movie reviews

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone follows the life of a man who aims to leave people in awe, and while the movie itself doesn't reach those kinds of heights, it is a comedy with a few laughs and a cast that wins you over. Steve Carell headlines as title character Burt Wonderstone, a Vegas Strip mainstay whose flashy shtick has grown tired. Steve Buscemi plays his stage partner Anton, and when their act is challenged by flagging ticket sales and newer, more modern competitors, the two childhood best friends have a falling out, leaving Burt to rediscover his touch. Burt's road to a comeback is entertaining and full of goofiness that's quite dumb but still amusing.

The silliness of the movie is balanced out by how irreverent its sense of humor is. This is best demonstrated by Jim Carrey's character Steve Gray, a Criss Angel-like street magician more interested in shocking the masses than dazzling them. The gags ring true, and the observations about the business of magic are sharp and give The Incredible Burt Wonderstone an edge — not just an excuse to put the actors in ridiculous costumes. The lampooning of the industry and the jokes both provide a good time, even if the movie isn't destined to be a comedy classic. Find out what else I thought after the jump.

As a prequel to the beloved 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, Oz the Great and Powerful has a rich well of nostalgia at its disposal, and director Sam Raimi harnesses it to provide a foundation for a fresh new angle. Unfortunately, the new movie set in the land of Oz is all flash and no substance. James Franco plays small-time magician Oscar Diggs, who goes by "Oz" and is more concerned with fame and money than with other people. When the Kansas resident gets swept into a tornado (sound familiar?), he finds a strange new world that desperately needs to be saved from a mysterious wicked witch. Though Oz feels like an impostor, he finds a new side of himself that wants to help, thanks to some new friends and a beautiful witch, Glinda (Michelle Williams).

The good witch is contrasted by two other witches, Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Theodora (Mila Kunis), who both have streaks of wickedness, but we don't know who the bad witch is until an early twist reveals her. The witches, with their magic and unparalleled beauty, are the most fun characters to watch, but this is supposed to be about Oz — and his story is not compelling in the least. Find out what else I thought of Oz the Great and Powerful after the jump.

Successfully reimagining a classic fairy tale is a tough job, but Jack the Giant Slayer sufficiently blends old and new elements to create a story that is entertaining for all ages, even if the 3D is a little dizzying. The story centers on Jack (Nicholas Hoult), a poor farm boy who, in a moment of weakness, accepts some enchanted beans from a monk in exchange for his horse. Though the monk warns him not to get the beans wet, inevitably it rains, and lo and behold, a monstrous beanstalk shoots up through Jack's home. This in itself is an issue, but the greater problem is that the kingdom's runaway Princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson) happens to be trapped in Jack's house at the top of the beanstalk. Also at the top of the beanstalk? Man-eating giants.

Hoult is an ideal Jack — not a boy, not yet a man. He lends just the right amount of innocence and determination to the character, attempting to prove himself and earn the love of the damsel in distress. In fact, the film is well cast all around: Ian McShane and Ewan McGregor also star as the king and his army captain, respectively. Stanley Tucci plays the king's scheming aide, whose evil intentions make him an even bigger obstacle for Jack than the giants. The characters are classic, but the actors make them feel fresh, thrilling, and funny. To see what else I thought about Jack the Giant Slayer, just read more

Those expecting to sit down for a rock 'em sock 'em action thriller may be disappointed to find that isn't the case for Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's latest film, Snitch. Instead, you'll find a mediocre drama laced with social messages, as well as some restrained action sequences. Johnson plays John, an ordinary guy who owns a construction company. When a friend sends his son Jason (Rafi Gavron) a package of illegal pills in the mail, the district attorney's office aims to make an example out of him by sending him to prison for at least 10 years. The only way for Jason to reduce his sentence is to assist law enforcement in taking down suppliers, which he refuses to do. Against the advice of a US attorney (Susan Sarandon) and the DEA agent on the case (Barry Pepper), John takes it upon himself to infiltrate local drug rings in order to free Jason. The story is almost too insane to believe it's inspired by true events, which it is. Ultimately, Snitch employs some Hollywood tricks and twists, but not enough to make it compelling.

Get my top three gripes about the film after the jump.

Bruce Willis returns as tough-as-nails New York City detective John McClane in the unnecessary new chapter of the Die Hard franchise, A Good Day to Die Hard. When John finds out his estranged son Jack (Jai Courtney) is being held prisoner in Moscow, he packs his bags intending to rescue him. Little does he know that Jack is actually carrying out a mission for the CIA. Once John inadvertently foils the operation, Jack's task to rescue a political prisoner (Sebastian Koch) soon becomes their task. It's a basic plot that soon devolves into elongated, stunt-filled action scenes, blatantly manufactured emotional moments, and predictable plot twists.

Even when forced to work with partners, John McClane has always been a lone wolf. This time, rather than running from someone, he's running toward his son, who, after a rocky childhood, happens to want nothing to do with him. Their troubled relationship takes a backseat to the action sequences, but when emotional moments do show up, they're schlocky and generic. At first, the headstrong Jack is furious to see his father, but wouldn't you know it, he slowly warms up to the old man. Jack's got the smarts, and John has the ability to fearlessly stand amid gunfire and wield a machine gun. They make a great team — if only they had better material to work with. Find out what else I thought of A Good Die to Die Hard when you read more.

Now that the Twilight movies have wrapped, there's a little room in the world for a new supernatural teen romance, and Beautiful Creatures nicely fills that void. Romantic, fantastical, and, yes, slightly cheesy, the movie depicts the love story between Ethan (Alden Ehrenreich) and Lena (Alice Englert). She's a caster (in common parlance, a witch), he's a mere mortal, and they both live in the sleepy, suffocating Southern town of Gatlin, SC, where not much happens. That's why the largely religious community takes such an interest in Lena and her suspiciously strange family (which includes Uncle Macon, played by Jeremy Irons). It's also why the relationship that blossoms between Ethan and Lena is so exciting — both for their characters and for the audience.

Based on the young-adult book series by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, Beautiful Creatures doesn't bring anything too new to the already-inflated supernatural genre, but there is enough to set it apart. Aside from distancing itself from the usual vampire and werewolf fare by focusing on witches, the female character isn't the damsel in distress; she has to cast spells to keep her human love interest alive amid her family's powerful magic. There's an extra layer of intrigue since Lena is also hurtling toward her 16th birthday, when she'll be chosen to be a light or dark caster. If complicated young love is your thing, then you'll be spellbound by Beautiful Creatures. Keep reading to find out why.

A woman steals a man's identity, and without the help of police, the man tracks her down to bring her to justice. Sounds like the recipe for a romantic comedy, right? Well, Identity Thief couldn't be further from a love story. Bateman is Sandy Patterson, the everyman who becomes the unwitting target of Diana (McCarthy), a small-time identity thief. In no time at all, Sandy ends up with creditors at his heels and cuffed at the police station as a result of Diana's shenanigans. Though the cops acknowledge it's an identity theft, state laws dictate that the criminal is Florida's problem, leaving Sandy with no choice but to find Diana himself. It's a setup that could fall completely flat if it didn't cater to the strength its leads, especially McCarthy.

McCarthy carries the film, utilizing her talent for physical comedy and executing slapstick moments with impressive commitment. Bateman is ever the reliable straight man, a role we've seen him play plenty of times before. The characters are polar opposites; Diana's a compulsive liar who hides some deep-seated pain by buying rounds of drinks for strangers at bars, while Sandy is a bland family man in need of a backbone. They can both learn something from the other, but everything feels just a little too obvious.

Despite McCarthy's comedic skills, a few of the gags are overkill. In one of the broader running jokes, Diana has an unbelievable talent for surviving accidents that would kill — or at least maim — a normal person, but each time her head pops up triumphantly, it comes off as more cheesy than celebratory. There's also much ado about the fact that Sandy is a unisex name, a joke which, though uninspired to begin with, loses its vigor after the third repetition. Some of the cruder moments (like Diana's sexual tryst with a cowboy played by Eric Stonestreet) also may not be for everyone.

Identity Thief can be flat-out silly, but there's a kernel of heart in there thanks to its leading lady, who executes a number of emotional moments that allow the audience to connect with the desperately lonely Diana. Though the material isn't stellar, McCarthy still knows how to make us laugh.

Zombies have been invading movies and televisions for decades, but few if any of those films or shows have examined what it's like inside the minds of the undead — which is part of the reason why Warm Bodies offers a fresh take on the genre. The comedy centers on R (Nicholas Hoult), a young-looking (and, frankly, kind of cute) zombie whose mind is still intact, even if his memories and motor skills aren't. When R meets Julie (Teresa Palmer) during a routine flesh-eating fest with his fellow undead, he feels a sudden desire to protect her. And what unfolds is a tender love story that, believe it or not, is also relatable.

Warm Bodies solidifies Hoult has what it takes to carry a film, injecting just the right amount of charisma and comedy under all of that zombie makeup. What R lacks in verbal communication he makes up for in witty internal monologue, sharing the trials and tribulations of eating brains with the audience and reminding himself not to be too creepy around Julie. Julie herself is understandably hesitant to believe R's grumbles that he won't hurt her but soon becomes intrigued with how gentle he is — not to mention his surprising amount of nostalgia for records and other artifacts that he collects. Translation: he's a zombie hoarder. The pair actually connect in a way that feels authentic and fun to watch. It's basically a combination of Beauty and the Beast and Romeo and Juliet, but with a lot more laughs.

To see what else I liked about Warm Bodies, just read more

In Gangster Squad, Josh Brolin plays an honest detective determined to make Los Angeles a better place to live, especially for his wife (Mireille Enos) and his baby on the way. Unfortunately, the city is overrun with crime, led by mob boss Mickey Cohen (Sean Penn). To take him down, John (Brolin) enlists the help of a ragtag group of cops, each handpicked by his wife based on skill set. The story, which is set in the '40s and '50s, is based on real-life boxer-turned-gangster Cohen. Penn's performance as the Jewish Mafia kingpin borders on cartoonish — as do some of the shoot 'em up sequences — but overall, Gangster Squad is entertaining from start to finish. Here are four reasons to check it out (besides the fact that Ryan Gosling costars in the film).

1. All of the actors and characters are engaging. The members of the Gangster Squad include Jerry (Gosling), a smart-mouthed but sweet cop in John's precinct; Coleman (Anthony Mackie), who's been holding down the fort in a different part of town; Conway (Giovanni Ribisi), who's essentially the brains of the operation; Max (Robert Patrick), the perfect shot; and his sidekick, Navidad (Michael Peña). All of the actors bring life and personality to their characters, which makes them consistently entertaining if not slightly caricatural. John himself is an easy character to root for, even when he essentially starts committing the same crimes he's trying to eliminate. The cast is big and star-studded, but each of the actors pulls his own weight and leaves an impact.
2. Gosling and Emma Stone still have sweet chemistry. If you saw Crazy, Stupid, Love, then you know that Gosling and Stone sizzle when they're on screen together. As it turns out, their connection works equally well in drama as it does in comedy. Stone plays wannabe starlet Grace, who finds a potential escape from her abusive relationship with Mickey when she meets Jerry. Grace and Jerry's relationship starts as an innocent flirtation before blossoming into a full-on forbidden affair. Not only does their love give you another reason to hate Mickey, but Gosling and Stone's scenes together are a welcome reprieve from all the violence.

3. The setting provides plenty of eye candy. The retro setting is done to a T, from Stone's gorgeous gowns to the original "Hollywoodland" sign that serves as LA's most recognizable landmark. The costumes, sets, and props all add to the cinematic experience.
4. The plot moves at a perfect pace. The story of Gangster Squad unfolds at just the right rate; director Ruben Fleischer introduces us to each character and develops them gradually, while also providing plenty of action sequences to keep things moving swiftly. The violence can be a bit gratuitous, but with a title like Gangster Squad, it kind of comes with the territory.