Two business partners and lifelong best friends, Dan (Robin Williams) & Charlie (John Travolta), are in the middle of the biggest business deal of their lives. When Dan finds out he’s the father of seven year old fraternal twins (Ella Bleu Travolta & Conner Rayburn) – conceived during an eventful week after his divorce that included lots of booze and a one day marriage – he impulsively takes responsibility for them after finding out their mother, Vicki (Kelly Preston), has to serve a two week stint in jail.

After seeing previews of Old Dogs, I felt it had a “Wild Hogs”-like feel, which was why it didn’t surprise me to see Walt Becker’s name attached to the directing credits of this one. Hell, Travolta basically played his same regurgitated character from Hogs in Old Dogs with the only difference being Charlie didn’t have the money problems that Woody (in Hogs) did. It didn’t detract from the homogenized comedy he and Williams brought.

The children were just barely more than props. They were just a plot device to set the stage for Williams and Travolta to showcase their comedic chops. Ella Bleu Travolta couldn’t have had an easier lay-up for her first movie. Not only were both her parents there for support and advice, the role she lined up was as easy as they come…she could have played Jack Black’s character in Tropic Thunder for the amount of impact she and her male cohort had in this film. As far as movie children go, these two were the best behaved kids in the world. The Department of Child Induced Mischief was apparently closed for this shooting.

The opening sequence was done very cleverly in my opinion. I can’t think of a movie that did it similarly or with the same seamless effect of not having to use a caption or blurb to marry a seven year gap to the present. The supporting characters were great in Old Dogs, specifically Justin Long as the crazed camp counselor with a vendetta against Charlie. I think I’m starting to love Long’s bit characters more and more when I see ‘em. The camping sequence was probably my favorite, though Old Dogs has plenty of laughs throughout. And the special effects team apparently just learned how to use Photoshop, going to the well with the warp and smudge tools one too many times for my taste.

The Slanted View: I made the mistake of looking forward to Ella Bleu’s performance, not that I expected a whole lot from her, or even Old Dogs for that matter. It was disappointing to find that a story about a father and his seven year old children he just met centered more around him and his friend instead. While it didn’t stop the laughs from coming, it did bother me that the writers were afraid to explore the relationship the premise was set on. If you want to watch a kids flick, check out Planet 51. If you want to see a buddy movie, check out Hear No Evil, See No Evil. Watch this one on TBS in a year when you’re bored.

I hate Sharkboy and Lavagirl. I harbor a general dislike for the Spy Kids. If it’s family fare with Double R at the helm, I’m the dad using redirect tactics on my ADHD children at the theater…”Hey, look! There’s a bum! Let’s roll his ass!” This typically works, until the DVD’s are released, then I’m the dad praying for the DVD player to break after the 10th successive viewing in one day…which is repeated every day…for months on end. Thank God for my crappy day job (and the extra scratch I get from bum-rolling), my tie and I would reverse roles.

Shorts centers on Toby “Toe” Thompson (Jimmy Bennet), an eleven year old with the unfortunate luck in finding himself at odds with the town ruffians. Their ring leader? Helvetica Black (possibly one of my favorite names for a villainess AND she comes with her own beautifully simplistic theme song), played by Jolie Vanier. Her dad? Carbon Black (James Spader), the head of Black Box Industries and owner of Black Falls, where everyone who works for B.B.I. lives, including Toe’s family, led by Jon Cryer and Leslie Mann. Toby’s first run in with the rainbow rock is after he gets pelted in the noggin with it, though you’ll quickly see that he isn’t the first kid, nor the last person, to have a turn with the wishing rock. Of course, everyone is reckless with their wishes, but thankfully the audience is spared from the final everything-back-to-status-quo wish, though this ending isn’t that much better, or all that different. If only one of them wished for a gun, so that I could be put out of my misery…

It took awhile, or maybe I haven’t been paying close enough attention, but Rodriguez’s association with Quentin Tarantino finally has him giving that out-of-sequence-story telling technique a shot. He does it rather well, weaving several short stories together neatly, utilizing his narrator very effectively to keep it coherent for the slower children in the audience. This approach helped keep my interest up despite the overall dull storyline. The actors were neither great nor horrible, but I think the blame lies on the characters being poorly developed. Giving every character one trait that defines them (along with a name to match-most notably “Nose,” who likes to pick boogers) does not make a character necessarily good or interesting. That’s probably my biggest beef with double R’s films; they’re all style, no substance – and Shorts couldn’t even show, let alone place, in style. Judging by the successes of his other family films, he obviously is doing SOMETHING right as far as milking parents by way of their children are concerned, but I’ll be damned if I know what it is.

Exercise your parental rights and practice your anti-drug techniques by just saying “No” to your children’s heartfelt desire to tug your purse strings on this one. Make them watch Goonies instead – kid’s need direction.

Read Iratefilms.com’s interview with Writer/Director Greg Mottola here.

It’s the summer of 1987, and James Brennan (Jesse Eisenberg) is looking forward to spending it touring Europe. His dreams are quickly dashed when he finds out his parents (Wendie Malick and Jack Gilpin) can no longer help him afford his trip or assist him in his future plans for grad school at Columbia. Sadly, this translates into James getting the only job he’s qualified for…at Adventureland.

I really expected more from this film. The credit for that goes to the guy editing the trailer. From the trailer, the film looks like it’s full of the funny, however, Adventureland does not deliver. All the hilarity is already represented in the two minute clip.

This is director Greg Mottola’s next effort after Superbad, except he decided to write it as well. Maybe he hoped Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg left some humor in the tank for him. Unfortunately, the tank was empty. All that was left inside was a contrived love triangle and boring characters – and he ran with it. The acting in Adventureland wasn’t bad, but the chemistry between all the actors were horrible except for Bill Hader (Manager Bobby) and Kristen Wiig (Paulette). They worked very well on screen together.

Do yourself a favor, if you’ve watched the trailer, leave it at that. Spend your money on better flicks, like Fast and Furious or Monsters vs. Aliens.

Paul Rudd (Role Models, Monsters Vs. Aliens) plays Peter Klaven, a successful real estate agent who is newly engaged to his wife to be, Zooey (Rashida Jones). It isn’t long before he realizes that there’s a slight dilemma – he has no real male friends to flesh out his half of the wedding party. To make matters worse, he doesn’t even know where to begin cultivating a male friendship. Lacking that, finding a best man in less than a year would be troublesome. This leaves him with no choice but to seek the help from his gay brother Robbie (Andy Samberg), who is more than willing to share his experiences with men and help land that whale called “Best Friend” Peter needs in his life.

I Love You, Man draws a lot of parallels to the normal dating scene, where casual drink offers have the potential to lead to something more substantial. Rudd plays the role of eager suitor to a tee. He stammers in all the right places, makes up nonsensical words in moments of excitement, and kicks himself for every misstep along the way. Finally, after many “man dates,” Peter runs into Sidney Fife (Jason Segel) and the two hit it off so well that Peter finds himself waiting by the phone for the call that never comes.

I couldn’t help but enjoy this bromantic comedy. While I wasn’t bursting at the seams with laughter, the nonstop ride to funny kept me chuckling and grimacing with Peter throughout his dates. I Love You, Man gives us an eventual intimate peak at the secret ritual known as male bonding, which is one of those things that are hard to describe. How does the transition from acquaintance to friend to best friend happen anyway? Looking at the friends I’m surrounded with, I can honestly say I don’t know.  I must have blocked out the horrible experience. 

Do yourself a favor and watch this one. If you liked Forgetting Sarah Marshall, you should enjoy this one as well.

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Jump.

Yes, you read correctly – Phoebe in Wonderland. Not to be confused with another girl named Alice. From the beginning, I was expecting it to be some twisted bastardization or re-imagining of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, but was delighted it was not. Instead, we are introduced to a young girl named Phoebe Lichten (Elle Fanning – yes, Dakota’s sister) who has no compunction about questioning school rules about proper question asking etiquette every year she attends. This is just the tip of the iceberg. Soon enough you find that Phoebe is very different from most of the other children in her school – a trait her mother Hillary Lichten (Felicity Huffman) finds endearing enough to nurture and fight tooth and nail for. Phoebe’s behavioral differences, however, soon become problems for teachers and students alike and when there doesn’t seem to be any answer for it, enter the new, if not a bit eccentric, drama teacher, Ms. Dodger (Patricia Clarkson), who is recruiting for the school’s production of Alice in Wonderland. Phoebe’s behavior problems all but disappear while rehearsing for the play as the lead, Alice.

I found myself rather enjoying this film. Elle Fanning was stellar as Phoebe and made me think that there’s something in the Fanning gene pool that produces solid acting talent. Felicity Huffman made me believe that Mrs. Lichten’s love for her daughter was pure and unconditional. The way Mrs. Lichten deals with the shrink’s assessment is probably not much different from many parents today, and I felt in total agreement throughout. When you find out what’s at the root of  Phoebe’s behavioral problems, it’s easier to understand why she’s the way she is, and why she’s able to control herself in the confines of Miss Dodger’s tutelage. I want to mention Bill Pullman, who played Peter Lichten, but his role in the story was unremarkable, though his acting was solid enough as the slightly detached and busy father. Don’t be fooled, Phoebe in Wonderland was about the dynamic between the mother, teacher and child and the trio of Huffman, Clarkson, and Fanning pulled it off beautifully.

Catch this one if you can. It’s limited in its showing and only Cocowalk in Miami is hosting it down in the tip of Florida. Also, catch Rick Swift interviewing Miss Dodger herself, Patricia Clarkson!
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This ain’t NBC’s Heroes

“Movers.” “Pushers.” “Watchers.” These code names are but a few on a list of many assigned to people gifted with extraordinary powers. Powers like moving objects with their minds, or influencing people’s thoughts, these are powers I’d covet, though there are plenty more that make me second guess my wish list. Governments around the world have investigated the use of paranormal abilities against their enemies, as the Nazis did with varied results around 1945. But what if a government found a way to harness these abilities to create paranormal operatives? This is where Push takes you as a clandestine agency called The Division has done just that.

Chris Evans (Fantastic Four) is Nick Gant, a “mover,” who’s been on the run from Division almost all his life. Unfortunately for him, staying in hiding is not in his future thanks to Cassie Holmes (Dakota Fanning), a thirteen year old “watcher” who sees him helping her find a briefcase Division wants very badly. Djimon Hounsou (Blood Diamond, The Island) plays Henry Carver a Division agent, who is also a powerful “pusher,”  to spearhead the recovery of the briefcase. 

The story starts off a little cliche with the whole “clandestine agency building special soldiers” schtick, but really, how many angles can you use for a story like this? Thankfully, the cliches end there as Push takes you on an enjoyable action ride as Evans and company have to stay ahead of Division and their “watchers” – who can see into the future. Fanning brings her A-game to Push while managing not to steal the scenes she shares with Evans.  Her and Hounsou are quickly landing themselves on my list of favorite actors.

Push will definately find itself into my blu-ray collection. I’d advise running to see it before it stops showing in theatres.

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The Wrestler focuses on Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) at the end of his 20 year wrestling career. Hampered by a heart attack and told he shouldn’t wrestle unless he wants to die from his weakened heart, he retires and attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood) and live a normal life. Unfortunately, it’s never as easy as it seems.

From the outset, you can feel The Ram’s oppressive lonliness and isolation. The feeling is so strong and so well portrayed by Rourke that I felt the need to share his burden throughout the film. It’ll come as no surprise that living a normal life becomes difficult for him to bear. Wrestling is all that he knows–the only place where he can feel accepted. So when the opportunity comes for him to participate in a rematch to capitalize on a legendary match held 20 years ago at the height of his popularity, it’s tempting to go back.

The pacing of the story was slow, which enhanced the melancholy mood of the film. Marissa Tomei plays The Ram’s love interest, Cassidy, who happens to be an aging stripper and a single mother of one. Age seemingly hasn’t messed with Tomei’s body, which is on display throughout the film. Tomei fans, who’ve been waiting a long time, will not be disappointed; except that it took so long. Rourke’s acting was superb, as stated before, I couldn’t help but empathize with the old man, especially when he reconnects with his hostile daughter. Evan Rachel Wood Across the Universe was excellent in her short role and is an important catalyst to The Ram’s decision to return to the ring.

The Wrestler as a whole is relatively average. The story plods in places, no doubt to heighten the gravity of the film. I was actually suprised I liked it as much as I did – I’m normally not big into plodding storylines. The Wrestler is definitely not for everyone, so unless you feel like paying nine bucks to look at Tomei’s double piercing, I’d advise staying home for this one.

Bedtime Stories is a fun family film centered around Skeeter Bronson (Adam Sandler) who has to spend time with his nephew and niece (Jonathan Morgan Heit) and (Laura Ann Kelsing), respectively while his sister, Wendy (Courtney Cox), attends a job interview in another state. To assist him, Wendy enlists the aid of her friend, Jill (Keri Russell), to make sure she watches the children while Skeeter is at work…and possibly also to ensure Skeeter wasn’t accidentally drowning the children. Skeeter’s life is changed forever when the bedtime stories he shares with the children mysteriously come to life the next day.

Sandler has been hitting some solid ones with films like Click and Spanglish. While Bedtime Stories was enjoyable, it doesn’t tug on the heartstrings like those two, leaving you with just a lukewarm feeling at the end of the film, much like I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry did. I don’t know whose idea it was for the guinea pig, but it’s constant state of suprise was a neverending source of chuckles for me.

Narrated by (I’m assuming) Jonathon Pryce (Marty Bronson), the story was well told, and I have nothing negative to say about the acting, which was about average. Bedtime Stories is a definate must see for Sandler fans, and will probably be a fixture on family shelves when the dvd’s come out.

A plethora of stars cannot salvage this story.

I’m a sucker for animated movies. So when I saw the trailer for The Tale of Despereaux, I HAD to see it. This, sometimes, leads me to hating trailers. In this particular case, you’ve seen the best and funniest parts of the movie in this trailer. Narrated by Sigourney Weaver (Vantage Point), The Tale of Despereaux never grabbed your interest. Sure the animation was great, but the story wandered too often in lengthy asides on characters no one cared about. Every character that had a knot in the plot was expanded upon unnecessarily, and made the movie drag on needlessly. The story, a simple damsel in distress fare, felt flat and dragged you down in its overbearing melancholy. Despereaux (Mathew Broderick) is the only uplifting character but the burden of carrying the movie was too much for this little mouse…even if he did have big ears.

While the voice acting was loaded with stars (Emma Watson, Dustin Hoffman, Tracey Ullman, Kevin Kline, William H. Macy, Stanley Tucci), the combined shine of their star power couldn’t salvage the poor (if accurate) retelling of the book by Kate DiCamillo. The Tale of Despereaux suffered from insufficient pruning and an unengaging narrator, hampering what could have been a wonderful story with delightful characters.