This week at the movies we have zombies ("28 Weeks Later," starring Robert Carlyle), family conflict ("Georgia Rule," with Lindsay Lohan and Jane Fonda), office hijinks ("The Ex," starring Zach Braff and Amanda Peet), and military mishaps ("Delta Farce," starring Larry the Cable Guy). What do the critics have to say?
Taking place six months after the original, "28 Weeks Later" opens with American troops cleaning up England, positive all the zombies are dead and the rage virus is no more. Or is it…?! Though it lacks the humanism that made "28 Days Later" a classic, the scribes are giving high marks for "28 Weeks"’ fantastic atmosphere and Juan Carlos Fresnadillo’s punchy direction. At 69 percent Tomatometer (and a surprising 83 percent from the Cream of the Crop), horror buffs may want to make "Weeks" their weekend destination.
Panic on the streets on London!
Art imitates life once again: Lindsay Lohan stars in "Georgia Rule" as a rebellious teen heading towards trouble. But rehab and paparazzi are replaced with bucolic farmlands and Jane Fonda, who plays the tough grandmother who takes Lohan under her wing for some attitude readjustment. Critics concede Lohan does a fine job, but none of the characters emerge beyond stereotypes and the direction is pedestrian. With its uninviting 20 percent Tomatometer, stay out of "Georgia."
"I’m not adequite today."
Zach Braff stars in "The Ex" as a slacker relocating from New York to Ohio for a new job who’s then at the mercy of a sadistic boss (Jason Bateman) — who happens to be one of his wife’s old flames (Amanda Peet). The critics argue that the film is unbalanced, with not enough laughs to compensate for the dark elements. And Braff and his co-stars come off as either unsympathetic or plain unpleasant. At 24 percent Tomatometer, "Ex" does not mark the spot.
"Congratulations. You’ve just welcomed a beautiful, healthy movie prop into the world."
With no press screenings, critics were denied the graceful presence of Larry the Cable Guy and his new film, "Delta Farce." Mr. Cable Guy plays a military recruit who, with two other bumbling soldiers, is mistakenly cast off in Mexico en route to Fallujah, Iraq. Git-r-done and guess That Tomatometer.
Larry the Cable Guy, with hat on fire.
Also opening in limited release: "Brand Upon the Brain!," a bizarre autobiographical horror movie from Guy Maddin, is at 92 percent; "I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone," a neorealistic drama from Malaysia, is at 91 percent; "Day Night Day Night," "ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway," a chronicle of the 2003-2004 Broadway season, is at 86 percent; a minimalist film about suicide bombers, is at 71 percent; "The Hip Hop Project," a documentary about a teens using hip-hop for social progress, is at 64 percent; "Allegro," an ambitious Danish sci-fi flick, is at 62 percent; "Provoked," the recent true story of a woman’s fight for civil rights, is at 50 percent, "The Salon," the oft-delayed comedy from "Barbershop" creator Mark Brown, is at 20 percent.
Scenes from "Leapfrog! The Musical!"
Recent Lindsay Lohan Movies:
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27% — Chapter 27 (2007)
14% — Just My Luck (2006)
41% — Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005)
13% — Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004)
85% — Mean Girls (2004)"
