"Lucky You," a dramedy set in the high-stakes world of professional poker (starring Eric Bana and Drew Barrymore), is one of this week’s two new wide releases. But when the other one features Tobey Maguire in red spandex ("Spider-Man 3," also starring Kirsten Dunst), what more do you really need? And how do the critics feel about it?
After a three year wait, a budget approaching $300 million, and about that many Internet rumors and news postings, the wait is over: "Spider-Man 3" is here. The third installment finds Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) wrestling with a bevy of problems: an angry best friend (James Franco), a man made of sand (Thomas Haden Church), a slimy nemesis (Topher Grace), and an unhappy fiancée (Kirsten Dunst). Though critics are still wowed by Sam Raimi’s action sequences and clever mix of comedy and melodrama, some say it’s overstuffed and lacks the emotional punch of the first two Spidey flicks. At 64 percent on the Tomatometer (and a rotten 45 percent among Cream of the Crop critics), this "Spider-Man" isn’t totally amazing.
"Do you have any tape? ‘Cuz I am ripped!"
America is currently obsessed with Texas Hold ‘Em, so, with that in mind, Curtis Hanson has anted up the poker drama "Lucky You." Eric Bana stars as professional gambler Huck Cheever, a commitment-challenged goof who’s good at bluffing but terrible at the game of lurve. The pundits say "Lucky" is dramatically inert, lacking insight into neither the world of cards nor relationships, and they’re not sure what to make of Drew Barrymore, who doesn’t have much to do with her role. At 41 percent Tomatometer, "Lucky" is cursed.
"UNO!"
Also opening in limited release: "Waitress," the final dramedy from the late Adrienne Shelley, is at 91 percent on the Tomatometer; "Away From Her," a love story about Alzheimer’s from actress-cum-director Sarah Polley, is at 89 percent ; "Paris, Je T’aime," an anthology of short films about the City of Lights featuring at least one director you like, is at 73 percent; "Civic Duty," a thriller dealing with timely issues of paranoia and terrorism, is at 77 percent (check out RT’s interview with star Peter Krause); "The Treatment," a rom-com starring Chris Eigeman and Famke Janssen, has 71 percent; and "The Flying Scotsman," a biopic about Scottish cyclist Graeme Obree, is at 38 percent.
Paris, living up to its City of Lights moniker.
And before we forget any further, props must be given to ManofStee1 and returning member -eternity- for coming closest to guessing "Kickin’ It Old Skool"’s percentage in last week’s Guess That Tomatometer game. And for "The Invisible," mizzoucritic came closest to guessing its 23 percent Tomatometer.
Recent Sam Raimi Movies:
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93% — Spider-Man 2 (2004)
90% — Spider-Man (2002)
57% — The Gift (2001)
66% — For Love of the Game (1999)
93% — A Simple Plan (1998)
