Captain America: The First Avenger
Paramount
Set during World War II, Captain America is the story of Steve Rogers (as portrayed by Chris Evans), a brave but scrawny soldier who volunteers for an army experiment to give him super human strength and agility in an effort to transform him into a super soldier. However, the army soon realizes that their new weapon is too valuable to risk losing in battle; therefore, instead of heading into battle, Steve performs in USO shows while dressed in the familiar red-white-and-blue costume. Nevertheless, once a dire Nazi plot is revealed, Captain America rises to the challenge by defeating The Red Skull (Hugo Weaving) and protecting the Allies from an impending missile launch.
The Review: Captain America is the perfect super hero, and maybe that is the problem. His bravery knows no bounds; his selflessness is infinite. So my question is, where's the fun in that? Spidey suffers from more neuroses than a Woody Allen character, and heaven knows that Batman is overdue for some intensive therapy, maybe even electric-shock treatment. Yet, good ol' Cap has no dead uncles or daddies in his past and thus no internal conflict, meaning no chance for growth. He is wholly good at the beginning and wholly good at the end. Only the very final scene gives us some hint of intrigue, and by then, it's too late for even Captain America to save the day.
"Looks great and hits all the right notes but never truly puts the pedal to the medal."
Horrible Bosses
Warner Brothers Pictures
Directed by Seth Gordon, Horrible Bosses centers on the miserable work-lives of Nick, Kurt, and Dale (Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis) and their unbearable bosses (played by Kevin Spacey, Colin Farrell, and Jennifer Aniston). One night, the three underlings are fed-up, and while under the influence of some liquid courage, they decide to solve their work problems for good with a plan to murder one another's respective bosses. With the help of an ex-con (Jamie Foxx), they devise a foolhardy plan, and the fun begins. What could possibly go wrong?
The Review: Horrible Bosses is an unapologetically over-the-top, gross-out comedy, and for what it is, it works well, that is, most of the time. Although the premise of three friends conspiring to murder each others' respective bosses in order to avoid suspicion makes for a fairly one-note story, Bateman, Sudeikis, and Day provide anything but one-note characters. The film places the three in a series of preposterous situations, and watching them fumble their way out of each sticky predicament is quite entertaining. Of course, this movie is no masterpiece. It's formulaic, unbelievable, and silly, but these guys do silly very well.
Bad Teacher
Columbia Pictures
Junior high teacher Elizabeth Halsey (Cameron Diaz) has lost her sugar daddy and needs to find a new one quickly. She wants to quit this lame teaching gig and live the good life, which by her definition involves drinking, getting high, and generally being herself. That is probably a good idea since she stinks at her job anyway. Her plan? Seduce the wealthy new substitute, Scott Delacorte (Justin Timberlake), and marry him. The only problem is that she must compete with Amy Squirrel (Lucy Punch), her squeaky-clean colleague, who wants Scott for herself.
The Review: This film might have worked if it focused on a misguided gold-digger who, underneath it all, hides a heart of gold, but it doesn’t. Because Diaz plays the self-obsessed, conniving Ms. Halsey so convincingly, it is all but impossible to find her character redeemable. Frankly, I rooted more for Hannibal Lecter's successful escape in Silence of the Lambs than I did for this wretch-of-a-teacher's ultimate happiness. Of course, the plot contains a small, uninspired attempt at her redemption, but this chick just has too much baggage to believe—or care--that she's changed. Oh yeah, it's not funny either. This teacher gets a generous D-.
Crazy Stupid Love
Warner Brothers
Cal Weaver (Steve Carrell) is a good man. He's a doting father and a caring husband. Yet, his comfortable but simple existence unravels when his wife asks him for a divorce, and he finds himself thrust back into the dating scene. While drowning his sorrows at a local bar one night, he meets professional ladies-man, Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling), who takes bumbling Cal under his wing in order to teach him the tricks of his trade. However, Cal's lovesick adolescent son, Robbie (Jonah Bobo), may be the right person to give Cal love advice.
The Review: It doesn’t seem fair to call this film a romantic comedy. On one hand, it’s both tangibly romantic and actually funny. Yet, on the other hand, its complexity defies the genre. This film has several subplots that are effortlessly interwoven and culminate in a surprise twist that you won't see coming. Likewise, the film avoids indulging in the myth of the happily-ever-after, which is all too typical of the typical romantic comedy. Instead, it aspires to something more real. The small interactions feel organic and unforced, and although the situations are often exaggerated for comic effect, the earnestness of each character is never in doubt. Ultimately, it conveys a big message for a comedy: true love takes work and a certain degree of forgiveness. Tissue, please.
