Movie review

Oct 12, 2005

The Russian Dolls
The Dukes of Hazzard
Revolver

The Russian Dolls
"The Russian Dolls" ("Les Poupees Russes"), the sequel to the popular "L' Auberge espagnole" ("The Spanish Apartment"), is a different, but just as charming, romantic comedy as its predecessor. Where the first feature was a reflective coming-of-age story with comical elements, this is a more manic comedy, constantly chasing the jokes. After getting used to the hyper style, I enjoyed the movie, finding much of it to be funny and true. Taking place in Paris, London and St. Petersburg, the feature shows that love causes the same problems for all ages, all across the world. It may sound trivial, but the film's message is delivered with humor and sincerity in an unpretentious way. Although somewhat redundant toward the end, this is a delightful tale of that crazy little thing called love.
( Julie Vinten )

This sequel to the hugely popular "L'Auberge espagnole" will probably hit its target audience in exactly the right places once again, namely, the heart and the genitals. As for this reviewer, I found it a thoroughly shallow and tedious affair. "The Russian Dolls" focuses mainly on Xavier (Romain Duris) and his obsessive search for happiness and love. He goes from beautiful woman to beautiful woman, while endlessly musing on his own failings. The action flits between Paris, London and St. Petersburg and the film as a whole is self-consciously trendy, from the stylized use of montage through to the soundtrack. The film's only saving grace is it does at least have a good sense of humor. But we get the tiresomely familiar message: 30-something men are confused. Let's hope Xavier never makes 40. 
( Tim Ochser )

The Dukes of Hazzard
It's almost impossible to hate a movie that is genuinely goodhearted and really does try. The problem is, it's incredibly difficult to find a point to this picture. I, for one, don't find anything especially funny - or interesting - about a bunch of yee-haw screaming teenagers who spend their time joy riding, but that's really all this movie offers. To me this was kind of a sad story about unfortunate people living pointless lives where nothing ever happens, until someone decides to wear an armadillo-shell as a hat, and it's the funniest thing in the world. I was never much of a fan of the comedy group Broken Lizard's ("Club Dread," "Super Troopers") humor, but I imagine that Lizard-followers will be able to see something in this movie that I wasn't capable of. 
1/2 ( Julie Vinten )

How long will Hollywood continue churning out films which assume the average film-goer has the intelligence of a grinning chimpanzee? Or perhaps people really want to see trash like this remake of the once-popular TV show. Luke (Johnny Knoxville) and Bo (Seann William Scott) are the Duke brothers. They live in the idyllic southern county of Hazzard. Luke loves women, Bo loves cars, while everyone loves their buxom cousin Daisy (Jessica Simpson). Would it surprise you to know that this film has a villain, and plenty of car chases, and barroom brawls and a very happy ending? Even a grinning chimp wouldn't have any problem keeping up with the plot of this utterly formulaic, production-line picture, which will gross millions and probably spawn a sequel. Sorry, which way does evolution go?
( Tim Ochser )

Revolver
Guy Ritchie is back, and this time he desperately wants to be taken seriously. "I'm a serious filmmaker. No, better yet: I'm an artist," he seems to be screaming at the top of his lungs. This crime drama-or-something consists of a narrative, which is a mess as well as predictable, and endless speeches of pseudo-philosophical gobbledygook. In fact, the nonsense-overload is so massive that your mind sporadically drifts off until the current existentialistic babble is over. Suffering from delusions of ingenuity, this unoriginal piece lectures us on trivial truths with incredible persistence. Ritchie evidently believes we have forgotten all about movies such as "The Usual Suspects" and "Fight Club," and that we can't see that this is nothing but stolen ideas and pompous egocentrism. 
( Julie Vinten )

Poor Guy. From the giddy successes of "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and "Snatch" to "Swept Away" to this. I hate to kick a man when he's down, but "Revolver" really does deserve the reams of critical calumny that were heaped upon it. I won't go into the plot because it's too convoluted to explain in a few words, but I will simply say that "Revolver" is a definite dud, despite its best efforts to be something special. Ritchie clearly yearns to be taken seriously as a director and to do it in the gangster genre that he is so worryingly attached to. But it takes more than a baffling plot, lush cinematography and endless lingering close-ups to make a great film. It will be in DVD discount bins in no time. 
( Tim Ochser )

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