Hollywood Homicide
PG-13
3 stars
Directed By Ron Shelton
Starring Harrison Ford, Josh Hartnett
Two LAPD detectives are trying to get to the bottom of the
gangland-style slaying of a rap group, but find their case
complicated by corrupt cops, illicit affairs and their side jobs in
real estate and yoga instruction.
Hollywood Homicide
PG-13
3 stars
Directed By Ron Shelton
Starring Harrison Ford, Josh Hartnett
Two LAPD detectives are trying to get to the bottom of the gangland-style slaying of a rap group, but find their case complicated by corrupt cops, illicit affairs and their side jobs in real estate and yoga instruction.
The slow pacing and quirky humor of ‘Homicide’ leaves it feeling a lot more like a TV show than the summer comedy action blockbuster it could have been. That being said, Ford and Hartnett actually have decent chemistry, and the last 20 minutes of the movie should make viewers forget about the lack of judicious editing preceding them.
Rugrats Go Wild
PG
2 stars
Starring Bruce Willis
When the Pickles find themselves marooned on a deserted island, they have the good fortune of running into famed adventurer Nigel Thornberry and his family.
Nigel receives a damaging knock on the head, leaving the fate of all involved in the hands of the babies and Eliza Thornberry, who fortunately possesses some Dr. Dolittle-like skills.
Youngish fans of the Rugrats and Wild Thornberry animated series should find this an entertaining 80 minutes, while their older chaperones will probably be disinterested save for the occasional pop culture reference thrown in for their benefit.
Dumb and Dumberer
PG-13
3 stars
Starring Eric Christian Olsen, Derek Richardson
Mentally deficient and socially challenged, Harry and Lloyd seem to have met their ideal match in each other. As they bumble through high school and life in general, they unwittingly unravel a plot by their principal to fleece the school district out of $100,000.
Audiences not impressed by the first installment won’t find this sequel any more entertaining, and fans of the original will probably weigh themselves down in needless comparison. Everyone else can probably sit back, turn off their brain and soak up the big dumb fun.
2 Fast 2 Furious
2 stars
PG-13
Directed By John Singleton
Starring Paul Walker, Tyrese
Paul Walker returns as Brian O’Connor, a cop on the run who now makes his living as an illegal street racer in Miami. When the feds catch up to him, he’s given the chance to clear his own record as well as that of an old friend by going undercover for the Feds in an operation involving a local drug lord.
As long as you haven’t fooled yourself into believing there’s any story of substance here, you can have a lot of guilty fun at this movie. Although it lacks the so-bad-it’s-good dialogue of the original, there are plenty of stunts, bikinis and tricked-out cars to keep fans of that sort of thing very happy.
The Italian Job
3 stars
PG-13
Starring Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Ed Norton, Seth Green
A group of highly skilled crooks pulls off an impossible theft but forgets to account for one important logistical detail: a double-cross from within. When the traitor’s hiding place is discovered, the thieves execute a daring plan to retrieve their spoils.
A heist movie that’s fast-paced, stylish, exciting and, most importantly, fun. The mechanics of the crime take a back seat to the interactions of the characters, which is a welcome change from the more recent entries in this genre.
Finding Nemo
4 stars
G
Starring Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres
Marlin, a skittish clown fish, loses his entire family in an unfortunate underwater incident save his son, Nemo. When a scuba diving dentist takes Nemo home to his office fish tank, Marlin sets off to rescue him.
Pixar hits another one out of the park. The vastness of the ocean provides ample opportunities for Pixar’s CG artists to play. The ample eye-candy serves to support, not distract from, the clever story and charming characters. Adults without kids will just have to go by themselves.
Wrong Turn
2 stars
R
Starring Eliza Dushku
A West Virginia camping trip goes horribly wrong when a group of young, attractive hikers get a flat tire on the backroads of West Virginia. In addition to being lost and hungry, they’re being hunted by inbred hillbillies who want to eat them.
Roger Corman meets Dario Argento, produced by Stan Winston. True fans of the “hunted by hillbillies” slasher category (think Texas Chainsaw Massacre or The Hills Have Eyes) will have a lot of fun at this over the top summer horror entry. Everyone else will probably just be grossed out.
