who blossoms under his 17 year old father’s tutelage are fine in supporting roles.

The Bottom Line

17 Again starts off with a man coping with his failures, living with regret, and dealing with the serious issue of divorce. Then the film goes through a screwball comedy period as Mike pops back into his 17 year old body with unexpected side effects (the boy can’t stop eating, has too much energy, etc.).

Leslie Mann and Zac Efron in '17 Again'

Things turn a bit creepy as his female classmates compete for his attention, his own daughter hits on him, and he discovers he’s still got deep, deep feelings for his soon to be ex-wife that as a 17 year old are highly inappropriate. And then when the lesson has obviously been learned, 17 Again gets all serious and wraps up with a gooey, sweet scene that brings the film back full circle. It’s a predictable story littered with clichéd characters and a few downright ridiculous scenes (no high school bully is going to stand still while the new kid in school delivers a 10 minute monologue on why he’s just a loser hiding behind a thick layer of bravado). But Efron’s got a presence on screen that saves the film from being just another toss-away teen comedy.

Director Burr Steers does a decent job of taking an old concept and making it maybe not feel new, but at least sincere. Still, there’s something stagey about the production that made 17 Again not work for me. Maybe it was kicking the movie off with a basketball game in which Mike joins the cheerleaders for a high energy dance number right before the biggest game of his high school career...

Despite its shortfalls, the teens in the preview audience were into the film, applauding the second Efron appeared onscreen and laughing at the appropriate moments. The adults...well, there were a few chuckles from the non-Zac Efron-adoring crowd.

If all you're looking for is silly escapist entertainment, you could do a lot worse.