‘Bruce Almighty’
2 stars
Rated PG-13
Starring Jim Carrey, Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman
When TV reporter Bruce Nolan is passed over for promotion to an
anchorman position, he melts down. When he curses God for his
misfortunes, God gives Bruce the chance to prove that he could do
better by bestowing His powers upon him.
‘Bruce Almighty’
2 stars
Rated PG-13
Starring Jim Carrey, Jennifer Aniston, Morgan Freeman
When TV reporter Bruce Nolan is passed over for promotion to an anchorman position, he melts down. When he curses God for his misfortunes, God gives Bruce the chance to prove that he could do better by bestowing His powers upon him.
Carrey once again teams with director Tom Shadyac (Liar, Liar, Ace Ventura) to provide a tale of personal redemption through goofball antics. Although Carrey tones down the over-the-top physical comedy he’s become famous for, Bruce probably will be of greatest interest to only the more devoted among his fans.
The In-Laws
2 stars
Rated PG-13
Starring Michael Douglas, Albert Brooks
Mild-mannered podiatrist Jerry Peyser goes to great lengths to keep order in his life. But his plans for a perfect wedding for his daughter are interrupted by Steve Tobias, his future in-law who happens to be a rogue CIA agent.
A remake of the 1979 film of the same name which starred Peter Falk and Alan Arkin, that retains the premise of the original but quickly veers into a different direction. The gags are predictable, but not entirely unfunny. Those unfamiliar with the original should be mildly amused while rabid fans would be well-advised to stay away.
Down With Love
2 stars
PG-13
Starring Ewan MacGregor, Renee Zellweger
When Barbara Novak pens a tome admonishing women to be independent of men, a wrench is thrown in to the romantic schedule of confirmed bachelor Catcher Block. “Catch” sets out to make Barbara fall in love with him to exact his revenge.
This reenactment of a Rock Hudson/Doris Day-type romantic comedy can’t decide if it’s a parody or tribute. The pace of the verbal patter and the eye-popping Technicolor sets are well executed, but the story is presented with such detached irony that viewers will have a hard time deciding if they’re supposed to be having fun or not.
The Matrix: Reloaded
3 stars
Rated R
Directed by The Wachowski Brothers
Starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Ann Moss
As Neo, Trinity and Morpheus continue to do battle with deadly agents inside The Matrix, the machines have launched a massive assault on Zion, the last human city on Earth. Further details of Neo’s prophesy are revealed but to fulfill it, he may have to choose between ending the war or saving those he loves.
Most of the fun of the first Matrix was in discovering the various layers of truth. With those layers revealed, the Wachowskis are left to mostly simple exposition, with some occasional philosophical meandering thrown in for good measure. Fortunately, there is so much mind-blowing action that you probably won’t notice what the story lacks.
X2: X-Men United
4 stars
Rated PG-13
Directed By Bryan Singer
Starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen
A mutant attack on the White House provides the perfect excuse for a rogue military scientist to assault Dr. Xavier’s School for the Exceptionally Gifted. When it is discovered that the scientist plans to exterminate all mutants, the X-Men forge an alliance with their old nemesis, Magneto.
Director Singer successfully navigates several tricky tightropes in the second installment of this comic book saga; he punches up the action several levels without sacrificing his narrative, he adds new characters while continuing to develop roles he’s previously introduced and, most importantly, retains elements important to fans of the comics, without losing the rest of us. Great summer fare.
Daddy Day Care
2 stars
Rated PG
Starring Eddie Murphy, Jeff Garlin
Directed by Steve Carr
Unemployment and the high cost of day care drive two stay-at-home dads to open up their own preschool. Hyperactive toddlers are the least of their worries when a rival day care tries to have them shut down.
If you’ve got kids that are just a little too young for X2 or The Matrix: Reloaded, you need to face facts: you will probably be seeing this movie. Your toddlers will delight at the “daddys” being overwhelmed by screaming rugrats, while you wonder what happened to that really funny guy from 48 Hours.
Anger Management
1 star
Rated PG-13
Directed by Peter Segal
Starring Adam Sandler, Jack Nicholson
After a misunderstanding on a plane flight, Dave (Sandler) is ordered to undergo anger management therapy with the unorthodox Dr. Buddy Rydell (Nicholson). Dave quickly learns that the cure is much worse than the disease when Buddy moves in with him as part of his treatment.
Any promise that Sandler showed in “Punch Drunk Love” is quickly dissipated in this appallingly unfunny film. Sandler’s tired shtick is combined with Nicholson’s worn out “wild man” routine in a variety of moderately amusing scenarios resulting in a sum less than the whole of its parts.
