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You are browsing the archive for Family.

All Things Fall Apart (2011) – Review

February 22, 2012 in Drama, Family, Reviews

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3 1/2 Stars

Curtis ’50 Cent’ Jackson sheds his tough guy persona to portray a college football star suddenly brought to his knees from cancer. It’s a startling transformation the rapper turned actor has made in losing a reported 40lbs to play the title role, in a fictional story he co-scripted with Brian A. Miller. I have been of the opinion that Jackson is an underrated screen talent and here when paired against the class acts of Lynn Whitfield and Mario Van Peebles, he holds his own. That this tale of tragedy and quasi-redemption is any good is even more surprising.
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Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace 3D (2012) – Review

February 20, 2012 in Action, Family, Reviews, SciFi

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3 Stars

To 3d or not to see? That is the 12 dollar question for most casual moviegoers. The answer is …sort of. If you already harbor a disdain for this episode then no amount of visual trickery is going to change your mind. The negative critical reaction that greeted Phantom Menace when it premiered in May 1999 was as venomous as any in recent memory. Fanboys turned their back on the venerable franchise and focused their attention on the ‘fresh’ ideas presented by The Matrix.
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Jack and Jill (2011) – Review

February 20, 2012 in Comedy, Family, Reviews

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1 1/2 Stars

The newest Adam Sandler vehicle cast the popular comedian in dual roles. Playing both a male and female character, Sandler goes the route of other comedians like Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence and Dustin Hoffman in playing a homely woman. However in this instance his alter-ego Jill is a Jewish New Yorker prone to negativity and constant befuddlement with technology and Southern California culture. Sandler speaks in a nasally high pitch that recalls the voice he used on his platinum selling comedy album They’re All Going to Laugh at You back before he was a movie star.
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Midnight Chronicles (2010) – Review

February 2, 2012 in Action, Family, Horror, Reviews, SciFi

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2 1/2 Stars

Midnight Chronicles is a curiously low-key, yet ambitiously mounted medieval drama with the complex mythology of a cable miniseries mixed with the off beat style of David Lynch’s eccentric Dune adaptation. Audience members not familiar with the source material may not recognize this film as having an association to the Dungeons and Dragons role playing game Midnight. It’s telling that the producers didn’t use the D&D moniker anywhere in the title. Perhaps it was a conscious effort to distance this movie from the horrendous previous films that have fallen under that banner. Whatever the case, Midnight Chronicles is a better picture that strains to tell its elaborate story within the limitations of its obviously inadequate budget.
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Legend of the Sea (2012) – Review

January 26, 2012 in Family, Reviews

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3 Stars

Legend of the Sea is a Korean animated film that has been kicking about for a while before being recast with American actors in a bid to cash in on some of that lucrative childrens’ home video market. The fact that it’s a charming little sucker with cute touches like a prawn army that makes up the imperial guard only adds to it’s offbeat appeal. The Eastern Sea has been peaceful under the reign of the Dragon King, that’s about to change when the evil octopus Ocho is freed from her banishment and unleashes her vengence upon the kingdom. Draco, the prince, is the only one who knows of her plans and leaps into action to stop her. The story also involves the search for and protection of a luminous pearl. The theme is one of peace and prosperity, if you missed that, don’t worry the characters chant that very phrase no less than five times in the closing scenes.
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Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010) – Review

December 8, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews

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3 1/2 Stars

Recently I reviewed the new release Batman: Year One and praised its handsome animation techniques and efficient adult level storytelling, in short I proclaimed it the best feature to ever come out of the DC Comics studio. My colleague Trevor Anderson urged me to take a look at Batman: Under the Red Hood before I made such a bold proclamation. So I did and he was correct in the recommendation. If Year One played in the similar territory established by the Nolan directed Batman films, than Under the Red Hood is inspired by the darkness of Burton’s take on the character and the wall to wall action and abundance of villains from the Schumacher chapters.
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Batman: Year One (2011) – Review

November 29, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews

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4 Stars

After the dismal Green Lantern: Emerald Knights, DC Comics animated division is back with perhaps their greatest release to date. Taking its script from the seminal 1987 comic series penned by Frank Miller this very adult tale is the cartoon equivalent to Nolan’s Batman films. It’s a dark, somewhat nihilistic journey filled with brutality and moments of high drama. Some viewers may be disappointed in the lack of screen-time for the Dark Knight, but those familiar with the source material already know this is essentially a origins story of James Gordon not Bruce Wayne. I have no problem with Batman being sidelined for a gritty tale of police corruption in the Gotham police department. Gordon is a true bad-ass as he fights off dirty cops, a commissioner on the take and a town overrun with crime.
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Avatar (2009) – Review

November 1, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews, SciFi

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4 Stars

James Cameron’s first film in 12 years is a mesmerizing experience filled with some of the most visually brilliant images to have ever graced the big-screen. Riding in on a tidal wave of hype and expectations Avatar manages to meet and surpass any preconceived assumptions. Cameron single handily reinvigorated the 3D format in creating an immersive and stunning visual design, with a story that lends itself to indulgences in ‘showy’ sequences. The taming of a wild bird and the battle to save an ancient tree are just a few of the amazing set pieces in this long but briskly paced Sci-fi epic.
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Green Lantern: Emerald Knights (2011) – Review

September 3, 2011 in Family, Reviews

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1/2 Star

Marvel Comics might reign at the box office these days but DC Comics has consistently produced the better animated spin-offs. That longstanding tradition has been shattered with the release of Green Lantern: Emerald Knights a dull and disjointed animated cartoon that will bore kids and confound fanboys. Staying fairly loyal to the source material the story highlights the origins of five members of the Green Lantern Corps. Interwoven with an overall arc that chronicles the struggles between the current crop of Lanterns and a demoniod space monster bent on destruction.
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The Flintstones (1994) – Review

August 5, 2011 in Comedy, Family, Reviews

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3 Stars

This live action big budget spectacular is probably the best adaptation that could be made from a one joke cartoon series that mocked domestic traditions and corporate politics in America during the 1950s. John Goodman is perfect in the lead role as Fred Flintstone loyal employee at the gravel pit and best friend to his coworker and sidekick Barney Ruble (Moranis). Also well cast are Rosie O’Donnell and Elizabeth Perkins as Wilma and Betty their spot on impersonation any very amusing. Admittedly the film is aimed at the young set whom are likely to eat it up, the colors are vibrant the tone is pleasant and the jokes are smart enough to amuse older audience members as well.
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Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) – Review

July 27, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews

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3 Stars

Kevin Costner is Robin Hood in this dark and somewhat depressing tale that is both a film of its time and years ahead of it. Forgoing any sense of joy or light sources this revisionist take on the man who lives in Sherwood Forest is enjoyable on its base level and the performances, namely Alan Rickman’s Sheriff make up for the rough patches in the screenplay. Turning its back on the wonderful Errol Flynn film 1939s The Adventures of Robin Hood, Costner’s version is more akin to the rebooted Batman Begins in tone and atmosphere. Aspiring to expose the pain and witchcraft elements of the source material is a progressive idea (especially in 1991) that both benefits and hinders the film on several occasions. Read the rest of this entry →

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) – Review

July 22, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews, SciFi

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4 Stars

The latest from Marvel Studios is a true gem. A rip roaring good time with knowing nods to Raiders of The Lost Ark, Star Wars and countless Marvel characters. Square jawed Chris Evans is perfectly cast as Steve Rodgers, a 90 pound weakling too fragile to enlist in the war effort. Until his dogged determination and inner courage gain him admission into the service and propel him as front runner for a highly secret experiment to morph men into ‘Superheroes’. Dr. Abraham Erskine (touchingly played by Stanley Tucci) a German scientist now working with the US Military is the first to spot the potential in the undersized Rodgers. However it proves far tougher to persuade Colonel Phillips (an underused Tommy Lee Jones) that the best man for the job isn’t the best soldier. Read the rest of this entry →

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) – Review

July 15, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews, SciFi

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3 1/2 Stars

Spanish Director Alfonso Cuaron’s crack at the Harry Potter series results in a rousing good time that is notably darker and far more serious than previous installments. This time around Harry and his cohorts Hermonie and Ron are thrust into a plot that sees them fighting off floating spirits and escaped convicts in the continuing battle against Lord Voldermort and his heathens. Deviating from the (relative) innocence and bright colored platte established by Chris Columbus and his crew over the first two films, Prisoner of Azkaban is void of sunlight or any vibrant images. The entire film has a hazy, overcast sheen that cast it’s leads in pale hues. The colors become so washed out it virtually becomes a black and white film for long stretches. Which is appropriate given the power struggle between forces of good and evil that dominates the majority of the picture.
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Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) – Review

July 15, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews, SciFi

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3 1/2 Stars

Chamber of Secrets is the magnificent second entry in the Potter series and ranks amongst the upper rungs in the franchise. Truly spellbinding moments are aplenty such as the tree that comes alive and batters a marooned car, a plant root that has the power to cause death from it’s scream when uprooted, an angry letter that reads itself aloud to the recipient, giant talking spiders and leagues more.The clear-line screenplay by returning writer Steve Kloves does a superb job of deepening existing conflicts while opening up the world of Harry Potter by introducing secondary characters and darker themes only hinted at in the first picture. Wonderful cast addition Jason Isaacs and Kenneth Branagh are great fun in two very different roles. Isaacs who’s made a career playing bad guys is Lucius Malfoy father of Harry’s nemesis at Hogwarts academy, his menacing delivery is so approiatly used he becomes a very intimidating character amidst the otherwise lightweight shenanigans of a children’s film. Branagh’s pompous celebrity writer/teacher is one of the most amusing characters in the entire Potter universe. Read the rest of this entry →

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone (2001) – Review

July 15, 2011 in Family, Reviews, SciFi

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3 Stars

The inaugural Harry Potter adventure Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone is a fun ride filled with dazzling production design and bursting at the seams with imagination. The world of Potter and specifically Hogwarts Academy is beautifully realized by director Chris Columbus. Himself a veteran director and an authority on how to make child actors stars (Home Alone, The Goonies, etc.), Columbus employes a style that closely resembles that of his mentor, Steven Spielberg. In fact if one didn’t know better you’d have thought that Spielberg may have had a hand in the proceedings. Read the rest of this entry →

Green Lantern (2011) – Review

July 6, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews, SciFi

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2 1/2 Stars

Green Lantern is the latest superhero to get the blockbuster treatment in a mass marketed studio tent-pole release. It has all the elements one has come to expect from this type of fare, breathtaking special effects, a corny human interest subplot and an appropriately rousing score pulsating on the soundtrack. You can rest assured Lantern has all three. What it’s lacking is any reason for the audience to care about a single character in the story. A funny word kept popping into my mind as I watched the film; outlandish. This film is full of so many ridiculous sights that credulity is stretched early on and then eviscerated within the first ten minutes. Audiences willing to accept the absurd nature of the picture may find joy in the ‘outlandish’ aspects of this peculiar D.C. Comics adaption. Green Lantern is so joyfully absurd it may turn out to be a ‘cult classic’ in years to come. For now it ranks as one of the great ‘guilty pleasures’ of recent times. Read the rest of this entry →

Thor: Tales of Asgard (2011) – Review

June 29, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews

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3 Stars

Marvel Studios may be the powerhouse at the cinema these days but it’s animation department has been trailing behind the excellent work from rival D.C. Comics for years. The trend has finally been reversed with the release of Thor: Tales of Asgard a handsomely drawn animated tale with enough subtle adult humor to keep the attention of even the most casual of fans. This straightforward tale is full of action and moves briskly through it’s brief (for a feature) seventy minute running-time.
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Batman & Robin (1997) – Review

June 22, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews

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2 1/2 Stars

This critical reviled entry isn’t nearly as bad as you’ve heard and I actually prefer it to the third film Batman Forever. Returning to the director’s chair is Joel Schumacher whom shows no restraint in creating another visually stunning film of little substance. It’s the cinematic equivalent of junk food; tasty as hell but empty and lacking in value. Arnold Schwarzenegger is the biggest name in the cast (and received top-billing) as the egg-headed villain Mr. Freeze. Throughout his career Schwarzenegger had been know for his ironic catchphrases and they have become part of pop culture phenomenon. However the script here by Oscar winner Akiva Goldsman (A Beautiful Mind) is laced with so-many lame lines that Schwarzenegger becomes more of a distraction.
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Wild Wild West (1999) – Review

June 22, 2011 in Action, Comedy, Family, Reviews, SciFi

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2 Stars

Fresh off the box office smash Men In Black director Barry Sonnenfeld and star Will Smith re-teamed for this big-screen revival of the beloved television show. All of the major creative forces behind MIB are employed here yet oddly Wild Wild West lacks everything that made the previous collaboration so amusing; namely a funny script and sense of comedic timing. Too many lame joke courtesy of a limp-dick script credited to writers S.S. Wilson, Brent Maddock, Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman lay flat on the screen to the point of actually feeling sorry for the talented actors.
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Captain America (1990) – Review

June 20, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews, SciFi

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2 Stars

After the massive international success of the Batman pictures Cannon studios jumped on the superhero bandwagon and pumped out this enjoyable low-budget film based on the venerable Marvel Comics character. Matt Salinger (grandson of the infamous author) is quite good in the title role, his awe-shucks innocence is put to good use. Cadet Steve Rodgers is transformed from a weakling into the super-solider known as ‘Capt. America’ in order to battle the Nazi’s and their maniacal leader ‘Red Skull’. After being captured on his inaugural mission and promptly strapped to a missile that lands in the frozen tundra of Alaska, Capt. America is frozen alive for nearly 50 years before thawing out and re-entering the world. This portion of the picture plays like an early version of the Mel Gibson film Forever Young.
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Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) – Review

May 16, 2011 in Family, Reviews

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3 1/2 Stars

‘Pirates’ is a highly entertaining mix of humor and swashbuckling action. Defying the odds uber-producer Jerry Brucheimer took on the project after years of failed attempts at converting the concept into a film; then entrusting director Gore Verbinski to craft a picture of immense beauty and astonishing technical wizardry. Yet all would be for not without the stand-out central performance by Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow, the sexually ambiguous pirate. Depp’s comedic timing and unique look are assets that rarely have been exploited to the effect they are here. His shtick is so amusing that OSCAR voters took notice and nominated him for Best Actor that year. Read the rest of this entry →

Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man’s Chest (2006) – Review

May 16, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews

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2 1/2 Stars

‘Dead Man’s Chest’ is a plot heavy meandering sequel that owes more than a bit story-wise to‘Empires Strikes Back’. Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley are all back but the freshness and humor that made the original so appealing is largely missing here. However the CGI and technical craftsmanship on display is admittedly staggering. This installment is darker in tone than the first film and lacks a rooting interest for the audience, even Depp’s antics aren’t quite as charming. Read the rest of this entry →

Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World’s End (2007) – Review

May 16, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews

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1 1/2 Stars

The final chapter in the ‘Pirates‘ trilogy is just as bloated and confusing as the previous installment. Lacking a compelling story yet stuffed to the gills with special effects, and whimsical nonsense ‘At World’s End’ is far worse than ‘Dead Man’s Chest’. Even the welcomed return of Geoffery Rush as Capt. Barbossa and the addition of Chow Yun Fat to the cast can’t save this bore. Clocking in at two hours and fifty minutes this entry suffers from the same excessive length and overkill that seems to be a hallmark of the series.
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Hurricane Season (2009) – Review

May 9, 2011 in Drama, Family, Reviews

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2 Stars

Oscar winner Forest Whitaker’s fine performance is the main reason to see ‘Hurricane Season’, shot in 2009 but delayed for several years by the Weinstein Company. The film was originally intended to be a theatrical premiere but due to the producers bankruptcy it received a quiet straight to dvd premiere. While technically proficient in all aspects the movie feels like it has been recut for maximum appeal to it’s obvious demographic. The film chronicles the trials that face Al Collins (Whitaker), a high school basketball coach in Marrero, Louisiana. A year after Hurricane Katrina’s decimation of New Orleans, Collins sets out to assemble a team of players from five surrounding schools, all of which had been destroyed in the disaster. Read the rest of this entry →

Superman Returns (2006) – Review

April 21, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews, SciFi

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2 1/2 Stars

After the success of ‘Batman Begins’ Warner Bros. dug into their vault and decided it was time to reboot the Superman franchise. Enlisting ‘X-Men’ director Bryan Singer to craft the picture from a script by his frequent collaborators Michael Doughtery and Dan Harris may have seemed like a good idea on paper. However in practice Singer has delivered a brooding, joyless comic-book picture that feels vaugely reminiscent of the Christopher Reeve ‘Superman’ movies but with none of the heart or sense of awe those earlier films possessed. Brandon Routh, a controversial choice for the title role, underplays his character leaving the over-the-top theatrics to Kevin Spacey in his portrayal as arch-villain Lex Luthor.
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HOP (2011) – Review

April 12, 2011 in Comedy, Family, Reviews

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2 Stars

A colorful live-action/ CGI hybrid in the mold of the ‘Alvin’ films of recent years. This strangely off-beat children’s tale is a film of immense technical wizardry and moderate pleasures. Russell Brand makes for a surprisingly appealing voice-actor. Mouthing the lines of the lead character appropriately named ‘E.B.’, teenage son of the Easter Bunny. Dad wants E.B. to take over the family business; supplying candy to children on Easter. However E.B has big musical aspirations and heads to Hollywood looking to fulfill his dreams of becoming a professional drummer. Its here he meets Fred (James Marsden) a 37 year old unemployed layabout still living at his parents.
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Iron Man (2008) – Review

April 5, 2011 in Action, Family, Reviews, SciFi

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4 Stars

One of the best and most consistently surprising superhero films of all-time. Laced with a ton of CGI spectacle and a sardonic wit, this highly entertaining comic book adaptation has enough humor to keep fan-boys and newbies equally riveted. Robert Downy Jr. fits well into the egotistical persona of billionaire war profiteer Tony Stark. After being held captive in an Arabic country by a terrorist cell and forced to build weapons, Stark uses his available resources to assemble an armored suit that effectively becomes his mode of escape. Once freed and safely back home, Tony has a crisis of conscious and begins a quest of disarmament around the world.
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Tarzan (1999) – Review

April 5, 2011 in Family, Reviews

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3 Stars

A charming and sumptuous looking animated feature from Walt Disney studios, which should take it’s place along such modern classics as ‘Little Mermaid’ and ‘Aladdin’. Based on the novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the story involves the up bring of Tarzan, an orphaned human baby raised amongst a pack of Gorilla’s in the wild jungles of Africa. All is idyllic until wildlife hunters show up looking to capture an ape. Burroughs story has been re-worked Disney-style, thereby losing some of it’s emotional impact. Read the rest of this entry →

Sinbad- Legend of the Seven Seas (2003) – Review

April 1, 2011 in Family, Reviews

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3 1/2 Stars

A minor but attractive animated feature from DreamWorks studios, featuring an all star cast headlined by Brad Pitt and Catherin Zeta Jones. Overlooked at the time of its theatrical release and unfairly compared to ‘Finding Nemo’ which premiered just a few weeks before, this brief and highly enjoyable adventure tale is likely to amuse parents and kids alike. The story focuses on the plight of Sinbad to rescue a magical book that has been stolen by the evil goddess aries. If he doesn’t return with the book in hand within ten days his childhood friend will face the guillotine. The high-tech production fuses hand-drawn animation and CGI effects to create an impressive look, the story involves a trio of creative characters, yet the screenplay by OSCAR winner John Logan(Gladiator,Any Given Sunday) is essentially banal.
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The Game Plan (2007) – Review

February 23, 2011 in Comedy, Family, Reviews

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1 1/2 Stars

Despite the efforts and charm of Dwayne Johnson this Walt Disney production is lackluster in every way. An unoriginal premise is recycled yet again resulting in a laugh less affair, which should amuse 10 year olds and not many others. Joe Kingman (Johnson) is the star quarterback for the Boston Rebels and the town’s most eligible bachelor. That’s until the appearance of a little girl claiming to be his daughter from a long forgotten relationship puts Joe’s life style and personal identity in jeopardy. The moronic screenplay is littered with cliches and cartoon-ish characters, (specifically, the teammates). Add to this one of the most obnoxious performances from a child actor in recent memory and you have a harmless but uninvolved film about a jerk whose child is even more abrasive.
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