KANSAS CITY, MO —
1. JACK REACHER
SHAWN
Tom Cruise is solid in “Jack Reacher” but the movie overall is a mess. A total mess. It’s a hack job that’s not half as compelling as an average episode of “CSI.”
RUSS
Yes, Tom Cruise is a fine actor, but he’s miscast as Jack Reacher, the 6’ 5” 250 lb. former military investigator from Lee Child’s novels. In the wake of the recent events in Connecticut, this violent story about the search for a mass killer seems particularly disturbing.
SHAWN
So true. The intent is grit and pulp. What you get is unbelievable action and the weakest of plots. And yes, Tom Cruise is terribly miscast but he produced the movie. And got an ego.
RUSS
It’s got action and suspense, but never quite gels. At best, “Jack Reacher” is a competent, if off-putting, thriller.
RUSS: 3 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN: 2 Popcorn Bags
2. THIS IS 40
RUSS
Overland Park’s favorite son Paul Rudd stars in the latest Judd Apatow farce, “This is 40.” Rudd stars along with Leslie Mann as they reprise their characters from “Knocked Up,” which were based loosely on Apatow and his real life wife, Mann.
SHAWN
The saying “it’s complicated” is a one hundred percent way to describe “This is 40.” It’s a sophisticated and slightly funny comedy but it also completely misses the mark. And the marketing campaign that stresses that this is sort of a sequel to “Knocked Up” are completely false. It’s actually a spin-off. And one that has abandoned its past. There are auspiciously no references to any of the previous characters from “Knocked Up.” Weird!
RUSS
RUSS: It’s overlong, extremely crude and very uneven, relying heavily on its likable cast to inject life to this mid-life crisis comedy.
SHAWN
This midlife crisis tale is realistically amusing but seriously lacks direction.
RUSS: 3 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN: 2 Popcorn Bags
3. THE GUILT TRIP
SHAWN
Loved the chemistry between Barbra Steisand and Seth Rogen who brilliantly deliver an awkward mother-son relationship in “The Guilt Trip.” Admittedly Streisand is the stronger of the two. She’s hilarious as she unleashes her trademarked mannerisms that work perfectly for this role.
RUSS
A thirtysomething man and his possessive mom go on a cross-country road adventure together in the aptly titled comedy, “Guilt Trip.” Barbara Streisand and Seth Rogan do the best they can with a stilted and predictable script.
SHAWN
There are quite a few funny moments as the two roll along on their journey. And “The Guilt Trip” is the rare comedy that gets funnier as it pushes along.
RUSS
It’s sweet natured and mildly entertaining, but “Guilt Trip” takes a long time to get where it’s going.
RUSS: 3 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN: 3 Popcorn Bags
Also opening this week:
“Cirque Du Soleil: World’s Away 3D” is a visually stunning recreation of a number of acrobatic acts from the various Cirque Du Soleil Vegas shows. The individual acts are amazing and the stagecraft and art direction are wildly imaginative. Unfortunately, the movie version lacks the dynamism of the live performances.
RUSS: 3 Popcorn Bags
“CHASING ICE” is a documentary that follows the efforts of photographer James Balog to record evidence of global climate change. The first two-thirds of the movie about his efforts to record glacial recession is a bit of a slog, but the final reel, showing dramatic glacial melting, is stunning…and scary.
RUSS: 3 Popcorn Bags
SHAWN: 3 Popcorn Bags
