Movie Review
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I Am Legend - Warner Brothers - Rated PG-13
I Am Legend is the third remake of the Richard Matheson tale and is intense, and frightening, but in the end, is an unusually positive, smart and uplifting movie. Will Smith is phenomenal. He is the heart and soul of this movie and his performance is worth the price of admission all by itself. Don't miss it! 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
I Am Love - Magnolia Films - Rated R
The first thing you need to know about I Am Love is it is in Italian and VERY slow. Slow actually only begins to describe the pace of this film. Watching grass grow is more exciting. The first hour passes with about five minutes of actual story. This plot is paper thin. There are lots of shots of servants working…and then some more. If they cut these unnecessary shots the movie would have been about 45 minutes long. This long, slow, boring movie ends with a confusing, stupefying conclusion that made me say, what the heck was that? Now, Tilda Swinton is a good actress, but isn't good looking. Still, she insists that we see her naked anyway. It's a good thing I didn't order that pretzel with cheese, as her cottage cheese is more than enough for everyone. 1 ½ Stars Out of 5
Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself - Lionsgate - Rated PG-13
Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself follows the exact same formula as all of his other movies, but this time has the wonderful Taraji P. Henson in the lead role. That makes all the difference. The film once again combines slapstick with melodrama and a religious message and could do with some trimming, but this is Perry's most appealing movie yet. All of the credit for that goes to Henson. But the laughs go to Perry's Madea. Madea's version of the Bible is the funniest thing in a Tyler Perry movie yet. Nothing bad here. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
I Heart Huckabees
I wasn't as heart about I Heart Huckabees as I thought I might be. It's a farce that's not terribly funny. But it does cause you to smirk a bit. There are some inspired performances - most notably from Naomi Watts and Mark Wahlberg. But ultimately, the mix of comedy and philosophy doesn't quite piece together. 3 Stars Out of 5
I Know Who Killed Me
In I Know Who Killed Me, Lindsay Lohan, America's favorite little train-wreck is there in all her horrendous glory! She pouts, she screams, she tries to look fierce…They squirt her eyes with fake tears and she tries to look like she's crying. She looks drugged while she's doing her stripper routine without ever taking her clothes off. Like Lindsay, the movie is a garbled, incoherent mess. It's like Hostel-lite. Although watching Lindsay get dismembered was pretty funny. You could almost hear the director screaming, "C'mon! Show some pain!...OK, try this: pretend they take your booze away!" Even with that powerful motivation she still can't convince. 1 Star Out of 5
I Love You Beth Cooper - 20th Century Fox - Rated PG-13
I Love You Beth Cooper is much better than I anticipated. It has many of the typical teen film conventions, but has a sweetness that many lack. It is also milder than most teen road flick graduation night movies. Too many flashbacks threaten to derail it, but like graduation, it is a mostly pleasant diversion that you probably won't remember the next day. 3 Stars Out of 5
I Love You, Man - Paramount - Rated R
I Love You, Man is a funny film about guy's relationships with guys and it nails it. It gets everything right. Paul Rudd and Jason Segel are pitch perfect, and very likeable, the writing and story are for the most part, sublime, and while we are treated to the usual assortment of bodily function jokes, it's not so over the top that it loses its humanity. I actually saw myself and my best friends in this film. I loved this movie, man! 4 stars Out of 5
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry has a stupid premise that is so thin you can see right through it. It's homophobic, racist, and the biggest crime of all, not all that funny. As if to make up for all of the offensive humor, it adds a politically correct morality message on the end. It's kind of like telling a bunch of ethnic jokes and then saying, "Ethnic jokes are bad. You really shouldn't do what I've been doing for the last hour and a half. (But we all had a really good laugh didn't we?)" Um…no. 2 Stars Out of 5
I-Spy
The best thing I can say about I-Spy is Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson have a great chemistry. But, there are precious few laughs in what should have been a very funny movie. If you are a fan of the vintage TV show, you'll wonder why this has the same name, as it bears no resemblance whatsoever to it. With so much talent, and so much promise, this fails to deliver anything more than disappointment. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
I Think I Love My Wife I love Chris Rock's standup. His movies, not so much…I Think I Love My Wife is a remake of a 1972 French film but this one doesn't quite work. It lacks the edgy humor Rock is known for. It's really very bland. His lack of skill at direction also hinders any chance that this film will succeed. Here, Rock is the writer, producer, director and star. Maybe if he focused on one thing, and didn't spread himself so thin, the result would be more satisfying.
2 Stars Out of 5
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead is not a feel good movie. It's a revenge film that is bleak, slow, moving and moody. The film requires us to fill in many gaps in the story, and there are a lot of scenes that tend to slow the pace even more than it already is, but the acting is superb and, while you may require some cheering up afterwards, the film is pretty good. 3 Stars Out of 5
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs - 20th Century Fox - Rated PG
In Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs the prehistoric mammals are back and this time they find a subterranean world under the ice with plenty of sunshine! It's also warm enough under the ice for cold blooded dinosaurs and tropical plants to survive. It's only mildly interesting and mildly amusing with lots of recycled slapstick. If you can talk your kids out of seeing it in theaters,
and wait for the DVD, great, …if you can't, don't waste your money on 3-D. It doesn't add anything. And if you do let your kids see it, be prepared for them to fail science class. 2 stars out of 5
Ice Age: The Melt Down
Ice Age: The Melt Down has got some GREAT animation. Some of it is jaw dropping! The story itself is nice, with something for everyone. Adults will be entertained and the kids will love it. It's not as good as the original, but Scrat is back and is the highlight of the film! 3 stars Out of 5
The Ice Harvest
The Ice Harvest is full of promise. It has a terrific cast, and an interesting idea. It's a movie the Cohen Brothers should have made. But Harold Ramis made it instead. Now, he's made several funny films. But this isn't one of them. It's a flat film with precious few laughs, a retread plot and a wasted cast. It had promise, but it's a broken one. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Ice Princess
Michelle Trachtenberg is wonderful in Ice Princess. She has got an appeal that reminds me of a young Sandra Bullock. The film follows the formula, but it's the appeal of it's stars and the intelligence of the script that lift this movie to above average. Joan Cusack, Kim Cattrall, and Hayden Panettiere are all exceptional. I didn't expect to like this film, but I did. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Identity
See if you can figure out the wild twists in "Identity." There are clues throughout, but I was totally surprised! There is tension but not any real scares in this. There is plenty of gore, however. This mystery-slasher film hybrid is smart, engaging, and it keeps you wondering and guessing until the very end. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Igor - MGM - Rated PG
While it has an all star voice cast, Igor is a bland Tim Burton wannabe but has no teeth. It's just too nice for its own good. An average four year old might like it, but adults can skip it. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - Sony - Rated PG-13
Most things about The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus tend to the weird, or at least ironic. Heath Ledger's last film has him hanging of an apparent suicide, and waxing poetic about stars that died in their youth. It's too bad that the film is an incomprehensible, hyper-bizarre, mystical acid trip mishmash, full of delirium, confusion and insanity. Christopher Plummer and newcomer Lily Cole are very good, but fill-ins Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell only remind us that Ledger didn't finish the film. I just wish the movie made any sense at all. 2 Stars Out of 5
Imagine That - Paramount - Rated PG
The good news is Eddie Murphy's latest film, Imagine That isn't as bad as I imagined. It's not a Pluto Nash or Meet Dave. No, thankfully, there are no little people crawling into Eddie Murphy's nose this time. That's not to say that it is good either. Eddie is in prime "gimme the paycheck" mode here. He does much mugging for the camera, and little else in this formulaic, laughless family drivel. But, unbelievably, he's not the worst part of the movie. The kid is kinda cute when she's not annoying, but I died a little bit inside seeing Thomas Hayden Church's hideously stereotypical native American. That, and the cringe-worthy, contrived, horribly sappy ending. Here's my advice, just watch the trailer, imagine the movie and save yourself 10 bucks. 2 Stars Out of 5
In Good Company
Topher Grace is emerging as his generation's Tom Hanks. He is able to play a variety of roles, has a comedic sense and can be totally believable at the same time. In Good Company highlights him and it's other stars with a great, funny story. It's not always totally believable, but In Good Company is a winner. 4 Stars Out of 5
In Her Shoes
In Her Shoes is far and away the best chick flick I've seen in a long time. It is intelligent, with a well done script and great direction. It's packed with phenomenal performances, Cameron Diaz gives the best performance of her career, The extremely talented Toni Collette almost steals the film and Shirley MacLaine is nothing short of terrific. I was surprised, but I really loved this movie. 4 Stars Out of 5
In the Cut
In the Cut's director Jane Campion, is best known for her fine film "The Piano." With In The Cut, she tries to be too moody with things like camera work and lighting and forgets the story, and forgets everything else that might make this halfway interesting. This movie flails around in so many directions it never really figures out which way to go and becomes an incoherent jumble. Meg Ryan's stripped down and brave performance doesn't pay off. We never care a lick about anything she or anyone else does in this remarkably uninvolving film. 2 Stars Out of 5
In The Land of Women
In The Land of Women has great characters, and an involving, funny and enjoyable story with smart dialogue. Adam Brody is terrific along with an extremely funny Olympia Dukakis. Plus here's a bonus: The swelling in Meg Ryan's lips seems to have gone down! 4 Stars Out of 5
In the Loop - - Rated R
The abrasive British comedy In the Loop is droll political farce that is good for a chuckle or two, but quickly gets so absurd, it lost me. I began to hate this movie with every second that passed. If you ever had any political ambitions, this movie will cure you. 2 Stars Out of 5
In The Mix
The only good thing about In The Mix is Usher groupies will get to see him without his shirt on several times. They should have saved the 8 bucks and stared at his poster! This is an excruciatingly bad cross between The Godfather, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, The Bodyguard, Jungle Fever and 8 Mile. Embarrasingly lame, squirm-in-your-seat bad! A truly painful movie going experience. If I wasn't a professional, I might never go to the movies again. 1 Star Out of 5
In the Name of the King - Freestyle Releasing - Rated PG-13
Director Uwe Boll is notable for consistently giving audiences bad movies, and stays true to that with In the Name of the King. Based on a video game, it's everything you expect, bad direction, a non existent plot, and ridiculously bad dialogue like, "Wisdon is our hammer, prudence is our nail." But wait there's more! It's also got endless battle scenes that don't begin to excite, irritating music, and two roles that are hideously miscast. Burt Reynolds plays the king! Now, that's downright funny, along with Ray Liotta's horrible performance which was the victim of many unintentional laughs. The movie tries to be an epic, and it is - an epic bore! 1 ½ Stars Out of 5
Inception - Warner Brothers - Rated PG-13
If you are looking for a movie where you can shift your brain into neutral and watch the pretty explosions, Inception isn't it. This very well done and well acted, noir feel film is mind bending to say the least. There are some great special effects with a challenging story that bears multiple viewings. Leonardo DiCaprio is excellent as is the rest of the stellar cast. They snooze though most of the film, but you won't. Inception is very, very cool. 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Incredible Hulk - Universal - Rated PG-13
There is a lot to like about The Incredible Hulk. It is vastly superior to Ang Lee's take from a couple of years ago. Edward Norton is very good, there is lots of good action, and some nice nods to the TV show. But the film also misses a bit. There is some cheeseball animation with a very CGI looking hulk that took me out of the movie, and it drags in spots. Overall, it's not incredible, but pretty good. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Incredibles
I liked The Incredibles. I liked it a lot. It's original, funny, and technically superb. It's got enough laughs for the kids to love it, and more than enough gags and truth for the adults to enjoy. There's a great retro '50s look and feel, though it lacks a little bit in the heart that was present in all of the other Pixar films. But it has a script that actually celebrates the family, and that is refreshing,
4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - Paramount - Rated PG-13
You may have heard some early reviews saying Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is bad. Well, I'm here to tell you it's not. It's not the best of the bunch either. First the good stuff: Harrison Ford puts on the fedora again and has hardly lost a beat. He slips back into his character with ease and warmth and handles the action sequences quite well for a man of 65. The film has got plenty of action, and only some of it feels recycled. It has several nice nods to the previous films. Shia LeBeouf is a welcome addition, John Hurt hasn't got much to do, but is funny, and Karen Allen reprises her role from the first film with sparkle. Now, the not so good: Cate Blanchett is miscast and lays it on too thick as the communist villain, the plot is convoluted and the ending is bit of a letdown. But if you're a fan, don't let that stop you from seeing it. It'll put a smile on your face. It's silly, preposterous and a fun summertime popcorn movie. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Infamous
Infamous is entertaining, but so much of it is a carbon copy of last year's Capote. Star Toby Jones plays Truman Capote as much more of a caricature than last years Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and although this film does add some to the story, it isn't as good as the previous film. 3 Stars Out of 5
The Informant - Warner Brothers - Rated R
The Informant is a movie that thinks it is quirkier than it is. It's about something that no one cares about - price fixing a food additive called lysine. And that adds a lot to the so-what factor in the first half of the film. It tries to twist and turn, but just gets a muddy story even muddier. While it is fun to see the cameos from various comedians, and a chubbied-up Matt Damon does what he can for a chuckle or two, The Informant suffers from the same disease that the office bore who thinks he's a comedian has. Chunky Matt, clunky movie. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Inglorious Bastards - Weinstein Company - Rated R
Inglourious Basterds is a Quentin Tarantino film through and through. All of his trademarks are present; snappy dialogue, (this time in several languages) dark humor, and over the top violence. It is a tad overlong, and drags a bit here and there. But if you make up your mind to savor the slow build and wait for the payoff, you will be rewarded with a gloriously over the top rewrite of history that is ultimately very satisfying. Brad Pitt is terrific and very funny, but it is Christoph Waltz who steals the show as the SS colonel known as the "Jew Hunter." He scores the best lines and delivers them with an oily enthusiasm that screams, "Oscar!" Tarantino fans will surely love his latest and even non-fans may call this glorious. 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Inkheart - Warner Brothers - Rated PG
Adapted from a children's book, Inkheart has a great premise. That there are certain people, called silvertongues, who when they read aloud, can literally bring characters from books to life. It is well acted, full of action, imaginative and fun. It had me completely engrossed the whole time. It's delightful, magical family entertainment. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Inside Man
I was pleasantly surprised by Inside Man. It is the least "Spike Lee," of the Spike Lee movies. There are strong performances by the all star cast, most notably by Denzel Washington. The plot is a bit far fetched, with large jumps in logic, and there are many questions left unanswered. It is mostly enjoyable while watching it, but I left the theater a bit unsatisfied.
3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Insomnia
Complex and intriguing, this is a film that keeps you guessing. Robin Williams gives a subtle and spooky performance. But I think Al Pacino will be remembered for his role when Oscar time rolls around. This is another winner from the director of Memento.4 ½ Stars Out of 5
The International - Sony - Rated R
The International tries hard to be a serious thriller, but its problem lies in its premise. A bank is the villain. It's not enough to be afraid of rising interest rates and ATM fees, now it seems that the bank can kill you too. I'd like to see that commercial. "We're your friendly neighborhood bank…but there is a substantial penalty for early withdrawal!" The film really isn't very good, it drags and drags with the exception of a scene that makes a mess of New York's Guggenheim Art Museum. It becomes almost comic by the final reel. There are even some bad guy arms dealers who have a cave lair in a mountain. I expected Dr. Evil to turn around in his chair any minute. Beware of the big bad eevil banker! Next time I deposit a check I'll be sure to wear a bullet proof vest. 2 Stars Out of 5
The Interpreter
The Interpreter is supposed to be a political thriller. But thrilling it's not. There are some good performances by Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn, but the script drags and then slows to a point where you wish something would happen besides talk, talk, talk. But then what else is done at the U.N. except talking? That's what this film does - talk. Oh, and there's lots of shots of the U.N. building. Things start to move when the bus blows up, but then we all saw that before in the previews. This movie had 5 different writers, and it shows. It tries to be so politically correct, it ends up being bland. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Into the Blue
Into the Blue on the surface doesn't seem to be much more than an excuse to show off Jessica Alba's Bikini. It does that and does it very well, but it also turns out to be a half way decent movie. There is a pretty good story line that creates some suspense and features flawed characters that are interesting. I didn't expect much, but this was pretty good. 3 Stars Out of 5
Into The Wild
Into the Wild is a very good but painful story of a young man's journey into Oblivion. Emile Hirsch stars, Sean Penn directs and Hal Holbrook was nominated for an Oscar for his fantastic performance that is the best in the film. 4 Stars Out of 5
Intolerable Cruelty
Intolerable Cruelty is hardly intolerable. And there is no cruelty whatsoever inflicted upon audiences. What we have here is a wry, smart and funny film that is profusely watchable. That is due, in large part to great dialogue, great direction, great chemistry, and great performances by George Clooney and the breath taking Catherine Zeta-Jones. They both command the screen and make us watch every moment. Intolerable Cruelty is hugely entertaining!
4 Stars Out of 5
The Invasion
The Invasion is yet another remake without a reason. It is a slapped together mess with lots of talking, it gets preachy and political, and there are no pods! But that's not the worst of it, the film has a horrible happy ending, and is just plain boring. Nichole Kidman's hair and makeup are perfect in every scene, but she doesn't do much in the way of anything that could be called acting. The aliens vomit into the mouths of their victims - which is an apt description of what the audience feels like after witnessing this piece of celluloid barf. It blows chunks. 1 ½ Stars Out of 5
Invention of Lying, The - Warner Brothers - Rated PG-13
The Invention of Lying is a great idea that starts out very funny with loads of great cameos. Ricky Gervais is very funny as is Jennifer Garner, but about half way through, this movie falls apart and loses its charm. It has loads of product placement, which seems the focus. Perhaps the writers could have focused on making a funny second half instead of a money second half. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Invictus - Warner Brothers - Rated PG-13
I had high expectations, but Invictus is the first Clint Eastwood directed movie in a long time to earn less than my full enthusiasm. Morgan Freeman captures the spirit of Nelson Mandela, but the movie wants to canonize him. Matt Damon does a good job, but all I could see was his fake nose. The mostly bland story fails to be the inspirational tale it wants to be, and gets bogged down in endless Rugby sequences where it is impossible to tell what is going on. Eastwood may have forgotten who his audience is…Americans who have little knowledge of Rugby and care about it even less. Invictus has a few moments, but just doesn't quite deliver. 3 Stars Out of 5
Invincible
I'll admit I'm a sucker for sports movies where the underdog makes it. While Invincible does contain a lot of the sports movie clichés, It doesn't ever fall into the bland, mundane, TV movie feel most tend to. It's got a great subject and it has got a lot of feeling and flair. It captures the look and feel of 1975 perfectly. Mark Wahlberg turns in a very good performance. This is a terrific, inspirational movie that makes you feel like maybe you can make it too. 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Invisible
The Invisible has some downright bad acting. But it's also very confusing. It can't figure itself out. Neither can the audience. It's teen cheese melodrama with its brains removed. 2 Stars Out of 5
Iraq In Fragments
The basic message of Iraq In Fragments is life was better with Saddam. Couldn't the producers have been a little more balanced? Only the last segment somewhat redeems this tedious anti war, anti-American propaganda. 2 Stars Out of 5
Iron Man - Paramount - Rated PG-13In Iron Man, Robert Downey is downright perfect - spectacular even - in a case of the most brilliant casting in recent years. He is manic, funny and totally believable. He mines comic gems with his delivery alone. Downey is so dominating, the rest of the impressive cast seems almost disposable.
The film has loads of action with special effects that are so real, you absolutely believe them. It is a smart, terrific popcorn movie, and is a ton of fun. No rust on this iron. 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Iron Man 2 - Paramount - Rated PG-13
This time Robert Downey Jr shares some of the spotlight - or has it stolen from him in Iron Man 2. It's not quite as fun as the original but is still extraordinarily entertaining. Witty banter peppers the action and provides the films best parts. Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell just about steal the show, playing bad guys that are almost more memorable than the star, and then there's Scarlett Johansson. She is baad - in a good way - who woulda thunk? This time director Jon Favreau pours on the action and tosses in just about every trick from his tool box. There is so much other stuff going on, the title seems oddly telling…Iron Man Too…4 Stars Out of 5
Is Anybody There - Big Beach Films - Rated PG-13
In Is Anybody There, Michael Caine gives a master class in acting - he is absolutely brilliant in this warm, humorous, touching and tragic film. With a fine supporting cast including the incredible Bill Milner - last seen in Son of Rambow - this excellent film examines aging, relationships and death. You will think long and hard about this one. 4 Stars Out of 5
It Might Get Loud - Sony - Rated PG
It Might Get Loud gets three generations of Rock Guitar legends together: Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, U-2's The Edge and The White Stripes' Jack White. With amazing archival footage and new interviews with each outlining their history, along with the three playing together, this film is a master class in Rock history. The collaboration of the three left a little to be desired, but for the most part this movie rocks! 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
It Runs In The Family
"It Runs In The Family" has it's touching moments and the performances by the Douglas family are enhanced by their real-life family ties. But the script and plot are far from perfect, and this is, at times, hard to watch. It also has a rather unsatisfying conclusion that leaves too many loose ends.2 ½ stars Out of 5
It's Complicated - Universal - Rated R
It's Complicated is a hugely entertaining, endearing comedy with a great ensemble cast, including Alec Baldwin who is fantastic, Meryl Streep as cute and funny as she can be, and Steve Martin providing the pathos. This is a lot of fun. The smile never left my face! Just like its title says, it is complicated, but I loved it! 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Italian Job
The Italian Job is a fun movie that suffers from it's own publicity. If you've seen the trailer, you've seen the best parts and all of the surprises too. (It is disappointing when you know what's in the package before you unwrap it!) This movie is entertaining with solid performances and great action sequences. 3 Stars Out of 5
I've Loved You So Long - Sony - Rated PG-13
I've Loved You So Long is a movie for those with patience. If you let this film unwind at its own pace, you will be rewarded. Clues to the questions the movie poses are doled out slowly and methodically in this bleak, heartbreaking character drama. Kristin Scott Thomas is magnificent in a perfect performance as a woman broken by tragedy. Her performance makes this a film to savor. 4 Stars Out of 5
Archive
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I Am Legend - Warner Brothers - Rated PG-13
I Am Legend is the third remake of the Richard Matheson tale and is intense, and frightening, but in the end, is an unusually positive, smart and uplifting movie. Will Smith is phenomenal. He is the heart and soul of this movie and his performance is worth the price of admission all by itself. Don't miss it! 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
I Am Love - Magnolia Films - Rated R
The first thing you need to know about I Am Love is it is in Italian and VERY slow. Slow actually only begins to describe the pace of this film. Watching grass grow is more exciting. The first hour passes with about five minutes of actual story. This plot is paper thin. There are lots of shots of servants working…and then some more. If they cut these unnecessary shots the movie would have been about 45 minutes long. This long, slow, boring movie ends with a confusing, stupefying conclusion that made me say, what the heck was that? Now, Tilda Swinton is a good actress, but isn't good looking. Still, she insists that we see her naked anyway. It's a good thing I didn't order that pretzel with cheese, as her cottage cheese is more than enough for everyone. 1 ½ Stars Out of 5
Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself - Lionsgate - Rated PG-13
Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself follows the exact same formula as all of his other movies, but this time has the wonderful Taraji P. Henson in the lead role. That makes all the difference. The film once again combines slapstick with melodrama and a religious message and could do with some trimming, but this is Perry's most appealing movie yet. All of the credit for that goes to Henson. But the laughs go to Perry's Madea. Madea's version of the Bible is the funniest thing in a Tyler Perry movie yet. Nothing bad here. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
I Heart Huckabees
I wasn't as heart about I Heart Huckabees as I thought I might be. It's a farce that's not terribly funny. But it does cause you to smirk a bit. There are some inspired performances - most notably from Naomi Watts and Mark Wahlberg. But ultimately, the mix of comedy and philosophy doesn't quite piece together. 3 Stars Out of 5
I Know Who Killed Me
In I Know Who Killed Me, Lindsay Lohan, America's favorite little train-wreck is there in all her horrendous glory! She pouts, she screams, she tries to look fierce…They squirt her eyes with fake tears and she tries to look like she's crying. She looks drugged while she's doing her stripper routine without ever taking her clothes off. Like Lindsay, the movie is a garbled, incoherent mess. It's like Hostel-lite. Although watching Lindsay get dismembered was pretty funny. You could almost hear the director screaming, "C'mon! Show some pain!...OK, try this: pretend they take your booze away!" Even with that powerful motivation she still can't convince. 1 Star Out of 5
I Love You Beth Cooper - 20th Century Fox - Rated PG-13
I Love You Beth Cooper is much better than I anticipated. It has many of the typical teen film conventions, but has a sweetness that many lack. It is also milder than most teen road flick graduation night movies. Too many flashbacks threaten to derail it, but like graduation, it is a mostly pleasant diversion that you probably won't remember the next day. 3 Stars Out of 5
I Love You, Man - Paramount - Rated R
I Love You, Man is a funny film about guy's relationships with guys and it nails it. It gets everything right. Paul Rudd and Jason Segel are pitch perfect, and very likeable, the writing and story are for the most part, sublime, and while we are treated to the usual assortment of bodily function jokes, it's not so over the top that it loses its humanity. I actually saw myself and my best friends in this film. I loved this movie, man! 4 stars Out of 5
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry has a stupid premise that is so thin you can see right through it. It's homophobic, racist, and the biggest crime of all, not all that funny. As if to make up for all of the offensive humor, it adds a politically correct morality message on the end. It's kind of like telling a bunch of ethnic jokes and then saying, "Ethnic jokes are bad. You really shouldn't do what I've been doing for the last hour and a half. (But we all had a really good laugh didn't we?)" Um…no. 2 Stars Out of 5
I-Spy
The best thing I can say about I-Spy is Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson have a great chemistry. But, there are precious few laughs in what should have been a very funny movie. If you are a fan of the vintage TV show, you'll wonder why this has the same name, as it bears no resemblance whatsoever to it. With so much talent, and so much promise, this fails to deliver anything more than disappointment. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
I Think I Love My Wife I love Chris Rock's standup. His movies, not so much…I Think I Love My Wife is a remake of a 1972 French film but this one doesn't quite work. It lacks the edgy humor Rock is known for. It's really very bland. His lack of skill at direction also hinders any chance that this film will succeed. Here, Rock is the writer, producer, director and star. Maybe if he focused on one thing, and didn't spread himself so thin, the result would be more satisfying.
2 Stars Out of 5
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead is not a feel good movie. It's a revenge film that is bleak, slow, moving and moody. The film requires us to fill in many gaps in the story, and there are a lot of scenes that tend to slow the pace even more than it already is, but the acting is superb and, while you may require some cheering up afterwards, the film is pretty good. 3 Stars Out of 5
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs - 20th Century Fox - Rated PG
In Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs the prehistoric mammals are back and this time they find a subterranean world under the ice with plenty of sunshine! It's also warm enough under the ice for cold blooded dinosaurs and tropical plants to survive. It's only mildly interesting and mildly amusing with lots of recycled slapstick. If you can talk your kids out of seeing it in theaters,
and wait for the DVD, great, …if you can't, don't waste your money on 3-D. It doesn't add anything. And if you do let your kids see it, be prepared for them to fail science class. 2 stars out of 5
Ice Age: The Melt Down
Ice Age: The Melt Down has got some GREAT animation. Some of it is jaw dropping! The story itself is nice, with something for everyone. Adults will be entertained and the kids will love it. It's not as good as the original, but Scrat is back and is the highlight of the film! 3 stars Out of 5
The Ice Harvest
The Ice Harvest is full of promise. It has a terrific cast, and an interesting idea. It's a movie the Cohen Brothers should have made. But Harold Ramis made it instead. Now, he's made several funny films. But this isn't one of them. It's a flat film with precious few laughs, a retread plot and a wasted cast. It had promise, but it's a broken one. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Ice Princess
Michelle Trachtenberg is wonderful in Ice Princess. She has got an appeal that reminds me of a young Sandra Bullock. The film follows the formula, but it's the appeal of it's stars and the intelligence of the script that lift this movie to above average. Joan Cusack, Kim Cattrall, and Hayden Panettiere are all exceptional. I didn't expect to like this film, but I did. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Identity
See if you can figure out the wild twists in "Identity." There are clues throughout, but I was totally surprised! There is tension but not any real scares in this. There is plenty of gore, however. This mystery-slasher film hybrid is smart, engaging, and it keeps you wondering and guessing until the very end. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Igor - MGM - Rated PG
While it has an all star voice cast, Igor is a bland Tim Burton wannabe but has no teeth. It's just too nice for its own good. An average four year old might like it, but adults can skip it. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus - Sony - Rated PG-13
Most things about The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus tend to the weird, or at least ironic. Heath Ledger's last film has him hanging of an apparent suicide, and waxing poetic about stars that died in their youth. It's too bad that the film is an incomprehensible, hyper-bizarre, mystical acid trip mishmash, full of delirium, confusion and insanity. Christopher Plummer and newcomer Lily Cole are very good, but fill-ins Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell only remind us that Ledger didn't finish the film. I just wish the movie made any sense at all. 2 Stars Out of 5
Imagine That - Paramount - Rated PG
The good news is Eddie Murphy's latest film, Imagine That isn't as bad as I imagined. It's not a Pluto Nash or Meet Dave. No, thankfully, there are no little people crawling into Eddie Murphy's nose this time. That's not to say that it is good either. Eddie is in prime "gimme the paycheck" mode here. He does much mugging for the camera, and little else in this formulaic, laughless family drivel. But, unbelievably, he's not the worst part of the movie. The kid is kinda cute when she's not annoying, but I died a little bit inside seeing Thomas Hayden Church's hideously stereotypical native American. That, and the cringe-worthy, contrived, horribly sappy ending. Here's my advice, just watch the trailer, imagine the movie and save yourself 10 bucks. 2 Stars Out of 5
In Good Company
Topher Grace is emerging as his generation's Tom Hanks. He is able to play a variety of roles, has a comedic sense and can be totally believable at the same time. In Good Company highlights him and it's other stars with a great, funny story. It's not always totally believable, but In Good Company is a winner. 4 Stars Out of 5
In Her Shoes
In Her Shoes is far and away the best chick flick I've seen in a long time. It is intelligent, with a well done script and great direction. It's packed with phenomenal performances, Cameron Diaz gives the best performance of her career, The extremely talented Toni Collette almost steals the film and Shirley MacLaine is nothing short of terrific. I was surprised, but I really loved this movie. 4 Stars Out of 5
In the Cut
In the Cut's director Jane Campion, is best known for her fine film "The Piano." With In The Cut, she tries to be too moody with things like camera work and lighting and forgets the story, and forgets everything else that might make this halfway interesting. This movie flails around in so many directions it never really figures out which way to go and becomes an incoherent jumble. Meg Ryan's stripped down and brave performance doesn't pay off. We never care a lick about anything she or anyone else does in this remarkably uninvolving film. 2 Stars Out of 5
In The Land of Women
In The Land of Women has great characters, and an involving, funny and enjoyable story with smart dialogue. Adam Brody is terrific along with an extremely funny Olympia Dukakis. Plus here's a bonus: The swelling in Meg Ryan's lips seems to have gone down! 4 Stars Out of 5
In the Loop - - Rated R
The abrasive British comedy In the Loop is droll political farce that is good for a chuckle or two, but quickly gets so absurd, it lost me. I began to hate this movie with every second that passed. If you ever had any political ambitions, this movie will cure you. 2 Stars Out of 5
In The Mix
The only good thing about In The Mix is Usher groupies will get to see him without his shirt on several times. They should have saved the 8 bucks and stared at his poster! This is an excruciatingly bad cross between The Godfather, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, The Bodyguard, Jungle Fever and 8 Mile. Embarrasingly lame, squirm-in-your-seat bad! A truly painful movie going experience. If I wasn't a professional, I might never go to the movies again. 1 Star Out of 5
In the Name of the King - Freestyle Releasing - Rated PG-13
Director Uwe Boll is notable for consistently giving audiences bad movies, and stays true to that with In the Name of the King. Based on a video game, it's everything you expect, bad direction, a non existent plot, and ridiculously bad dialogue like, "Wisdon is our hammer, prudence is our nail." But wait there's more! It's also got endless battle scenes that don't begin to excite, irritating music, and two roles that are hideously miscast. Burt Reynolds plays the king! Now, that's downright funny, along with Ray Liotta's horrible performance which was the victim of many unintentional laughs. The movie tries to be an epic, and it is - an epic bore! 1 ½ Stars Out of 5
Inception - Warner Brothers - Rated PG-13
If you are looking for a movie where you can shift your brain into neutral and watch the pretty explosions, Inception isn't it. This very well done and well acted, noir feel film is mind bending to say the least. There are some great special effects with a challenging story that bears multiple viewings. Leonardo DiCaprio is excellent as is the rest of the stellar cast. They snooze though most of the film, but you won't. Inception is very, very cool. 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Incredible Hulk - Universal - Rated PG-13
There is a lot to like about The Incredible Hulk. It is vastly superior to Ang Lee's take from a couple of years ago. Edward Norton is very good, there is lots of good action, and some nice nods to the TV show. But the film also misses a bit. There is some cheeseball animation with a very CGI looking hulk that took me out of the movie, and it drags in spots. Overall, it's not incredible, but pretty good. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Incredibles
I liked The Incredibles. I liked it a lot. It's original, funny, and technically superb. It's got enough laughs for the kids to love it, and more than enough gags and truth for the adults to enjoy. There's a great retro '50s look and feel, though it lacks a little bit in the heart that was present in all of the other Pixar films. But it has a script that actually celebrates the family, and that is refreshing,
4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - Paramount - Rated PG-13
You may have heard some early reviews saying Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is bad. Well, I'm here to tell you it's not. It's not the best of the bunch either. First the good stuff: Harrison Ford puts on the fedora again and has hardly lost a beat. He slips back into his character with ease and warmth and handles the action sequences quite well for a man of 65. The film has got plenty of action, and only some of it feels recycled. It has several nice nods to the previous films. Shia LeBeouf is a welcome addition, John Hurt hasn't got much to do, but is funny, and Karen Allen reprises her role from the first film with sparkle. Now, the not so good: Cate Blanchett is miscast and lays it on too thick as the communist villain, the plot is convoluted and the ending is bit of a letdown. But if you're a fan, don't let that stop you from seeing it. It'll put a smile on your face. It's silly, preposterous and a fun summertime popcorn movie. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Infamous
Infamous is entertaining, but so much of it is a carbon copy of last year's Capote. Star Toby Jones plays Truman Capote as much more of a caricature than last years Phillip Seymour Hoffman, and although this film does add some to the story, it isn't as good as the previous film. 3 Stars Out of 5
The Informant - Warner Brothers - Rated R
The Informant is a movie that thinks it is quirkier than it is. It's about something that no one cares about - price fixing a food additive called lysine. And that adds a lot to the so-what factor in the first half of the film. It tries to twist and turn, but just gets a muddy story even muddier. While it is fun to see the cameos from various comedians, and a chubbied-up Matt Damon does what he can for a chuckle or two, The Informant suffers from the same disease that the office bore who thinks he's a comedian has. Chunky Matt, clunky movie. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Inglorious Bastards - Weinstein Company - Rated R
Inglourious Basterds is a Quentin Tarantino film through and through. All of his trademarks are present; snappy dialogue, (this time in several languages) dark humor, and over the top violence. It is a tad overlong, and drags a bit here and there. But if you make up your mind to savor the slow build and wait for the payoff, you will be rewarded with a gloriously over the top rewrite of history that is ultimately very satisfying. Brad Pitt is terrific and very funny, but it is Christoph Waltz who steals the show as the SS colonel known as the "Jew Hunter." He scores the best lines and delivers them with an oily enthusiasm that screams, "Oscar!" Tarantino fans will surely love his latest and even non-fans may call this glorious. 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Inkheart - Warner Brothers - Rated PG
Adapted from a children's book, Inkheart has a great premise. That there are certain people, called silvertongues, who when they read aloud, can literally bring characters from books to life. It is well acted, full of action, imaginative and fun. It had me completely engrossed the whole time. It's delightful, magical family entertainment. 3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Inside Man
I was pleasantly surprised by Inside Man. It is the least "Spike Lee," of the Spike Lee movies. There are strong performances by the all star cast, most notably by Denzel Washington. The plot is a bit far fetched, with large jumps in logic, and there are many questions left unanswered. It is mostly enjoyable while watching it, but I left the theater a bit unsatisfied.
3 ½ Stars Out of 5
Insomnia
Complex and intriguing, this is a film that keeps you guessing. Robin Williams gives a subtle and spooky performance. But I think Al Pacino will be remembered for his role when Oscar time rolls around. This is another winner from the director of Memento.4 ½ Stars Out of 5
The International - Sony - Rated R
The International tries hard to be a serious thriller, but its problem lies in its premise. A bank is the villain. It's not enough to be afraid of rising interest rates and ATM fees, now it seems that the bank can kill you too. I'd like to see that commercial. "We're your friendly neighborhood bank…but there is a substantial penalty for early withdrawal!" The film really isn't very good, it drags and drags with the exception of a scene that makes a mess of New York's Guggenheim Art Museum. It becomes almost comic by the final reel. There are even some bad guy arms dealers who have a cave lair in a mountain. I expected Dr. Evil to turn around in his chair any minute. Beware of the big bad eevil banker! Next time I deposit a check I'll be sure to wear a bullet proof vest. 2 Stars Out of 5
The Interpreter
The Interpreter is supposed to be a political thriller. But thrilling it's not. There are some good performances by Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn, but the script drags and then slows to a point where you wish something would happen besides talk, talk, talk. But then what else is done at the U.N. except talking? That's what this film does - talk. Oh, and there's lots of shots of the U.N. building. Things start to move when the bus blows up, but then we all saw that before in the previews. This movie had 5 different writers, and it shows. It tries to be so politically correct, it ends up being bland. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Into the Blue
Into the Blue on the surface doesn't seem to be much more than an excuse to show off Jessica Alba's Bikini. It does that and does it very well, but it also turns out to be a half way decent movie. There is a pretty good story line that creates some suspense and features flawed characters that are interesting. I didn't expect much, but this was pretty good. 3 Stars Out of 5
Into The Wild
Into the Wild is a very good but painful story of a young man's journey into Oblivion. Emile Hirsch stars, Sean Penn directs and Hal Holbrook was nominated for an Oscar for his fantastic performance that is the best in the film. 4 Stars Out of 5
Intolerable Cruelty
Intolerable Cruelty is hardly intolerable. And there is no cruelty whatsoever inflicted upon audiences. What we have here is a wry, smart and funny film that is profusely watchable. That is due, in large part to great dialogue, great direction, great chemistry, and great performances by George Clooney and the breath taking Catherine Zeta-Jones. They both command the screen and make us watch every moment. Intolerable Cruelty is hugely entertaining!
4 Stars Out of 5
The Invasion
The Invasion is yet another remake without a reason. It is a slapped together mess with lots of talking, it gets preachy and political, and there are no pods! But that's not the worst of it, the film has a horrible happy ending, and is just plain boring. Nichole Kidman's hair and makeup are perfect in every scene, but she doesn't do much in the way of anything that could be called acting. The aliens vomit into the mouths of their victims - which is an apt description of what the audience feels like after witnessing this piece of celluloid barf. It blows chunks. 1 ½ Stars Out of 5
Invention of Lying, The - Warner Brothers - Rated PG-13
The Invention of Lying is a great idea that starts out very funny with loads of great cameos. Ricky Gervais is very funny as is Jennifer Garner, but about half way through, this movie falls apart and loses its charm. It has loads of product placement, which seems the focus. Perhaps the writers could have focused on making a funny second half instead of a money second half. 2 ½ Stars Out of 5
Invictus - Warner Brothers - Rated PG-13
I had high expectations, but Invictus is the first Clint Eastwood directed movie in a long time to earn less than my full enthusiasm. Morgan Freeman captures the spirit of Nelson Mandela, but the movie wants to canonize him. Matt Damon does a good job, but all I could see was his fake nose. The mostly bland story fails to be the inspirational tale it wants to be, and gets bogged down in endless Rugby sequences where it is impossible to tell what is going on. Eastwood may have forgotten who his audience is…Americans who have little knowledge of Rugby and care about it even less. Invictus has a few moments, but just doesn't quite deliver. 3 Stars Out of 5
Invincible
I'll admit I'm a sucker for sports movies where the underdog makes it. While Invincible does contain a lot of the sports movie clichés, It doesn't ever fall into the bland, mundane, TV movie feel most tend to. It's got a great subject and it has got a lot of feeling and flair. It captures the look and feel of 1975 perfectly. Mark Wahlberg turns in a very good performance. This is a terrific, inspirational movie that makes you feel like maybe you can make it too. 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Invisible
The Invisible has some downright bad acting. But it's also very confusing. It can't figure itself out. Neither can the audience. It's teen cheese melodrama with its brains removed. 2 Stars Out of 5
Iraq In Fragments
The basic message of Iraq In Fragments is life was better with Saddam. Couldn't the producers have been a little more balanced? Only the last segment somewhat redeems this tedious anti war, anti-American propaganda. 2 Stars Out of 5
Iron Man - Paramount - Rated PG-13In Iron Man, Robert Downey is downright perfect - spectacular even - in a case of the most brilliant casting in recent years. He is manic, funny and totally believable. He mines comic gems with his delivery alone. Downey is so dominating, the rest of the impressive cast seems almost disposable.
The film has loads of action with special effects that are so real, you absolutely believe them. It is a smart, terrific popcorn movie, and is a ton of fun. No rust on this iron. 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
Iron Man 2 - Paramount - Rated PG-13
This time Robert Downey Jr shares some of the spotlight - or has it stolen from him in Iron Man 2. It's not quite as fun as the original but is still extraordinarily entertaining. Witty banter peppers the action and provides the films best parts. Mickey Rourke and Sam Rockwell just about steal the show, playing bad guys that are almost more memorable than the star, and then there's Scarlett Johansson. She is baad - in a good way - who woulda thunk? This time director Jon Favreau pours on the action and tosses in just about every trick from his tool box. There is so much other stuff going on, the title seems oddly telling…Iron Man Too…4 Stars Out of 5
Is Anybody There - Big Beach Films - Rated PG-13
In Is Anybody There, Michael Caine gives a master class in acting - he is absolutely brilliant in this warm, humorous, touching and tragic film. With a fine supporting cast including the incredible Bill Milner - last seen in Son of Rambow - this excellent film examines aging, relationships and death. You will think long and hard about this one. 4 Stars Out of 5
It Might Get Loud - Sony - Rated PG
It Might Get Loud gets three generations of Rock Guitar legends together: Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, U-2's The Edge and The White Stripes' Jack White. With amazing archival footage and new interviews with each outlining their history, along with the three playing together, this film is a master class in Rock history. The collaboration of the three left a little to be desired, but for the most part this movie rocks! 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
It Runs In The Family
"It Runs In The Family" has it's touching moments and the performances by the Douglas family are enhanced by their real-life family ties. But the script and plot are far from perfect, and this is, at times, hard to watch. It also has a rather unsatisfying conclusion that leaves too many loose ends.2 ½ stars Out of 5
It's Complicated - Universal - Rated R
It's Complicated is a hugely entertaining, endearing comedy with a great ensemble cast, including Alec Baldwin who is fantastic, Meryl Streep as cute and funny as she can be, and Steve Martin providing the pathos. This is a lot of fun. The smile never left my face! Just like its title says, it is complicated, but I loved it! 4 ½ Stars Out of 5
The Italian Job
The Italian Job is a fun movie that suffers from it's own publicity. If you've seen the trailer, you've seen the best parts and all of the surprises too. (It is disappointing when you know what's in the package before you unwrap it!) This movie is entertaining with solid performances and great action sequences. 3 Stars Out of 5
I've Loved You So Long - Sony - Rated PG-13
I've Loved You So Long is a movie for those with patience. If you let this film unwind at its own pace, you will be rewarded. Clues to the questions the movie poses are doled out slowly and methodically in this bleak, heartbreaking character drama. Kristin Scott Thomas is magnificent in a perfect performance as a woman broken by tragedy. Her performance makes this a film to savor. 4 Stars Out of 5
