It's Been A While.....

Computer malfunctions has put my movie blogging at a complete halt for the last few weeks, so in an attempt to salvage most of the month of June I will do a quick recap of the few films that I've seen since I've been away...


YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN
Directed by Denis Dugan

**

The latest Adam Sandler comedy seemed to be an exercise in complete tastelessness as well as shamelessness. Not that we'd expect better from the guy who was in Billy Madison. To be honest, it felt like a breath of fresh air to see Sandler go back to his silly roots, as apposed to his latest unsuccessful ventures into dramatic films (Spanglish, Reign Over Me), and just flat-out bad comedies (The Longest Yard, Click). Also, Zohan has more than one moment that is actually pretty funny. That being said, the film is a mockery of Israeli-Palestinian conflicts (maybe that subject needs a little humor?), which makes no bones about its lack of intelligence.

THE HAPPENING
Written, Produced, and Directed by M. Night Shyamalan

*

Once again, an M. Night Shyamalan film falls victim to not trusting his own premise. The Happening, a tale about how a science teacher (Mark Wahlberg) and his conflicted wife (Zooey Deschanel) try to survive while an odd pandemic is causing the human race to commit suicide, has its moments. It's best coming from a way-too-short performance from John Leguizamo as Wahlberg's math geek, trustworthy friend. Too many times, the film hinges on weak coincidences and bizarre, nonsensical moments which have you leaving the theater scratching your head in frustration that someone as visually talented as Shyamalan continues to struggle at properly telling a tale of suspense.

KUNG FU PANDA
Directed by Mark Osborne & John Stevenson

**1/2

It's a tired premise--particularly in children's films--particularly in animated children's films. The inept worshiper ends up in the world of the worshiped, only to find that he must be the one to protect them. The worshiper in this case is the paltry Po (Jack Black), a fat panda, whose spent his life making noodles and adoring kung fu. When he finds out that he alone must take down the dangerous Tai Lung (Ian McShane), not only is he scared, but he is resented by the kung fu masters he looked up to. The film is sweet, has moments of great humor, but it is very blatantly marketed toward children only, and won't produce the adult belly laughs that you'd get from any of the Shrek films.

GET SMART
Directed by Peter Segal

***

This movie makeover of the beloved TV series has been getting a lot of heat from most critics as it tones down the slapstick of Mel Brooks and Buck Henry and ups the action. Never having watched the original series, I'm pleased to say that I enjoyed Get Smart. In a move of expert casting, the always amazing Steve Carrell plays the bumbling Maxwell Smart, who has moved up from writing boring memorandums, and is now an agent. He's paired up with the sexy Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway) as they take down nuclear terrorists. Dwyane Johnson and Alan Alda also star in hilarious supporting roles. A lot of laughs and a lot of thrills, Get Smart is the quintessential summer movie blockbuster.

COMING SOON:
WALL-E
Wanted
The Visitor
Hancock