Gil Mansergh’s Cinema Toast
New Releases for 2/25/11
Drive Angry 3D (R)
Starring: Nicolas Cage, William Fitchner, Amber Hurd, Billy Burke, David Morse
Directed by: Patrick Lussier
Breaking out of Hell, a 3-time-loser named Milton teams up with a sexy waitress and steals her boyfriend’s muscle car to track down the evil cult leader who will sacrifice Milton’s infant grandchild as a means to release Hell on Earth.
Doesn’t sound Charming.
Nic Cage’s films are unavailable for preview
Hall Pass (R)
Starring: Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Christina Applegate
Directed by: Peter & Bobby Farrelly
Two buddies are given a “hall pass” by their wives before their 20th anniversary. This means the guys can act like adolescents for a week, and not suffer any consequences (except,of course, STDs, broken bones and criminal records). Filled with racial and homophobic stereotypes, the Farrelly brothers are equal opportunity offenders frantically trying to reclaim the “magic touch” they found with “There’s Something About Mary” way back in 1998.
1 and 1/2 pieces of crude comedy that misses the mark toast
NEW ON DVD
Megamind (PG)
Starring the voices of: Brad Pitt, Tina Fey, Jonah Hill
Directed by: Tom McGrath,Cameron Hood, Kyle Jefferson
The masterminds behind this 3-D animated tale have stolen huge chunks of much better films (“The Incredibles,” “Despicable Me,” “Superman” “Mars Attacks,” etc.) and then added endless hours of animated faces moving their lips in synch as they share one-liners with another animated faces with all of them using the voices of some easily recognizable actors. Oh yes, this is done in 3-D too, so a lots of things fly off the screen and head straight for your noggin. It’s OK if it rains hard and you need a movie for something to do with your kids.
2 and 1/2 pieces of not truly objectionable toast
Due Date (R)
Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galidianakis, Jamie Fox, Michelle Monaghan
Directed by: Todd Phillips
The setup is that two opposites get thrown off a flight to LA and have to find their way from Atlanta in time for the birth of a son. But the reason is unimportant, since it’s all a set up for a sophomoric, mean-spirited, so-called comedy which only shows what a masterpiece “John Hughes’ “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” really was. Oh, did I mention the masturbating dog that rides along with them?
1 and 1/2 pieces of skip it toast
Get Low (PG-13)
Starring: Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Bill Murray, Lucas Black
Director: Aaron Schneider
Southern eccentrics are Robert Duvall’s forte, and he nails another one playing a secretive Tennessee hermit (and folk hero) who spends all his money giving himself a heck of a funeral party—while he’s still alive. Bill Murray (as the unwilling undertaker), and everyone else involved is low key and top notch.
3 and 1/2 pieces of Duvall can do no wrong toast