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 Intolerable
Cruelty (3 out of 5 stars)
Universal Pictures/ Release Date: February 10
After
an unfortunate not-so-funny opening sequence, Intolerable Cruelty
turns into a very funny and very charming romantic comedy—even
if it does lack some zing.
George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones are both fantastic and have
some great chemistry. Clooney plays a divorce lawyer who becomes
enamoured with one of his client’s ex-wives. Zeta-Jones is
a gold-digger who is on the lookout for the next, rich thing.
Directed by the Coen brothers, this movie does not seem to have
the same energy and intelligence as some of their others, including
their previous Clooney vehicle, Oh Brother Where Art Thou. While
there are some genuinely funny parts, others are just, well…boring.
Zeta-Jones’s character is pretty much how I envision her in
real life: superficial and manipulative. The character of Wheezy
Joe is fabulous, as is Clooney’s legal assistant. Bernie Mac
makes an appearance, but since I’m not a fan of his, he just
annoyed me every time he spoke.
Intolerable Cruelty is not a masterpiece; it’s not particularly
witty or creative. But there are some good laughs and if you’re
into romantic comedies that might be all you’re looking for. |
 The
Lion King 11/2 (3 out of 5 stars)
Disney/ Release Date: February 10
Even wonder
what the first line in the opening song to The Lion King
was? According to Timon it was “Whaaaaa-aaat’s on the
menu?”
This is just a taste of the behind-the-scenes info you’ll
find in The Lion King 1 ½, a new straight-to-video
flick from the people at Disney.
One of their better movies to come out straight to video lately,
this film features all of the original voices back again and introduces
some new ones. We meet Timon’s family, including his mother,
who is voiced by the same woman who does Marge on The Simpsons.
So Timon’s mother sounds exactly like Marge on The Simpsons.
A little distracting, I must say.
The story follows Timon and Pumba and tells their side of the story
while Simba was doing his thing. The scene where all the animals
bow down as the monkey holds Simba up on pride rock? They were bowing
for a completely different reason.
These little details are cute and sometimes even quite clever, but
they don’t make up for the films lack of originality and tediousness.
Timon and Pumba are sitting there, watching their lives play out
on video and continuously pause and make cracks in what can only
be an attempt to draw the film out to an hour and a half. These
interruptions ruin the film, which could have been much more interesting
and palpable without them.
But they’re there and simply seem like a cheap way to get
laughs and introduce information. The Lion King 1 ½
will no doubt amuse your 5-year-old niece, but if you’re looking
for the quality of The Lion King, go back to the original.
|
 Under
The Tuscan Sun (4 out of 5 stars)
Touchstone Pictures/ Release Date: February 3
Without
Diane Lane, Under The Tuscan Sun would probably have been
a huge bore. Thankfully, her enthralling presence turns the film
into an entertaining journey into one woman’s search for herself.
Fulfilling many a woman’s fantasy, Lane ditches her depressing
life in the city and buys a villa in Tuscany. There she meets a
fantastic group of characters as she tries to make her home liveable
and adjust to living in a country where she doesn’t even speak
the language.
This movie is not realistic. It’s touched with magic and fantasy
and I think that’s wonderful. The scenery is astounding and
the romance Lane has with a handsome Italian is bittersweet.
One thing I particularly liked about this film is the trio that
comes into Lane’s villa to do construction. It consists of
three Polish men, and is probably the first time I have seen a Polish
person in a movie where they are shown as intelligent, having a
sense of humour and not partaking in a World War.
If you’re looking for a little escapism, this charming movie
with its feel-good story is just what the doctor ordered. |
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Past
Reviews:
- January
'04:
- Open
Range
- Johnny
English
- Bring
It On Again
- American
Wedding
- Underworld
- Lizzie
MacGuire
-
- December
'03:
- Seabiscuit
- Freaky
Friday
- Pirates
of the Caribbean
- Alias:
Season 2
- November
'03:
- Bruce
Almighty
- The
Santa Clause 2
- Eloise
at the Plaza
- Legally
Blonde 2: Red White and Blonde
- Finding
Nemo
- Babe:
The Complete Adventures
- Casper
- October
'03:
- Charlie's
Angels: Full Throttle
- The
Lion King
-
- September
'03:
- Identity
- Sleeping
Beauty
- Alias:
Season 1
- August
'03:
- The
Lizzie McGuire Movie
- Final
Destination 2
-
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