Kung Fu Panda 2

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Po the Kung Fu fighting Panda (Jack Black) is tasked to save China and Kung Fu from a military weapon built by an evil peacock (Gary Oldman-- of course).

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Gary Oldman, Jackie Chan, Seth Rogen, Lucy Liu, David Cross, James Hong, Michelle Yeoh, Danny McBride, Dennis Haysbert, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Victor Garber

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. With the lethal combination of feeling more geared toward the kiddies, while at the same time being too action packed with violence for many kiddies, it's just not as good as the first one.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Not as much as the first one... by which I mean very little.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Not as much as the first one... by which I mean not at all.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Sequel in which I Most Would Have Liked a Refresher on the Dynamic of the Team. I didn't remember any of the characters' traits from the first one, and they aren't clearly defined in this second part... But I guess most kids have watched the first one at least 45 times by now.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Is it just me, or is Angelina Jolie boring as hell? On a positive note, I enjoyed lesser-known actor James Hong's performance so much, I actually thought I was listening to Ken Jeong. (For the sake of clarity, I'd like to explain that by "lesser-known," I mean that despite his 56 year career, which includes about 100 movies and 150 TV series, I've never personally heard of him.)

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Jennifer Yuh makes interesting artistic choices, like distinguishing the past from the present by using a distinctively old-fashioned, 2-dimensional, Chinese style of animation for the past. Her style is noticeable throughout, as you find yourself often paying attention to the shots and camera angles, my favorite of which is a parody of the Pac Man video game-- which is no doubt setting itself up to be a basis for the Kung Fu Panda 2 video game.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Sequels are tough. How do you move beyond an origin story and keep it fresh? The writers of this script clearly do not know the answers to that question either.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Kung Fu Panda 2 Trailer

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The Hangover Part II

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: Another night that no one can remember, ends in Stu (Ed Helms) getting a face deformation, Phil (Bradley Cooper) getting an arm injury, and Alan (Zach Galifianikis) getting a baby-- only this time his baby is a monkey.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianikis, Ken Jeong, Mason Lee, Justin Bartha, Jamie Chung, Paul Giamatti, Sasha Barrese, Jeffrey Tambor, Mike Tyson, Gillian Vigman, Aroon Seeboonruang, Yasmin Lee

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! If you want to see another Hangover, you'll get what you came for. But, since you've seen one before, everything that was fresh and original about the first one is gone, and even the surprises won't be that surprising.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: As with the last one, the hardest laughs are in the slideshow at the end... And also, the monkey does have a banana on his hat.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: That depends on how you feel about chicks with dicks. Hey, you were warned by the fact that this takes place in Bangkok.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: This gets the prize for Consistency. Whatever they did last time, they found a new way to do it all again.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Sometimes, when I stare into Bradley Cooper's steel blue eyes, or I catch a glimpse of his red-lipped, toothy smile, I can't help but wonder... why has he never played a vampire? Separately, I'd like to note that from now on, when someone tries to insult what I'm doing by telling me, "A monkey could do it," I'm going to assume they're talking about the monkey in this movie, and be flattered.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The first half is really slow and predictable. It even gave me time to wonder who could possibly be the one to get married in The Hangover Part III. I don't think Bradley Cooper can, because he's such a dick that his only redeeming quality is his marital status. Ed Helms is already on his second-- although they gave him a lot of good reasons to get dumped in the plot of this one. And Zach Galifianakis is pretty much undateable.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: They take everything so far in this one that you almost feel like you can't come back from it. And actually, their attempt to do so is passable at best.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: The Hangover Part II Trailer

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Beautiful Boy

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: An estranged couple (Monica Bello & Michael Sheen) find out that their son (Kyle Gallner) has just opened fire on his classmates and then killed himself, and they have no idea how to deal with this information.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Maria Bello, Michael Sheen, Kyle Gallner, Alan Tudyk, Moon Bloodgood, Meat Loaf Aday, Deidrie Henry, Austin Nichols, Cody Wai-Ho Lee

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. After nobody saw either Rabbit Hole or American Gun, I guess these filmmakers took it as a sign that audiences want more movies about school killers and the loss of a child. Despite it being a completely misguided commercial effort, the movie is still pretty gripping-- in an independent way.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Only if you're demented.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Possibly the whole time.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: I'm sure it will be up for all kinds of Spirit Awards, it's just the right mix of quality actors, low budget, and depressing.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: At the Q & A, Michael Sheen said that working with Maria Bello was, "Literally the best experience I've ever had working with another actor." Which is sweet to her, but kind of an insult to all the other brilliant talents he's worked with. Then again, I've seen a lot of movies with both of them, and I can't think of any time either of them was less than spectacular, so maybe they should just get married.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Listening to Shawn Ku describe his technique was more inspiring than watching it. But listening to the actors discuss how the technique opened them up to be in the moment got me thinking that maybe I should try it on my next film!

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Don't expect any answers as to why someone would shoot up a school, because we'll never know, so there's no point in speculating. What you get instead is a love story about how misery loves company, especially when there's no one else in the world who can relate to the kind of pain and confusion you're in after your kid becomes a monster... one who's never coming back to tell you if his becoming a monster was your fault.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Beautiful Boy Trailer

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Midnight in Paris

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: An engaged man from the present day (Owen Wilson) falls for a woman from the 1920s (Marion Cotillard), who dreams of living during the Belle Epoque. The one thing they can agree on, Paris is the only place to be.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Michael Sheen, Kathy Bates, Carla Bruni, Corey Stoll, Alison Pill, Tom Hiddleston, Kurt Fuller, Mimi Kennedy, Lea Seydoux, Marcial Di Fonzo Bo, Adrien Brody, Gad Elmaleh

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. Personally, I could’ve sat and watched this movie for another 2 weeks. It has everything I love: Paris, Owen Wilson, Paris… But unless you’re a very well-read and highly cultured individual, many of the references will be over your head, and the storyline’s not enough to make up for it. Then again, you’ll always have Paris.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Michael Sheen’s pretension had me giggling through every one of his scenes.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: I felt sad that I wasn’t inside the picture.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Anyone who gives me this much Paris to dream about has my vote!

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Owen Wilson plays a great Woody Allen. And he may even be the first to do it without losing himself. At the same time, it’s kind of unsettling to see a Texas good ol’ boy embracing his love for a place that is sooo not Texas. In retrospect, I'd like to add that I can't stop thinking about Alison Pill, who is an absolute stand-out as Zelda Fitzgerald.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Never been Woody Allen’s forte, but Paris’ beauty is impossible to miss.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Scripting is Woody Allen’s forte, and while the dialogue remains witty, this script has several amateur mistakes. Rachel McAdams’ character has so few redeeming qualities, that even the Mean Girl herself can’t infuse any charm into her. The fantasy element is fun, but it doesn’t build beyond the one note joke of getting to hang out with famous dead people. Once you’ve established that, a professional screenwriter is supposed to do something with them. I’m assuming Woody Allen doesn’t know this, because he never went to see Night at the Museum. Then again, I can’t stay mad at him for throwing together a script whose sole purpose seems to be to showcase Paris.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: I've always thought Ernest Hemingway was one of my favorite authors. Between you and me, I've only actually read one of his books, but I read it like six times, so I think I get a lot of cred for that! But my point is, after seeing Corey Stoll's interpretation of Hemingway's speech patterns, which so cleverly mimic his writing style, I remember all the more clearly why I love Hemingway so very much.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Midnight in Paris Trailer

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Something Borrowed

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A woman (Ginnifer Goodwin) is in love with the man (Colin Egglesfield), whom her best friend (Kate Hudson) is about to marry.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson, Colin Egglesfield, John Krasinski, Steve Howey, Ashley Williams, Geoff Pierson, Jill Eikenberry

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! If you're in the market for a romantic comedy that has enough characters to make you wonder who’s good, who’s bad, and which way this is going to go, you will appreciate the tension in the dilemma this story-- so obviously based on a Chick-lit book-- has to offer.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It’s more romance than comedy, but at least it's not unfunny.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Surprisingly, there isn’t even a point at which you would want to, because right when things get as bad as they can, something on the side always happens to go right.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Lamest Use of a Falsely Gay character. The set up is fine, where they take it is a missed opportunity.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: After hearing the premise, I was curious to know how they were going to make the main character likeable, with such a questionable motivation as wanting to steal your best friend’s man. The answer lies in the casting. Ginnifer Goodwin is the perfect noble victim, and Kate Hudson is the perfectly oblivious nuisance.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Luke Greenfield lets the story take the lead... But this isn't the first time he's made a "comedy" that isn't funny.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: Not unfamiliar to either readers of chick-lit novels, or viewers of romantic-comedy films, but certainly at the top of both (naturally limited) genres, which I personally love so much, despite all the hateration.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Something Borrowed Trailer

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Potiche

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: An unappreciated trophy housewife (Catherine Deneuve), in the 1970s, has an opportunity to take over her husband’s company, and manages to turn the business around in three weeks, leading to her own and other women’s self-empowerment.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Catherine Deneuve, Gerard Depardieu, Fabrice Luchini, Karin Viard, Judith Godreche, Jeremie Renier

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. It’s French-style camp, but the humor doesn’t land.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Deneuve's attitude about her husband cheating is kind of charming.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: The photographs of how beautiful both Catherine Deneuve and Gerard Depardieu were in their youth, should make anyone on the wrong side of thirty-five cry— because whether we want it or not, this is the direction we’re all headed in.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Most Happily Dysfunctional Marriage ever portrayed on screen.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Sorry, I can’t focus on acting when there’s too much collagen in the lips. Is she pouting? Is she exasperated? Is that a smile? No I think it's a pout. But does she mean to pout? Or is it simply the only expression her mouth is capable of?... Oh, who cares.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: There is a ton of blurriness, especially in the first ten minutes. In some ways it helps to make the film feel old— as if the film had been left in someone’s wine cellar since the 1970s. In other ways, the blurriness helps the director seem like he needs to find a cinematographer who knows how to pull focus.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The story, relationships, and character motivations make virtually no logical sense, but Catherine Deneuve’s character is quite fun, and possibly the only reason to see this movie.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Potiche Trailer

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Bridesmaids

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A lonely, single woman (Kristen Wiig) is asked to be the maid of honor in her childhood best friend’s (Maya Rudolf) wedding. It’s all good until her childhood best friend’s new best friend (Rose Byrne) tries to usurp the lead role in every aspect of the wedding and the friendship.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolf, Rose Byrne, Chris O’Dowd, Melissa McCarthy, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Jon Hamm, Jill Clayburgh, Matt Lucas, Rebel Wilson, Michael Hitchcock, Kali Hawk, Annie Mumolo, Ben Falcone

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Go! F-U. Chicks are funny!

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: Melissa McCarthy, as a fat lesbionic-seeming outcast, who is actually the most self-assured and heterosexual dame of the bunch, is so hilarious that I’m actually considering checking her out on Mike & Molly.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: No, but rarely have I wanted so badly to reach through a movie screen and punch a character in the face. And you will, too.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Jon Hamm gets the biggest Dick Award. And since this isn’t the AVN’s, I’m obviously talking about his personality.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Kristen Wiig is the new Lucille Ball. She can tackle the broad and farcical, and still bring it back for the sad and dramatic moments. Rose Byrne is proving to be a lot more versatile than I ever would have guessed from all the boring dramatic work she’s done-- in fact, she's quickly making her way to the top of my list of comedic leading ladies. And Jill Clayburgh is dead. Try not to think about how weird that is while you watch her walking and talking for her last time on film. Now that I’ve mentioned it, you will be able to think of nothing else.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: The comic scenes are pretty perfect, but there are a few parts that need to be paced up, especially in the emotional sequences.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: You can tell without knowing it that Kristen Wiig is a co-writer because in certain scenes, other people start talking like her… with the weird awkward pauses… followed by some additional piece of information they didn’t really need to divulge. I’m in favor. More people should talk like Kristen Wiig.

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: It’s such a relief to see female characters acting like real women, who are funny and goofy and have a banter and language all their own. Women who can speak to each other openly and candidly, if for no other reason than to hit their necessary daily quota of words. Oh, and the trouble with weddings, don’t get me started on how true this story really is. Women have it rough. And that’s why we’re funny. So why are our stories so blatantly missing from our multiplexes?… Kristen Wiig, Tina Fey, and Jane Lynch are not the exceptions, they are the rule. Get used to it.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Bridesmaids Trailer

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Jumping the Broom

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A woman (Paula Patton) from a high class family jumps into a marriage with a man (Laz Alanso) from a lower class family.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Angela Bassett, Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Loretta Devine, Meagan Good, Tasha Smith, Julie Bowen, DeRay Davis, Valarie Pettiford, Mike Epps, Pooch Hall, Romeo Miller, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Gary Dourdan, T.D. Jakes

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. Only the beautiful cast and gorgeous locations will keep your attention on this rehashing of an old and done story, that grasps at originality with scatterbrained plot twists seeming to fall from the pretty blue sky.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: The pronunciation of French might. I don't know if you've heard, but I speak fluently. Well, I understood none of it. Even after reading the subtitles, explaining what they were trying to say.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: It snuck up on me with a most predictable and obvious tear-jerk toward the end. I saw it coming and I still got watery. I feel so ashamed.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Best Reason I think I've Ever Seen to Be a Cougar. Lil' Romeo's all grown up, and oh, my...

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Loretta Devine is a special treat I've only recently discovered, and Mike Epps surprised me with his range in this character.But Paula Patton is beauty who has yet to convince me she can act (yes, I saw Precious). And Julie Bowen, whom I love in Modern Family, is just weird in this.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: I know the directing is good because the script is bad and I still didn't hate it.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: The script plays like it was written for white people, and when they couldn't get it set up because it sucks, they said, "Hey, what if we did this with Black people instead? Black people will see anything!" Their words, not mine.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Jumping the Broom Trailer

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Thor

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A sibling rivalry for the throne of the realm of Asgard causes Thor (Chris Hemsworth) to be banished to Earth, where he wreaks havoc as a mortal until he is mature enough to wield powers.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Stellan Skarsgard, Kat Dennings, Clark Gregg, Idris Elba, Colm Feore, Ray Stevenson, Tadanobu Asano, Josh Dallas, Jaimie Alexander, Rene Russo

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. If you're not up on the mythology, it becomes very difficult to follow what they're talking about and what they're doing at a certain point. Unfortunately, that certain point is the climax of the film, where it would've been really nice to know why the choices being made were supposed to be good ones.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: All the funny parts are in the trailer below.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: Sadly, the ending is an unsatisfying cliffhanger. So, no, you won't cry. Furthermore, I'm pretty sure that saving your conclusion for the sequel, or for that matter, The Avengers, is an arrogant move, because it presupposed that I'm going to pay another $16 to see your next movie in obligatory 3D. This is especially ironic when you consider that the lesson of the film is "don't be arrogant." So it ends up not only being poor storytelling, but it also proves that the filmmakers don't even believe in the moral they're pushing.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Asgard is almost as beautiful a place as Pandora, with a name that sounds like some kind of chastity belt for your butt.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: That Chris Hemsworth is going places. He has an amazing presence in movie, although I'm not sure if it's from acting, or the fact that he's been c.g.i.netically enhanced to look like he's towering over everybody he stands next to that's not an Ice Giant.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Most impressive is the lighting which gives three distinct looks between Asgard, Jotunheim, and Earth.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: It's a strange mix of fantasy and reality, that only slightly works thanks to an off the cuff mention of Tony Stark, by Iron Man's own crossover-casting S.H.I.E.L.D agent, Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg).

Q: Is there anything else worth mentioning about the movie?

A: If you can stand to sit through 7 long minutes of credits accompanied by boring Foo Foo Fighters music, you will get to see yet another teaser leading up to The Avengers... Which is building up to be the most anticipated blockbuster of all time.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: Thor Trailer

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The Beaver

Q: What’s the movie about?

A: A suicidally depressed man (Mel Gibson) figures out that he can feel instantly strong and powerful again by communicating all of his thoughts and feelings through a beaver hand puppet.

Q: Who’s in the movie?

A: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence, Riley Thomas Stewart, Cherry Jones

Q: Is this movie worth the price of admission?

A: Proceed with Caution. This film is different. The way a tuna sandwich served on cinnamon raisin bread is different. You think you might like it, but you're pretty sure your friends will think it's just not right.

Q: Will this movie make me laugh?

A: It's extremely dark comedy, so whether or not you laugh is really gonna depend on how you feel about cinnamon-raisin tuna sandwiches.

Q: Will this movie make me cry?

A: It is almost impossible to cry for Mel Gibson, because no matter how bad this movie makes you feel for the guy, it's hard to forget that he's a big jerk who really could use a few lonely hours, days, or years, sitting alone with his own self-hating thoughts.

Q: Will this movie be up for any awards?

A: Biggest Casting Risk. After taking several years off from work, it's hard to believe that Jodie Foster would think a Mel Gibson movie is a good way for her to announce her return to the scene.

Q: How is the Acting?

A: Anton Yelchin is pretty amazing... But if I'm being honest, Mel Gibson is also really great. I guess there's no denying that he's good at playing crazy, because he is crazy.

Q: How is the Directing?

A: Aside from the opening shot, the directing doesn't have much of a voice.

Q: How is the story/script?

A: This script was on the Black List of best scripts in Hollywood a couple of years ago. Development executives spend their days, night, and weekends reading sequels, prequels, remakes and bad rehashings of every other film ever made, where only the character names and situations have changed. So I can see how they would get excited about a script that in no way resembles any previous commercial success. The question remains, though, whether or not that means this script can ever be a commercial success.

Q: Where can I see the trailer?

A: The Beaver Trailer

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