This week
Super Size Me
Melinda and Melinda
Son of the Mask
Super Size Me
Director: Morgan Spurlock
Thirty days of nothing but McDonald's food. This is the goal of Morgan Spurlock, director of this Oscar-nominated documentary. He takes a close look at the growing obesity problem in America and the ultra-popular and powerful food chain, which tells us we should all be lovin' it 's several times a week. At 100 minutes, "Super Size Me," feels somewhat long, but entertaining. The documentary is massively anti-corporate without being aggressive. We are fed the alarming facts in a humoristic and inspirational way - and the facts do speak for themselves. It's frightening to watch Spurlock fall apart physically and mentally as the days go by, until the doctors tell him to stop his experiment - or he could die. "Super Size Me" is a much-needed wake-up call.
1/2 (Julie Vinten)
As one of five contenders for the Best Documentary Oscar this year, "Super Size Me" carries a lot of weight. Seriously now 's writer, director and main guinea pig, Morgan Spurlock decides to go on a McDonalds one-month diet. He must eat the fast-food giant's meals three times a day, using some fairly simple rules: he can only eat food available over-the-counter (including water), if asked to Super Size a meal he must do so, and he must try every item on the menu at least once. This audacious docudrama grabs the popular 50-year-old American institution by the throat, revealing some surprising and shocking statistics. Apparently liver failure can develop by being a hardcore alcoholic (years and years of guzzling booze) or consuming a steady diet of Mickey Dees over a three-week period.
1/2 (Laimons Juris G)
Melinda and Melinda
Director: Woody Allen
Four friends are eating out and discussing whether life is essentially tragic or comical. A story is brought up that one sees as the perfect setup for a comedy, while another finds it tragic. Thus begins two tales about a woman called Melinda. Woody Allen always had a love for portraying neurotic and self-centered New Yorkers, and this serious, satirical and funny movie is no exception. "Melinda and Melinda" is appealing, interesting and not too Woody-Allen hysterical. The tragic story is a bit unexciting at times, but overall the movie works well and jumps gracefully between the two narratives without any confusion. "Melinda and Melinda" is enjoyable, although short of exceptional. At moments, Allen returns to form with this movie, his best in quite some time.
1/2 (Julie Vinten)
It's been ages since this reviewer actually enjoyed an Allen Konigsberg (aka Woody Allen) movie. So far, "Melinda and Melinda" turns out to be Allen's most satisfying flick in the new millennium. Over the last 40 years, Allen's body of work as an actor, writer and director can easily be classified as a genre in itself. Somewhere in Manhattan, four friends are sitting in a cafe discussing the pros and cons of whether life is a tragedy or comedy. A knock-your-socks-off Radha Mitchell conquers all, playing both roles of two women named Melinda. The lovely Australian actress is the ying and the yang, and keeps this film together as an entire whole. For an insightful and entertaining look at relationships, don't miss this rather pleasant time waster.
1/2 (Laimons Juris G)
Son of the Mask
Director: Lawrence Guterman
Phew, it wasn't easy to sit through this movie. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Perhaps it says enough that I entered the cinema with the lowest hopes possible, and still was unpleasantly surprised. The movie is obnoxious and embarrassing. Yet, the hyper-slapstick comedy should get some credit for failing to generate a single laugh. There isn't a shadow of a decent joke in sight. "Son of the Mask" boasts a dumb narrative and a sickening finale, which desires to teach us that fathers should love their sons, but makes our stomachs turn severely instead. I like Jamie Kennedy, but he is no Jim Carrey, not by a long shot. It's doubtful that even toddlers will enjoy the movie. And that sicko, CGI-baby, is seriously frightening.
A total disaster (Julie Vinten)
The movie theater was crowded, mostly full of teenagers and a few adults scattered here and there. During the ads everyone was jabbering away in excited anticipation. This sequel to the film that made Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz stars 11 years ago is a major bummer. A cliche-ridden sci-fi story acts as the device to let loose the most callous live-action cartoon that special effects has ever fabricated for the silver screen. In plain language 's "Son of the Mask" is overkill by a computer generation. The Norse god of mischief, Loki (Alan Cumming), returns to earth to find his magical morphing mask. Cumming gives a spirited performance, but it's not enough to save this unfortunate dud from crumbling faster than you can scream, "Where's Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner?"
3/4 (Laimons Juris G)
