Movie Guide
Posted 5/27/09
NEW MOVIES
“Dance Flick” (PG-13). This slapdash comedy is more or less about students at a “Fame”-evocative performing arts high school who become involved in a dance contest, but so many movies are parodied that the movie seems like a desperate attempt to do anything for a laugh. Grade: C- Valley Center 9, Owings Mills 17, Towson Commons 8, Hunt Valley 12, AMC White Marsh
“Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” (PG-13). This crass update of Dickens’ “Christmas Carol” would not please his spirit. Matthew McConaughey plays a hedonistic fashion photographer who is haunted by female spirits who want him to learn mature behavior. Even if you grant it a lot of creative license, this comedy often seems illogical. With Jennifer Garner, Robert Forster, Anne Archer and Michael Douglas. Grade: C Hunt Valley 12, AMC White Marsh, Rotunda Cinema
“Next Day Air” (R). Donald Faison, Mike Epps and Mos Def star in this violent comedy about what happens when a shipment of illegal drugs is delivered to the wrong apartment in Philadelphia. Not every viewer will think the extreme violence is amusing. Grade: C Valley Center 9, Owings Mills 17, Towson Commons 8, AMC White Marsh
“Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian” (PG). Ben Stiller is a former museum guard in this sequel, but he still cares about his beloved museum display figures. When the figures are transferred from New York’s Museum of Natural History to deep storage at Washington’s Smithsonian Institution, he takes action to liberate them. The special effects-laden story is slight, but the non-stop action and pop culture jokes will entertain young audiences. Grade: B Valley Center 9, Owings Mills 17, Towson Commons 8, Hunt Valley 12, AMC White Marsh, Rotunda Cinema
“Obsessed” (PG-13). An aggressively single office temp (Ali Larter) develops a fatal attraction for a happily married business executive (Idris Elba), meaning the stage is set for quite a cat fight between the seductive temp and the outraged wife (Beyonce Knowles). It’s all so formulaic that this melodrama only engenders a dismissive smirk. Grade: C Valley Center 9, Owings Mills 17, Hunt Valley 12, AMC White Marsh
“The Soloist” (PG-13). A Los Angeles journalist (Robert Downey Jr.) writes about and then befriends a homeless man who is a classically trained musician (Jamie Foxx). The sentimental overstatement is mildly vexing, but the inherent strength of the material and two good performances will tug at your heart. Grade: B Valley Center 9, Charles Theatre
“Star Trek” (PG-13). The vintage franchise is rebooted in a sleekly paced, emotionally satisfying story about the earliest days of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Chris Pine as Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock are among the young actors bringing this old series to new life; only Leonard Nimoy in a supporting role as “Spock Prime” serves as a reminder of the original acting crew. Grade: B Valley Center 9, Owings Mills 17, Towson Commons 8, Hunt Valley 12, AMC White Marsh
“Sugar” (R). The leisurely pace mostly works to advantage in this low-key story about a baseball player from the Dominican Republic who comes to the United States with hopes of playing in the major leagues. Grade: B Harbor East Theatre
“Sunshine Cleaning” (R). Although predictably quirky characters and relentlessly ironic humor make for a formulaic black comedy, there’s still enough appeal in this story about two sisters who start a business cleaning up at crime scenes. And there are appealing performances by Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Steve Zahn and Alan Arkin. Grade: B- Charles Theatre
“Terminator Salvation” (PG-13). Humans, machines and combinations of the two are kept busy in this time-hopping, combat-filled sci fi sequel. It’s frantic and noisy in the summer movie tradition. With Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, Helena Bonham Carter and Jane Alexander. Grade: C+ Valley Center 9, Owings Mills 17, Towson Commons 8, Hunt Valley 12, AMC White Marsh
“Tokyo Sonata” (NR). Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (no relation to Akira) oversees this effective melodrama about the consequences for a family when a Japanese worker becomes unemployed as a result of corporate downsizing. Grade: B Charles Theatre
“Tyson” (R). Director James Toback’s documentary about boxer Mike Tyson is very much in the ex-champ’s corner. Although it’s interesting to watch Tyson open up emotionally, the film does not pursue certain aspects of his career in much detail. Grade: B Charles Theatre
“Valentino” (PG-13). Absorbing documentary about the Italian dress designer, whose lavish lifestyle verges on the surreal. It’s fun to eavesdrop on all the fashion shows and parties to which you were not invited. Grade: B Charles Theatre
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (PG-13). The storytelling gets rather convoluted, but this latest sequel still knows how to get the most out of Hugh Jackman’s sharp finger extensions. Although it doesn’t exactly linger in memory, the movie has enough visceral energy to keep you watching. Grade: B- Valley Center 9, Owings Mills 17, Towson Commons 8, Hunt Valley 12, AMC White Marsh
All capsule reviews and grades are by Mike Giuliano unless otherwise noted. Bookings change on Friday. For showtimes and to confirm listings, call the phone-in number in Screen Scene.
"Drag Me to Hell" (PG-13). Not reviewed. Alison Lohman stars in this thriller as an ambitious loan officer who crosses a mysterious old woman regarding house payments with horrific results. Opens Friday, May 29.
"Up" (PG). Not reviewed. Pete Docter and Rob Peterson direct this animated Pixar tale about a 78-year-old man who winds up on an unexpected adventure because of an 8-year-old boys persistence. Opens Friday, May 29.
NOW PLAYING
“Angels and Demons” (PG-13). Tom Hanks returns for this sequel to “The Da Vinci Code,” in which the papal succession plot plunges into preposterous twists. Among the many things to wonder about is how the Hanks character can be an expert on Vatican history and yet be unable to read either Italian or Latin. The frantic story does hold your attention, though, and there are effective supporting performances by Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgard and Armin Mueller-Stahl. Grade: B- Valley Center 9, Owings Mills 17, Towson Commons 8, Hunt Valley 12, AMC White Marsh, Rotunda Cinema“Dance Flick” (PG-13). This slapdash comedy is more or less about students at a “Fame”-evocative performing arts high school who become involved in a dance contest, but so many movies are parodied that the movie seems like a desperate attempt to do anything for a laugh. Grade: C- Valley Center 9, Owings Mills 17, Towson Commons 8, Hunt Valley 12, AMC White Marsh
“Ghosts of Girlfriends Past” (PG-13). This crass update of Dickens’ “Christmas Carol” would not please his spirit. Matthew McConaughey plays a hedonistic fashion photographer who is haunted by female spirits who want him to learn mature behavior. Even if you grant it a lot of creative license, this comedy often seems illogical. With Jennifer Garner, Robert Forster, Anne Archer and Michael Douglas. Grade: C Hunt Valley 12, AMC White Marsh, Rotunda Cinema
“Next Day Air” (R). Donald Faison, Mike Epps and Mos Def star in this violent comedy about what happens when a shipment of illegal drugs is delivered to the wrong apartment in Philadelphia. Not every viewer will think the extreme violence is amusing. Grade: C Valley Center 9, Owings Mills 17, Towson Commons 8, AMC White Marsh
“Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian” (PG). Ben Stiller is a former museum guard in this sequel, but he still cares about his beloved museum display figures. When the figures are transferred from New York’s Museum of Natural History to deep storage at Washington’s Smithsonian Institution, he takes action to liberate them. The special effects-laden story is slight, but the non-stop action and pop culture jokes will entertain young audiences. Grade: B Valley Center 9, Owings Mills 17, Towson Commons 8, Hunt Valley 12, AMC White Marsh, Rotunda Cinema
“Obsessed” (PG-13). An aggressively single office temp (Ali Larter) develops a fatal attraction for a happily married business executive (Idris Elba), meaning the stage is set for quite a cat fight between the seductive temp and the outraged wife (Beyonce Knowles). It’s all so formulaic that this melodrama only engenders a dismissive smirk. Grade: C Valley Center 9, Owings Mills 17, Hunt Valley 12, AMC White Marsh
“The Soloist” (PG-13). A Los Angeles journalist (Robert Downey Jr.) writes about and then befriends a homeless man who is a classically trained musician (Jamie Foxx). The sentimental overstatement is mildly vexing, but the inherent strength of the material and two good performances will tug at your heart. Grade: B Valley Center 9, Charles Theatre
“Star Trek” (PG-13). The vintage franchise is rebooted in a sleekly paced, emotionally satisfying story about the earliest days of the U.S.S. Enterprise. Chris Pine as Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock are among the young actors bringing this old series to new life; only Leonard Nimoy in a supporting role as “Spock Prime” serves as a reminder of the original acting crew. Grade: B Valley Center 9, Owings Mills 17, Towson Commons 8, Hunt Valley 12, AMC White Marsh
“Sugar” (R). The leisurely pace mostly works to advantage in this low-key story about a baseball player from the Dominican Republic who comes to the United States with hopes of playing in the major leagues. Grade: B Harbor East Theatre
“Sunshine Cleaning” (R). Although predictably quirky characters and relentlessly ironic humor make for a formulaic black comedy, there’s still enough appeal in this story about two sisters who start a business cleaning up at crime scenes. And there are appealing performances by Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Steve Zahn and Alan Arkin. Grade: B- Charles Theatre
“Terminator Salvation” (PG-13). Humans, machines and combinations of the two are kept busy in this time-hopping, combat-filled sci fi sequel. It’s frantic and noisy in the summer movie tradition. With Christian Bale, Sam Worthington, Anton Yelchin, Helena Bonham Carter and Jane Alexander. Grade: C+ Valley Center 9, Owings Mills 17, Towson Commons 8, Hunt Valley 12, AMC White Marsh
“Tokyo Sonata” (NR). Japanese director Kiyoshi Kurosawa (no relation to Akira) oversees this effective melodrama about the consequences for a family when a Japanese worker becomes unemployed as a result of corporate downsizing. Grade: B Charles Theatre
“Tyson” (R). Director James Toback’s documentary about boxer Mike Tyson is very much in the ex-champ’s corner. Although it’s interesting to watch Tyson open up emotionally, the film does not pursue certain aspects of his career in much detail. Grade: B Charles Theatre
“Valentino” (PG-13). Absorbing documentary about the Italian dress designer, whose lavish lifestyle verges on the surreal. It’s fun to eavesdrop on all the fashion shows and parties to which you were not invited. Grade: B Charles Theatre
“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” (PG-13). The storytelling gets rather convoluted, but this latest sequel still knows how to get the most out of Hugh Jackman’s sharp finger extensions. Although it doesn’t exactly linger in memory, the movie has enough visceral energy to keep you watching. Grade: B- Valley Center 9, Owings Mills 17, Towson Commons 8, Hunt Valley 12, AMC White Marsh
All capsule reviews and grades are by Mike Giuliano unless otherwise noted. Bookings change on Friday. For showtimes and to confirm listings, call the phone-in number in Screen Scene.
SCREEN SCENE
Charles Theatre
1711 N. Charles St.,
410-727-FILM
Hunt Valley Cinema 12
Shawan Road,
410-329-9800
Maryland Science Center IMAX Theater
410-685-5225
Muvico Egyptian 24
Arundel Mills Boulevard at Route 100,
443-755-8992
Owings Mills 17
Mill Run Circle,
443-394-0081
Rotunda Cinematheque
711 W. 40th St.,
410-235-4800
R/C's Eastpoint Movies 10
7938 Eastern Blvd.,
410-284-3100
Towson Commons 8
York Road at Pennsylvania Avenue,
410-825-5233
Valley Center 9
9616 Reisterstown Road,
410-363-4194
West Nursery 14
Linthicum,
410-850-8999
White Marsh Theatre
White Marsh Boulevard,
410-933-9428
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