September 23, 2005

You actually have some choices to make at the multiplex this weekend.

Whether you are in a small town or in East or West Obnoxious, movies are a comin'. The big releases are Flightplan, Roll Bounce and the expansive Corpse Bride. You should also be able to find a sneak of In Her Bikini… uh… In Her Shoes somewhere near moderate sized population centers.

If you are in the Axis Of Ego, A History of Violence and Oliver Twist can be on your dance card, though neither is a musical. And if you really loved Dukes of Hazzard, you can even check out the dumperific Daltry Calhoun.

The truth is, I didn't hate Daltry Calhoun as much as many of the folks who were moaning about the movie in the elevator after the screening. The film, directed by the daughter of acting god Charles Bronson, Holden Bronson, is a southern fried comedy about a charming young man, played by Johnny Knoxville, who is something of a heroic icon in his state by becoming an expert on grass - the kind of golf courses - and building a business that is centered around his on-screen charm. Then, at the same time his business hits a crisis, the daughter that he never knew he had arrives on his doorstep.

I can't rightly say that Daltry Calhoun is a good movie. But as a first effort, it has some signs of skill and taste from this young director. The film has that kind of Sundance energy that draws a crowd at a festival, but not so much in a theatrical release.

If you're impatient, don't bother with this film at all. But if you are looking for something a little different with some interesting performances, especially by 15-year-old Sophie Traub and Elizabeth Banks, who has quickly become the movie business' more sexy version of Parker Posey, put it in your NetFlix cue and take a look. You may well be glad you did.

Roll Bounce is another attempt at low-rent fun. The story of a group of friends who roller skate, have their rink shut town, head to a more affluent neighborhood to skate, and have a showdown with the uber-obnoxious "best skaters" of the new turf. Roll Bounce is very much apiece with the summer of 70s revamps. All the music is 70s and the good natured cheese makes this a better version of the live action Fat Albert, though no one is really fat and Bill Cosby is nowhere to be seen. However, you do get the "Gee, you're beautiful without your ****es," and the "I hate you because mom is dead," and the girl so beautiful that everyone but the one she wants is popping their button-flys as she skates by, and the druggie skate rental guy cameo by Nick Cannon. Still… it doesn't hurt… it's fun. And Fox Searchlight has committed 10% of their rentals this weekend (I assume that "proceeds" does not mean that they will charge off advertising against the charitable donation), so you are doing good for others by showing up at the theater.

Flightplan, on the other hand, is rich, rich, rich. But on the same hand, is just okay. You won't hate it. You won't love it. You won't remember it.

Jodie Foster is fine. And the truth is, you do kind of sit there wondering if what you intuitively know has to be the case - Jodie is a movie star, remember? - might not be the case. Just how clever could this script get? You never know. Which is good.

What is really odd is that when you expect things to really heat up, at the end of the second act and beginning of the third, things slow down to virtual sludge. And I have bad news… exploding stuff doesn't really make up for this bizarre story structure, which leaves you breathful just when you should be less.

Another odd thing… when I saw trailers for Red Eye and Flightplan, I thought that they were going to be similar. Then I saw Red Eye and I thought that it was really going to be different than Flightplan. Then I saw Flightplan and I thought that the two movies were really quite similar, though Flightplan took it self so much more seriously.

In Her Shoes doesn't take itself that seriously… except when lighting Cameron Diaz's buttocks. The film version of the beloved chick lit classic is quite entertaining. I can't say that I would fight being invited to see it again. But it seemed to me that there was a lot more story going on there (via the book) than was time for in the film. Events kind of leap into occurring, even when there doesn't seem to be a clear path to the action. I gather, after having the conversation with people who know the book, that there was a foundation for all of these moments. But it's not on screen. However, if you loved the book, you can certainly fill in the blanks without too much effort.

Cameron Diaz is really quite good here, though her character is not very challenging on the surface. She is charming and wacky and every once in a while, she needs to emote. She is not to blame for there not being a lot there to play. But there isn't. Toni Collette's character is really the center of the movie, but she gets a little skimped on, as there is a bigger star in the movie. And Shirley MacLaine is terrific as usual. But again… there is nothing terribly memorable for her to do here.

In Her Shoes is an enjoyable movie. It's just a bit short of greatness.

Oliver Twist is like a beautiful girl who has nothing to say. Wait. Check that. It's like a beautiful girl (or boy, for that matter) who won't have sex with you and has nothing to say. Wait. It's like a beautiful person who won't have sex with you or leave the house, so you don't even get to have people think that you somehow scored big time. In other words, there is nothing much redeeming here except for the cinematography. It's Dickens by the numbers. And even Sir Ben bores, chewing the make-up-ery with little effect. Yawn.

The movie to see, if you have the chance, is the much written about by me, A History of Violence… one of the best films of the year. And even if your female companion is fearful of a Cronenberg violence fest, there is a great Maria Bello performance as a strong, smart woman that makes the movie accessible to all.

Now get thee to a movie-ry.

E-ME.