Hall Pass

Rick (Owen Wilson) and Fred (Jason Sudeikis) are best friends who have a lot in common, including the fact that they have each been married for many years. But when the two men begin to show signs of restlessness at home, their wives (Jenna Fischer, Christina Applegate) take a bold approach to revitalizing their marriages: granting them a "hall pass," one week of freedom to do whatever they want...no questions asked. At first, it sounds like a dream come true for Rick and Fred. But it isn't long before they discover that their expectations of the single life--and themselves--are completely, and hilariously, out of sync with reality.

This movie had some good laughs. I think I just wanted/expected more. It wasn't necessarily bad. I just think it could have been much better. You pretty much have seen the movie just by watching the trailer. And of course there are two textbook Farrely Brother moments where they have to completely blow your mind with the "did that just happen" moments. I saw the second one kind of coming and still wanted to die after watching it.

I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this out. Its not as funny as it could have been but not the biggest waste of time for you either.

Cedar Rapids

To call insurance agent Tim Lippe (Ed Helms), "naive" is a gross understatement. He's never left his small hometown. He's never stayed at a hotel. And he's never experienced anything like Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Sent to represent his company at the annual insurance convention, Tim is soon distracted by three convention veterans (John C. Reilly, Anne Heche and Isiah Whitlock Jr.) who will show him the ropes and push his boundaries. For a guy who plays everything by the book, this convention will be anything but conventional.

This is one of those artsy comedies. Overall, it's completely pointless, but there are some one liners and scenes that do make you laugh. John C Reilly is his usual self and I'm a big fan of Ed Helms but was kind of put off by how straight laced he was. Isiah Whitlock Jr completely stole the show honestly.

I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this out. Its not a must see by any means. Its super short and there are some good laughs.

Paul

For the past 60 years, an alien named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) has been hanging out at a top-secret military base. For reasons unknown, the space-traveling smart ass decides to escape the compound and hop on the first vehicle out of town -- a rented RV containing Earthlings Graeme Willy (Simon Pegg) and Clive Collings (Nick Frost). Chased by federal agents and the fanatical father of a young woman that they accidentally kidnap, Graeme and Clive hatch a fumbling escape plan to return Paul to his mother ship. And as two nerds struggle to help, one little green man might just take his fellow outcasts from misfits to intergalactic heroes.

These guys are hilarious. Shaun Of The Dead and Hot Fuzz were awesome. This one isn't as good as those two but still zany enough and more than enough laughs to enjoy throughout. I even found a way that Seth Rogen isn't annoying. He's much more tolerable when he's just doing voices.

I would recommend people checking this bad boy out. Its not a must see by any means, but pretty good especially if you enjoy the team's previous fare.

Unknown

Dr. Martin Harris (Liam Neeson) awakens after a car accident in Berlin to discover that his wife (January Jones) suddenly doesn't recognize him and another man (Aidan Quinn) has assumed his identity. Ignored by disbelieving authorities and hunted by mysterious assassins, he finds himself alone, tired and on the run. Aided by an unlikely ally (Diane Kruger), Martin plunges headlong into a deadly mystery that will force him to question his sanity, his identity, and just how far he's willing to go to uncover the truth.

When did Liam Nesson become such a believable bada$$? I'm still reeling from Taken last year and here comes another slice from a very similar pie. This movie is a great suspense thriller. You find yourself completely tuned in the entire time wanting to know where the story is going. It doesn't pull up lame at the end. Great action throughout. It's a really fun and smart ride

I would definitely recommend people checking this movie out. It's smart, fun, action packed and you won't be disappointed.

I Am Number Four

John Smith (Alex Pettyfer), is a fugitive on the run from ruthless enemies sent to destroy him. Changing his identity, moving from town to town with his guardian Henri (Timothy Olyphant), John is always the new kid with no ties to his past. In the small Ohio town he now calls home, John encounters unexpected, life-changing events—his first love (Dianna Agron), powerful new abilities and a connection to the others who share his incredible destiny.

I understandably had really low expectations for this movie. I think that helped me be able to somewhat enjoy the movie as the decent sci-fi story that it was. I heard someone describe it as Twilight with aliens instead of vampires. Easily the best possible way to describe it. The acting was horrible and so was the script, but the trick to a good sci-fi movie is to either make you believe in the other world or the existence of stuff like this in our world for that brief amount of time the movie is on. This movie achieved that. The good action and good sci-fi story trumped the other glaring shortfalls of the movie.

I would lukewarmly recommend people checking this out. I enjoyed it but had really low hopes for it and could see most people not liking it.

Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son

Big Momma is back - and this t ime he has big backup: his teenage stepson Trent (Brandon T. Jackson). Martin Lawrence returns as FBI agent Malcolm Turner and as Turner's deep-cover alter-ego Big Momma. Turner is joined by Trent, as they go undercover at an all-girls performing arts school after Trent witnesses a murder. Posing as Big Momma and as hefty coed Charmaine, they must find the murderer before he finds them.

Is this seriously a movie franchise now? This has to be one of the most insulting things Hollywood has ever churned out. There are three of these!?! Don't get me wrong, I admittedly enjoyed the first one. I figured that there would be a second one. But a third? There is now a Big Momma trilogy? Really starting to believe in that 2012 end of the world stuff.

Would I recommend people seeing it? OF COURSE NOT!!! Its the same story with two guys dressing up as women. I laughed once.

Just Go With It

In Just Go With It, a plastic surgeon, romancing a much younger schoolteacher, enlists his loyal assistant to pretend to be his soon to be ex-wife, in order to cover up a careless lie. When more lies backfire, the assistant's kids become involved, and everyone heads off for a weekend in Hawaii that will change all their lives.

I am in total and complete shock at how much I loved this movie. At this point, Adam Sandler movies are all the same. At this point, Jennifer Aniston is the biggest sham of all the actresses because she really has done NOTHING outside of Friends except get dumped by Brad Pitt and milk the living $hit out that. However, this movie trumped both of those things. This was easily the best Adam Sandler movie since his early ones. I still consider Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore and Big Daddy to be classic comedies but it grew very old since then. I enjoyed 50 First Dates a couple of years ago but even that seemed a little forced. This one didn't. I laughed my a$$ off. He was great. She was great. Their chemistry and playing off of each other was great. The kids were great. Shocking. Totally shocking.

I never thought I would say this, but I fully recommend that everyone check this one out. It is easily the funniest movie to come out in a long time and you find yourself rooting for the desired outcome.

The Eagle

In 140 AD, two men - master and slave - venture beyond the edge of the known world on a dangerous and obsessive quest that will push them beyond the boundaries of loyalty and betrayal, friendship and hatred, deceit and heroism. 20 years earlier, Rome's 5,000-strong Ninth Legion, under the command of Flavius Aquila, marched north carrying their treasured golden Eagle emblem. They never returned; Legion and Eagle simply vanished into the mists. Hearing a rumor that the Eagle has been seen in a tribal temple in the far north, Flavius' son Marcus (Tatum), determined to restore the tarnished reputation of his father, is galvanized into action. Accompanied only by his slave Esca (Bell), Marcus sets out into the vast and dangerous highlands of Scotland - to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father's memory, and retrieve the hallowed Eagle.

See now from that plot description, you would expect a pretty good Roman empire type of movie. And for the record - this movie could have actually been really bada$$. However, they decided to target an audience of 17 year old girls by casting Channing Tatum. I actually could have possibly accepted him in this role. However, since they were targeting teenage girls, they had to make it rated PG-13. So this led to a whole bunch of awesome fights where nothing was ever shown. And a whole bunch of dialogue that was right out of Twilight instead of ancient Rome. Therefore, unless you are a teenage girl with a big crush on Channing Tatum - this movie that could have been awesome is basically poop.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering to see this except for the aforementioned teenage girls. Its pretty painful to be honest.

Gnomeo & Juliet

The greatest love story ever told, starring... garden gnomes? Gnomeo & Juliet showcases both classic and original songs by Elton John and features the voices of James McAvoy and Emily Blunt as Gnomeo and Juliet, who have as many obstacles to overcome as their quasi namesakes when they are caught up in a feud between neighbors. But with plastic pink flamingos and thrilling lawnmower races in the mix, can this young couple find lasting happiness?


I really enjoyed this movie. Its silly, but a pretty good satire of the Romeo & Juliet story. Its VERY tongue in cheek. There were equal parts humor for kids and the adults. It honestly made me want to get gnomes all over my backyard.


I would definitely recommend checking this movie out. For those of you looking for something to do with the kids - this is the perfect choice for both you and them. For those of you without kids - it's still really damn funny.

Justin Beiber: Never Say Never

Paramount Pictures is developing a 3D Justin Bieber biopic that will hit theaters on February 11, 2011. The movie will include performances from his current concert tour.

I will say never. As in . . . . . . I will never be seeing this movie.

You are on your own with this one and thank you in advance to my wonderful friends that will be taking Stinka to see it so that I don't have to.

The Roommate

A psychological thriller about a deranged college freshman (Leighton Meester) who becomes obsessed with her new roommate (Minka Kelly).

This is essentially an extremely weak remake of Single White Female in a college setting. It's exactly what I expected and it's exactly what I got. There really isn't much more to be said about this.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering to go to theaters to watch this. You would be much better off watching Single White Female or any television show on the CW instead of this.

Sanctum

Master diver Frank McGuire (Richard Roxburgh) has explored the South Pacific's Esa-ala Caves for months. But when his exit is cut off in a flash flood, Frank's team--including 17-year-old son Josh (Rhys Wakefield) and financier Carl Hurley (Ioan Gruffudd)--are forced to radically alter plans. With dwindling supplies, the crew must navigate an underwater labyrinth to make it out. Soon, they are confronted with the unavoidable question: Can they survive, or will they be trapped forever?

This movie was pretty decent visually inside the caves and what not with the 3D. Outside of that - this movie had nothing but lameness. Lame acting. Lame action. Lame suspense. Lame amount of gore for a R rated movie. It was truly downright painful.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering to watch this. It was such a complete waste of time.

The Way Back

The Way Back is the fact-based story of the escape of soldiers from a Siberian gulag in 1940. It is based on several sources, most notably the Slavomir Rawicz book "The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom." The book is Rawicz's account of being captured by the Red Army in 1939 and his journey to freedom with other inmates. The group crossed the Siberian arctic, the Gobi desert and the Himalayas, finally settling in Tibet and India.


This is one of those movies that probably would have been pretty good if there was any sort of an emotional hook at all. I didn't find myself really caring about any of the characters and their journey felt as long on film as it must have been in real life.


I wouldn't really recommend anyone bothering to see this movie. Honestly, I don't even think most of you have ever heard of this one anyway.