Then She Found Me

Very low-budget but likable romantic comedy directed and starring Helen Hunt. Extremely low-budget. The rushed, makeshift cinematography, sound design, and music shouldn’t be noticeable, but it is. The acting and sweetness elevates this, though, to the point where it’s tolerable.

21

Man! They fucked this up. I’m not normally that guy who’s read the book beforehand and complains when they don’t stick to the story. But they changed the races of the characters, the motives, and the story itself. This is a travesty. I may not have felt this way if I hadn’t read the book. The pace is fast and the actors are likable. But taking out the good, juicy bits, and watering them down for mass consumption? Lame.

Snow Angels

I don’t have e.s.p. I’m not one of those people who always figures out the twist ending. I like to be surprised. But in the case of Snow Angels, in my mind, I predicted EXACTLY what would happen by the mid-point, and I sat around impatiently for an hour waiting for it. The movie itself tells you what happens at the end in the first ten minutes. So I found this very frustrating. The acting by Kate Beckensale, Sam Rockwell, and the kids is all up to par and solid. But the plot and pace! Ugh. I could’ve sat there and poked myself with a tack for two hours and gotten the same emotional result.

Run Fatboy Run

I like Simon Pegg. So do the producers of this movie apparently, because they entrust EVERYTHING to him. The concept and the script are stock. The production values are minimal. The comic timing is terrible. They just hoped they’d get enough laughs out of the English comedian wearing jogging shorts that appear to be way too tight. They didn’t.

Vantage Point

At times, very well-directed and suspenseful. Doesn’t add up to very much, but I still found myself biting my nails and wanting to cheer, “Go Dennis Quaid! Go get ‘em, you aging-but-still-capable Secret Service agent!” It’ll be a really fun movie to catch on cable late at night.

Doomsday

A pointless jambalaya of action scenes stolen from the various “Mad Max” movies. The plot makes almost no sense, but the action scenes themselves were fun. It’s the kind of movie you just want to fast-forward through to get to the good stuff.

10,000 B.C.

Me Doug. Doug want see movie. Doug not see movie for many moons. Doug want see movie where man supermodel fight saber-tooth tiger. Doug want see girl supermodel with blue eyes rescued by supermodel who speaks to mammoth. Doug see movie. Movie stupid. Doug stupid.

The Bank Job

If something is based on a true story, it’s always hard to know how much of the story is based on fact and how much is speculation. Does anyone really know what went on behind the closed doors of this famous robbery? Nevertheless, The Bank Job is fun and entertaining. Even if only HALF of what they say is true, it’s still amazing. Also, there's not one scene in this movie that’s longer than a minute. The pace is lightning. Don’t go to the bathroom – you’ll be lost. Fun and well-done.

The Signal

Interesting low-budget sci-fi. Cost-cutting efforts were admirable. The unrecognizable cast was game to play in the confined spaces, and despite the b-movie production values, the violence was creative and gruesome. All the best sci-fi offers some cautionary moral. This is no exception, and the moral is a worthy one, even if it seems hatched by the Parent Television Council: turn off the TV, hang up the cell phones, and RELATE. Before we all turn into murderous zombies.

Definately Maybe

Generally a likable movie. Likable cast, sweet premise, romantic. However..! I’m not sure why, but this felt like it was three hours long! It just wouldn’t end! I think because it’s structured like a mystery and the dad, Ryan Reynolds, is intentionally withholding key pieces of data from spunky Abigail Breslen, so the whole thing feels like a shaggy-dog tale. And that’s frustrating. So it’s likable but frustrating. A lot like this review.