From the set of Scott Pilgrim...

Review: 17 Again (2009)

This is definitely not the movie I thought would end my movie-going drought. Just a couple things:

1. It was stupid, obviously.

and

2. Thomas Lennon= Should be in more things. With bigger parts.

Recommended? Don't pay for it. In fact, I'm so glad I didn't have to pay for it.

Grade: D
(18)

Review: Adventureland (2009)

Adventureland is a movie that took me by surprise. I expected it to be funny--and it was, very much so--but I didn't expect it to tug at your heartstrings and leave you in awe by certain scenes that are so simple and so beautiful it makes you want to shout your love from the hilltops.

Forced to scrap plans that involved a post-college graduation sabbatical around Europe with his pals due to money issues, James (Jesse Eisenberg) finds a job at the local theme park Adventureland. He doesn't mope like a petulant teenager like I probably would've if I had to give up Europe for a shitty Summer job. Instead he takes it in stride, being a guy who tends to find the romanticism in everything.

Naturally, there are an assortment of oddball co-workers, but never over the top or exaggerated. Martin Starr, Bill Hader and Kristin Wiig offer clever and subdued moments of comedy genius. Kristen Stewart and Ryan Reynolds play up the darker and more serious roles, but it never seeming unnatural or out of place. All the performances are completely dead on.

Greg Mottola showed us he could direct with Superbad but who the hell knew he could write? The film is based on his experiences working at the real Adventureland as a young college grad, so no wonder it's filled with humor as well as emotion, not to mention one of the best soundtracks I've heard since Trainspotting.

Jesse Eisenberg plays James in such a way that he redefines what it means to be an awkward nice guy (you know, the Michael Cera role). He's smart, yet a hopeless romantic who obsesses over Shakespeare sonnets (and also makes a mixtape of "The Best Bummer Songs" for Kristen Stewart's troubled Em).

The film doesn't ever linger on scenes too long. It simply lets things play out between the characters to illustrate a typical crappy Summer job, and I could relate in more ways than one.

The first really great movie of this year.

Recommended? Yes. Lord yes.

Grade: A
(17)

Trailers: Observe and Report (2009)

Trailers: Where The Wild Things Are (2009)

I must admit, it's been a very very long time since I've read this. I remember just about nothing. But, the trailer is amazing, and I approve 100% of the use of Arcade Fire.

Review: Sunshine Cleaning (2009)

Sunshine Cleaning is that kinda movie. You know the one, with the dysfunctional family, totally down on their luck, trying to make it on their own. Rose (Amy Adams) and Norah (Emily Blunt) play sisters who decide to start a "Crime Scene maintenance" business, per a tip from Rose's married cop boyfriend (Steve Zahn), and call it Sunshine Cleaning. They struggle through school payments for Rose's young son (Jason Spevack), social acceptance, the demons of their mother's suicide more than 20 years ago, and their eccentric father (Alan Arkin) who can't find a calling in life.

The film at times is extremely affecting. Obviously with a film that centers around death, it makes light of most situations, but when faced with the families of the victims, it gets really heavy really fast. I think all the performances are great. Amy Adams has always been effortless in everything I've seen with her. Of the three movies I saw this weekend, I felt the most from this one, despite a couple loose-ends.

Recommended? Yes

Grade: B+
(16)

Review: Duplicity (2009)

Oh, this is one of those blasted movies where you have to pay attention to every single bit of dialogue, but then, maybe not, because they reveal all the tricks and plot holes in the last 10 minutes. The film follows two very skilled ex-government agents (Julia Roberts and Clive Owen), who meet, hook up, then decide to start a grand heist that takes an ultimate two years to achieve. We see them all over the world. Rome, London, Dubai, Miami, and New York. They work a few odd jobs until they find the ultimate prize. I think the film is very clever. It jumps around a lot, but it's not too hard to follow. However, the way the trailer made this look, I thought it was going to be more fun (think the Ocean's movies), but it wasn't terribly entertaining.

Like Michael Clayton (Tony Gilroy's previous outing), in my opinion, this was well made, well told, but a tad forgettable.

Recommended? Maybe...

Grade: B
(15)