Men in Black 3 - 3 smiles

Certainly Will Smith is fun to watch, but the reason to see “Men in Black 3” is Josh Brolin, as the young Tommy Lee Jones. Brolin, as Agent K at 29, channels Jones’ mannerisms, nails his Texan drawl and even, at times, resembles the actor. It’s not hard to believe that Brolin’s amiable but enigmatic characterization could grow into the surly secret agent played by Jones. Other memorable supporting roles include Jemaine Clement as the arch-villain Boris the Animal and Michael Stuhlbarg as a nebbishy, knowing alien named Griffin. Since an entertaining movie must have a solid story, it’s a good thing that director Barry Sonnenfeld has a script written by Lowell Cunningham that harkens to the creativity of the original MIB, which proved that you can be quirky, weird and fun without resorting to stupidity. Much of the movie takes place in the 60s, which provides plenty of fodder for alien jokes. It also adds an unexpectedly poignant element at the conclusion. 

Boris finds a way to time-travel in order to exterminate K (Jones), the agent that imprisoned him. With all traces of Agent K suddenly gone, Agent J (Smith) is the only person who can remember the correct timeline and his partner being alive. As an invasion force begins the systematic destruction of earth, Agent J time jumps to the past so he can save his partner and rescue Earth. In typical fish-out-of-water style, J is plunged into the summer of 1969, providing fodder for a lot of jokes. While some of the happenings defy logic, “MIB3” has lots of fun creating its own rules and it takes you on an enjoyable ride. 5/ 25/12

Mansome - 2 smiles

“Mansome,” a documentary directed by Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me), is a light-hearted look at male grooming, more of a first-person journal or series of vignettes that doesn’t delve too deeply into analysis. Spurlock interviews some celebrities about their attitudes toward masculinity and grooming: Paul Rudd is typically funny, Judd Apatow is appealing and Zach Galifianakis steals the show. (When asked to rate his looks on a scale of 1 to 10, Galifianakis responds that some people find him ‘a strong 2.’) Spurlock includes his own decision to shave off his mustache, which reduces his 5-year-old son to tears. He follows a professional ‘beardsman,’ Jack Passion, who travels the world exhibiting his three-foot long beard in competitions. Then there’s the elegantly coiffed Manhattan clothing buyer who describes himself as the ultimate ‘meterosexual,’ perhaps making up for his teen years as a Sikh immigrant outcast in middle America. And, of course, there’s the entrepreneur who has created a lotion-like product called Fresh Balls: The Solution for Men. (Don’t ask.)

Spurlock chops the movie into irrelevant chapters about beards, mustaches, hair and so on. Some of the big picture stuff comes up almost by accident, but Spurlock doesn’t even pretend to care. The American brand of masculinity that the movie is addressing is not defined nor does Spurlock investigate the importance of class distinctions. And the few culture-clash specimens that turn up, the New York metrosexual of Sikh origins and an Arab pro wrestler who has to go through a whole-body shave before performing as villain ‘Abdul Bashir,’ are given only cursory treatment. In addition, Spurlock sticks far too long with a framing device in which Jason Bateman and Will Arnett go to a spa and engage in uneasy (and unfunny) homoerotic banter. “Mansome” tackles the enormous subject of contemporary vanity as a series of quirky anecdotes, which are often entertaining in themselves but devoid of any intelligent analysis or historical understanding.  5/20/12

The Dictator - 1 frown

Having managed to avoid Borat and Bruno, I saw “The Dictator,” Sasha Baron Cohen’s latest comedy. The problem is obvious. This movie isn’t funny. While there are some clever bits scattered here and there, there are also long stretches without a laugh. And there is a mean-spirited air to the whole thing. “The Dictator” might be worth seeing if you’re a Cohen fan. But for me, it confirms my belief that his movies are best if avoided. 5/24/12

Battleship - 2 1/2 smiles

While “Battleship” is implausible and overly loud in a lot of places, as directed by Peter Berg, it’s also energetic and moving and surprisingly better than I expected. Based on the original paper-and-pencil game that was developed into a board and video game by Hasbro, it even manages to include the strategy of deducing the location of opponents’ ships through guesswork and logic, which is at the heart of the game. Of course, the story is about more than trying to sink someone’s unseen battleship. In this case, an alien armada has splashed down in the waters off Hawaii. Responding to the threat is the US Navy, personified by the crew of the destroyer John Paul Jones and its captain, Alex Hopper (Taylor kitsch), a young untested lieutenant who is unexpectedly thrust into the leadership role when the aliens’ initial attack leaves him as the senior officer. Hopper and his ship are left to face the aliens alone when a dome-like force field separates them from the rest of the fleet. This, of course, sets up a cat-and-mouse-like maneuvers that are at the heart of both the game and the movie.

Several elements add depth and texture to this straightforward set-up, including Hopper’s inferiority complex about his older, more seasoned brother (Alexander Skarsgard), a straight-arrow naval commander whose fate, early in the film, precipitates his younger brother’s maturation. Hopper also has a girlfriend, Sam (Brooklyn Decker), back in Hawaii, a physical therapist at a veteran’s hospital whose work with a double amputee (real-life Army Col. Gregory D. Gadson, making his acting debut) plays a crucial role in the fate of the ensuing battle. In addition, there’s a shamelessly stirring twist that involves a group of World War II veterans and the decommissioned battleship, Missouri. It’s been decades since the Navy actually used one of these steam-powered ships, but, no surprise, everything is in working order. The movie’s themes of sacrifice, heroism and honor maybe old-fashioned, but they still work. You can understand why the Navy gave Berg full access to their ships and allowed their sailors to be used as extras. “Battleship” may be overly loud and a bit too long, but it also manages to entertain. 5/19/12

Dark Shadows - 1 smile

I’m getting tired of the Tim Burton-Johnny Depp collaborations. Their latest, based on the camp-gothic soap opera, Dark Shadows, which ran from 1966-1971, is all silliness in the manner we’ve come to expect from a Tim Burton production. The movie looks great, right down to the 70s lava lamps and troll dolls, but the plot is thin. And, of course, Johnny Depp gets to add another weird character to his menagerie of weirdoes. But there’s inertia amid the weirdness, a been-there-seen-that sort of thing. And as the movie concludes, one character reveals paranormal abilities, which, with no preparation, comes from left field.

Depp plays Barnabas Collins, an 18^th century Englishman whose father brings the family to New England to make their fortune. As a young man, Barnabas has an affair with a household servant, Angelique (Eva Green), who turns out to be a witch. When Barnabas refuses to declare his love for her, she turns him into a vampire and arranges for him to be sealed in a coffin and buried. Fast forward to Maine, 1972. The Collins family, now headed by Elizabeth (Michelle Pfeiffer) and including a live-in alcoholic psychologist (Helena Bonham Carter), has fallen on hard times. And it’s up to Barnabas, whose coffin has been dug up by construction workers, to restore the family’s prosperity. Naturally, Angelique, who is also immortal, is their main business competitor. The plot so far has great possibilities, but it goes nowhere. Barnabas continues his feud with Angelique, Alice Cooper shows up to sing a few songs, trap doors reveal secrets and the whole things ends with a big fire. “Dark Shadows” isn’t funny, mysterious or suspenseful.  5/13/12

The Avengers - 4 smiles

I loved “The Avengers,” Joss Whedon’s blockbuster full of comic book heroes saving the world from evil. Whedon weaves a story that allows each of the heroes to do what they do best while presenting a cohesive whole. And while they may not have equal time, audiences get enough of each to feel satisfied. Downey’s playboy millionaire/scientist Tony Stark (Iron Man) verbally jousts with straight-arrow Steve Rogers (Captain America), whose earnestness is delivered perfectly by Chris Evans. Not surprisingly, Downey gets the funniest lines. Iron Man also battles Chris Hemsworth’s Thor. Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner (the Hulk) gets the best physical gag in the whole movie. The ensemble cast, which also includes Scarlett Johansen and Samuel Jackson, is solid. There are moments of genuine pathos, genuine humor and genuine surprise although there’s not much to the plot.

Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), the sharp-shooting archer, doesn’t spend much time with the group because early on he’s zapped into submission by Thor’s bitter brother, Loki (Tom Hiddleston), whose plans for world domination involve something called the Tesseract, a glowing blue cube with unlimited powers. Loki wants the Tesseract to open a portal so aliens can invade. And the final act, which turns New York into an urban battleground, has plenty of action and special effects. The ending, which won’t be a surprise, sets up for a sequel. Just be sure to stay through all of the credits. 4/4/12

Bernie - 3 smiles

The reason to see “Bernie,” based on an odd May/December true-life crime story, is its star, Jack Black, who virtually disappears into his role (as opposed to his usual irritating, over-the-top performances). His Bernie is an effeminate Southern gentleman and Black plays every mannerism with pitch-perfect sincerity. Another reason to see this movie is its director, Richard Linklater, who takes a documentary- style approach, blending a mix of character actors and real townsfolk to comment on the action and provide a sort of Greek chorus. Although most of the information is funneled through gossip that might limit the audience from getting the whole story, it definitely provides a fresh approach to storytelling. Matthew McConaughey is also effective as the overzealous district attorney, Danny Buck Davidson.

Black plays Bernie Tiede, the assistant funeral director in Carthage, Texas, who sings in the choir, directs local musical productions, teaches Sunday school and is kind to old ladies, particularly grieving widows. One of the later is wealthy heiress Marjorie Nugent (Shirley Maclaine), known as Marge, who is widely recognized as a crabby old lady. She is so taken with Bernie’s attention that he becomes her constant companion, business manager, maid, chauffeur and butler. In 1997, after Marge had not been seen in public for nine months, it was revealed that gentle Bernie had shot Marge four times in the back and kept her corpse in her garage freezer.  Interestingly enough, the district attorney has Bernie’s trial moved out of town because so many of its inhabitants and potential jurors refuse to believe that Bernie is a killer. Even though Linklater relies on the townspeople a little too much, “Bernie” is a true Texas tall tale and worth seeing. 5/3/12

Think Like a Man - 3 smiles

“Think Like a Man” is a surprisingly enjoyable movie in spite of the obvious product placement of Steve Harvey’s book, Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, which pops up everywhere in the film.  It follows several couples facing typical relationship hurdles. The women are losing their battles until they find Harvey’s book that reveals secrets of the male mind.  As a result, Kristen (Gabrielle Union) stops waiting for a proposal from Jeremy (Jerry Ferrara); single mother Candace (Regina Hall) loses patience with mama’s boy Michael (Terrence J); successful Lauren (Taraji P. Henson) falls for sensitive but broke Dominic (Michael Ealy) and promiscuous Mya (Meagan Good) withholds her ‘cookie’ (Harvey’s term) from lady’s man Zeke (Romany Malco). Kevin Hart, as the soon-to-be-divorced Cedric, provides a counterpoint to the romance with salty comedy.

Director Tim Story juggles the many story lines and characters deftly and although the individual romances are fairly predictable in their outcomes, the charisma of the cast members makes this more entertaining than most ensemble rom-coms. In addition, the skill of this excellent cast humanizes Harvey’s stereotypes and we begin to care about how their relationships will work out.  Plus the verbal jokes are often witty.  While “Think Like a Man”  follows a general formula, it offers a pleasant afternoon at the movies. 4/29/12

Safe - 2 1/2 smiles

I’m a Jason Statham fan who will make an effort to see his latest action movie on its opening weekend. Statham’s films are typically an unapologetic mix of adrenaline and testosterone. They don’t always make a lot of sense, but they’re never boring and they always deliver what action fans expect. However, "Safe" is full of pure viciousness and I’m not sure why. Perhaps writer/director Boaz Yakin creates such a back-story for Statham’s character, Luke, a world-weary ex-cop, that the resulting violence is supposed to seem reasonable. It doesn’t. And Yakin isn’t interested in having long, drawn-out fist fights that end with both combatants bloody but alive. The objective seems to be to elevate Luke’s body count. He can, and does, kill just about every bad guy he encounters. Nonetheless, Statham pretty much plays the roles that he always plays and he does them well.  He’s a bankable action star, which is probably why he’s inherited the Schwarzenegger/Stallone action mantle.

Luke Wright (Statham) becomes the protector of an 11-year-old girl Mei (Catherine Chan), a math prodigy kidnapped from her native China and made to work for a Chinatown mob boss (James Hong). Her job is to keep the mob’s books, in her head. She also memorize a long string of numbers that are part of a code that everyone, including Russian mobsters and crooked cops, want. It’s hard to keep straight who’s double-crossing whom and over what, but, of course, you know that Luke will triumph in the end. Statham’s rough-hewn charisma and physicality sell “Safe.” I just don’t understand why it has to be so brutal. 4/28/12