GL Arts & Entertainment

at the movies

September 5, 2010

at the movies

Continuing films:

AVATAR: SPECIAL EDITION – James Cameron invites movie-goers to take an extended tour of Pandora. The writer-director of “Avatar” hopes fans will come back to the fictional planet to see nine minutes of new 3-D footage, including a dramatic action scene showing a hunt for one of Pandora’s fantastical animals. PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking. 171 minutes.

CATS & DOGS: THE REVENGE OF KITTY GALORE — While the titular pets were resourceful enemies in the original “Cats & Dogs” (2001), now they must unite to fight a common foe. This is a spy send-up, specifically of James Bond movies. The jokes fly fast and furious along with the fur. PG for animal action and humor. 87 minutes.

DESPICABLE ME — With a pleasingly off-kilter look, a strong voice cast led by Steve Carell as the bumbling bad guy Gru and a delightfully cruel sense of humor, it’s still darker and odder than most family-friendly animated fare, and that’s a good thing — until it goes predictably gooey at the end. PG for rude humor and mild action. In 2-D and 3-D. 95 minutes.

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DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS — As Steve Carell (the schmuck invited to the titular dinner) and Paul Rudd (the tool who invites him) get to know each other during a series of mishaps, the pacing drags and the script detours, but Carell infuses what might have been an insufferably obnoxious character with real humanity. PG-13 for crude and sexual content, partial nudity and language. 114 minutes.

EAT PRAY LOVE – This gorgeous escape is full of female wish fulfillment but also offers sufficient emotional heft and self-discovery. Everyone’s looking for something — for answers, for their true and higher purpose — and Elizabeth Gilbert had the fortitude (and wherewithal) to take off alone on a journey around the world to find herself after her divorce. Having Julia Roberts, radiant as ever, star only makes it more appealing. PG-13 for brief strong language, sexual references and male rear nudity. 133 minutes.

THE EXPENDABLES – An exercise in nostalgia for the bygone era of muscly, macho action films, this is willfully out of date. Sylvester Stallone has summoned a who’s who of the remaining defenders of high body count, testosterone-fueled action: Jason Statham, Jet Li, Steve Austin, Randy Couture, Terry Crews and Dolph Lundgren. R for action and bloody violence throughout and some language. 103 minutes.

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GET LOW – Robert Duvall delivers another ineffable and slightly nutty performance as an ornery old hermit in backwoods Tennessee. This handsome, down-home, Depression-era tale also boasts Bill Murray, quietly crafty as a funeral-parlor director, and Sissy Spacek as a widow with a fateful connection to Duvall’s character. 100 minutes. PG-13 for violence, adult themes.

INCEPTION — With its complicated concepts about dreams within dreams, layers of consciousness and methods of manipulation, Christopher Nolan’s stunningly gorgeous first film since “The Dark Knight” might make you want to stop a few times just to get your bearings. Leonardo DiCaprio stars. PG-13 for violence and action throughout. 147 minutes.

THE LAST EXORCISM — One of the scariest movies to come along in a long time — until the last five minutes or so, when it completely falls apart. Director Daniel Stamm’s faux documentary starts out with deadpan delivery and a dry sense of humor, then it turns riveting, then truly frightening, then just plain silly. PG-13 for disturbing violent content and terror, some sexual references and thematic material. 88 minutes.

LOTTERY TICKET — A young man living in the projects who wins millions in the lottery must survive a holiday weekend with his greedy neighbors before claiming his prize. With Bow Wow, Ice Cube, Keith David, Loretta Devine and Terry Crews. PG-13 for sexual content, language including a drug reference, some violence and brief underage drinking. 99 minutes.

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NANNY McPHEE RETURNS – Magical governess Nanny McPhee is back to rein in unruly cousins at a family farm during the war. With Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Rhys Ifans and Maggie Smith. PG for rude humor, some language and mild thematic elements. 109 minutes.

THE OTHER GUYS — Will Ferrell does a variation on his overly earnest, totally confident, oblivious-to-his-own buffoonery guy. Mark Wahlberg plays with his screen image as a tough guy and hothead. It all could have been too familiar, too cute, but there are just enough tweaks and a refreshingly weird, kinky streak. PG-13 for crude and sexual content, language, violence and drug material. 101 minutes.

PIRANHA 3D – Spring break on sleepy Lake Victoria is terrorized by scores of prehistoric man-eating fish. With Jessica Szhor, Steve McQueen, Elisabeth Shue, Jerry O’Connell, Ving Rhames, Richard Dreyfuss and Christopher Lloyd. R for bloody horror violence and gore, graphic nudity, sexual content, language and drug use. 89 minutes.

THE SWITCH – A single woman has a baby using a sperm donor only to discover years later that her best friend made a switch. With Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Jeff Goldblum, Juliette Lewis, Patrick Wilson and Bryce Robinson. PG-13 for mature theme, sexual material including dialogue, some nudity, drug use and language. 100 minutes.

TAKERS – Everything in this stylish and crackling crime drama has been borrowed from other pictures, from the suave, resourceful bank robbers to the pair of dogged police officers hell-bent on nabbing them. But the familiarity of the material is overcome by stylish, unobtrusive direction and an eclectic acting ensemble. PG-13 for vulgar language, violence, gore, sexual situations, adult themes. 107 minutes.

TOY STORY 3 — The series’ third installment — Andy heads off to college and the toys end up in day care — doesn’t feel as fresh as its predecessors. Then, of course, there’s the 3-D — the unfortunate trend of summer. It’s not intrusive, but it’s completely unnecessary. G. In 3-D and IMAX 3-D. 98 minutes.

VAMPIRES SUCK – A spoof of vampire-themed movies, where teenager Becca finds herself torn between two boys. With Matt Lanter, Jenn Proske and Chris Riggi. PG-13 for crude sexual content, comic violence, language and teen partying. 77 minutes.

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