Brothers

Tobey Maguire, Natalie Portman, Jake Gyllenhall

Directed by Jim Sheridan

Rating: 4 stars

Captain Sam Cahill (Tobey Maguire) is believed to be dead in Afghanistan. His younger brother Tommy (Jake Gyllenhaal) is an unresponsible troublemaker. However when the news reaches Sam's family that he is presumed to be dead, Tommy steps up and tries to help his brother's family. When Sam ends up alive, he comes home but is troubled from his time being captured by the enemy. Grace (Natalie Portman) tries her hardest to get through to Sam but it almost seems impossible.

Brothers is a moving movie showing a family's struggle of losing a husband, and father, only to find out he is alive. The only thing is, he's clearly not the same man who left for Afghanistan. Sam Cahill went through a lot after being captured by the enemy with another Marine soldier. Tommy lives in his older brother's shadow, he never seems to be good enough but he becomes responsible once he hears of his brother's death. Brothers plays a lot on emotion. It's a bit slow and not a lot of conversation takes place. I think it deserves four stars though because this film does a good job at portraying the hardships of losing someone and then finding out they are alive. You see different relationships grow and fade away. For example, Tommy and Grace. Though nothing really develops between them romantically, you see how Tommy matures and becomes dependable. Then there's Sam. Sam comes home but he is traumatized and it's hard for him to be around people. Tobey Maguire's performance was really outstanding because you can just look at his character and see how hard it was to be in Afghanistan taken prisoner.

I wouldn't really recommend this to anyone to watch. It was depressing but at least it was shorter than two hours. I would recommend this to the people who like war movies (but this isn't all entirely a war movie, there are just some clips of Sam being a prisoner). If you're curious to see this movie because it has an actor you like, then by all means watch it. You won't finish this film thinking it was great though, so don't say I didn't warn you.

Date Night

Steve Carell, Tina Fey

Directed by Shawn Levy

Rating: 3 stars

The Fosters are looking for a way to spice up their relationship. They've gotten used to the mundane routine a husband and wife go through with kids. So one night Phil Foster (Steve Carell) decides to take his wife, Claire (Tina Fey), out to a hard-to-get-in, fancy restaurant in New York City. When the host barely gives them the time of day, they decide to take the reservation of a couple who doesn't show up on a whim. This only causes them to be pursued by two thugs and a dangerous adventure out in the city.

Date Night is a movie you get excited about but when watching it, don't feel that excitement. Essentially, the film should have been great because Steve Carell and Tina Fey make an absolutely great pair. Nobody else could have played their role the way they did. So why did Date Night deserve three stars instead of four? Well, the movie started off with your average couple who love each other but they had kids and so life revolves around that. They decided to spice things up but then it gets boring. There's some action in this movie since the Foster's get chased around and there's this long car action scene. It doesn't grab your full attention though. Date Night is the kind of movie you've seen before and it's just "alright". I'm not sure it's worth recommending because of the "blah" factor it has. There probably are some people out there who thought this movie is worth owning but I would recommend renting it or watching it On Demand before mindlessly thinking, oh this will probably be good. (I almost did that and I'm very glad I didn't.) While Carell and Fey make a great on-screen couple and have good chemistry, Date Night is a movie you probably don't want to watch on yours.

Megamind

Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Brad Pitt, Jonah Hill

Directed by Tom McGrath

Rating: 5 stars

Megamind is the story of an evil genius who actually gets away with it. Megamind (Will Ferrell) and Metro Man (Brad Pitt) never got along. As they grew older they battled each other and Metro Man usually won. However, on the day of the unveiling of Metro Man's statue, Megamind has a new scheme and this time he actually defeated Metro Man! Megamind enjoyed running the city as he pleased but it just wasn't fun without battling a superhero so he decided to create one... Titan (Jonah Hill). But when Titan decides he doesn't like being good, Megamind has to face off with his own creation to save the town.

Megamind is a movie not only kids can enjoy but adults can too. There's probably a lot kids wouldn't understand but watching this with a bunch of college students was fun. Like when Megamind got a text from Roxanne Ritchie (Tina Fey) and he told Minion (David Cross) "Hold on... [to himself while texting back] 'L.O.L smiley face." Since little kids shouldn't be texting, they probably wouldn't understand what's so funny about that. This movie deserves five stars because it's funny, it has a great cast, and a plot you've never seen before (okay, maybe I've never seen but it doesn't happen often). Who's ever seen a movie before where the bad guy gets everything he wants, then turns into a good guy? Sure, we've seen bad guys turn soft and into a nice guy but we've never seen villains in an animated movie go that way. So Megamind had a unique storyline.

Overall, Megamind was just a great movie. Dreamworks usually does a great job at making movies kids and adults can enjoy; like Shrek, Madagascar, and How To Train Your Dragon. I would highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys a good laugh, animated movies, and Will Ferrell. You won't be disappointed.

The Adjustment Bureau

Matt Damon, Emily Blunt

Directed by George Nolfi

Rating: 4 stars

David Norris (Matt Damon), the youngest politician who has an actual chance of getting somewhere in his career, unexpectedly meets Elise (Emily Blunt) in a mens bathroom. Elise inspires David to change a speech he has to give within the next few minutes. David starts to fall for Elise. However, that is not supposed to happen according to "the plan". The Adjustment Bureau is a team of men who follow certain people making sure that their lives follow what has been predetermined for them. David tries his hardest to make sure Elise stays in his life, despite The Adjustment Bureau trying to prevent them from being together.

The Adjustment Bureau was a pretty great movie. While watching the trailer, it may appear to be appeal to girls because it is a love story. However, it's a film both genders can go see and like. Matt Damon and Emily Blunt make a good cast and Anthony Mackie, who plays the man who watches over Matt Damon's character, has a bit of a Morgan Freeman flare when you hear his deep voice. What I liked about this movie is that it has some action and an interesting plot. Though this movie is highly unrealistic (like how the Bureau make sure others follow their "plan"), the relationship between Damon and Blunt's characters could have been made more like real life. For example (spoiler), an extended amount of time goes by where David Norris stops talking to Elise because he doesn't want to ruin what could be her future career as a famous choreographer. Then he sees Elise again, realizes he wants her back, and she accepts because she likes him just as much. This happens at least two or three times. This shouldn't stop you from seeing the movie though because other than that, it was a really good movie. What would have made this film five-star quality is if the time gaps from when David meets Elise again after losing her number was shorter and then from when he stops talking to her. Other than that, I would recommend this movie for almost anyone to see.

Watchmen

Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson

Directed by Zack Snyder

Rating: 4 stars

"Who watches the Watchmen?"

In an alternate 1985 where superheroes existed, someone is killing off the vigilantes one by one. The second generation of Watchmen were forced to retire under a law banning masks. Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley) is suspicious that someone is killing off the Watchmen and goes on his own to find the culprit. On the other hand, Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup) is helping Adrian Veidt (Matthew Goode) on a secret project while America is counting down on the clock to Doomsday, where America is under a nuclear missile threat by Russia.

Watchmen is a movie brilliantly put together. From the special effects to the plot, the director, Zack Snyder, did an overall great job. Though the film is missing some parts from the graphic novel, it stayed pretty faithful to the book. I read the graphic novel after watching the movie and it was so easy to picture it. I would recommend going to the library or buying it. The cast was picked pretty good and they look close to how the characters are portrayed in the novel. Though Watchmen might feel like a bit of a long movie (about two and-a-half hours) it's not a painful length. I really liked it and I would recommend this movie to people who liked 300 or the Dark Knight. Watchmen, for the most part, is full of action and keeps the dialogue going. However, it is rated R for a good reason. The violence is a bit too strong for anyone under sixteen and there are two sex scenes as well as language. Overall, the movie was really good but I would be careful as to letting anyone younger than sixteen view this film.

I Am Number Four

Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Diana Agron, Callan McAuliffe

Directed by D. J. Caruso

Rating: 4 stars

I Am Number Four follows the story of a teenager who has abilities no human could have. John (Alex Pettyfer) has been used to moving from town to town with his guardian Henri (Timothy Olyphant), always on the run to keep from being noticed. There are very few people like John and enemies who have taken over his home planet are scavenging for the last of John's kind. So far they have killed the first three and as the title says, John is number four. In Ohio, John must learn how to use his powers to keep himself alive and battle those after him.

Overall, I Am Number Four was a pretty good movie. It had action generally throughout it and an interesting plot to keep you watching. John is used to being the new kid but when he moves to Ohio, he is tired of trying to keep a low profile. It's sort of hard when a girl, Sarah (Diana Agron), who carries a camera around school keeps taking photos of you. When the jocks pick on a smaller kid, John does his best to help Sam (Callan McAuliffe) which makes him the new target. What makes I Am Number Four good is the action and the cast was picked well so that helps. The end of the movie suggests a sequel and personally, I probably will go see it if it is made. Though the movie has a rating of PG-13, I don't think anyone younger then eight years-old should see it because it might have some scary scenes. Other then that, I think most people might enjoy this film if you enjoy action, thriller, or sci-fi kind of movies. I went into this movie with the mindset that it wouldn't be that great but left the theater feeling like it was money worth spent.

27 Dresses

Katherine Heigl, James Marsden, Malin Akerman

Directed by Anne Fletcher

Rating: 3 stars

Jane (Katherine Heigl) is a quirky, young workaholic in love with her boss, George (Edward Burns). When her sister Tess (Malin Akerman) comes into town, the younger sister hits it off pretty well with George. So well, that soon enough they are engaged. Jane has a pretty hard time saying no to people so it's no surprise she agrees to being her sister's maid of honor. However, Jane isn't so enthusiastic about Tess getting married to the man she loves. Jane has enough experience about weddings though because she has been the bridesmaid for twenty-seven of them. At one of the most recent weddings Jane participated in, a young journalist is interested in writing a story on her after going through her planner. Kevin (James Marsden) and Jane don't hit it off so great but after spending some quality time together, Jane warms up to the persistent journalist.

27 Dresses is a cute chick-flick where girl thinks she's in love with someone and has no interest in new guy but eventually warms up to new guy in the end. It has a good plot with Tess getting engaged to the man Jane loves and Jane actually agrees to helping with the wedding even though deep down she doesn't want to. There's also Kevin, a cute journalist who wants to get to know Jane. However, Jane is kind-of-sort-of annoying and a dork with all her bridesmaid dresses that she keeps in a closet. 27 Dresses deserves three stars because it is simply just okay. It's not a bad movie but it's also not four star worthy. I think it's a movie worth buying if you like it but after watching it, it's just okay. There's some funny, memorable scenes like when Jane tries on all her bridesmaid dresses and a drunk Jane and Kevin singing "Benny and the Jets". I would recommend this movie for mainly girls who enjoy a good chick-flick. Perhaps if you're a Katherine Heigl fan or James Marsden fan, then I would say this is a movie you should at least watch once. Personally, I did enjoy the film but like I said, there was nothing in the movie to declare it as "amazing" when it's really just "exceptional".

Due Date

Robert Downey Jr., Zach Galifianakis

Directed by Todd Phillips

Rating: 4 stars

Ethan Tremblay (Zach Galifianakis) is one of the worst-best people Peter Highman (Robert Downey Jr.) has ever met. Because of Ethan, Peter has been held back from flying home to his wife who will be having their baby. Ethan offers Peter a ride to California and as they drive cross-country, their road trip adventure is one neither of them will ever forget.

Due Date is a funny film where you can't help but sympathize with the annoying guy who comes off as misguided. Peter Highman is uptight but when life throws you an interesting guy such as Ethan, frustration sure comes easy. What's good about Due Date is that it's short (95 minutes) so it's not funny and then drags on to the point of not being funny anymore. It does have some inappropriate material (which is why it's rated R) but nothing a sixteen year old couldn't handle (any younger than that probably should wait another year or two). I would recommend this movie if you enjoyed Dinner for Schmucks. Personally, I wasn't a huge fan of the latter movie because I don't like watching movies where a guy is always messing things up for someone else. Due Date was a different story because it was actually funny. Zach Galifianakis and Robert Downey Jr. make a good main cast and they made this movie worth watching.

Wristcutters: A Love Story

Patrick Fugit, Shea Whigham, Shannyn Sossamon

Directed by Goran Dukic

Rating: 4 stars

Zia (Patrick Fugit) is in love. When his love Desiree (Leslie Bibb) leaves him, he decides to kill himself. Zia finds himself trapped in a land similar to being stuck in limbo. He lives a boring life in a land of the people who have killed himself. He makes friends with Eugene (Shea Whigham). When he hears that Desiree has killed herself, he is filled with hope that he will be able to find her. So he goes on a trip to a place he's unsure of but takes Eugene with him. Along the way the pickup a hitch-hiker, Mikal (Shannyn Sossamon), who is looking for the People in Charge because she died by accident. Eventually the reach a camp of people who can do some extraordinary things and Zia is still looking for Desiree. Eventually he finds her but realizes that a part of him has feelings for Mikal. However, Mikal found the People in Charge and she leaves Zia behind. I'll let the ending be a surprise for you though.

This movie was very... interesting to say the least. I didn't know how I felt about it at first and thought it deserved a rating of three instead of four. Wristcutters: A Love Story is just one of those movies where you have to let it sit in your mind for a while before realizing that it was actually a pretty good movie. While I was watching it, I couldn't help but think it was kind of weird and not that great. After sleeping on it, the more I thought about, the more I wanted to see it again. Shannyn Sossamon plays the role of a quirky girl who can sometimes be annoying while Patrick Fugit plays a sort of lifeless role. That's what the movie has a feel of: lifeless. It's not exciting, it's actually sort of dull. I wouldn't recommend this movie for people who like fast-paced, action-packed movies. If you don't mind watching a slow movie all the way to the end, then I would recommend this movie to you. If you're bored and looking for a movie to fill the time, I would say that you should give Wristcutters a chance.