Weekly Roundup - Opening 1/16

There are five movies opening up this week, and Defiance is also going from a limited to a wide release, so that makes six. When breaking these down, we've got two must-skips in Hotel for Dogs and Paul Blart: Mall Cop, a not-nearly-as-large-as-the-main-character bio flick in Notorious, a could-be-entertaining-if-you're-in-the-right-mood slasher in My Bloody Valentine 3D, and finally, the likable characters of Last Change Harvey.

Weekend Suggestion:

Last Chance Harvey is the pick from this week's crop, not only by default, but also because nobody, and I mean nobody, can ever get enough Dustin Hoffman.

Paul Blart: Mall Cop

Movie Info

Directed by: Steve Carr (Daddy Day Care, Are We Done Yet?)
Written by: Sreenplay: Kevin James (The King of Queens (TV)) & Nick Bakay (Sabrina the Teenage Witch (TV))
Starring: Kevin James (The King of Queens (TV), Hitch), Keir O'Donnell (Pathology, Sons of Anarchy (TV))
Genre: Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG - for some violence, mild crude and suggestive humor, and language
Runtime: 87 minutes

Reviews

RottenTomatoes Score: 28% Fresh
MetaCritic Score: 41/100
IMDB Rating: 5.5/10
My Response: I think this teaser clip that was released online a few months ago about Paul Blart: Mall Cop says a lot about the movie. I can sum it all up in three...okay two...words: Not Funny. This looks to be the worst comedy since, well, a very long long time ago. Skip it and hope Kevin James didn't sign some deal like Rob Schneider did a few years ago that let me put out crap film after crap film after crap film.

Trailer



Official Website

My Bloody Valentine 3D

Movie Info

Directed by: Patrick Lussier (Dracula 2000, White Noise 2)
Written by: Screenplay: Todd Farmer (Jason X) & Zane Smith (film writing debut)
Starring: Jensen Ackles (Supernatural (TV), Smallville (TV)), Jamie King (Sin City, Pearl Harbor), Kerr Smith (Cruel Intentions 3, Justice (TV))
Genre: Horror
MPAA Rating: R - for graphic brutal horror violence and grisly images throughout, some strong sexuality, graphic nudity and language
Runtime: 101 minutes

Reviews

RottenTomatoes Score: 57% Fresh
MetaCritic Score: 54/100
IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
My Response: The trailer ends with "Nothing says 'Date Movie' more than a 3D ride to hell." I can't disagree or even come close to improving upon this line, but I can add some background info. This is based on a cult classic of the same name from the early 80's, and hopefully it's a good throwback to good ol' slasher films of young, hot, scantly clad humans getting slasherized. Rent it.

Trailer



Official Website

Hotel for Dogs

Movie Info

Directed by: Thor Freudenthal (Motel)
Written by: Lois Duncan (book), Jeff Lowell, Robert Schooley, & Mark McCorkle (screenplay)
Starring: Emma Roberts (Nancy Drew, Wild Child), Jake T. Austin (The Ant Bully, Everybody's Hero), Lisa Kudrow (Friends, Romy and Michele's High School Reunion)
Genre: Family/Comedy
MPAA Rating: PG - for brief mild thematic elements, language and some crude humor
Runtime: 100 minutes

Reviews

RottenTomatoes Score: 44% Fresh
MetaCritic Score: 51/100
IMDB Rating: 4.2/10
My Response: I will start off by telling you the absolute best thing about this movie: the director's name is Thor. Thor?!? Really Thor's parents? You're going to do that to him?? Oh well, skip his movie.

Trailer



Official Website

Last Chance Harvey

Movie Info

Directed by: Joel Hopkins (Jump Tomorrow, Jorge)
Written by: Joel Hopkins (Jump Tomorrow, Jorge)
Starring: Dustin Hoffman (The Graduate, Rain Man), Emma Thompson (Love Actually, Stranger Then Fiction)
Genre: Drama/Romance
MPAA Rating: PG-13 - for brief strong language
Runtime: 92 minutes

Reviews

RottenTomatoes Score: 74% Fresh
MetaCritic Score: 60/100
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
My Response: After watching the trailer for this film, it's hard to not know what happens throughout the entire picture, but it's also easy to see how likable the two main characters are, so the journey they go on should still be fun. Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson provide entertaining performances, and have great chemistry together. I'd recommend at least renting this one.

Trailer



Official Website