At The Movies III – May/June 2010
At The Movies
Superb **** Very Good *** Good ** Mediocre * Forget It -
Why Not ?
The Back-up Plan (Le Plan B) ** Jennifer Lopez just can’t find the man of her dreams, so she gets pregnant by artificial insemination. And then she meets Mr. Right (Alex O’Loughlin) – what else? Actually their chemistry is pretty good, but will he commit? Can she hang in there? Romantic comedies are difficult to pull off just right, and some of the side shows here don’t gel – the women’s group is a useless bore – must we constantly hear the “v” word and assist in prolonged births? But Jaylo is lovely and O’Loughlin is surprisingly good.
Imogène *1/2 (vo French) Here’s another one of the silly, minor comedies that France keeps grinding out, which is no better than banal TV fare. Such top actors as Catherine Frot and Lambert Wilson are wasted here with all the required overacting. It’s a limp spy farce and no more.
At your own Risk
Camping 2 *1/2 (vo French) The first one was fresh and such fun – a super summer holiday. Like most sequels, this one falls flat with a silly script and humdrum characters who go nowhere. Too bad, for there are good actors here.
Chaque jour est une fête *1/2 (vo Arab) The scenario is everything and this one, about a busload of women going to visit their men in prison, lacks any verve or finesse. The fine actress Hiam Abbas can’t do much without the right structure or direction.
Street Dance *1/2 Some good dancing, forget the story and wish they would stop with those cumbersome 3D glasses. Who needs it!
Date Night (Crazy Night) * Here’s another foolish, embarrassing dud of a “comedy”. Tiny Fey was wonderful as Sarah Palin, but her range doesn’t go much further – or is it the awful script and direction? The only thing that shines is a moment of Mark Wahlberg, with his amazing body and cool poker face.
Mammuth * (vo French) And then there’s this Depardieu “event” that’s gotten lots of positive press. Don’t bother. Like the avant-garde works of the 60s, it’s framed by sloppy, grainy, shaky camerawork that follows the action mainly from behind Depardieu’s head – that’s not the way our eyes see the world, so why should film do it?! This is the story of a loser – un con (excuse my French) – who goes on a road trip looking for documents that he needs for his retirement. But he is utterly inept. What’s the use of glorifying stupidity? Some fine co-stars along the way – Benoît Poelvoorde and Anna Mouglalis – supply moments of respite to the dullness. What a waste of talents such as Depardieu, Adjani and Yolande Moreau!
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