Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time - 2 1/2 smiles

If Jerry Bruckheimer can successfully turn a Disney ride into a series of box office hits, why can’t he turn a video game into a rollicking fun movie? “Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time” is fast-paced, full of action and just plain fun. However, don’t expect the plot to make a lot of sense because once you start asking questions, you’re going to find a lot of holes. The story takes place in ancient Persia, ruled by King Sharaman (Ronald Pickup), who has four trusted advisers: his brother, Nizam (Ben Kingsley); his eldest son and heir, Tus (Richard Coyle); his second son, Garsiv (Tony Kebbell); and his adopted son, Dastan (Jake Gyllenhaal). The Persian army, led by Tus, invades a holy city and takes captive Princess Tamina (Gemma Arterton), guardian of a supernatural dagger that can turn back time. When the king is murdered, Dastan is blamed and he and Tamina flee, uneasy allies in a quest to prove Dastan’s innocence, reveal the true killer and keep the dagger from falling into the wrong hands.

There are action sequences that suggest the kind of obstacles video game players might encounter, like Dastan jumping from building to building and grabbing onto arrows to breach a fortress wall. Jake Gyllenhaal proves to be a more than competent action hero and his scenes with Gemma Arterton exhibit a lot of chemistry. Ben Kingsley is appropriately slimy as the manipulative villain. However, the real standout is Alfred Molina, hamming it up as a desert businessman who races ostriches and refuses to pay taxes. The look of “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” is impressive and there’s never a dull moment, but it’s also a predictable movie. If you don’t think too much about what’s happening, you’re sure to enjoy this one. 5/28/10

Just Wright - 2 1/2 smiles

Queen Latifah is radiant in “Just Wright,” a predictable romantic comedy. What’s jarring is the casting of Common as a professional basketball player and her love interest. Granted, he looks enough like a basketball player and the clips of the games seem authentic, but to have some credibility, he needs to be taller and maybe bulkier. Plus I didn’t buy the chemistry between the two. “Just Wright” is about a woman, Leslie Wright (Latifah), who can’t get a man because she’s too level-headed, just one of the guys as opposed to her godsister Morgan (Paula Patton), who’s a gold-digger looking for an athlete for a husband. When Leslie gets an invitation to New Jersey Nets star Scott McKnight’s (Common) birthday party, it’s Morgan who attracts his attention. Shortly after Scott proposes to Morgan, he suffers a possible career-ending injury. Rather than have the beautiful therapist hired by the Nets to work with Scott, Morgan talks Leslie into accepting the position. And because Leslie is such a Nets fan, she’s unwilling to accept anything less than Scott’s full cooperation as she plans his recovery. When Morgan leaves because she fears Scott will not recover, the field is open for Leslie.

Phyllicia Rashad as Scott’s mom and James Pickens Jr. and Pam Grier as Leslie’s parents are effective, but they’re not given enough to do. And Queen Latifah comes off as wise, confident, and happy with her life so does she really need a man? Anyway, if you’re a Queen Latifah fan, you’ll enjoy this version of the Cinderella story. 5/22/10

Shrek Forever After - 3 smiles

We’ve been told that “Shrek Forever After” is the final episode in the Shrek franchise. I hope so. Not that I haven’t enjoyed Shrek because I have and I enjoyed number four, too. But it’s time. Unlike the other three, “Shrek Forever After” explores a serious issue, that of a mid-life crisis, and then combines it with a version of “It’s a Wonderful Life.” And since Shrek lives in Far, Far Away, he finds himself in the presence of Rumpelstiltskin, a crafty wheeler-dealer who’s out to gain the throne. Why is Shrek about to sign his life away? It all starts with his children’s first birthday party when Shrek realizes that his days of being a ferocious ogre are gone. All he wants is one day to relive the glories of single ogrehood. Unfortunately, the one day Rumpel gives Shrek is the day he was born, thereby negating his entire existence. And if Shrek doesn’t kiss Fiona within the 24-hour period he’s been allotted, he dies and Rumpel remains king of Far, Far Away.

By rewriting the Shrek story, we get to see what Far, Far Away would look like if Shrek hadn’t been there to rescue Fiona from the dragon. The regular crew is back with Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz as Shrek and Fiona and Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas do wonderful work as Donkey and Puss. This time around, Puss is a pampered, overweight housecat, which results in some funny stuff. Walt Dohrn, a veteran animator who voices Rumpel with manic, hyperactive energy, creates a fitting antagonist. The 3D is effective in some portions and nonexistent in others. And by the time the film ends, you’re ready for the Shrek saga to end. It was a fun journey, but enough is enough. 5/21/10

Robin Hood - 3 smiles

If you see this movie, try to leave your expectations at home. Ridley Scott’s version of “Robin Hood” does not present the familiar story that harkens back to Errol Flynn. It doesn’t resemble the Kevin Costner version either although that’s arguably a good thing. In this moody version of the legend, starring Russell Crowe, Robin isn’t even Robin Hood, but Robin Longstride, an archer in the army of King Richard the Lionhearted on his way home from the Crusades. Brian Helgeland’s script takes us back to our hero’s early life, but if this is an origin story, you’d think Robin would be younger than Russell Crowe. But ignore the age difference. Just go with the story, which is fairly complicated: King Richard is killed while trying to capture a French castle. Fleeing French soldiers, Robin comes upon a dying knight, Robert Loxley (Douglas Hodge) whose identity and sword he takes back to Nottinghamshire. There, Loxley’s wife, Marion (Cate Blanchett) and father, Walter (Max Von Sydow), are fending off John’s tax collectors. Walter asks Robin to pretend to be Robert so their property will remain with Marion when Walter dies. Meanwhile, John (Oscar Isaac) has become king and unbeknownst to him, his childhood friend, Godfrey (Mark Strong) is fomenting a civil war between John and the northern nobles so the French can invade England.

There’s not much stealing from the rich to give to the poor and Robin and his merry men don’t spend much time in Sherwood Forest. But Scott makes his narrative work. His battle sequences are full of well-executed action and the political intrigue keeps us engaged. Robin and Marion enter into a passionate romance, made credible by the skill of the two actors. And Robin’s followers, Little John (Kevin Durand), Will Scarlet (Scott Grimes) and Allan A’Dayle (Alan Doyle) squabble with each other as they should. Mark Strong, who’s getting awfully good with this type of role, makes a suitably effective villain. But there are also things that don’t work. Tying Robin to the creation of the Magna Carta works better in concept than execution and Marion’s feminist stance seems needlessly prominent. Nonetheless, if you take “Robin Hood” on it’s own terms, it provides solid entertainment. 5/21/10

Letters to Juliet - 3 smiles

“Letters to Juliet” is a chic flick, a romantic-comedy of the highest order and that’s not a bad thing. Because it follows the genre formula, you know how it’s going to end, but you enjoy the journey. That’s because you have a well-crafted love story with clearly developed protagonists and actors that evidence on-screen chemistry. What you don’t have (thankfully) are silly jokes and slapstick behavior. Sophie (Amanda Seyfried playing another Sophie [e.g., “Mama Mia”], is a top-notch fact checker for The New Yorker magazine although she yearns to be a writer. While on a vacation to Verona, Italy with her fiancé, Victor (Gael Garcia Bernal), Sophie discovers a 50-year-old letter written to Juliet at a house representing that of the heroine from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. You see, every day, hundreds of supplicants leave behind letters addressed to Juliet, seeking advice and a small group of women, ‘Juliet’s secretaries,’ collect them and respond. Sophie feels compelled to answer the note written in 1960 by a confused 15-year old named Claire who is torn between staying in Verona with the man she believes is the love of her life or returning to London. Sophie is surprised when, several days later, she finds herself face-to-face with a grateful Claire (Vanessa Redgrave) and her irritated grandson, Charlie (Christopher Egan). Sophie joins them as they search for Claire’s Lorenzo and decides to turn this venture into an article. While Victor is busy with his new restaurant-related business, Sophie finds herself drawn to Charlie.

It’s a pleasure watching two characters who can’t stand each other gradually soften in their feelings as they get to know each other. I can think of a few recent rom-coms where the antagonism between the protagonists seems forced (“The Ugly Truth” and “Leap Year”) or virtually nonexistent (“The Back Up Plan”). And Amanda Seyfried and Christopher Egan have a genuine chemistry. The secondary story, that of Claire searching for her long-lost love, is also moving, expressing a belief that love endures and Vanessa Redgrave is effective and still beautiful. “Letters to Juliet” is one of those movies you can watch again and again. 5/18/10

Iron Man 2 - 2 1/2 smiles

Although “Iron Man 2” is worth seeing, it’s not as good as the original. Typically, with superhero stories, the first one delves into origins and “Iron Man” was so superior that expectations were high for the sequel. And maybe that’s the problem. The first one was so good that anything that follows would be disappointing. The sequel finds Iron Man, Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.) dying because the mechanism that keeps his heart beating is also releasing toxins into his blood. Two villains complicate matters: Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell), a weapons manufacturer who wants to replicate Iron Man’s suit and is determined to get one no matter what and Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), a Russian physicist, who holds a grudge against the Stark family. Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson), leader of SHIELD (a fictional agency in the Marvel Comics universe), returns for an extended cameo. He is joined by combat-ready Natalie Rushman (Scarlett Johansson), who goes undercover as Stark’s new assistant.

The strength of the film is Robert Downey, Jr. He is Iron Man. However, the weaknesses seem to outweigh the strengths. One of the problems is the slow pace of the first two-thirds of the movie. There are a lot of scenes of Tony being a jerk, a lot of dialogue about Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) becoming CEO and running Stark Industries, and plenty of setup for “The Avengers” movie. But when we finally get to the climax, there’s enough no-holds barred action to suit any fan. Another problem is Ivan Vanko. The previews set him up as the central villain, but for most of the movie, he is not a factor. Disappointing, too, is the lack of chemistry between Tony and Pepper, which was so evident in the first film. Box Office receipts indicate that there will probably be an “Iron Man 3,” assuming Downey, Jr. agrees. If so, I hope it’s more like the first one. 5/7/10

The Losers - 2 1/2 smiles

“The Losers” is a pure B-grade action flick. Forget characterization, meaningful messages and depth of plot. If you see “The Losers,” you see it for the non-stop action and things going boom. The Losers, an elite squad of soldiers of differing skills – Jensen (Chris Evans), Roque (Idris Elba), Pooch (Columbus Short), Cougar (Oscar Jaenada) – are led by Clay (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). When their op in Bolivia goes wrong and they’re blamed for killing children, the Losers hide in South America while itching to get at the man responsible for their predicament, Max (Jason Patric), a CIA super-spy. That’s when Aisha (Zoe Saldana) finds them and offers them a deal: she’ll provide the funding for any hardware they might need if they agree to find and kill Max. Of course, Aisha has a secret agenda, too.

The cast has some familiar faces. Most notable is Zoe Saldana, coming off the twin hits of “Star Trek” and “Avatar.” Chris Evans, who provides most of the humorous quips in this movie, was in “The Fantastic Four” and “Push” and was recently chosen to play Captain America. Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s most notable role is The Comedian in “Watchmen,” which might not be saying much if you didn’t see “Watchmen.” The major disappointment of “The Losers” is the inconclusive nature of the climax. Max is so evil that you want him to get his comeuppance, but no such luck. Obviously the filmmakers are going for a sequel, but given the economic nature of movie-making these days, a sequel isn’t guaranteed. So you’re left hanging, which isn’t a good thing. 4/20/10

Harry Brown - 2 smiles

Only Michael Caine’s skill as an actor raises the quality of “Harry Brown” several notches above mediocre. As it is, the plot line is overly familiar and predictable. Harry Brown (Caine), a widower and ex-marine, watches teen gangsters terrorize his working-class London neighborhood from the window of his solitary apartment. When these same hooligans kill Leonard, his friend, Harry takes justice into his own hands. Meanwhile, the detectives investigating Leonard’s death begin to suspect that Harry might have something to do with the recent deaths of the teen hoodlums.

“Harry Brown” is especially reminiscent of “Death Wish” and more recently, “Gran Torino” and “The Brave One.” Still, Michael Caine brings a dignity to his everyman role with his world-weary eyes and quiet voice, saving his character form being a caricature. It’s a guilty pleasure watching a senior citizen get the better of toughs several decades younger than he, but you have to wonder how realistic that plot point is. And his gangsters aren’t real people, but scary types intended to shock. This is definitely a violent movie and director Daniel Barber has seen fit to increase the volume every time there’s a gunshot, which only enhances the aura of violence. 4/30/10

The Back Up Plan - 2 smiles

“The Back Up Plan” is your typical Lifetime channel movie. Everyone is beautiful; the conflict, which isn’t really a conflict, is resolved easily; and everyone lives happily ever after. It’s a romantic-comedy that doesn’t have a compelling romance or believable humor. What you have is J-Lo at her airbrushed best. She looks beautiful, even when her character Zoe is going through her third trimester of pregnancy. And her co-star, Alex O’Loughlin, holds his own when he’s next to Lopez, but you hardly believe that their characters have found their soul mates.

Zoe, a woman in her mid-30s who’s convinced that she’s never going to meet Mr. Right, decides to go to a fertility clinic to gain the child she’s always wanted. However, no sooner has Zoe been inseminated than she meets the hunky Stan (O’Loughlin), a farmer who sells cheese at the local Farmers’ Market. Will Stan stay with Zoe once he learns she’s pregnant (with twins, no less) or will he flee? Rom-com, remember? Of course he stays. Wait until “The Back Up Plan” airs on Lifetime. 4/28/10

Furry Vengeance - 1 frown

Unfunny. Stupid. Obnoxious. Inane. A waste of time. Really, need I say more? The best part of “Furry Vengeance,” an improbable tale about forest critters getting the best of humans, is the end. This is Brendan Fraser at his silliest and he’s had some goofy movies. Remember “Dudley Do-Right”? How about “Monkeybone”? It’s one of the worst movies of the year. Even the animals get tiresome after a while and you know how I like animal movies. Skip it. Forget it. Don’t even rent it or watch it on cable. 5/2/10