4/22 – 4/24 New movies come out each weekend; come here to find roadrunner turned Jackie Chan movie works. It’s a great time to go the theater. Keep reading to find out how you should spend your movie going weekend:
Misc. Limited Releases
(Opening on fewer than 500 screens.)
If you’re into corporate politics or robbing old ladies, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room may be for you. On the other hand, that’s a story that’s pretty over and done with, which might explain why it’s only opening in three nationwide theaters. Madison is the biggest limited opener, hitting a full on 90 theaters this weekend. But the movie was made in 2001 and stars of all people, Jake Lloyd. What took them so long to release it? Jake Lloyd’s time in the sun has come and gone thanks. We’re happy that Star Wars is rid of him, and don’t need a reminder of just why we’re glad he’s gone. It’s a good time to skip the arthouse and head to a megaplex.
King’s Ransom
(Opens on 1500 screens.)
Anthony Anderson kidnaps himself and demands a ransom. When it isn’t paid, he’s forced to kill the hostages. The movie lasts only five minutes. Or something like that. Truthfully, I’ve not seen a single trailer for this thing and didn’t feel like doing any research into it beyond staring at the poster. I’m divining the plot from that. You don’t need to know what it’s about though, it features one of the stars of Kangaroo Jack, and not the good one. There’s a strange buzz out there that indicates this might be better than some of the black exploitation comedies we usually see, most notably the ones starring Ice Cube, but better doesn’t exactly mean good when you’re starting from such a lowest common denominator comparison. Don’t pay the King’s Ransom.
A Lot Like Love
(Opens on 2400 screens.)
A Lot Like Love is a lot like the John Cusack movie Serendipity, if Serendipity wasn’t brain-bashingly awful. This movie can’t brag cast talent like Cusack or Beckinsale, but Ashton Kutcher presents himself amicably and Amanda Peet remains an irresistible talent. Told over the course of seven years, it has two mismatched lovers meeting up for single day dates and then parting again for months, only to reunite in the midst of some personal life crisis for another date. At least it’s a step away from the Rom-Com norm. A Lot Like Love has lofty ambitions, and struggles mightily to be more than a throwaway love story. It never quite gets there, and just sort of gives up in the final act, but even with a painfully cliché ending it works well enough as a whole. It’s a good weekend indeed when even the third best wide release hitting theaters isn’t a stinker.
The Interpreter
(Opens on 2700 screens.)
Nicole Kidman hears someone not speaking English in the United Nations building, and suspects they might be a terrorist. She tells Sean Penn about it, but since he has no detectable sense of humor, he doesn’t trust her, suspecting that in fact she may be un-American. America… fuck yeah! It’s a United Nations thriller, a description I just don’t get to use often enough. The fact that The Interpreter features two accomplished actors like Kidman and Penn makes it automatically worth seeing, whatever the content. But in this case, the content looks pretty good too. With that kind of star power it’s bound to have a big weekend at the Box Office, and so far it’s getting nothing but great reviews. Still, in the end it’s probably just another thriller and you’ve seen plenty of those by now. Keep this in mind as a potential rental a few months down the road.
Kung Fu Hustle
(Opens on 2300 screens.)
If Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill saga is a homage to 70’s Kung Fu, then Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Hustle is a homage to Roadrunner cartoons. It’s ridiculous, and wild, and over-the-top, but it’s also ridiculously fun. Part comedy, part Kung Fu movie, the movie pits various Shanghai Kung Fu master forces against each other in a sort of slapstick karate. Jackie Chan would be proud. Director Stephen Chow knows what he’s doing, and he clearly loves doing it. Don’t miss your chance to see it. It’s expanding wide for the first time this weekend, and should be easily accessible to just about everyone Stateside. If only more theaters served beer. Since they don’t, have a pitcher of beer before hand, have someone sober drive you and your friends to the theater (because we’re all responsible moviegoers), and enjoy. Feel free to throw pretzels, Kung Fu Hustle is a gut busting blast.
Still In Theaters and Worth Your Time: Sin City, Guess Who
