Holiday Movie Round-up
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
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It’s Complicated
(114 min, rated R)
Ashley Christie
The Commuter
Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin star as Jane and Jake Adler, a happily divorced couple who rekindle their romance one night at their son’s college graduation. The film follows these two as they continue their affair and try to hide it from his wife, her potential new beau (Steve Martin) and their three kids.
“It’s Complicated” is written and directed by Nancy Meyers. If you have seen any of her other films, “The Holiday” or “Something’s Gotta Give” for example, you pretty much know where this standard “rom-com” is going to go before you buy the tickets. It’s not so much complicated as it is predictable.
That being said, “It’s Complicated” is a sweet, good-hearted movie with some genuine laughs that your mom will love. Streep and Baldwin are fantastic, as always, and do their best with a mediocre story.
Sherlock Holmes
(134 min, rated PG-13)
Maya Lazaro
The Commuter
Fists fly in this glamorized look at one of literature’s most memorable detectives. First-time viewers might mistake this movie for “Fight Club” when they see Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) throwing punches and surviving explosions alongside his long-suffering companion Dr. Watson (Jude Law), in an effort to save London from the ambitiously malevolent Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong). Lovers of the original novels need not dissolve in total despair, however, as Holmes retains his characteristic fussiness and obsessive detail-oriented behavior. The only difference is that now, in order to relate to young male audiences who worship at the altar of Chuck Norris, he’s been graced with a six pack, a five-o’clock shadow, and an interest in women. Rachel McAdams’ attempt to play cunning career criminal and Holmes’ love-interest, Irene Adler, is wince-worthy, and the mystery itself is far more bland than it is, well, mysterious. However, if you’re tired of all the “Avatar” hype and want to get a feel for what Robert Downey Jr.’s acting is like when he isn’t strung out on coke, then this film is a winner.
The Princess and the Frog
(95 min, rated G)
Justin Bolger
The Commuter
“The Princess and the Frog” is essentially Disney’s attempt to relive its glory days of 2D animation. There’s the jazz music, the age-old story with a twist, the eccentric characters and the love factor. Pleasant and touching though it was, the animation wasn’t the only aspect of this story that was two-dimensional. It’s nice to look at and the characters are likeable enough, but this is definitely a story for the kiddies.
There is one character, however, that crosses the generation border: Dr. Facilier, the bad guy. Voiced by Keith David, he completely nails all that is great about villainy. In the song “I’ve Got Friends on the Other Side,” the charismatic Facilier puts on a dazzling display rivaling the entrance of the Genie from “Aladdin,” but with the sinister flare of Shadowman voodoo. If only he had more screen time.
All in all, “The Princess and the Frog” doesn’t capture enough classic Disney to cater to nostalgia, but at the same time it’s not quite fresh enough to woo a viewer by any other means.
Avatar
(160 min, rated PG-13)
Justin Bolger
The Commuter
The ingredients for “Avatar” are as follows: the bread and butter of “Dances With Wolves,” the greenery of “Fern Gully,” and just a dash of “Halo” for flavor. James Cameron, the movie’s director and writer, created the kind of gourmet film that comes around just once every couple of decades.
While a bit predictable in story and script, these are driven by a cast of evolving characters and the sensory overload of an entirely new world to experience. Audience members explore the beautiful sights of Pandora’s rich ecosystem and live through the traditions of the Na’vi people right alongside the leading man, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington). The technology used to create the caliber of visuals used in “Avatar” is completely cutting-edge and is sure to push Hollywood toward the next level. My palms would sweat every time the camera would look cliff-side, and I noticed other viewers try to wipe ash from their 3D glasses as the trees burned. Maybe those were tears. Either way, it was awesome.
“Avatar” is the absolute best 3D movie I’ve ever seen. Every human alive should see this movie.
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