This week at the movies, we’ve got galaxy defenders (Men in Black III, starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones) and a haunted vacation (Chernobyl Diaries, starring Jesse McCartney and Jonathan Sadowski). What do the critics have to say?
In the world of franchise moviemaking, the third time is rarely, if ever, the charm. So it’s something of a surprise to report that the critics say Men in Black III is unexpectedly solid, a fun popcorn flick with excellent special effects and enough laughs to overcome its sporadic moments of mediocrity. This time out, Agent J (Will Smith) learns that his old partner Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) is in grave danger. In order to rescue K — and save the future of humanity — J must travel back in time and team up with K’s younger self (Josh Brolin). The pundits say Men in Black III doesn’t approach the giddy heights of the first MIB, but it’s a generally agreeable piece of multiplex fare, and Smith is charismatic as always. (Check out this week’s Total Recall, in which we count down Smith’s best-reviewed movies.)
It’s never a good sign when a movie is released before being screened for critics, and unfortunately that’s the case with Chernobyl Diaries. Produced by Paranormal Activity director Oren Peli, it’s the story of a group of American tourists who decide to spice up their European vacation by heading to the site of history’s worst nuclear disaster. When they arrive, however, our heroes discover that they’re stranded — and they’re not alone. Guess the Tomatometer! (And don’t forget to check out Peli’s Five Favorite Films here.)
Wes Anderson‘s Moonrise Kingdom, starring Bill Murray and Bruce Willis in a comedy about a pair of lovestruck runaways whose disappearance shakes up their seaside community, is Certified Fresh at 97 percent.
OC87: The Obsessive Compulsive, Major Depression, Bipolar, Asperger’s Movie, a documentary about a filmmaker’s lengthy struggles with mental health issues, is at 100 percent.
Oslo, August 31st, a drama about a drug addict looking for a fresh start to his life, is at 96 percent.
The reissued 2001 cult favorite Battle Royale 3D, about a group of randomly selected Japanese junior high students who fight to the death on a remote island, is at 85 percent.
The French box office smash Intouchables, a dramedy about the friendship between a disabled millionaire and his caretaker, is at 79 percent.
Mighty Fine, starring Chazz Palminteri and Andie MacDowell in a comedy about a man who overspends in an attempt to please his wife and daughters, is at 11 percent.
