Hit - Starring George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, J.K. Simmons, David Rasche

Two gym employees try to capitalize on a disk they have found that seems to be filled with CIA information.

This movie is definitely not what it seems, it is a story of infidelity, and deceit. It also revolves around “nothing.” I say this because everything is set into motion because of the “CIA c.d.” which is actually just a memoir and some bank statements - it is hardly anything worth dying over. But, the Coen brothers like to make movies about nothing - so I guess this movie follows suit.

While this movie was interesting, I found that Frances McDormand’s performance was too over-the-top and I also felt that John Malkovich’s performance was not suited to the Coen Brothers style and therefore fell flat.

Bottom line: A movie worth seeing once.

Comedy

Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and violence.

Running Time: 1 hour 36 minutes

Hit - Starring Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Candice Bergen, Eva Mendes, Bette Midler, Cloris Lechman, Debi Mazar

When a wealthy New Yorker finds out that her husband has been cheating on her, she turns to her friends for support.

This is a movie for women, by women, and includes a cast of all women (there is a cameo of one male in the entire film). It shows the interaction between women who rally around a friend who is going through a difficult time in her life. This story seems true to the actual relationships between women and the ways that they support and love each other.

Meg Ryan is a welcome star of the film. We have not seen her in a long time and it is great that she is back on the big screen. Unfortunately, I find that her recent plastic surgery left her with a permanent awkward wrinkle on her face. It is quite odd. Putting that aside, she is fabulous in this roll.

I only wish that this story was a little more focused on all of the characters rather than just a select few.

Bottom Line: A great movie for women - and Cloris Lechman is hilarious!

Comedy

Rated PG-13 for sex-related material, language, some drug use and brief smoking.

Running Time: 1 hour 54 minutes.

Miss - Starring Vin Diesel, Michelle Yeoh, Melanie Thierry, Gerard Depardieu

Plot Synopsis from IMDB.com: Veteran-turned-mercenary Thoorop takes the high-risk job of escorting a woman from Russia to America. Little does he know that she is host to an organism that a cult wants to harvest in order to produce a genetically modified Messiah.

My husband really liked this film but it took him almost a day after seeing the movie to actually say it. I think it is because he was thinking about it so much after actually seeing it, which, in my mind would say that the film is a good one. Anytime you think about the movie later and continue to discuss it, that makes for a decent film. Unfortunately for me, I did not have the same experience with this film. I found myself talking about it with my husband because he was interested in doing so, and I didn’t mind discussing the plot or the overall effect of the film, but, I still did not think it was anything special.

I did, however, see the potential for the movie to have been better than it was. Supposedly the director was very disappointed with the outcome of the film and feels there are many missing sections of the movie. Others have said they will wait to see the film until the directors cut comes out on DVD. I would be interested to see this version but I have heard that it is 70 minutes longer, and that in itself is a second film.

The idea of the future of America, Russia, and humanity is very interesting and realistic. I can see our future looking similar to what this film portrays (more-so than say Back to the Future II). It shows our world as it could be and the scary effects of the evolution of religion. While the idea of the film is fascinating, the effect of the film overall was weak in terms of story.

Bottom Line: Interesting - it could be one to see on DVD but I am not so sure as to if it will be any better.

Science Fiction

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, language and some sexuality.

Running Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Hit - Starring Anna Faris, Colin Hanks, Emma Stone, Katherine McPhee, Kat Dennings, Beverly D’Angelo, Rumer Willis, Hugh M. Heffner

Playboy bunny, Shelly (Faris), has been kicked out of the mansion and needs to find a job. While looking for work, she finds an outcast sorority house (Zeta Alpha Zeta) that needs her help. She decides to become their house mother and teaches them how to be socially acceptable. In return, the sorority girls teach her how to be academic. Eventually, the girls learn that it is better to be yourself rather than what other people want you to be.

Who doesn’t love Anna Faris and her deer in the headlights persona? This character is seemingly a perfect role for her. The film as a whole has a cute premise and wants to show girls that it is ok to be yourself. The overall effect of the film is a simple comedy with simple laughs and a lot of heart. Therefore, it may be best to conclude that this film is more of a rental rather than something to see at the movies.

This is the first Happy Madison production that I have felt was warm-hearted and female driven. It is a breath of fresh air compared to previous Happy Madison productions.

Bottom Line: Rent this Bunny.

Comedy

Rated PG-13 for sex-related humor, partial nudity and brief strong language.

Running Time: 1 hour 36 minutes

Hit - Starring Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr., Tom Cruise, Brandon T. Jackson, Steve Coogan, Jay Baruchel, Matthew McConaughey

In order to create a more “real” war movie, director Damien Cockburn (Coogan) sends the actors into the jungle. Unfortunately the actors are forced to become the soldiers they are portraying when one of them is taken captive.

While I am not always a person who enjoys a Ben Stiller movie (especially The Heartbreak Kid which was the worst film I have ever seen - which says a lot), I found Tropic Thunder to be surprisingly hilarious. The ensemble cast made it hilarious by playing off of each others strengths.

A favorite part of the movie is when Stiller’s character becomes victim to the Stockholm syndrome and decides that he wants to stay with his captors. This is quickly reverted when he finds that his captors are not that enthralled with him.

The one questionable area of this film is the byline “get some.” Why in the world would someone chose a tag like that? It doesn’t do anything for the film.

This movie is also very gory in terms of over-the-top blood and guts so those who are sensitive to this, you have been warned.

Bottom Line: An entertaining summer comedy.

Comedy

Rated R for pervasive language including sexual references, violent content and drug material.

Running Time: 1 hour 47 minutes