The 11th Hour (2007)

The 11th Hour is an environmental documentary produced, written, and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio. In between DiCaprio's inspired speeches on sweeping vistas are interviews with many politicians, environmental activists, and scientists.

They have interesting information to share - such as the estimate that it'd take $35 trillion to replace nature (although we're not sure how that'd work, we do know it's nearly twice the amount of all the world economies in 2007). They tell us that for each truckload of products made, 32 truckloads of waste are also produced. In a study, kids could recognize 1,000 corporate logos but less than 10 local plants or animals.

They have an encouraging yet practical perspective. They acknowledge that there's "no milage in telling people they're making the wrong choices" and that the consumption is not bad but rather it's the fact that it's gotten so out of balance that's the problem. They have ideas for solutions. One being biomimicry, which seems like the ultimate poetic justice - saving the earth with ideas from nature. A biomimicry idea already put into practice is adding small bumps to paint. These bumps stop dirt from settling so rain can easily run it off, making buildings self-cleaning. The idea was derived from an observation about the petals of a lotus.

Overall there's a lot of information to digest and there's where the film runs into some problems. While the editing is well done, it's still too much to take in at once and too high-level to reach and inspire the masses. Aside from the aforementioned DiCaprio vista speeches, the visuals are minimal and much of the stock footage looks dated. Not to mention several of the experts have nearly monotone speech patterns. Solutions for the environment that are already in process are flashed upon the screen but they aren't discussed, leaving the viewer feeling like they're just concepts instead of steps in the right direction.

While full of knowledge, thoughtfulness, and good intentions the 11th Hour doesn't have enough appeal to inspire the masses to rise up and save the world.

Rating: 2.5/5
Recommended for: Segmented viewing

Adventureland (2009)

While listening to a radio interview with Adventureland's director Greg Mottola, his enthusiasm about making this movie was so endearing I decided to watch.

Greg, I feel played.

It's supposed to be a comedy set in 1987 about a guy who is forced to abandon his plans of a touring Europe before heading off to college and take up a job at an amusement park for the summer instead. Unfortunately pretty much all the funny parts are in the trailer and they're provided by Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig. While highly entertaining, Hader and Wiig seem to be in a different movie than everyone else. Everyone else is in a movie about disappointment and people using other people. Hader and Wiig are in a movie about a wacky, run-down amusement park.

The other actors in it, namely Jesse Eisenberg as the lead, Kristen Stewart as the co-worker on whom he develops a crush, and Ryan Reynolds as the amusement park's handyman, all do fine. Mottola's crew did a great job with the set they made out of the real Kennywood Park. But in the end, it's just not an appealing story and it's definitely not what the poster makes you think you're going to watch.

Rating: 2/5
Recommended for: People nostalgic about working in an amusement park

Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

If it was done in a town you passed through, it was hard to miss the quasi-guerilla marketing campaign of Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Billboards, taxi-tops, bus sides and bus stops had signs meant to look hand-written with phrases like "I'm so over you, Sarah Marshall." and "You do look fat in those jeans, Sarah Marshall." It was different enough to pique my curiosity. When I found out it was written by Jason Segel my curiosity only grew.

Segel also plays the main character of Peter Bretter in this story based on some of his own relationship experiences. Peter is the composer for a tv show called Crime Scene: Scene of the Crime - a show on which his girlfriend Sarah Marshall (Kristen Bell) just happens to be the star. Peter's considering proposing to Sarah when she suddenly dumps him.

He takes off for Hawaii to cope but it turns out Sarah is staying at the same hotel with her new boyfriend, rock star Aldous Snow (hilariously played by British comedian Russell Brand). Luckily Peter finds a sympathetic ally in front desk worker Rachel Jansen (Mila Kunis).

Antics ensue and it's hard to say much more without giving too many surprises away. Peter's a bit goofy but he's easy to root for because he obviously has a big heart. And the smattering of well-known faces (Paul Rudd, Jack McBrayer, Bill Hader, Jason Bateman, William Baldwin, Kristen Wiig...) in small roles sliding in and out of the picture definitely help keep things lively. There are plenty of silly and/or adult humor moments, but the film doesn't totally rely on them to be entertaining.

Rating: 4/5
Recommended for: Adults who need a good laugh and a cheap trip to Hawaii.

Rachel Getting Married (2008)

Jenny Lumet wrote a heartbreaking story in her first script to be filmed. While the Rachel of the title is not the main character, the film is about what old feelings are stirred up in a family by the event of Rachel's wedding. Kym, Rachel's sister, is on leave from rehab - a place she's been in and out of for the past ten years.

Rachel is immediately upset by how much their father dotes on Kym while Kym is upset than Rachel's chosen someone else to be her maid of honor. Then there's their mother who has clearly been more concerned with her own well-being than that of her daughters for awhile.

Besides a heartfelt story, what sets this movie apart is the depths to which everyone involved went to make it. Director Jonathan Demme had more than one camera filming at all times. Camera operators and sound people would wander in and out of the groups of people, but also in and out of rooms in the house. It's so refreshing to have a character storm out of a room and have the camera not only actually follow her, but do so from behind so it's like we're there trying to chase after her. It's not just a house standing in for a set. It opens the setting up and makes it all the more real. It also opens up the characters.

Every actor and extra had to be "on" at all times because they often didn't know if they were in some way part of a scene or not when they were on set. This technique seemed to especially benefit Anne Hathaway in playing Kym. Her work here blows away everything she's done before it. She proves she can go beyond the silly comedy and Disney fare to deliver a character who has definite flaws and has done unlikeable things but somehow remains someone you could feel something for other than distaste. The Oscar nomination was well-deserved. But overall this was an outstanding ensemble success from both the cast and crew. It may not be the best movie to watch when you're already feeling down, but it has its smiles along with the tears.

Rating: 5/5
Recommended for: Anyone looking for a refreshing take on what a film can be.

Failure to Launch (2006)

It's very difficult to not start this review with the phrase "failure to make a good movie". See? I couldn't not do it.

Tripp (Matthew McConaughey) is in his mid-30s and refuses to move out of his parents' house despite having a steady job, a nice car, and plenty of friends. So his parents hire Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker) to "launch" him into his own life. Apparently Paula does this for a living. It, unsurprisingly, must not be a consistent, in-demand job since she lives in a small place with her stereotypically-odd-Zooey-Deschanel roommate character. So Paula embarks on her tested plan to seduce and manipulate Tripp.

Surprise! Things don't go according to plan!
Surprise! Paula and Tripp may actually like each other!
Surprise! People find out the truth and get upset with each other!

Oh wait. Those aren't surprises at all. They're forced, unrealistic, formulaic "comedy". There's nothing here you haven't seen before and no added value to those overplayed elements. This endeavor even has no less than three incidents of animals attacking people - an event that's become commonplace in so many romantic comedies lately. It's cheap comedy with limited appeal. Some people might laugh the first time but does a biting dolphin really add value to your comedy quotient?

This is the type of movie people think of when you say "romantic comedy". I find that unfortunate. But if you like to have seen a movie before you've actually seen it, it may be comforting.

Rating: 1/5
Recommended for: Those who hate surprises and love McConaughey.