The longest, most expensive Coming Attraction so far...

Let me preface by saying I loved the first Iron Man. I thought it was clever, witty, full of enough action to satisfy most testosterone levels, and enough bad boy charm from Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) to satisfy most ladies. So I was expecting a similar reaction to the sequel, especially under the helm of one of my favorite directors, Jon Favreau. This time around things were just a little...well, off.

Stark is still a narcissistic playboy, but with a little darker edge. Sure, he's got the girl by his side, Pepper Potts, (Gweneth Paltrow), even if their relationship sometimes seems a lot more like business associates than lovers (perhaps that is why the "You complete me" scene from the trailer was nowhere to be found in the finished film.)

When he is not fighting off the ladies, Stark is struggling to keep his suit to himself and out of the governments hands. The bigwigs and his pal Rhodey (Don Cheadle, replacing Terrence Howard) would like to get the suits technology into the militarys hands. Of course, if the good guys want it, so do the bad. If all these guys knew the flashlight of a chest behind the suit was slowly killing our protagonist, perhaps they would be a little less eager. Maybe.

What is slowly killing the audience's attention is the use of so many storylines. Any one of the multi-plots could have made for a compelling film. All together and even the massive amounts of CG and the humorous albeit evil villains can not keep the audience fully engaged.

The 2+ hours does appear to speed up anytime the two major baddies show up, especially Justin Hammer (Sam Rockwell) a shady business competitor, out to outwit Stark and gain the notoriety that the advanced technology of the Iron Man suit would bring. To help him, he hires Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), a Russian scientist out for vengeance against the Stark lineage that has unjustly claimed the fame and prestige (not to mention $$$) that Vanko believes should be shared with the son of the senior Stark's former business partner.

Not enough new characters for you? Don't worry, a latex clad Scarlett Johannson (Natalie, Natasha, Black Widow, take your pick) is right around the corner to add a little more cleavage to the mix. And don't forget her role, along with Samuel L. Jackson's Nick Fury, to remind everyone that The Avengers movie is only two years away! And in case that is too long for you, Captain America and Thor are also superheroing their way to a multi-plex near you. So please, don't sweat it if this movie doesn't live up to your expectations, the next dozen or so films to come out of this will. They promise.

As more and more Marvel is piled on the movie trailer bandwagon, this flick is still worth a glance. I'd say wait until DVD, but as the temperatures soar, an air conditioned interlude may just be enough to make this worth watching on the big screen. But do your perspiring body and shrinking wallet a favor and head to the matinee.

The Proposal

I made the mistake of hearing another critic's take on this film before watching it. Because of that, I was waiting to be disappointed. Surprisingly, I was not. Sure, a lot of cliche romantic comedy scenes are inserted throughout. The story is certainly not new -- the loathe to love story has been around since the beginning of the genre; and has been far better told in films like When Harry Met Sally and Pride and Prejudice. But Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds are good enough actors that the worn out story may not feel fresh, but will be a couple of hours of welcome relief from the summer heat.

Bullock portrays Margaret, a no nonsense New York book editor that is about to be deported back to Canada after not taking care of her work visa. That is until she coerces her assistant, Andrew (Reynolds) into marrying her. In return, Andrew will get the chance to move beyond his 3 year stint as her go-to guy and get to do the job he really left his hometown of Sitka, Alaska to pursue; that of book editor and author.

So off to Sitka the "happy" couple go to attend the 90th birthday party of Andrew's "Gammy" (scene stealer Betty White). It is here that Margaret begins to get to know anything beyond the office about Andrew. While it would have been interesting to see how their co-workers would react to the "witch" of the office marrying her younger assistant, it is in the placing of Margaret far outside her element and of Andrew's chance to be in a higher position that the relationship has a place to grow.

Like Sandra Bullock's former film, While You Were Sleeping, her character is without a family of her own, and begins to fall in love not only with her male partner, but with his entire family. The similarities continue with a fear of a grandmother having a heart attack once the truth is revealed, and that revelation coming out at the altar (no I'm not spoiling anything. You will see it coming a mile away). Perhaps even the swapping of a groom is the same, at least in a metaphorical way. Margaret doesn't fall in love with Andrew's brother (lucky for him, he's an only child), but in love with a different Andrew than the one that drinks the same kind of coffee as her, just in case he spills hers and doesn't want to deal with an un-Starbucked boss.

Timing is an issue with this story. It seems completely implausible that the couple is able to fly across the country, convince his family, attend pre-wedding festivities, try to deter a determined immigration officer, and be back in New York by 9 am Monday. But timing is also a strong suit for both Bullock and Reynolds. Reynolds in particular, is the king of timing in both glances and one-liners, that has the audience completely swept up in the moment, regardless of the absurdity of it. Having that delivery to play against is what makes Bullock's fish-out-of-water story more believable than others, Renee Zellweger's in New in Town for example.

No, this film is not for everyone. But if you are looking for some light romantic comedy fun, this is one to see. Consider it the Transformers 2 of chick flicks; not the best or most realistic movie you will ever see, but entertaining for entertainment's sake. And at the beginning of summer, what more could you ask for?

Away We Go

A movie starring The Office heartthrob John Krasinski and SNL alum Maya Rudolph might evoke images of slapstick comedy. To be sure, there are a lot of comedic moments throughout the film; however, an extended improv sketch this film is not. Instead, this is a story about a couple trying to find the right place to raise their daughter while trying their best not to be total screw-ups.

When Burt's (Krasinski) parents tell the expectant couple that they are moving to Belgium a month before the baby's due date, the couple decide to find a place that will be close to people they know that can help them wade through the fear of being completely responsible for a child's life and well-being. Thus begins their cross-country journey to family and friends stretched out across the States and even up into Canada, in search for a new place to call home.

Each visit brings a cast of characters that show just how screwed up everybody is, regardless of how "normal" they come across thousands of miles away. The supporting cast, including Allison Janney and Jim Gaffigan bring a lot of humor to the adventure, but Maggie Gyllenhaal takes dysfunctional to a whole new level with her character "LN"; a hippie professor from family money who feels the need to share her kooky observations on parenting and her breastmilk with any child willing. Bringing a heavier hand to the plot are old college friends Tom (Chris Messina) and Munch (Melanie Lynskey) Garnett who seem like the ideal family with their many adopted kids, until disclosing a heartbreaking series of miscarriages have kept them from having a biological child.

Director Sam Mendes does a great job of mixing humor and honesty throughout. Like most road trip stories, the ending is not the destination; the heart lies within the journey it takes to get there. Overall this is an independent film that feels like one; it doesn't try to live in a mainstream world of quick fixes and cheap laughs. It is a realistic portrayal of a grown-up love story; a snippet in time where everything is uncertain except the love that is shared.

Bourne's Retirement Plan

If you thought Indiana Jones was getting too up there in years for much action, don't tell Liam Neeson's character Bryan Mills in the action flick Taken. Looking like Jason Bourne with a memory and a few more years of expertise, Bryan spends most of the movie taking down guys a third his age while hardly breaking a sweat.

This movie is mostly action, and that is where the solid performances occur. Don't sweat the uber cheesy beginning and disappointing end; the rest of the film makes up for them in a blaze of punches and bullets. The lame attempts at capturing a father/daughter bond are unbelievable and trying to create tension in the relationship makes Bryan's daughter Kim (Maggie Grace) act out like a 12 year old rather than a 17 year old. But once the story moves out of America and into Paris, the pace is fresher and faster and leaves you in your seat for the remaining hour.

What starts out as a trip through Europe for Kim and her friend Amanda (Katie Cassidy), turns into a race for Bryan to find them before they are lost in a sinister underground world. The slow pace of the beginning gives way to nonstop action by the time Bryan braces Kim for what is about to occur with the terrifying announcement, "They are going to take you."

Bryan then gives the kidnappers a solid warning that if his daughter is not released, he will find them and kill them. They should have taken heed. Unleashed, Bryan is a lethal weapon. We know that he was a former spy, but much more is uncovered about his former job by the sheer expanse of knowledge he has about such things as impromptu IV's and a good dozen different ways to torture and kill.

It is a violent movie, with a lot of uncomfortable scenarios. However, even someone as anti-violence as myself found enjoyment in Bryan's methods of saving the day. It is not always easy to find a movie of pure action escapism in the droll winter months. Do yourself a favor and check this one out.

What's in a Name Anyway?

Don't let the strange title fool you. Slumdog Millionaire deserves all the awards season hype that has come its way. It is not your typical multiplex feature, to be sure, but it is not so far down the independent trail that the average movie goer will be disappointed.

The story begins with Jamal Malik, an illiterate teen from the slums of Mumbai, being accused of cheating on India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Through each question that comes up, a flashback to Jamal's troubled childhood with his brother Salim and a fellow orphan, Latika, shows how possible it is for someone so outside of the mainstream world to know the answers.

Having seen the Oscar nominated film Water a few years ago, I was surprised that this film was able to shoot in India, as it does not portray the country in a particularly pleasant light. However, the authenticity of the location lends itself beautifully to the telling of the story. Danny Boyle's (Trainspotting) fast action shots throughout the slums is done masterfully, making full use of the chaos of living in such a place, without jolting the camera too much.

While there is a lot of humor throughout, there is a heaviness to this film, due to the harsh lifestyle the main characters have had to endure. However, the heart of each character shines through, regardless of whatever despicable act they need to perform in order to survive.

The storyline of destiny is weaved intricately throughout, leaving no doubt that what occurs is what is meant to be for each character. In the end, it is a sweet love story full of hope that will resonate with most audience members during these difficult times. At a time when most Oscar contenders are on the downtrodden and somber side, Slumdog Millionaire gives a refreshing note of optimism to lift your spirits and brighten your outlook. Give yourself a boost and seek it out in theaters while you still can.

And the nominees are...

http://www.oscar.com/nominees/?pn=nominees

Should Second Chances Always Be Given?

Last Chance Harvey suffers greatly from a script that feels like it follows Romantic Comedies 101. If this had been for a younger generation, a la Before Sunrise, it might have been more passable as realistic. Unfortunately for the plot but fortunate for the audience, the characters in this film are older, wiser, and played with brilliant subtlety by two of the most talented actors around.

Dustin Hoffman plays Harvey Shine, a slightly past middle-age musician, who finds his original compositions being turned into television jingles. Frustrated by threats of losing his job to a younger generation, Harvey takes off for an weekend trip to London to see his daughter married. It is at Heathrow that he meets Kate Walker (Thompson), a census taker that has had one bad date too many and spends most of her time on the phone with her eccentric mother (Eileen Atkins).

In a spiral of bad luck, Harvey loses his position of giving the bride away, his job, and his plane seat. Drowning his sorrows in the airport bar, he runs into Kate once again, and tries to strike up an awkward conversation. This is where the magic acting capabilities of these two screen legends truly begins. If Hoffman is ever hurting for work, he would make the worlds best used car salesman; Harvey is able to weave his way into Kate's world in a way that makes it plausible that two complete strangers, that shy away from most of life's awkward moments, would find companionship with each other in the span of an afternoon.

The film plays at an easy pace and tries to make the most out of the London location. The problems with this film emerge when it tries too hard to be something it is not -- a comedy. The subplot of Kate's mother fearing her neighbor is smoking human bodies in his backyard barbeque feel awkward and misplaced. So does the frivolous montage of Kate trying on dresses.

As with all films of this genre, there is a boy loses girl moment, that almost makes you groan out loud when it comes -- it is just too obvious and completely unnecessary. Too much time is spent at the beginning showing Harvey as inconsiderate and somewhat of a jerk to make it crucial for him to get the girl at the end. It is only in the palpable loneliness of Kate that the audience hopes for a happier ending for her sake. Whether Harvey is able to ultimately help her find that happiness is up to the audience to decide.

If writer/director Joel Hopkins would have left these characters in the actors more than capable hands, it would have been such an invigorating thing to see where they end up. Instead, the subpar script leaves the film enjoyable enough for a Saturday night rental, but not creating enough waves for an older audience to strike out to the theaters to see it, even with a senior discount.