Nov 4 - Review Round-Up (Fast Five, Horrible Bosses and more)

FAST FIVE – B-

Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson

After sputtering on empty for the last few films, the Fast franchise gets some extra muscle here with the addition of Johnson to the cast. Director Justin Lin also has more fun with the set-pieces than before, allowing the destruction to overshadowing the lumbering dialogue and performances. 

HORRIBLE BOSSES – B

Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis, Jennifer Aniston

A clever blend of 9 to 5 and Throw Momma From the Train, with three friends plotting to kill their bosses. Though Colin Farrell’s role is too small, most of the laughs are generated by the evil superiors, with Aniston in particular offering an uproarious performance as a nympho dentist. 

 

ROOMMATE, THE – D

Minka Kelly, Leighton Meester, Cam Gigandet

No one was really clamoring for a remake / rip-off of 1992’s Single White Female, but we got one anyways with this achingly awful thriller about a pyscho college student and her dorm mate. Watching the ridiculousness unfold, you just feel embarrassed for everyone involved.

JUST GO WITH IT – C-

Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Brooklyn Decker

No matter what you may think of Aniston’s post-Friends career choices, one thing is clear: She is definitely the best part of this unfocused and limp romantic comedy, bringing sparkle to even the most tired dialogue and lame set-ups. It’s not enough to save the rest of the film, but it helps.

RED RIDING HOOD – D+

Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Virginia Madsen

Hood director Catherine Hardwicke also brought us the first Twilight film, so you can excuse her for trying to tap into the same gothic romance vein as that successful series. What you cannot excuse her for is such a dreadfully serious and clumsy interpretation of the classic kids’ story.

CEDAR RAPIDS – B-

Ed Helms, John C. Reilly, Anne Heche

Imagine a milder version of The 40-Year-Old Virgin and you’ll have Cedar Rapids, a moderately engaging comedy about a small town insurance salesman who gets shaken upside down by a trip to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. It’s all fairly pleasant, but not particularly memorable.

MECHANIC, THE – C

Jason Statham, Ben Foster, Tony Goldwyn

In this remake of a 1972 Charles Brosnan film, Statham plays yet another hitman who gets double crossed and must clear his name. Where it all gets silly instead of just repetitive is when Statham brings in an apprentice and seems to teach him everything he knows in just 10 minutes.