April 2012

ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS: CHIPWRECKED (G) Comedy/Animation
The Chipmunks and the Chipettes have become singing sensations, and they and their manager/surrogate father Dave (Jason Lee) travel via cruise ship to an international awards show. Alvin (Justin Long) is just as mischievous as ever, getting into all sorts of trouble by disobeying Dave. Simon (Matthew Gray Gubler) is the smart, pragmatic one who tries to keep Alvin out of trouble. Theodore (Jesse McCartney), meanwhile, is the most child-like one of the three, who still has a penchant for overeating. The Chipettes are the flashy Brittany (Christina Applegate); Jeanette (Anna Faris) the brainy one; and Eleanor (Amy Poehler) who is slightly pudgy and slightly awkward. Defying Dave, Alvin constructs a makeshift hang-glider that accidentally carries the six chipmunks off the cruise ship and to a deserted island. Dave teams up with the disgraced music industry executive Ian (David Cross) to track the six critters to the island where they encounter Zoe (Jenny Slate), a crazed castaway who became marooned there looking for a gold treasure. 97 min.

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (R: a, l, bn, bgs, gv) Suspense/Thriller/Mystery
Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is a journalist and magazine publisher in Stockholm who's just lost a libel case brought against him by a wealthy investor (Ulf Friberg). Wiped out financially and with his reputation tarnished, he agrees to a unique proposition offered to him by Henrik Vanger (Christopher Plummer), a wealthy businessman. The latter promises to deliver dirt on his accuser-- as well as a fat paycheck -- if Mikael can solve a old missing persons case. The victim was Henrik's 16-year-old niece who disappeared back in the 1960s from their island town. He hires Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) as his researcher. She's a young adult ward of the state who has multiple piercings, tattoos and apparent anti-social demeanor .Yet, she has a surprising knack to infiltrate places to set up surveillance and her computer skills are second to none. The two start getting closer to revealing the truth. With Stellan Skarsgård, Robin Wright, and Joely Richardson. The English-language adaptation of the Swedish novel by Stieg Larsson. 160 min.

HOP (PG) Comedy/Animation
On Easter Island, a long line of Easter Bunnies has operated a secret, underground factory that has made candy, colored eggs, and decorative baskets for generations of children. The current Easter Bunny (Hugh Laurie) is getting old and is looking to pass on the legacy to his son, E.B. (Russell Brand). But E.B. is not sure he wants the responsibility. His real dream is to be a drummer. So, he runs away to Hollywood before being empowered by his dad's Egg of Destiny scepter. In Los Angeles, Fred (James Marsden) is a twenty-something slacker who has never found a job that interests him. When he hits E.B. with his car he gives him a place to stay at the Beverly Hills mansion he is house-sitting. Together, they must dodge the Pink Berets, a team of elite ninja rabbits the Easter Bunny dispatches to bring E.B. back. Unbeknownst to all of them, Carlos the chick (Hank Azaria) -- who runs the Easter Bunny's factory back on Easter Island -- is plotting to take E.B.'s place -- by any means necessary. 95 min.

THE MUPPETS (PG) Comedy/Music
Gary (Jason Segel) and Walter are brothers. But while the former is a normal-sized human, the latter never got any bigger than his initial puppet size. When Gary announces that Walter can come with him and his girlfriend, Mary (Amy Adams), on a trip to Los Angeles, Walter -- the Muppets' biggest fan -- immediately makes plans to visit the Muppets' studio. But when they get there, Walter discovers that an evil oil baron named Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) plans to tear down the now-crumbling studio for the oil underneath it. The only loophole is that the Muppets have one week to pay $10 million to buy back the building. Walter enlists Gary and Mary to track down Kermit and spur him into action. Kermit agrees that the only way to raise the money is to put on a show, so the four of them travel across the country (and beyond) to reunite Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, and all of the retired Muppets for one all-or-nothing telethon to save the studio. With Rashida Jones and Jack Black. 98 min.

THE DESCENDANTS (R: m, bd, l) Drama/Comedy
Matt King (George Clooney) is a successful real estate lawyer whose lineage goes back many generations in Hawaii. He's the trustee in charge of thousands of acres of unspoiled land and due to settings in that trust, the land must be sold. Matt's many cousins, including Hugh (Beau Bridges), want him to sell to a developer, but Matt has other things on his mind. His wife is in a coma following a boating accident and will soon have to be taken off life support. Matt is now the sole caretaker of his 10-year-old daughter, Scottie (Amara Miller), and her 17-year-old sister Alexandra's (Shailene Woodley). They and Alexandra's offbeat friend, Sid (Nick Krause), head off to inform Elizabeth's father (Robert Forster) of the bad news. Alexandra still holds a grudge against her mom, mainly because she became aware of her having an affair. As Matt prepares for his wife's death and news of that affair, all while also dealing with the land sale issue, he tries to rebuild a better relationship with his daughters. With Matthew Lillard and Judy Greer.115 min.

IMMORTALS (R: m, bs, gv) Action/Fantasy
in 1228 B.C. King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) is a brutal tyrant on a bloody mission to seek out the mythical Bow of Epirus. Should he succeed, even the gods of Olympus will be forced to bow before him. In his efforts to locate the invincible and elusive weapon, Hyperion leads his Heraklion army on a brutal rampage across Greece, razing every town in their path, and killing with impunity. When the Hyperions lay waste to his village and cut down his mother in cold blood, vengeful stonemason Theseus (Henry Cavill) emerges from the rubble determined to make the king pay for his crimes. Later, the Sybelline Oracle, Phaedra (Freida Pinto), experiences a vision of Theseus' future that convinces her he will play a pivotal role in defeating King Hyperion. Armed with that supernatural knowledge, she agrees to help Theseus assemble a small army capable of defeating the tyrannical king and preventing him from enslaving the entire human race. With Stephen Dorff, Kellan Lutz, Luke Evans, and John Hurt. 110 min.

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN (PG) Adventure/Animation
Tintin (Jamie Bell) is a young reporter who, with the help of his dog Snowy, works on investigating various stories. While passing through a market one day, Tintin sees and buys an intricate model of the Unicorn, a great sailing ship of yesteryear. It's a purchase that draws the attention of various people who also want that model, including the sinister Ivanovich Sakharine (Daniel Craig). Tintin says it isn't for sale, but realizes something is up when his place is broken into and the miniature ship stolen, likely meaning the model contained something valuable. That suspicion is confirmed when Sakharine's men abduct Tintin and place him onboard a freighter they've commandeered from the drunken Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis). The two manage to help each other escape and make an unlikely team that tries to get to the bottom of what's occurring. All characters are voice and motion control performances. Based on the international characters created by Hergé. Directed by Steven Spielberg. 104 min

JACK AND JILL (PG) Comedy
Jack Sadelstein (Adam Sandler) is a successful advertising director in Los Angeles with a large home; a beautiful wife, Erin (Katie Holmes); and two kids, the precocious Sofia (Elodie Tougne) and the adopted, intuitive Gary (Rohan Chand). There's one time of the year he dreads, though, and that's Thanksgiving when his shrill, annoying twin sister Jill (also Sandler) comes to visit. Jill has never gotten married, never had kids, and never moved out of the parents' home. But with the death of their parents, she is alone. She arrives worming her way into Erin and the kids' hearts. They want her to stay. Jack wants her gone...that is, until film star Al Pacino (as himself) falls head over heels in love with Jill. Jack desperately tries to convince Pacino to appear in a Dunkin' Donuts TV commercial that will win his firm a lucrative account with the restaurant chain. Jack goes to increasingly desperate lengths to bring Jill and the borderline demented Pacino together. With Nick Swardson and Norm MacDonald. 91 min.

HAPPY FEET TWO (PG) Animated Comedy/Music
Now that he's all grown up and no longer embarrassed about being unable to sing like the rest of his kind, Emperor Penguin Mumble (Elijah Wood) now has a chick of his own, young Erik (Ava Acres), with his mate, Gloria (Pink). Eric can neither find his "happy" dancing feet nor his singing voice -- a rite of passage for all penguins. After Ramon (Robin Williams) decides to leave the Emperor penguins and return to Adelie land, Eric and two young friends follow, so Mumble must go retrieve the young 'uns. Meanwhile, a melting iceberg hits the Emperor penguins' natural habitat and traps them in a snowy valley they can't climb out of -- leaving Mumble the only adult to brainstorm a rescue. Mumble enlists the Adelies -- who have a mysterious flying penguin visitor named Sven (Hank Azaria) -- to come catch fish for the stranded Emperors. And just when it seems like all might be lost, help could come in a very unexpected form. With Sofia Vergara, Common, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon. 99 min.

FOOTLOOSE (PG-13: m, bd, bl, bs, bv) Drama/Music/Romance
Ren MacCormack (Kenny Wormald) is transplanted from Boston to the small southern town of Bomont where he experiences a heavy dose of culture shock. A few years prior, the community was devastated by a tragic accident that killed five teenagers after a night out partying. The town responded by implementing ordinances that prohibit loud music and dancing. Chief among the proponents of that ban is Reverend Shaw Moore (Dennis Quaid) whose son was among those killed. Since then, his teenage daughter, Ariel (Julianne Hough), has become something of a wild child, attending secret dance gatherings. Ariel is attracted to the newcomer, and that doesn't sit well with Shaw, particularly when Ren starts to question the town's ban on dancing. Ren decides it's up to him to take a stand and fight not only for Ariel, but also what he thinks is right in terms of teen behavior. Remake of the1984 musical. With Miles Teller, Ziah Colon, and Andie MacDowell. Written and directed by Craig Brewer (“Hustle & Flow”and “Black Snake Moan”). 113 min.

MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (R: m, bgd, l) Drama
In the summer of 1956, Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne) is hired as a lowly assistant director working for Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) and Vivien Leigh's (Julia Ormond) movie production company. Olivier is about to go into production on what would become "The Prince and the Showgirl," a fairly forgettable screwball comedy in which he co-stars with American star and international sex symbol Marilyn Monroe (Michelle Williams).Once in production, Monroe begins to exhibit strange behavior. She is experimenting with the new Method style of acting, is accompanied at all times by an acting coach, is frequently late to the set, and is clearly under the influence of pills and liquor. She is also having marital problems with her introverted husband, Arthur Miller (Dougray Scott). Into the mix comes 23-year-old Clark (whose memoirs the film is based). He spends a week becoming Monroe's confidante and suitor, and shows her some of the pleasures of British life. With Judi Dench, Toby Jones, Emma Watson,and Dominic Cooper. 96 min.

THE SITTER (R: a, gd, gl, bs, bv) Comedy
Noah Griffith (Jonah Hill) is a college dropout who agrees to babysit another family's three kids so that his divorced mom can go out on a date. The kids are 13-year-old Slater (Max Records), an overly sensitive and timid homebody teen; his younger sister Blithe (Landry Bender) who fancies herself an adult and thus wears too much makeup, has a sassy attitude and listens to hard core rap music; and Rodrigo (Kevin Hernandez), their adopted sibling from El Salvador who has a weak bladder but a penchant for blowing up toilets with cherry bombs. Once Noah meets them, he realizes babysitting won't be as easy as he thought, but things get more complicated when his girlfriend, Marisa (Ari Graynor), calls and promises to have sex with him if he'll pick up some cocaine for her from drug dealer Karl (Sam Rockwell). He agrees, and what follows is a night of mishaps and increasing complications, as well as a run-in with his former college classmate, Roxanne (Kylie Bunbury), who has a thing for him. 81 min.

YOUNG ADULT (R: m, bd, l, bs) Comedy/Drama
Mavis Gary (Charlize Theron) is a 37-year-old ghostwriter for a popular young adult novel series. She lives in Minneapolis and would seem to have it all, but her only companion -- beyond various forms of alcohol and one-night stands -- is her dog. Her real glory days were back in high school when she was with her boyfriend Buddy Slade (Patrick Wilson). But he and his wife Beth (Elizabeth Reaser) have just had their first baby, and this unsettles Mavis who thinks she should be in Beth's place. She packs up her dog and returns to Mercury, Minnesota with the shameless plan to steal back Buddy. That doesn't go unnoticed by her former classmate, Matt Freehauf (Patton Oswalt), who still bears a limp from being attacked decades earlier in high school. Although he doesn't approve of her actions and despite her previously paying him no attention back in their teenage years, the two become something of unlikely friends. She continues on her quest until things eventually come to a head. With J.K. Simmons and Jill Eikenberry. 94 min.

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY (R: m, l, bn, bs, v) Suspense
It's 1973 and Control (John Hurt) is in charge of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, a.k.a. "The Circus." Believing there's a mole in their operation, Control sends agent Jim Prideaux (Mark Strong) to Hungary for information on who that might be. The mission goes wrong, however, when Jim is shot, resulting in Control and his right-hand man, George Smiley (Gary Oldman), being forced into retirement in favor of agents Percy Alleline (Toby Jones), Toby Esterhase (David Dencik), Roy Bland (Ciaran Hinds) and Bill Haydon (Colin Firth) who have created Operation Witchcraft to collect Soviet intelligence. When rogue agent Ricki Tarr (Tom Hardy) reissues the claim that there's a mole in their fold, Smiley is brought out of retirement to investigate. Smiley digs deep into the dealings of the Circus and its various agents, all to prove that one of their own is working for the Soviets and their spymaster, "Karla." Based on the 1974 British spy novel by John le Carré, previously filmed as a miniseries in 1979. 127 min.

THE THREE MUSKETEERS (PG-13: v) Action/Adventure
In 17th century France, the three Musketeers Athos (Matthew Macfadyen), Aramis (Luke Evans), and Porthos (Ray Stevenson) assist the devious Milady (Milla Jovovich) in retrieving the blueprints to Leonardo da Vinci's fabled airship design. But Milady is really in cahoots with the dastardly Duke of Nottingham (Orlando Bloom), who drugs the trio and steals the designs for England. A year later, the three disgraced Musketeers are pressed back into service when Milady and the conniving Cardinal Richelieu (Christoph Waltz) conspire to make the boyish King Louis XIII (Freddie Fox) believe his Queen (Juno Temple) is having an affair with Nottingham so that he will declare war on the British Empire. Their mission is to infiltrate the Tower of London and steal back a prized jewel necklace that Richelieu intends to hold up as proof that the adultery is really happening under the King's nose. At the same time, the Musketeers have to break in the young, hotheaded D'Artagnan (Logan Lerman). Another adaptation of the classic novels by Alexandre Dumas. 110 min.

LIKE CRAZY (PG-13: m, bl, bs) Drama/Romance
Jacob (Anton Yelchin) and Anna (Felicity Jones) are students in Los Angeles who begin a romantic relationship, but then find themselves in a quandary. She's supposed to spend the summer with her parents, Jackie (Alex Kingston) and Bernard (Oliver Muirhead), back in England, while he'll remain stateside. She decides to risk violating her student visa, a decision that comes back to haunt them as once she does return to London, she's not allowed to re-enter America. As a result, the two try to carry on a long-distance relationship after graduation while getting on with their lives where he builds furniture in the U.S. and she takes a writing job for a magazine across the pond. Although they occasionally see each other when he visits, their time apart results in him falling for his assistant, Samantha (Jennifer Lawrence), while Anna ends up having a relationship with Simon (Charlie Bewley). With time passing by, Jacob and Anna must decide if and how they can resolve their situation and whether they're meant to be together. 89 min.

MELANCHOLIA (R: a, l, bgn, s) Drama/Sci-Fi
After a prologue showing some strange atmospheric phenomena, the first part of the film introduces viewers to Justine (Kirsten Dunst) on the day of her marriage to kindhearted Michael (Alexander Skarsgard). Clad in a white silk gown, Justine is the picture of bridal perfection. But over the course of the evening, Justine grows increasingly moody and upset and starts alienating everyone around her. The second part of the movie takes place some time later; Justine's depression has worsened, and she's come to live with her sister, Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg). A rogue planet, Melancholia, is seemingly on a collision course with Earth. Claire's husband John (Kiefer Sutherland), assures his wife that Melancholia will merely "fly by," except that it appears to be getting closer, looming over the horizon like a bad omen. As Claire sinks into a funk, Justine starts to emerge from hers, but what does anything matter if the world is about to end? With John Hurt. 130 min.

A DANGEROUS METHOD (R: a, gd, bl, bn, s) Drama
In 1904, a sexually hysterical woman, Sabina Spielrein (Keira Knightley), is put under the care of Dr. Carl Jung (Michael Fassbender). He eventually cures her of her frightening seizures and, drawing upon her own interest in psychiatry, makes her his assistant. Despite the fact that Jung is already married, his wife pregnant, he starts an affair with Sabina, wherein pleasure is derived from violence. Later, Jung meets his hero, Dr. Sigmund Freud (Viggo Mortensen), and though at first they pleasantly argue over opposing theories, they eventually have a falling out over Sabina's fate. Sabina becomes the catalyst for Jung's inspired theories. Meanwhile Freud goes further, delving into Sabina's brilliant mind until she can take the situation no longer. The bonds between the trio shatter. Driven by desire and revenge, with their reputations at stake, Freud and Jung embark on a battle of wills. Into the mix comes Otto Gross (Vincent Cassel), a debauched patient who is determined to push the boundaries. 99 min.

CARNAGE (R: m, l) Comedy/Drama
Adapted from the Tony Award winning play set in Brooklyn, New York. A boy hits a friend with a stick, causing him to lose two teeth. The parents of the first boy, Alan and Nancy (Christoph Waltz and Kate Winslet), visit the parents of the victim, Michael and Penelope (John C. Reilly and Jodie Foster), to talk about the incident. At first everything seems to go well: everyone's civil and on their best behavior. The meeting is interrupted many times by urgent phone calls Alan, a lawyer, receives. Nancy is upset about Michael having gotten rid of his daughter's hamster by releasing it in the street. She gets sick and vomits on Penelope's favorite, irreplaceable art books. Nancy is so frustrated about the phone calls that she throws the phone into a vase of water, upsetting Alan. Soon a polite discussion of childrearing escalates into verbal warfare, with all four parents revealing their true colors. None of them will escape the carnage. Directed by Roman Polanski. 80 min.