Friday movie roundup - Aug. 10
Let us pause to appreciate Michelle Pfeiffer. She did not appear onscreen for five years, from 2002’s “White Oleander” until this summer. And now, suddenly, she is in two of the most genuinely delightful movies of the year — “Hairspray” and “Stardust,” which opens today.
“Stardust” is a lot of fun all the way through, and Pfeiffer — as a witch who we see in various stages of ugliness — is fantastic. Her role in “Hairspray” is small and tasty; in “Stardust,” it’s bigger and even tastier. Also, not for nothin’, but she’s 49 years old and looks gorgeous. Hooray for Michelle Pfeiffer!
Boo, meanwhile, for Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan in “Rush Hour 3″! Tucker has literally not done a single thing since “Rush Hour 2,” a full six years ago. What drew him out of seclusion? A great script? Of course not. It was his $20 million paycheck and a deal promising him 20 percent of the movie’s profits. There might be someone, somewhere in the world who does a job worthy of $20 million, but I’m pretty sure a guy recycling Eddie Murphy’s “Beverly Hills Cop” shtick isn’t him.
Jackie Chan, for his part, continues to not speak English very well.
“Daddy Day Camp” opened Wednesday and I don’t wish to discuss it.
Finally, “Skinwalkers” opens today after having its release date pushed back a couple times, and after not being screened for critics. It’s about werewolves. How many red flags do you need? If only they’d used Michelle Pfeiffer! We’ll have a review later.
All of this and more is in “In the Dark,” the weekly e-mail that I send out to nice folks such as yourselves. It’s also in the “In the Dark” podcast, which you can listen to here or subscribe to here.
August 10th, 2007 at 9:48 am
Any chance that Becoming Jane is going to be reviewed? Curious as to your reaction.
August 10th, 2007 at 10:04 am
I’m guessing that a person’s reaction to “Becoming Jane” will depend to a great extent on that person’s gender. The movie’s marketers seem to have realized this fact, and don’t even seem to be trying to make the film seem appealing to guys.
In fact, I saw an ad for the movie that included the quote, “Guys, take your girl to this movie - she’ll love you for it!” They neglect to tell the guy how bored he’ll be when he does so. But then, it’s a chick flick, and a guy has endure them occasionally to keep the peace.
August 10th, 2007 at 10:22 am
Well, despite being a chick flick, I would still like to know if the movie is any good. Stardust could be considered a chick flick, but was made well. So Eric any news on Becoming Jane??
August 10th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
It will be a good chick flick if the chicks in question can still stand Anne Hathaway. I’m sick to death of her and I wish I could stop seeing her face repeatedly on my TV.
August 10th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Nah, “Stardust” isn’t a chick flick. It has too much magic and swordfights and Robert DeNiro to be a chick flick.
September 9th, 2007 at 11:17 am
Stardust has Robert DeNiro in it, but he is a cross dressing homosexual. Chick Flick.