As the blockbuster action rush of the summer starts to wane (at least until next month’s “The Expendables“) several films open wide this weekend hoping to unseat two-week all-star #1 “Inception” at the box office. Steve Carrell and Paul Rudd team up for “Dinner For Schmucks” which should do reliable mid-summer comedy business alongside strong performers like “Despicable Me” and “Grown Ups” both of which showing remarkable lasting power. Zac Efron hopes to lure the young ladies who were too old for last week’s “Ramona and Beezus,” while the younger set will have to make due with “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore.” At least we have some good picks this week at the art-house this week. Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, and Sissy Spacek star in the charming “Get Low,” while Kevin Kline and Paul Dano headline “The Extra Man.”
In Wide Release: A remake of the 1998 French film “Le Diner Du Cons,” “Dinner for Schmucks” stars Paul Rudd as an executive on the rise who finds the perfect guest for his boss’ monthly “dinner for idiots” wherein his guests try to oudo each other by inviting the most moronic guest to come with. He crosses path with an absolutely imbecilic IRS employee named Barry (Steve Carrell) and things get wacky. We reviewed the Jay Roach directed film yesterday, and we disappointed to find the humor to be way too kind and predictable. The dog days summer could really use a great off-kilter comedy, but alas we’ll have to look elsewhere. RT: 49% Metacritic: 58.
The trailers for “Charlie St. Cloud” looked so schmaltzy I was shock not to find Nicholas Spark‘s name anywhere in the credits. Instead, the film is an adaptation of a 2004 novel from Ben Sherwood, telling the story of a young man (Zac Efron) who tragically loses his younger brother, but develops the ability to see and communicate with him. He soon falls for a beautiful girl and must make a decision to be with her or break a secret promise to his brother. Zac apparently loves Joy Division, but he can’t play despair to save his life. RT: 20% Metacritic: 39.
Perhaps the least necessary sequel of the year (that’s saying A LOT), “Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore” purrs it’s way onto screens everywhere. This time the action is in wondrous 3D, so not only do parents have to suffer through the film; they have to plunk down twice as much dough to do so. RT: 18% Metacritic: 30.
In Limited Release: Robert Duvall plays an cantankerous Southern hermit who decides to throw his own funeral party while he is still alive and kicking in “Get Low.” The film is the feature debut of Aaron Schneider, an Oscar winner for his 2004 live-action short “Two Soldiers,” and the cast he has assembled is mighty impressive. Bill Murray plays the boozehound funeral parlor owner who, along with an apprentice play by Lucas Black, is tasked with organizing the big event. We won’t give too much away about Sissy Spacek’s place in the whole drama, but as you can tell from our review, we found the film warmhearted, fresh and funny. RT: 88% Metacritic: 78.
“The Extra Man” stars the great Kevin Kline as an eccentric playwright who rents a room in his NYC apartment to a hopeless young loner (Paul Dano). To make ends meet, the cultured scribe works as an “extra man,” escorting widows of Manhattan’s high society to social events. The two soon become master and apprentice in this adaptation of Jonathan Ames’ 1998 novel which also features Katie Holmes and John C. Reilly. We were mostly charmed by the film but special attention should be paid to Kline’s fantastic performance. RT: 48% Metacritic: 54.
Leon Gast‘s documentary “Smash His Camera” chronicles the life of notorious celebrity photographer Ron Garella. At age 77 he’s on the downward slope of his career, but he’s still in the paparazzi game, years after being sued by Jackie O and punched in the jaw by Brando. We posted a review yesterday, finding the doc to be well-paced, exciting and balanced. RT: 78% Metacritic: 68.
Also out in limited this week, “Enemies of the People” documents the bloody Khmer Rogue regime in Cambodia like never before with unprecedented access to members of the genocidal party. The result of over a decade of investigative journalism, the film on the Special Jury documentary prize at Sundance. We reviewed the film, finding it to be a very critical record of one of history’s least publicized travesties. The filmmaking isn’t perfect, but its flaws can’t overwhelm the importance of the story. RT: 83%