Despicable Me

Awwww, come on. It's adorable. Plenty of humor for the adults and the use of the word "fart" for the kids and adults who act like them. A diabolical genius who wants to steal the moon uses 3 little orphan girls as pawns in his scheme but falls in love with being their dad. It's funny and cute and sweet and, in some places, very sharp. Steve Carell, Jason Segel and Russell Brand all do great voice work here without sounding like themselves. The animation is fun (3D) and there is not moment of great angst. We particularly loved the interation between Gru (Carell) and his mother. Gentle fun. Go see it.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

If you haven't read the book by slogging through the first two or three chapters of character after character, then the Cliff note's feelings of this movie might confuse you. It doesn't follow the book in all of the plot and it certainly doesn't have the back story or political insight of the Swedish system of "ward of the state" and socialist politics that the book gives. But it is close enough. In fact, if you saw the movie first, the book would unfold more easily. Yet, the book is better. It's a whodunnit murder mystery sort of story with a lot of sub plot that a movie reviewer cannot cover. But it is fun to see the book put to life and to see how the very intricate and damaged Lisbeth Salander is portrayed. See the movie AND read the book. The movie really gives you an idea of what the physical and mental state of these characters are.

Toy Story 3

Back to the world of Woody and Buzz Lightyear. And what a wonderfully sweet world it is. When Toy Story 1 came out, I gave it the best review I'd ever given a film- with good cause. The Toy Story franchise is so perfect for kids and adults. I cannot imagine not liking this film. It is funny and probably very exciting for little kids. Of course it has a good ending, but it has a great beginning and middle, too. The animation is clean and colorful and the story line is energetic. After such pap as "UP", it's nice to have a story that sticks to the premise and doesn't take you on a preachy and disjointed plot addition. It is seamless. Don't miss it.

Get Him to the Greek

I thought this movie was very, very funny. I'd like to say it was the magnificent acting, but really, I think only Russell Brand was great. It was,however, the group of actors assembled- particularly using P Diddy as a rock promoter. It was gross and silly and rude and hilarious all at once. I can see how some people wouldn't like it at all. But I laughed out loud about every 5 minutes. It's Jonah Hill's (the nebbish underling) job to get Russell Brand (the rock star) to the Greek theater in LA for a revival of Brand's rock career. The movie is a recounting of how that happens. I would say that if you liked movies like Superbad, well, this is better. So, on a rainy day, if it is still playing, go see it.

Solitary Man

Michael Douglas plays a 60 something year old car dealership(s) owner who is a liar, a womanizer, and basically a man of little character who is divorced and trying to start over after a stint in the pokey for deceptive practice (I think that was the charge- it was murky). His ex-wife, Susan Sarandon, got to keep the gorgeous NYC apartment, and she has moved on with a stellar career in real estate. His daughter, the dead pan Jenna Fischer, tries to have a non-co-dependent relationship with her father while trying to balance her marriage with her father's needs. Douglas plays the role with a level of mindless creepiness that keeps the audience at arm's length. Everyone is believable. Douglas and Fischer are perfectly cast. Anyone could have done the Sarandon role. I liked this film. It isn't a big movie, but it is a very interesting one.