Dinner for Schmucks

Dinner for Schmucks introduces us to corporate ambitious Tim (Paul Rudd) and fellow B-rate office trash as the credits start. They watch and gossip about a higher delegate who just lost his job. Enter Tim and his desire to fill some old office shoes.

As Tim (Rudd) finds out he may be on the road to promotion, we find out that when such a situation occurs, the subject has to invite one 'idiot' to dinner to make fun of, as well as all colleagues. Here enters Steve Carell to shine his beacon.

Dinner for Schucks is loaded with scenarios-especially between Carell (Barry) and Rudd-that simply do not work. They are loaded with obvious and ridiculous circumstances that blatantly facilitate Barry's presence around Tim (a person who he just me one day previously) when he should be nowhere near him. There are other ridiculous situations that do not work. Take for example that between Barry and (stalker of Tm) Darla (Lucy Punch) and her interaction with Barry on the first occasion of their meeting.

There are too many stupid lines and characters that do not mould into their dialogue (which could be actors that don't mould their characters-in which case we have bad direction). It is clear that Hollywood is opting for cheap in a recessionary environment. The sets are cheap, the props are cheap and the actors look cheap (note Frank's assistant). Some will laugh, but others, like me, will find it ridiculous and pathetic.

Marmaduke

I had not seen a trailer of Marmaduke before I entered the cinema. I did not know what to expect. I thought, 'oh just another G-rated kids movie', grin and smile for the next two hours and enjoy some of the moments. How wrong I was. As soon as this lovable canine began yapping via the voice of Owen Wilson a large grin came quickly across my face. And it stayed there.

Marmaduke greets us with a typical middle class young family. The father (Lee Pace) works in marketing and has been offered a better job in O.C. land California, working for an organic pet food company. Therein lies the plot sync that his lovable canine sinks into on arrival. We are introduced to a world of talking dogs that inhabit the park of the father's (Phil's) new boss Don Twombley (William H. Macy). While filfilling the prototypical characters that go into a conflictual plot where one side battles against the other, these dogs never lose their charm.

Marmaduke is highly entertaining. Containing an all-star voice-over cast including Keifer Sutherland (Bosco) and Steve Coogan (Raisin), your kids will love it from start to finish-and so will you. Great stuff.

The Expendables

The Expendables studies washed-up, black-souled ex-marines who have known nothing but fighting wars all their life. With an all-star cast including Sly Stallone, Bruce Willis, and the first big screen return since becoming the governator-Arnold Shwarzeneger-we are caught within a simple plot: a fellow American is trying to exploit Mexicans. The expendables are therefore on another mission.

Directed by and starring Stalone, the Expendables is the most cliched, one-liner shoot 'em up of the year. Firmly heterosexual, below intelligent males will wallow in its trash. The rest of us will suffer the cringe-worthy dialogue and in the end be impressed by the action-packed explosives that never seem to stop. My favourite lines include: 'looking for a makeover pretty boy?', and 'Next time I bust all your balls' (after stabbing a fellow American's basketball which lies about his chest as he lays on the ground).

The Expendables is the most violent movie I have seen this year-and that's breaking some records. if you are not susceptible to gore I suggest you leave the cinema now. While its fight scenes and choreographed explosives are genuinely impressive, there are too many times (mostly in the first half) when too many Mexicans (working for the exploiter American) outnumber the Expendibles with too many guns-and yet the Expendables break every bone in their opponents body and possibly sever every artery and muscle along the ways. Sly must think more as a director.

The Expendables is a cliched script and very violent but it is enjoyable for those who enjoy the genre.

Piranha 3D

Piranha 3D is set in the midst of a 'spring break' extravaganza, where young middle class Americans have come to break free from grades and lectures. It's just a shame that underneath them lies a mesolithic lake, covered up for two million years by volcanic determination. Oh, and thousands of killer piranhas have survived all this time by eating each other and now they're about to escape. Do I hear a jaws ripoff? Yes.

I expected Piranha 3D to be outright slapstick. But it isn't-except for its ending. Director Alexandre Aja has turned a thin plot into a film that keeps you engaged. Continuous action and quality performances from Julie Forester (Elizabeth), Jerry O' Connell (Derrick Jones) and Christopher Lloyd (Mr. Goodman) strengthens this teenage romp from the outset. And I do mean romp. The executive producers have clearly gone for the safety net: female nudity and big boobs a-plenty. And it works. All elements survive to ensure that testosterone-filled fifteen year old males will fill cinema seats across the world and ensure a big return on investment.

If you like gore you'll love it. If you like slapstick humour and naked girls you'll like it even more. I enjoyed this film but the ending is its downfall. I would also argue in favour of an 18 rating. Full frontal female nudity usually peaks in around here. Me thinks the producers paid their way into a 16 cert.

Salt

Salt is an action packed spy-thriller conjured up by talented writer Kurt Wimmer. It follows Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie), a CIA secret agent. She has been set up as a Russian spy by an unknown agitator. Desperate to find her husband, Salt is on a mission to secure her husband's safety. She is also on a mission to stop a Russian spy from killing the Russian presiden. This information is divulged by the same Russian suspect that matched her name as the name of the Russian spy on her/his way to kill the president of Russia in the first place. Make sense?

Salt is an action-packed thriller that is worth the cinema ticket and entertains to the end. While not packing as much tech savvy as the Bourne series, this script makes up for it in continuous twists. Salt could give jason Bourne a run for his money in the action stakes, however. (Note the scene where Jolie drives a police truck off a bridge to escape). Jolie is great, the stunts are great and fight scenes impressive. Four stars.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice

The Sorcerer's Apprentice is another example of recent films that completely took me by surprise. I expected cliched sorcery aplenty. There is something deeply original about this film by producer Jerry Bruchheimer that had me hooked from the start.

The Sorcerer's Apprentice encompasses a scenario involving three of Merlin's (aka ancient medieval wizard's) apprentices from 700 A.D. whose relations with Merlin went awry in different ways. This good against evil history-narrated in the first two minutes of the feature-prepares the way for a contemporary New York that contains the heir of Merlin's bloodline and the only person who can ward off the evil destruction simmering nearby: a nerdy physics major at NYU-Dave (Jay Baruchel). Balthazar (Nicholas Cage) discovers the boy redeemer at long last and engages in a mighty battle against Maxim Horvath (Alfred Molina).

The manner in which Director John Turteltaub enraptures medieval characters into the contemporary is quite unique and yet I can't quite describe why i was enraptured. The script dialogue and narrative are very sharp and coherent respectively. I was not cringing at all of this wizardry a la Harry Potter. Perhaps it's because I was surprised by the unexpected scenarios of events that took place-not to mention the spectacular special effects. The Sorcerer's Apprentice is a movie with a narrative where the actors and occurences do not stop from the very beginning.

Its production design is also very smart. The interiors of New York magician Drake Stone (Toby Kebbell-who befriends Maxim Horvath) can best be described as a mix between Buckingham Palace and Studio 54. Action-packed, compelling stuff with astonishing post production. The Sorcerer's Apprentice is an expensive movie and I highly recommend it. Then again my film companion had a completely opposite opinion.

The Karate Kid

The Karate Kid is yet another rehash of a famed Hollywood movie that tries to capitalise on the success of its predecessor and fails. The newest installation greets us with Dre Parker (Jayden Pinkett-Smith-aka son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett) and Jackie Chan (Mr. Han). This time Dre (Pinkett-Smith) arrives with his narrative mother in Hong Kong due to her employment relocation to a car factory in Hong Kong.

Soon we realise there are three threads to this movie: 1) Dre is enamoured by a pretty Chinese school girl who reciprocates his feelings; 2) He is also chased by school bullies who try to make hi life hell; and 3) A growing relationship with Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) facilitates the Kung Fu revenge towards the school bullies on Dre's part. The three narratives (which attempt to roll into one) are not cohesive and are badly directed. A good editor would also have halved the waiting time we must undergo before we meet the new mentor for Pinkett-Smith (Perhaps, however, this was the decision of the director).

There are captivating moments in this film and the acting is top notch. jackie Chan is great-as is the extremely talented Pinkett Smith who will have no trouble following in his parents footsteps.

The Karate Kid is a children's movie and will appeal in sensibility to such a demographic. This remains a conscious shift from its previous installation. This is a watchable film but the narrative threads-in pace and sensibility-do not come together to reveal the film structure as a whole. If you want to bring the kids along-by all means-they will love it. if you are trying to relive the 80s hype over the first offering-I advise a serious rain-check.

Knight and day

Knight and day encompasses all the attributes that should make a Hollywood blockbuster great: Cameron Diaz, Tom Cruise and an A-list director. From the time we realise that Diaz (June Havens) is under the fancy of a crazed ex-CIA assassin (Cruise) and that they have many action-packed scenarios to overcome together in this action-packed script, this should be all we need to make this a blockbuster. But it's not convincing. The action scenarios are not a patch on Jason Bourne's thrift-not that they are necessarily meant to be; but when an audience has seen such execution standards a director must keep in mind the level of expectation from his cinema goers. The lack of continued momentum is another issue. Yes we realise that the script contains romantic gaps that fit the love story but it doesn't mean the film needs to lack continued direction. Cruise's acting is another fault. Yes, we know he is Tom Cruise, but an actor that smiles during scenarios he should know not to smile in needs a director to give him a mighty slap across the chops. Perhaps that is the problem. Director James Mangold must push his cast to higher levels (or at least take some tips from William Friedkin). This is a good movie but it could have been pushed to become better. I'm sure it'll still be a hit and I'm sure we'll see more installations if the ending is anything to go by....

The A Team

The A-team is the latest in a long line of Hollywood remakes that appear recession-proof. But forgive me for being so cynical. This adaptation of the hit 1980s TV series is right on the money and up there with the best Hollywood blockbusters. With an all-star cast including Liam Neeson (Hannibal), Bradley Cooper (Face), Quintin 'Rampage' jackson (B.A.), Sharlto Copley (Murdock) and Jessica Biel as the military temptress we are on a course of action-packed lunacy from the soldiers that specialise in the ridiculous. And soldiers they are. As an exclusive force involved in an Iraq war-inspired scenario, the A-Team is action packed. The scenarios of these ridiculous boys are also more clever and unexpected than your average cinema-goer would expect. I'm sure we can expect to see more. Well worth the cinema ticket.

Toy Story 3

It's a well-known fact in screen-writing that Aristotle's 'Poetics' has structured many principles that still remain in Hollywood screenplays to this day. One of these conventions remains making characters bad in order for them to appeal to the masses on a greater level.

There is something dark and classically Aristotelian in this flawless film. But then how could it be otherwise since it is originating from the Spielberg laboratory.

Its constant action is another 'Poetics' convention that makes the script so smooth. In fact, the characters motives and plot points as well as follow on actions and desires are so well interwoven it is not surprising that this has been such a box office hit.

Containing again an all-star cast headed by Tom Hanks (Woody), Tim Allen (Buzz Light Year) and Whoopi Goldberg (Stretch) to name a few, we are now living in an era when Tommy (owner of the toys) is heading for college. Such is the time that has spanned since we were first enthralled by the stunning computer animation of the first installation. However, this time the toys are being moved to a nursery in order to find new children to play with them. It is here that the action begins.

The nursery is the setting for a classic narrative tale where conflict ensues between one side opposing the other. The older boys-lead by Lotso (Ned Beatty)-wish for the new toys to remain in the nursery section where the children most physically tamper with and abuse the toys in order that they may stay in an area occupied by harmless infants.This plot, while grippingly proves Aristotle's theories-grows ever darker and possibly beyond the point of suitable for children.

Toy Story 3 has one of the the best scripts, most polished acting, flawless animation, clear-cut post-production video and audio and best scores of any film you will see this year. Just don't bring children that are easily frightened. Five stars.

The Jones's

The Jones's is a satire on modern consumerism as told through a phony family who work for in marketing in a very empirical sense. Starring Demi Moore and David Duchovny, The Jones's is one of the smartest movies to come out of Hoyllwood this year and has not-in this writer's opinion-received enough credit by far. Duchovny and Moore head a family who mingle in their new community in order to display new products to their 'friends' unconsciously through parties, golfing trips and plain old boring school. With a marketing executive monitoring the sales in the town of each family member, we are encountering a microcosm criticism of the modern American material emphasis through this script by Bork and Tinzler. It is only when Jones' (Duchovny) neighbour commits suicide because he cannot keep up with the expensive items Jones seems to keep purchasing that we realise the inhuman impact material consumption can have when emphasis is put only on consumerism and not the consumer. The plot crumbles for the Jones's following the tragedy. To tell you more is to give the plot away. I did not expect much from this what seemed a run of the milll middle class American comedy-drama. How wrong I was. The Jones's is an original gem and highly recommended.

Inception

Inception is a film about the ability to steal people's thoughts by tapping into their dreams and making it seem the dreams are real to the person having them. Leonardo di Caprio plays the main highjacker of such events. He seeks ro unveil a deadly plot; but in the process unravels that which haunts his subconscious most: the death of his wife. In the midst of this plot, DiCaprio and his colleagues enter further into different dream levels from the previous supposed reality. The fact that each time a dream is entered the seeming time is multiplied many times over so that many days (for example) can happen within a few minutes within the previous layer, which buys much time for DiCaprio and his comrades. The deeper DiCaprio enters into more dream levels the more times with his deceased wife seem real and the more fragile and threatened the entire operation becomes. Inception is a very good film with great performances from all cast. it is also an exceptional script. A lot of time and locations have gone into this movie-not to mention extensive and very skilled post-production effects. Inception is a very good film but it is not The matrix and do not expect to be wowed as such-despite what the hype may tell you; but it is worth a cinema ticket. DiCaprio is-as always-a very good actor. I just long for the day he plays a different part.

Get him to the Greek

Get him to the Greek is a story of sex, drugs and rock n' roll that tries to aspire to greater films in this genre and be funny. Greek is the story of a young music industry employee (Jonan Hill) who tries to resurrect the career of a rock n' roll celebrity (Russel Brand). He does this in order to raise much-needed revenue for the record company he works for. His boss also just happens to be P Diddy. Get Him to The Greek contains poor acting (with the exception perhaps of Jonah Hill), scenarios that do not fit the characters created (take the scenario of Jonah's wife-a sweet doctor-who agrees to a threesome with Hill and Brand) and the script needs to be re-written-with a better plot. The director also needs to hire actors who can act (i.e. not Sean Puffy Combs). Get him to the Greek is a poor film but if you like looking at Russel Brand's chest-be my guest.

Shrek: Forever After

Shrek: Forever After, is sadly the last in the line of some of the funniest animated series (and characters) to come out of Hollywood in recent years. After Shrek2 rivalled the first installation we were let down by the mediocre plot and pranks in the third tale; but Shrek has come to reclaim his throne-at least until Rumple Stiltskin stumbles in. The schemer advances on the chance to change one day in the heir's life. Fatherhood and kingdom responsibilities have become too much for Shrek Shrek: Forever After boasts an all-star cast and the sharpest parodies of our favourite fairy-tale characters yet. With again-stunning 3D computer animation, post-production effects and post-production sound, you are in for a treat fit for a king. You may even cry when you realise it's all over.