Spartan (2004)

 

David Mamet dropped the ball on this one. The timing was off. Things didn't flow. Great plot, but poor execution. 

Rating: C-

Zootopia (2016)

Creative, cute, and clever. Seems geared more toward adults, but kids may like all the furry animals, even if they have no idea what’s going on.

Rating: C+

When In Rome (2010)

Mostly lame and formulaic, but with periodic funny parts courtesy of some of the supporting cast. (NOT her obnoxious friends from work) The black-out restaurant scene was solid.

Rating: C-

Veronica Mars (2014)

Being a super fan of the series, I was definitely the target audience for this movie. It's no easy task piecing together a feature film based on a TV show, especially a decade later. Dead Like Me? Fail. Strangers With Candy? Fail. The list goes on and on.

Hats off to Rob Thomas for making something as good as or better than most of the episodes. Seeing the gang all back together was a real treat.

Rating: C+

Get Him To The Greek (2010)

A mediocre road trip film with plenty of potholes. Mildly funny.

Rating: C

Big Miracle (2012)

A feel-good eco-friendly whale-hugging family film based on a true story. An amicable John Krasinski helped to keep things more entertaining than they should have been.

Rating: C

Safety Not Guaranteed (2012)

A gem of an indie. A time travel movie that isn’t really about time travel at all. Funny, hip, and smart without being condescending. Definitely a contender for Top 10 Films of the Year.

Rating: B+

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

If you are a fan of the regular parade of Judd Apatow movies, featuring the now familiar cast of friends, then you will most assuredly enjoy this one. Lots of crude humor mixed with just enough emotional drama. Several current members of SNL add a boost of funny as well. I laughed a lot.

Rating: B

Couples Retreat (2009)

Pair Jason Bateman and Kristin Bell together as a married couple and I'm there. Seriously, this film is worth renting on cast alone. Sure, it's not in the running for comedy of the year, but there are plenty of belly laughs to make up for the ones that fall flat. Filming in Bora Bora doesn't hurt either. The sets are pure eye candy. I enjoyed most of the Blu-Ray extras too.

Rating: C