Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Are there any good movies coming at all?

Forgive me if I'm more than a little punchy this morning. I don't usually stay up so late on a school night, but last night's political show was just fascinating, even if it didn't go as well for Barack Obama as I had been hoping.

But enough of that. This isn't about politics, of course. It's supposed to be about movies, but for what seems like the fifth or sixth week in a row there's nothing but crap opening in wide-release world this week.

I had mild hopes for Malcolm Lee's "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins," but most of the clips I've seen so far seem to riff on the fact that Mo'nique is a woman who likes to eat. Somehow I think I'll just wait for Tyler Perry's surely superior family-reunion movie "Meet the Browns," coming in early March.

But is there anything even remotely worth watching coming to your multiplexes in the next month? The short answer is not much, but yes, there are a few potential gems in the pipeline. Here's a look at the none-too-distant movie future:

Feb. 8:
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins: See above.

Fool's Gold: It can't be a good sign when, in the one review I bothered to read, your movie is none-too-favorably compared to some Brooke Shields TV movie called "Wet Gold" (which I can't say I've had the pleasure of seeing.) You can see Kate Hudson in a bikini in the trailer, so I really can't see any possible reason to watch the rest of the movie.

Feb. 15:
Definitely, Maybe: Is is just me, or doesn't it seem kind of sick to make a movie in which a poor little girl has to learn about all her daddy's sexual exploits just to find out who her mommy is? Sheesh.

Jumper: This one could be good, especially with Doug Liman in charge, but I have the sneaking feeling I'm just too old for it, and that suit that Sam the Man wears in the trailer just makes him look some kind of futuristic garbage man.

Step Up 2 the Street: I have no idea if all white people can't dance, but I surely can't. 'Nuff said.

Spiderwick Chronicles: All I needed to know to give this Walden fantasy a chance is that the script was written by John Sayles (hey, a man's gotta eat.)

Feb. 22:
Be Kind Rewind: Finally, a week to look forward to. I sure hope this opens wide, because even though I've seen up to a third of the movie already in clips, it should be a lot of silly fun.

Charlie Bartlett: I have my doubts about this one, but I'll watch just about anything with Robert Downey Jr. in it, and I'm holding out hope this one will be at least as sly as it is sweet.

Cover: Don't know much about this one except that it's some kind of thriller directed by Bill Duke and starring Louis Gossett Jr. and Vivica Fox. That's probably enough to hook me.

My Mom's New Boyfriend: This flick starring Meg Ryan and Antonio Banderas used to be known as "Homeland Security." That's about all I know on this one.

Vantage Point: I have fairly serious qualms about releasing a movie about a presidential assassination during the height of this latest campaign, but for sheer entertainment value this looks like a winner. William Hurt is the president, and Sigourney Weaver and Forest Whitaker factor in here somehow too.

Feb. 29:
Addicted: All I know is that Sarah Michelle Gellar is in this, so my money is on either some kind of generic mind-bender or a Japanese horror remake. Either way, I'll probably pass.

The Other Boleyn Girl: Now this could be fun. Natalie Portman is Anne Boleyn, Scarlett Johansson is her sister Mary and Eric Bana is that crazy King Henry VIII. I personally would have swapped the leading ladies' roles, but that's a minor quibble.

Penelope: I hope this has the cast strength to play wide, because it just looks to be utterly charming. Christina Ricci stars as the titular lady who is trying to escape some kind of family curse and, of course, find love. It's surely better than I'm making it sound here.

Semi-Pro: I could be wrong (and I really do hope I am), but this looks like the first Will Ferrell movie that won't be even remotely funny. A white man in a 'fro just isn't enough to make me laugh.

And now I have to, unfortunately, go to work. I'll leave you with - be warned - a R-rated (but very funny) trailer for "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," coming from Camp Apatow this summer and directed by former Freak Jason Segel (and starring Veronica Mars!) Peace out.

13 comments:

jeremy said...

I'm guessing Charlie Bartlett is going to suck cuz I saw a commercial (on the TV no less) over a year ago for a summer '07release.

In other news--I just caught the audience award winner from Sundance, The Wackness, and I'm guessing that you are going to LOVE it.
(Me, I mildly liked it.)

Reel Fanatic said...

I've only heard good things about that one so far, Jeremy, and I tend to have a lower standard for comedies than a lot of people (including you, I take it) ... And you're probably right about Charlie Bartlett, 'cause it does indeed seem like it's been the pipeline for an awfully long time

Chalupa said...

I've thought Charlie Bartlett looks interesting. Besides Robert Downey Jr., I'm also looking forward to seeing Anton Yelchin again. I thought he did a superb job in Alpha Dog.

Chalupa said...

Oh - and I'm also really looking forward to Be Kind Rewind. I get excited every time I see the poster for it at our local theater. I'm a big sucker for any Jack Black movie. I've also been pretty impressed with Mos Def in movies.

Bob said...

"Be Kind" is the next movie I'm really excited for. I look forward to "Diary of the Dead" too. The concept sounds a bit too "Blair Witch"/"Cloverfield" for me (as in "it's been done," not, "ooh, I hate shaky cameras") but the original "Dawn of the Dead" is one of my all-time favorite movies so I look forward to what Romero has come up with. Hopefully the long-delayed "Penelope" will be good. It's got Richard E. Grant and Emily Watson in it so I pretty much HAVE to see it.
Thanks for the "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" trailer. That looks great. Kristen Bell and Jason Segel should play off of each other nicely I think. I hope she does more comedies.

Bob said...

Oh, one last thing. I've been to exactly two movies so far this year. "There Will Be Blood" and "The Savages," both of which were '07s. A sad state of movie-going affairs indeed.

kat said...

It's in April, but I'm looking forward to Street Kings, nee The Night Watchman.

Yes, it's starring Keanu which is usually a no-no for me, but check out the rest of the cast.

Also, chin up on Obama. He did great last night. Two weeks ago polling suggested he wasn't remotely competitive in a majority of the states he won. And delegate wise, it's a wash. People are still learning who he is whereas everyone knows who Hillary Clinton is by now. He's got more momentum and more money in the bank. He's sitting pretty.

Erik Loomis said...

Why the pessimism about Obama? He didn't win California but everything else worked out great. He dominated the state totals and kept the delegate count pretty much even. This is a huge night for him.

Reel Fanatic said...

You're probably right that I shouldn't be so pessimistic about Obama, Erik and Kat, but I can't help having this sneaking suspicion that he's somehow gonna get hoodwinked in the delegate count at the end (and I would take that rather personally if he did, 'cause I've been volunteering quite a lot of my time to work the phones and sometimes the streets for him)

And I'm definitely with you on Mos Def, Chalupa ... He's been in some pretty friggin bad movies to date ("Monster's Ball" and "16 Blocks" come immediately to mind), but he's always been the best thing about them and is quickly turning into a damn fine actor

Anonymous said...

I'm really interested in seeing "Charlie Bartlett" - looks like it could be fun.

And lets not forget "City of Men" which is apparently scheduled to open on the 29th. I've seen it and it's very good. Easily the best thing on the slate for Feb.

Reel Fanatic said...

You're certainly right that that's an omission on my part, Marina, especially since I absolutely adore City of God ... Unfortunately, I don't think it will play anywhere near my little corner of the world until it hits DVD

Terence Towles Canote said...

I have to admit that I am a bit intrigued by Jumper. I figure it's either going to really good or really bad. And I am definitely looking forward to The Spiderwick Chronicles. Based on a successful young adult novel series with a script by John Sayles. I'm there. If it even has half the magic of The Secret of Roan Inish, it'll be worth seeing.

Jim Marquis said...

Maybe I'm out of bounds for saying this but when I see a preview for something like Roscoe Jenkins it nauseates me. It's a bunch of black actors who will gladly perpetuate tired old stereotypes to make a quick buck.