The Heartbreak Kid
Considering that There's Something about Mary (1998) is Ben Stiller's only real successful romantic comedy--and female star power, like Jennifer Anniston (Along came Polly got no love from critics) and Drew Barrymore (Duplex made $9 mil) aren't incentives--you'd probably wonder why he keeps trying to conquer the genre. In this film, he plays a terminal bachelor who is suddenly realizing that all of his friends are getting married and he's going to die alone and pathetic. (He must've been inspired by his friend Owen Wilson.) Alas, one day he meets the perfect blond (Malin Akerman from "The Comeback") who's everything he could hope for. Unfortunately, the honeymoon-period ends on their honeymoon, since the idiot marries her after 6 weeks. There he learns that she used to do drugs and is a violent sleeper, among other bizarre and terrifying revelations. It's only then that Stiller's character, Eddie, meets the "real" girl of his dreams, Miranda (Michelle Monaghan from Mission Impossible III). Now he has to figure out how to lose the loon and press the reset button on his love life. You can always count on pratfalls and slapstick when it comes to Stiller, so enjoy that lovely 3rd grade humor and make sure to point and laugh.
The Seeker: The Dark is Rising
If the appearance of another children's fantasy adaptation annoys you, then stop watching Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia and maybe they'll stop making them. This one is a 60s/70s novel about an eleven-year-old boy (sound familiar? Harry Potter was 11 when he started), Will Stanton (newcomer Alexander Ludwig), who learns that he is "an Old One, destined to wield the powers of The Light in an ancient struggle with The Dark." To be "an Old One" would suggest that there are others like you, but it turns out he's the last of those immortal warriors. Being the "seventh son of the seventh son" he can travel through time, summon great strength, and move things with his mind, all of which will help him save the world. Gregory Smith ("Everwood") plays one of his brothers if that entices you. But the director and screenwriter are new to the fantasy world and have created a realistic production that might not capture the imaginations of children. Then again, there is magic and that's all you really need.
Feel the Noise
With the underground success of dance films like Stomp the Yard (made $61 mil), Step Up (made $65 mil), and Take the Lead ($34 mil), it's only natural that studio execs would greenlight Jennifer Lopez's third production endeavor--2nd that has to do with music, El Cantante being the first. R&B artist Omarion takes his first lead role in this teen music drama. He plays a kid who wants to become a rapper, but gets caught up in street drama when a couple of South Bronx thugs shoot at him. So his mom sends him to Puerto Rico to live with the father he never knew. In the process, he learns about the history and passion behind Reggaeton and strives to bring it to the next level. Unfortunately, to do so he'll have to return to New York and risk his life. The fact that Victor Rasuk (Lords of Dogtown) is playing his step brother adds a little credibility to this ghetto-indie. And let's be honest, any movie that shows the power of music has the potential for greatness.
The Good Night
Jake Paltrow--yes, that Paltrow--makes his feature film directorial and screenwriting debut with this introspective into the life of a man, Gary (Martin Freeman from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy), who is in a loveless marriage (with Gwyneth Paltrow, who begged to be in her little brother's film) and goes to sleep every night with the hopes of seeing the girl in his dreams, Anna (Penelope Cruz). Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz) plays Gary's obnoxious best friend and Danny DeVito (whose 24 year old daughter Lucy makes an appearance) plays his dream analyzer. The twist is that there's a chance Anna could be real, since there's a model named Melodia walking around with her face. But will his infatuation translate to real life or will she burst his unrealistic little bubble? Jake, however, tries to answer two life-altering questions: Why wake up when your dreams are better? and How do you make your dreams a reality? I'm sure his answers will be truly existential and inconclusive. ;)
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