Critics Consensus

Critics Consensus: G.I. Joe: Retaliation Hits a Roadblock

Plus, The Host lacks soul, and Temptation wasn't screened -- guess the Tomatometer!

by | March 29, 2013 | Comments

This week at the movies, we’ve got real American heroes (G.I. Joe: Retaliation, starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Channing Tatum); body snatchers (The Host, starring Saoirse Ronan and Diane Kruger); and a passionate marriage counselor (Temptation, starring Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Lance Gross). What do critics have to say?

G.I. Joe: Retaliation

29%

The Joes are back, but not necessarily better than ever, in G.I. Joe: Retaliation, which critics say boasts a couple strong action set pieces but mostly traffics in frenetic, logic-free plotting and mayhem. This time out, Cobra shape-shifter Zartan has occupied the White House, and Cobra Commander has escaped from prison, so it’s up to Roadblock (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) and the rest of the Joes to save the world from chaos. The pundits say G.I. Joe: Retaliation is essentially a loud, over-the-top cartoon that might get your adrenaline pumping but is unlikely to stimulate your intellect. (Check out this week’s Total Recall, in which we run down memorable movies based on toys and games.)

The Host

10%

Now that The Twilight Saga has concluded, Hollywood needs new Stephenie Meyer works to bring to the big screen. Unfortunately, critics say The Host does not make a good first impression, squandering a strong cast on a dull, poorly-paced sci-fi rehash. Aliens inhabit the bodies of earthlings, but a headstrong teenager named Melanie (Saoirse Ronan) refuses to let her mental faculties be overpowered before she locates and helps her loved ones. The pundits say The Host lacks even the goony passion of the Twilight movies, and the result is a supernatural bore. (Check out this week’s 24 Frames for a gallery of films about alien possession, as well as our video interviews with members of The Host‘s cast.)

Temptation

Tyler Perry‘s films are rarely screened prior to their release in theaters, and Temptation is no exception. Jurnee Smollett-Bell stars as a marriage counselor whose dissatisfaction with her own marriage pushes her into an affair with a tech mogul; ethical and emotional complications ensue. Time to guess the Tomatometer!

Also opening this week in limited release: