This week at the movies, we’ve got a journey through Middle-earth (The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug, starring Martin Freeman and Ian McKellen) and some yuletide shenanigans (Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas, starring Tyler Perry and Kathy Najimy). What do the critics have to say?
OK, so here’s the bad news: critics say The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug is overlong and overstuffed with characters and subplots that are likely to mean little to all but the most devoted of Tolkien fans. The good news? They also say it’s a step up from An Unexpected Journey, in that it’s better paced and more action-packed. This time, our heroes Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and Gandalf (Ian McKellen) are on a journey to Lonely Mountain, encountering giant spiders, elves, and a human/bear hybrid as part of their mission to wrest control of a lost Dwarf kingdom from Smaug, a terrifying dragon. The pundits say the first two Hobbit movies have yet to approach the depth and sweep of the Lord of the Rings films, but Smaug mostly succeeds as both a middle chapter and a rousing fantasy adventure in its own right. (For lots more on The Desolation Of Smaug and the LOTR films, check out Hobbit Headquarters.)
A Madea Christmas, like most of Tyler Perry’s output, was not screened for critics prior to its release in theaters. When an old friend decides to pay a surprise visit to her daughter, she talks Madea (Perry) into tagging along; soon our irrepressible heroine is shaking up a small town’s Christmas carnival. Time to guess the Tomatometer!
Nuclear Nation, a doc that examines Japan’s dependence on nuclear energy, is at 100 percent.
Liv & Ingmar, a documentary about the personal and professional relationship between Ingmar Bergman and Liv Ullmann, is at 100 percent.
David O. Russell‘s American Hustle, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper in a period dramedy about a group of con artists enlisted to help take down several corrupt politicians, is Certified Fresh at 97 percent.
The Crash Reel, a documentary about snowboarding champ Kevin Pearce and his recovery from a severe injury, is at 96 percent.
Saving Mr. Banks, starring Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks in a dramedy about the meeting between Walt Disney and the author of Mary Poppins, is Certified Fresh at 83 percent.
What’s In A Name?, a comedy about a group of friends who debate the odd name an expectant father has chosen for his child, is at 73 percent.
Neil LaBute‘s Some Velvet Morning, starring Stanley Tucci and Alice Eve in a drama about an intense meeting between exes, is at 60 percent.
Here Comes the Devil, a psychological horror film about two siblings whose behavior changes drastically after going missing on a family trip, is at 53 percent.
Hours, starring Paul Walker in a drama about a man trapped in a hospital with his newborn son just as Hurricane Katrina strikes, is at 47 percent.
Trap For Cinderella, a drama about a pair of reunited childhood friends whose relationship takes a dark turn, is at 23 percent.
