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This Week in Movies - 8/11/08Filed Under: This Week in Movies

In Theaters:

Tropic Thunder - Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Robert Downey Jr. act as actors acting out a jungle war movie that becomes more than an act. I’d watch it just for Robert Downey Jr.
Henry Poole is Here - Luke Wilson’s neighbors flock to his house to be healed by the miracle stain. I’ll be flocking to the couch to avoid this movie at all costs.
Mirrors - Jack Bauer sees terrorists in the mirror. Or something like that.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars - George Lucas goes on a quest to find more money for his single 30-year-old good idea.

On Video:

Smart People - The chick from Juno runs around with a bunch of smart people. It could be good, it could be typical indie pretentiousness. I’ll give it a whirl.
CJ7 - Stephen Chow’s (Shaolin Soccer, Kung Fu Hustle) latest. The trailers confused me and it got mediocre reviews, but his other movies were so good, I stuck it in the queue anyway.
How the Garcia Girls Spent Their Summer - Ugly Betty spends a summer with some other girls doing their makeup or doing their nails, or having pillow fights or something. I remain completely uninterested.

In Theaters Friday:

Baby Mama - Tina Fey hires Amy Poehler as her own personal incubator. In other news, my wife has a platonic woman crush on Tina Fey and I’m perfectly okay with that.
Deception - Wolverine plays a lawyer who introduces young Obi Wan to an underground sex club. Sounds like good clean family fun.
Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay - Harold and Kumar are mistaken for terrorists on their way to Amsterdam. Neil Patrick Harris ensues

On Video Tuesday:

Cloverfield - Monster movies enter the world of YouTube. Interesting concept, but probably would have been better on the big screen.
Charlie Wilson’s War - A congressman, a CIA agent, and a Houston socialite go into a bar. The Cold War ends. Schlotsky’s! Starring Tom Hanks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Julia Roberts. This one’s already in the Netflix queue.
The Savages - Philip Seymour Hoffman and Laura Linney are dysfunctional siblings who must come together when their father becomes senile. I didn’t realize Hoffman made so many movies last year.

In Theaters:

Leatherheads - George Clooney and Jim from The Office struggle to save a 1925 football team and get the country’s attention. Looks like some fast-talking football fun.
Nim’s Island - You know, for kids!
The Ruins - Some pretty, rich, young people visit some Ruins. Turns out the place is cursed. Horror ensues. I, for one, am chilled to the bone.
Shine a Light - Documentary on the Rolling Stones’ concerts in New York 2006. Directed by Martin Scorcese. Could be interesting, but I doubt it will top the box office. Just a hunch.

On Video:

Alvin and the Chipmunks - Live action + CGI of the classic cartoon. Jason Lee plays Dave. I’d rather spend my time reading David Cross’ response to fan criticism of his role.
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - Tim Burton + Johnny Depp + a musical about a serial killer barber = Yes, please.

In Theaters:

21 - Kevin Spacey leads a bunch of MIT geniuses to Las Vegas to beat the house. Loosely based on a true story. Looks interesting. Travers liked it. Plus, I have a friend that PA’d for it. I know people.
Run, Fatboy, Run - On the plus side, Simon Pegg’s in the lead. On the minus side, it’s directed by Ross . On the plus side, the trailers are mildly humorous. On the minus side, they first started playing over a year ago and haven’t changed much. I’m conflicted.
Stop-Loss - Ryan Phillipe goes to Iraq. Ryan Phillipe comes back, still just as pretty as when he left. Ryan Phillipe’s tour gets extended. Ryan Phillipe doesn’t want to go back. I don’t blame him, but this movie sounds a little too preachy. Plus, most of the soldiers I know would never stay home while their buddies went back out for their extended tour. Not saying it’s right or wrong, just saying I doubt the accuracy of this story.
Superhero Movie - Another lame movie trying to make a buck off of every pop culture reference they can possibly cram into a movie. Look people, if we stop watching this crap, they’ll stop making it. Save yourself some money and go rent a real satire, like Shaun of the Dead , or Hot Fuzz , or Dr Strangelove or even Airplane for that matter. Otherwise, we’re going to be plagued with broadcast premieres of these things on Comedy Central for the rest of our pathetic lives.

On Video:

The Mist - Another crappy horror remake. Please, make them stop!
The Kite Runner - A lot of people had issues with the changes from the book. Muslim extremists had issues with a rape scene. I thought it was pretty well done … the movie, not the rape scene … not that the rape scene wasn’t well shot … I mean I just never thought much about that scene … I mean the quality of the scene, not the scene itself … not that a scene like that should even be analyzed critically … I mean … crap.
Wristcutters: A Love Story - Patrick Fugit finds out that Purgatory for suicide victims is almost exactly like real life. I haven’t seen this, but I can almost guarantee I will own it some day. Watch it.

In Theaters:

Drillbit Taylor - Owen Wilson plays a bodyguard hired by 3 High-Schoolers. Gotta be good for a laugh or two. I’ll give it bonus points if we get a Whitney Houston cameo.
Shutter - Apparently dead people can come out of photos now. I, for one, am running for the hills. Good to see the Mighty Ducks kid getting work again, but the best thing about this movie is that it’s coming out the same week as Drillbit Taylor , so it won’t make number 1. Come on, America, friends don’t let friends watch bad “horror” flicks.
Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns - I don’t know who Tyler Perry is, but if there was some way to get in on his racket, I would do it. The man is a marketing genius. Black people love Tyler Perry movies and he pumps them out faster than processed pork tongue at a bologna factory. If you liked the others, you’ll probably like this one. I don’t get it.

On Video:

I Am Legend - Will Smith vs. Vampires. Supposed to be good creepy fun.
Enchanted - An animated princess is banished to the real world. Surprisingly clever for a Disney movie. Amy Adams is … uh … enchanting … I just died a little inside.
Atonement - Keira Knightley falls in love only to be betrayed by a little brat. I’m guessing there’s redemption sometime before it ends … just a hunch. I don’t know, chicks dig it I guess.