What About B.O.B.?
by Betty Jo Tucker

Sometimes one performance in a film almost saves it. For example, a gelatinous blue creature, voiced to amusing perfection by Seth Rogen, manages to perk things up whenever it appears in Monsters Vs. Aliens. Unfortunately, the rest of this animated movie feels like a been-there-done-that experience, one the Bard might describe as “full of sound and fury, yet signifying nothing.”

I know what you’re thinking: at least the children will enjoy Monsters Vs. Aliens. Sorry to disappoint you, but the youngsters at the screening I attended seemed quite restless, plus I heard only a few laughs during the film’s entire running time. And those laughs were evoked by Rogen’s character, B.O.B.

So let’s talk about B.O.B. He belongs to a formerly secret group of monsters who are called upon by the U.S. Government for help in defeating an alien plan to take over our planet. His colleagues are Ginormica (voiced by Reese Witherspoon), Dr. Cockroach (voiced by Hugh Laurie), The Missing Link (voiced by Will Arnet), and a huge insect. B.O.B. may not be the smartest monster here, but he’s definitely the most interesting.  He’s at his best during conflict with a giant robot. “I’ve got him!” he shouts while stuck to the bottom of the robot’s foot before being trampled on. Or when he falls for a quivering bowl of jello. B.O.B. sports just one eye in the middle of his upper body, but he makes up for that with the ability to absorb almost everything and everyone in his way. No doubt about it, B.O.B. is an original character, and he deserves a movie of his own.

For me, the other characters in Monsters Vs. Aliens fail to measure up to B.O.B. Ginormica, an ordinary woman who has been changed into a giant version of herself, looks fantastic – but her sequences are too repetitive. Dr. Cockroach and The Missing Link also lack B.O.B.’s appeal. The villainous alien Galaxhar (voiced by Rainn Wilson) and his clones may be intriguing to watch, but they pale in significance to similar presentations in the Star Wars franchise. Surprisingly, the usually hilarious Stephen Colbert comes across as rather dull in his voicing of a stupid U.S. President. However, Kiefer Sutherland offers a fine voice turn – one in which he’s barely recognizable – as the gung-ho army man supervising our monsters.

After seeing Monsters Vs. Aliens, I can hardly wait to view my favorite animated monster movie again. Can you guess which one it is? If you picked Monsters, Inc. — you’re absolutely right! 

DISCLAIMER:  I saw the 2-D version of this movie.

(Released by DreamWorks and rated “PG” for sci-fi action, some crude humor and mild language.)

For more information about Monsters Vs. Aliens, go to the Internet Movie Data Base or Rotten Tomatoes website.

Betty Jo Tucker is a member of the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) and the San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS). She teaches an online class, “The Reel Deal: Writing about Movies” for the LSS School of Writing and has published three movie-related books including CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT, an amusing memoir about her life at the movies. Betty Jo serves as the editor/lead film critic for ReelTalk Movie Reviews and hosts a weekly radio show, “Movie Addict Headquarters,” for BlogTalkRadio. She also writes monthly film commentary for the Colorado Senior Beacon. For more information, please go to www.BettyJoTucker.com

Sparkling Co-Stars, Disjointed Plot
by Betty Jo Tucker

Linear storytelling falls by the wayside in Duplicity as characters played by Julia Roberts and Clive Owen struggle to make sense out of their feelings for each other. Unfortunately, they’re not the only ones struggling during filmmaker Tony Gilroy’s follow-up to his Michael Clayton success. I had great difficulty with this thriller’s many flashback scenes, which frequently interrupt the story’s flow.  So did my husband and daughter who attended the screening with me. “Annoying,” was my daughter’s conclusion. “Irritating,” my husband added.

Still, we all agreed about the sizzling chemistry between Roberts and Owen. They are fascinating to watch together. Roberts (Erin Brockovich) plays a former CIA operative working in counterintelligence for a huge cosmetic corporation. Owen (The International) is a former MI-5 agent hired by a rival company. These two suspicious individuals, who join forces to carry out a complicated  con job, obviously have a love/hate relationship — and considering their spy backgrounds, will they ever be able to trust one another?

In addition to her trademark smile, Roberts gets the opportunity to display chilling anger, especially in one scene requiring an expression of silent, jealous rage. And Owen shows off his charming side when his character adopts a Texas accent in order to seduce a naïve female cosmetic firm employee (Carrie Preston). Sadly, it’s not easy to care about either one of these main characters.

Duplicity focuses on corporate espionage involving the introduction of a mysterious groundbreaking product. The top executives of both companies (Paul Giamatti and Tom Wilkinson) are longstanding enemies, a fact established in a very clever slow-motion sequence at the beginning of the movie. Giamatti receives more screen time than Wilkinson and makes the most of it by delivering a frenetic and highly entertaining performance — his best since American Splendor – but I’m disappointed at not seeing the always wonderful Wilkinson (In the Bedroom) more on screen here.

Besides its overuse of flashbacks, Duplicity falters by including so much computer activity instead of physical action. (Have you noticed how this can drag a movie down?) And, although some of the dialogue is quite witty, the movie seems too talky much of the time. But most of all, the film is simply exhausting to follow.

(Released by Universal Pictures and rated “PG-13” for language and some sexual content.)

For more information about Duplicity, go to the Internet Movie Data Base or Rotten Tomatoes website.

Betty Jo Tucker is a member of the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) and the San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS). She  teaches an online class, “The Reel Deal: Writing about Movies” for the LSS School of Writing and has published three movie-related books including CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT, an amusing memoir about her life at the movies. Betty Jo serves as the editor/lead film critic for ReelTalk Movie Reviews and hosts a weekly radio show, “Movie Addict Headquarters,” for BlogTalkRadio. She also writes monthly film commentary for the Colorado Senior Beacon.  For more information, please go to www.BettyJoTucker.com

No Joking Around
by Betty Jo Tucker

Is the universe “one big joke,” as an important character in Watchman proclaims? I hope not, but how I wish this movie contained at least some humor to temper its bleak outlook. Still, Zack Snyder’s version of the graphic novel sensation bowled me over with its fascinating visual style and exciting set pieces. I have the feeling Snyder shares Orson Welles’ attitude about filmmaking – which he summed up by exclaiming, ”This is the biggest electric train set a boy ever had!”

Set in a bizarre 1985 world, the film depicts extremely hard times for a group of costumed superheroes who’ve been outlawed by Richard Nixon – despite helping him win the Vietnam War. When one of the group is murdered, Rorschach/Walter Kovacs (Jackie Earle Haley) becomes concerned and starts to investigate. He contacts former Watchmen, including Dr. Manhattan/Jon Osterman (Billy Crudup), Ozymandias/Adrian Veidt (Matthew Goode), Nite Owl II/Dan Drieberg (Patrick Wilson) and Silk Spectre II/Laurie Jupiter (Malin Ackerman). Finding the answer to this mystery forms the main story line here, but philosophical/political issues also receive intense emphasis. For example: Is life meaningless? Does the end justify the means? Should you destroy millions of lives to save billions of lives?

In flashbacks, we learn how the Comedian/Edward Blake (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) became obsessed with violence. Now, each of the  other Watchmen faces problems of his/her own. Because of an incredible accident, Dr. Manhattan has been changed into a glowing blue godlike creature with power over physical matter – but he’s growing more and more distant, which causes distress for Silk Spectre II, his current girlfriend. Ozymandias seems more interested in his business ventures. Nite Owl II worries about his attraction to Silk Spectre II.  And Rorschach wants to wreak revenge against all bad guys. Can this motley crew work together to solve the murder mystery – and, in the process, prevent a nuclear war between Russia and the United States?

All the Watchmen actors give solid performances, but Billy Crudup (Big Fish) stands out for me. His mesmerizing voice lends Dr. Manhattan a necessary otherworldly quality – plus the motion-capture technique applied here makes his character quite unique and spellbinding.

Filmmaker Snyder directs this ambitious project with a stylistic approach similar to his brilliant work on 300, another highly artistic offering. Intriguing cinematography, stunning set design, and remarkable special effects contribute to the amazing look of the film — despite its dark themes. Fortunately, unlike my experience with The Dark Knight, I had no trouble seeing what was happening on screen, even though I refused to watch a couple of excessively violent scenes. The movie’s musical background also surprised and pleased me, especially Nat King Cole singing “Unforgettable.”

While not my favorite superhero movie (that’s Spider-Man), Watchmen provides a different and interesting take on this popular genre. If you’re a non-squeamish viewer, it’s definitely worth seeing.

(Released by Warner Bros. Pictures and rated “R” for strong graphic violence, sexuality, nudity and language.)

For more information about Watchmen, go to the Internet Movie Data Base or Rotten Tomatoes website.

Betty Jo Tucker is a member of the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) and the San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS). She  teaches an online class, “The Reel Deal: Writing about Movies” for the LSS School of Writing and has published three movie-related books including CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT, an amusing memoir about her life at the movies. Betty Jo serves as the editor/lead film critic for ReelTalk Movie Reviews and hosts a weekly radio show, “Movie Addict Headquarters,” for BlogTalkRadio. She also writes monthly film commentary for the Colorado Senior Beacon.  For more information, please go to www.BettyJoTucker.com

What are your thoughts? Did you watch the movie? Did you like it? We want to hear your thoughts!

Life Lessons Pay Off
by Betty Jo Tucker

How could Jamal, an orphan growing up in the slums of Mumbai, India, know the answers to tough questions asked on a TV quiz show? In Slumdog Millionaire, street smarts account for our hero’s success, much to the amazement of the television host, a man who thinks torture will force the lad to confess he cheated. What a great idea for a rags-to-riches story even Charles Dickens would appreciate!

Slumdog Millionaire deserves the eight Oscars® it won – Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Original Song, and Best Musical Score. Although Mamma Mia! ranks as my favorite 2008 film, Slumdog Millionaire was definitely the most entertaining and inspirational movie nominated for Best Picture this year. It boasts a “triumph of the underdog” story with characters we care about as well as adventure, suspense and romance, plus a rousing Bollywood song-and-dance number (to A. R. Rahman’s “Jai Ho”) at the end — and all this is practically impossible to resist.

SPOILER ALERT

Talk about overcoming obstacles! I believe this film does a great job showing the tremendous struggles of Jamal and his brother Salim (each played by different actors as they age) while they live by their wits in order to survive a series of horrifying situations. Along with Latika, a young girl they both care for, these two siblings become members of a group of child beggars working for a vicious crime lord. (I had to close my eyes rather than watch some of the cruel treatment depicted here.) As they grow up, Jamal and Salim choose different paths — with Salim (Madhur Mittal), unfortunately, allying himself to the crime boss. Jamal (Dev Patel) loves the beautiful Latika, but loses track of her. How Jamal finds Latika (Freida Pinto) and helps free her from a depressing fate emerges as the most suspenseful part of Slumdog Millionaire.

Although Dev Patel and Freida Pinto deliver touching performances as the romantic couple in this acclaimed movie, it’s Anil Kapoor who stands out to me. Kapoor, one of India’s most popular leading men, portrays the skeptical Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? TV host with such smarmy confidence and amazing screen charisma that I can’t help wondering why he hasn’t appeared in any English-language films until this one. The child actors (Ayush Mahesh Khedekar, Tanay Hemant Chheda, Azharuddin Mohammed Ismail, Ashutosh Lobo Gajiwala, Rubina Ali, Tanvi Ganesh Lonkar) also deserve kudos. They all seem so genuine and believable.

Skillfully adapted by Simon Beaufoy from Vikas Swarup’s Q&A novel, Slumdog Millionaire benefits immensely from Danny Boyle’s direction and cooperation with India co-director Loveleen Tandan. Masterfully blending all the important elements — including cinematography, acting, editing, music and pacing — these filmmakers have given us a unique and memorable film.

(Released by Fox Searchlight Films and rated “R” for some violence, disturbing images and language.)

One Angry Man
by Betty Jo Tucker

Delivering one of the most riveting performances of his career, Clive Owen makes The International a must-see for thriller fans. The film also boasts great location shots and an incredible gunfight inside the Guggenheim Museum — plus lovely co-star Naomi Watts — but it’s Owen who earned my rapt attention as an Interpol Agent becoming angrier and angrier during his search for justice.

Louis Salinger (Owen) is hot on the trail of illegal actions by a powerful world bank. When his partner dies mysteriously — and right before a bank bigwig is about to reveal valuable information concerning the bank’s underhanded dealings, Louis pairs up with Eleanor Whitman (Watts), a Manhattan Assistant District Attorney who’s just as eager to bring down the culprits. The complex investigation takes Louie and Eleanor to Milan, Berlin, Istanbul and back to New York City. Facing obstacles at every turn, these two learn how difficult and dangerous it is to go up against such an influential financial institution. What can they possibly do to stop this international banking giant?

As played by Watts, Eleanor appears in control of her emotions during most of their important mission. In contrast, Owen portrays Louis as a man obsessed with righting the injustices he discovers. With every furious look and intense vocal inflection, this talented British actor shows how deeply Louis abhors the bank’s entrenched power and the nefarious way the officials thwart any investigation into their money laundering, arms trading and interference with governments.

Visually, The International proves thrillers don’t need jerky camera work to be exciting, thanks to cinematographer Frank Griebe (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer). I loved the artistic overhead shots and the way Griebe showcases stunning architecture in each international location. Although the plot can be a bit hard to follow at times, some of the dialogue is priceless. My favorite line comes from Wilhelm Wexler (Armin Mueller-Stahl), one of the bank conspirators. “The difference between real life and fiction is that fiction has to make sense,” Wexler tells Louis.

No review of The International would be complete without praising its amazing Guggenheim Museum sequence. This Museum has been criticized for overshadowing the art displayed within — and similarly, the film’s remarkable action filmed there might overshadow the movie. I still can’t figure out how it was done. But I’m definitely glad it turned out so well.

Kudos to director Tom Tykwer (Perfume: The Story of a Murderer) for his deft direction as well as to new screenwriter Eric Singer for his timely script. After sitting through the dreadful Confessions of a Shopaholic on the same day as watching The International, I also feel extremely grateful to everyone else associated with the latter film.

(Released by Columbia Pictures and rated “R” for some sequences of violence and language.)

For more information about this film, go to the Internet Movie Data Base or Rotten Tomatoes website.

Don’t Bring It On
by Betty Jo Tucker
Pay attention, all you cheerleader wannabes. To be successful at cheerleading, you must possess athletic ability, enthusiasm, energy and a strong sense of purpose. Fortunately, you do not have to sit through Fired Up! Sadly, this awful movie about two high school football players who decide to participate in a summer cheerleading camp ranks on a par with Confessions of a Shopaholic as far as lack of genuine humor is concerned. Everything seems forced in both films, which results in annoying scenes instead of amusing ones playing out on screen while viewers decide whether to stay or leave the theater. Being blessed with a high tolerance for bad movies combined with a touch of masochism, I watched each of these films to the very end.

Proving it’s possible to ruin an excellent movie idea by executing it poorly, Fired Up! bears no resemblance to Bring It On, my favorite film about cheerleaders. Director Will Gluck includes a scene showing cheerleaders watching the earlier feature and reciting the dialogue right along with the cast. What a mistake! That simply serves as a reminder about the much higher quality of Bring It On. In Fired Up!, most dialogue gets shouted rather than spoken like conversations among real people. The biggest offender in this regard is Eric Christian Olsen, who plays Nick, the captain of the football team and one of the guys who goes to cheerleading camp. Because Olsen delivered such a fine performance in TV’s Brothers & Sisters, I was quite surprised by his exaggerated work here. When Olsen isn’t trying to imitate Jim Carrey, he definitely makes a better impression.

Olsen’s co-star, Nicolas D’Agosto, appears a bit more subdued. He portrays Eric’s best friend Shaun, who falls in love with Carly (Sarah Roemer), the head cheerleader at Gerald Ford High School. It’s Shaun’s feelings for Sarah that lead to a change in plans for the two cheerleading camp interlopers. Originally, their goal involved hooking up with a variety of gorgeous girls. Helping their team win the annual competition failed to interest them at all. Will they overcome their self-serving behavior and be able to save the day? (Unfortunately, by the end of this misguided teen movie, it’s hard to care one way or the other — but no doubt some members of its young target audience will still be hoping for a happy ending.)

Roemer (Disturbia) stands out in Fired Up! She’s the only cast member who comes across as a real human being. Exploited completely are two wonderful veteran actors, John Michael Higgins (The Break Up) and Philip Baker Hall (The Insider) as the cheerleading camp director and football coach, respectively.  Both Higgins and Hall seem pressured to overplay their roles, and it saddens me to see them misused in this way.

Fired Up! should have been hosed down.

(Released by Screen Gems and rated “PG-13″ for crude and sexual content throughout, partial nudity, language and some teen partying.)

Book ‘Em, Mo!
by Betty Jo Tucker

Be careful when reading aloud. You might have a secret talent to make the characters and situations you read about come to life. That’s the magical ability explored in Inkheart, an adventure fantasy starring Brendan Fraser. Fortunately, this movie bears no relation to Bedtime Stories, which focuses on a similar idea. With its fascinating characters, gorgeous scenery and unusual special effects, Inkheart comes across as much more exciting. Because of a few editing problems, it’s not a perfect film. But it’s definitely an entertaining one, especially for fantasy fans.

Fraser portrays Mo Folchart, an antiquarian book doctor with a young daughter called Meggie (Eliza Bennett). Meggie doesn’t know how her mother (Sienna Guillory) disappeared nor why her father keeps searching for a book titled Inkheart. And she’s very surprised when someone refers to her dad as “Silvertongue.” Why that name? Because his readings can result in unleashing characters from their bound pages.

After discovering that her father accidentally caused her mother to vanish into a book while several other characters escaped into the real world, Meggie joins him on a journey to rectify the situation. Along to help are Dustfinger (Paul Bettany, simply wonderful as a fiery character who wants to go back into the same book now housing Meggie’s mother), spunky Aunt Elinor (Helen Mirren), Arabian Nights refugee Farid (Rafi Gavron), and surprised author Fenoglio (Jim Broadbent).

Unfortunately, some of the characters now enjoying life in the real world prefer to remain where they are. Heading up that group is the evil Capricorn (Andy Serkis) who wants to use Silvertongue’s powers for his own diabolical plans. Will Mo, Meggie and their friends prevent this from happening? We certainly hope so!

Still, I’m happy nothing gets resolved until we see L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz add a few contributions to the fun as well as fairytale characters like Rapunzel make an appearance and The Madwoman of Chaillot referenced in one brief scene.

As an avid reader, it warmed my heart to see Helen Mirren deliver such a spirited performance as an ardent lover of books. When Aunt Elinor discovers the vandalism done to her library, Mirren manages to project such dismay and sadness, I wanted to rage and cry right along with her character.

Despite choppy editing which makes it hard to see what’s happening in a couple of scenes, Inkheart represents quality filmmaking. Iain Softley (The Skeleton Key) deftly directs from David Lindsay-Abaire’s excellent adaptation of German author Cornelia Funke’s popular young adult novel. I understand this is the first offering in an Inkheart trilogy. If so, color me hooked.

(Released by Warner Bros. Pictures and rated “PG” for fantasy adventure action, some scary moments and brief language.)

For more information about Inkheart, go to the Internet Movie Data Base or Rotten Tomatoes website.

Townfoolery
by Betty Jo Tucker

How did Lucy Hill become a top-level business executive? As portrayed by Renée Zellweger in New in Town, this ambitious Miami resident is so clueless she doesn’t even know it gets very, very cold in Minnesota during the winter. After volunteering to oversee the downsizing of a plant in a small Minnesota town, Lucy takes lots of baggage with her — but wears the flimsiest of jackets when she gets off the plane. And that’s just the beginning of her mistakes. As soon as she arrives, she treats the townspeople who work for her like they were dirt. Did Lucy miss the company’s human relations training?

I’ve admired Renee Zellweger’s work in films like Cold Mountain, Down with Love, Leatherheads and Bridget Jones’s Diary, but her portrayal of Lucy Hill in this fish-out-of-water comedy disappoints me. Still, perhaps I should blame the script instead of the actress. Her character seems so doggone unbelievable! Lucy changes from cold and stupid to warm and smart practically overnight. She wears the highest heels imaginable, goes through too many supposedly funny (not!) scenes such as trouble urinating while on a hunting jaunt and getting drunk after her car plows into a snow bank. Would Meryl Streep or Angelina Jolie or Kate Winslet do any better acting when faced with such drivel? Probably not.

Mostly because of a lead character like Lucy, it’s not easy to warm up to this unpleasant romcom. Co-star Harry Connick Jr. (Bug) manages to amp up the temperature a bit, but it’s not enough to save New in Town. Connick plays the union representative who falls for the boss lady. Unfortunately, the chemistry between this mismatched couple fails to ignite the screen, and their attempts at humorous dialogue fall as flat as most of my baking experiments.

Another serious problem with New in Town involves the exaggerated Fargo-like accents adopted by supporting cast members. This is a movie crying out for sub-titles! Even the amazing J.K. Simmons (Burn After Reading), who portrays the plant foreman, is hard to understand.  However, Siobhan Fallon (Baby Mama) stands out in her secretarial/tapioca-maker role. Her expressive face telegraphs much more than her words, especially when she displays enthusiasm for creating scrapbooks.

New in Town had the potential to be a comedy about an important issue during troubled economic times. Instead, it ends up as a failed lampoon of women executives and small town culture.

But to close on a positive note – the movie’s snow scenes look very real. Brrr.

(Released by Lionsgate and rated “PG” for language and some suggestive material.)

For more information about this movie, go to the Internet Movie Data Base or Rotten Tomatoes website.

Betty Jo Tucker is a member of the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) and the San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS). She  teaches an online class, “The Reel Deal: Writing about Movies” for the LSS School of Writing and has published three movie-related books including CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT, an amusing memoir about her life at the movies. Betty Jo serves as the editor/lead film critic for ReelTalk Movie Reviews and hosts a weekly radio show, “Movie Addict Headquarters,” for BlogTalkRadio. She also writes monthly film commentary for the Colorado Senior Beacon.  For more information, please go to www.BettyJoTucker.com ..

Where the Dogs Are
by Betty Jo Tucker

Hotel for Dogs Movie Review

Canine charmers fill the screen in Hotel for Dogs, but the heartwarming relationship between a brother and sister gives this movie fantasy its greatest appeal. Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin steal the show as siblings placed with foster parents more interested in themselves than in the welfare of their charges. These two young actors deliver endearing performances and make us care deeply about the characters they play.

Andi (Roberts) and Bruce (Austin) try their best to hide their dog Friday from the Scudders, the latest foster couple they’ve been assigned to live with. It’s not easy, for Friday even sneaks bacon right off the counter behind Mrs. Scudder’s (Lisa Kudrow) back. Thankfully, the mutt is quick – but Andi and Bruce fear it won’t be long before Friday will be discovered. They have to find a good home for their beloved pet. Friday himself, however, discovers an old hotel where a couple of other dogs have been hanging out. The place turns into a godsend for canines, especially after the inventive Bruce designs areas and contraptions any dog would love. Unfortunately, even with help from three other youngsters (Johnny Simmons, Kyla Pratt and Troy Gentile), Andi and Bruce may not be able to save the 30 animals who come to reside in their doggie hotel. But, oh how we want them to succeed!

Roberts (Nancy Drew) and Austin (The Perfect Game) excel at showing their characters’ strong feelings and support for each other here. Sixteen-year-old Andi looks out for 11-year-old Bruce and vice-versa. And they don’t want to be separated. It’s refreshing not to be bombarded with the hostility between brother and sister we’ve been exposed to in many other movies and television shows. Andi and Bruce emege as excellent role models for kids: they help each other out while rescuing dogs and creating a loving family they so desperately want.

Dogs of many breeds, shapes and sizes appear in this entertaining comedy – and even the scruffiest ones look adorable. Not surprisingly, they perform impeccably. Called upon for such stunts as sitting quietly at a dinner table, fetching objects tossed by a strange invention, running frantically through the streets, howling and barking on cue, and so forth, these canny canines bring excitement and humor to their scenes.

Among the human supporting cast, Don Cheadle (Crash) and Kevin Dillon (Poseidon) stand out as a caring Social Services worker and an uncaring foster father, respectively. Cheadle exudes warmth in every sequence with the lead youngsters, whereas Dillon comes across as a first-class jerk – exactly what his funny role requires.

Directed with a generally spirited pace by Thor Freudenthal (Motel) from a clever screenplay adaptation of Lois Duncan’s book by Jeff Lowell (Over Her Dead Body), Robert Schooley (Sky High) and Mark McCorkle (Sky High also), Hotel for Dogs earns a “Best in Show” family award from me.

(Released by Paramount Pictures and rated “PG” for brief mild thematic elements, language and some crude humor.)

For more information about this film, please go to the Internet Movie Database or Rotten Tomatoes website.

Betty Jo Tucker is a member of the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) and the San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS). She  teaches an online class, “The Reel Deal: Writing about Movies” for the LSS School of Writing and has published three movie-related books including CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT, an amusing memoir about her life at the movies. Betty Jo serves as the editor/lead film critic for ReelTalk Movie Reviews and hosts a weekly radio show, “Movie Addict Headquarters,” for BlogTalkRadio. She also writes monthly film commentary for the Colorado Senior Beacon.  For more information, please go to www.BettyJoTucker.com ..

Don’t Mess with Walt
by Betty Jo Tucker

Gran Tourino Movie with Clint Eastwood

When Clint Eastwood makes a film about bigotry, he hits hard. Gran Torino pulls no punches in terms of language, prejudiced attitudes and violence. Fortunately, director Eastwood tempers all this with humor. And actor Eastwood delivers a stunning performance as an angry old man who slowly begins to question his negative ideas about other ethnic groups, especially his Hmong neighbors.

Walt Kowalski (Eastwood) finds little joy in life — other than owning a 1972 Gran Torino. His wife of many years has just died; he’s practically estranged from his adult sons; and the cultural make-up of his neighborhood has changed too much in ways he doesn’t like at all. Walt sits on his front porch with his faithful old dog, mows his little patch of lawn, gripes about everything, and peppers his conversations with more derogatory racial comments than Archie Bunker at his worst.

Because of a set of circumstances involving gang harassment of a teenage boy from the house next door, Walt ends up reluctantly taking 16-year-old Thao (Bee Vang) under his wing. While supervising the lad as he does odd jobs around the house, Walt can’t help becoming interested in Thao and his family. In fact, it’s quite amusing to watch the almost father/son-like relationship that develops between these very different individuals. Thao’s sister Sue (portrayed by the amazing Ahney Her), who won’t give up on Walt, plays an important part in helping her elderly neighbor change his opinion about her family. Unfortunately, those gang members won’t give up either. Their violent actions continue, so Walt must decide how to handle this situation.

My colleague Diana Saenger calls Walt Kowalski “Dirty Harry on Geritol”– which seems like an excellent description of Eastwood’s character in this intense drama. Exuding the same kind of “take no prisoners” demeanor, Walt also knows something about gunplay. He’s a Korean war veteran, owns an M-1 rifle and plenty of ammunition. I definitely would not mess with him or his property.

Why do we care so much about Walt? He’s not a lovable guy, for sure. Would we be interested in what happens to him if anyone other than Eastwood played this character? I’ve been thinking about these two questions ever since seeing Gran Torino. My conclusion? We care deeply for Walt because Eastwood pulls out all the stops to give us an honest portrait of a basically good man who’s the victim of his age and time. He’s set in his ways, but not immune to human emotion nor to wanting justice and caring about others, regardless of cultural differences — despite the offensive language he constantly utters.

With Gran Torino, Clint Eastwood made my day. It’s a memorable film, one belonging on the list with his  other impressive offerings such as The Unforgiven, Mystic River, Changeling, Play Misty for Me, Bronco Billy (I’m not kidding!) and Letters from Iwo Jima.

(Released by Warner Bros. and rated “R” for language throughout, and some violence.)

For more information about Gran Torino, please go to the Internet Movie Data Base or Rotten Tomatoes website.

Betty Jo Tucker is a member of the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS) and the San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS). She  teaches an online class, “The Reel Deal: Writing about Movies” for the LSS School of Writing and has published three movie-related books including CONFESSIONS OF A MOVIE ADDICT, an amusing memoir about her life at the movies. Betty Jo serves as the editor/lead film critic for ReelTalk Movie Reviews and hosts a weekly radio show, “Movie Addict Headquarters,” for BlogTalkRadio. She also writes monthly film commentary for the Colorado Senior Beacon.  For more information, please go to www.BettyJoTucker.com ..