Tune to The 2 Guys Named Chris Show every Monday to get the scoop on the latest new films and releases to DVD from a Canadian point of view. Julie Crawford, Film Critic for The Vancouver Courier, gives her two cents worth every Monday morning on Rock 92.
August 27th, 2012
by Biggie Josh Ellinger,posted Aug 27 2012 12:05PM
In Theaters
Hit and Run
Parenthood’s Dax Shepard does everything but cater this film: he wrote, co-directed, edited, and performs all the stunt driving in the movie. Shepard plays Charlie Bronson, a guy who’s been living in the witness protection program for the past four years. But when girlfriend Annie (real-life fiancé Kristen Bell) gets her dream job in L.A., Charlie decides to brave his past and drive her out there. He is chased by a totally inept federal marshall (Tom Arnold), Annie’s crazy ex-boyfriend and a surprisingly scary Bradley Cooper in dreadlocks.
But the main attraction is a 1967 Lincoln Continental with 700 horsepower, Shepard’s own car. The chase scenes recall some of those ‘70s classics, and banter between Annie and Charlie keeps the momentum going during the ride.
DVDs
Think Like A Man
The personal lives of four couples are turned upside down by stand-up comedian Steve Harvey’s real-life dating advice book “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man”. The four guys are pretty satisfied with the way things are going, but four unhappy women read the book and are looking to change the rules. After the guys realize what’s going on and get their hands on a copy, they deliberately start playing into the women’s hands, in order to get them into bed.
Great cast including Romany Malco, Michael Ealy, Gabrielle Union, Taraji P. Henson, Regina Hall and the very funny Kevin Hart. The film is corny and cutesy but we don’t mind it until after the 90-minute mark, when the laughs start to wear thin. Some great extras, including Steve Harvey explaining how his book got to the screen, a gag reel, cast and crew interviews etc.
Battleship
This high seas alien adventure begins with Alex (Taylor Kitsch) robbing a store in order to score a burrito for Brooklyn Decker (Brooklyn Decker eats burritos?) but is nonetheless promoted to naval officer in the next scene. Alex ends up under the command of his dream girl’s daddy (Liam Neeson, who gets big billing but is barely in the movie) and is on the brink of being booted out when alien spacecrafts enter the atmosphere, taking out parts of Hong Kong, Scotland and Germany before docking in the Pacific. It’s time for Alex to grow up and to save the world, with a little help from Pvt. Rihanna.
Really iffy acting across the board. The aliens look a bit like Power Rangers, but visual effects are interesting, and lots of stuff blows up. Terrible story, great special features on the blu-ray including alternate ending introduced by director Peter Berg, a VIP tour of the “American icon” USS Missouri, an extra on the visual effects, cast bios and much more.
The Lucky One
You absolutely know what to expect when you go to see a Nicholas Sparks movie, so predictability is a given. Zac Efron stars as an Iraq war veteran who wanders across the country with the photo of a slain soldier’s sister, and then when he falls in love with her he can’t tell her the truth about where he came from.
Everything is so backlit and bathed in golden light that you might think there’s something wrong with the projector. Even though they give Efron stubble, we just don’t buy him as a grown-up who’s been through the war. His love interest Taylor Schilling (Atlas Shrugged), seems like his auntie in comparison. Stay far, far away from this one.
The Pirates! Band of Misfits
A kids’ movie from the studio that brought you the Wallace and Gromit films and helped resurrect stop-motion animation. It’s about an ineffective pirate (voiced by Hugh Grant) who is really bad at pillaging and who desperately wants to win pirate of the year award. So when he boards Charles Darwin’s boat he hatches a plan ...
Kids will enjoy it, but there are so many detailed visual gags in the background that parents will love it, too. Lots of extras on the DVD including a new mini movie, games, and filmmaker commentary.
All Reviews Written and Credited To Julie Crawford
