This week at the movies, we’ve got a crime caper (Tower Heist, starring Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy) and yuletide merriment (A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas, starring John Cho and Kal Penn). What do the critics have to say?
If you’re in the market for a solid, escapist escapade, critics say Tower Heist should do the trick — just don’t expect much more from this all-star action comedy. Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy lead a team of working stiffs who, after being taken in a Ponzi scheme, decide to hit back by robbing the swindler’s opulent high rise. The pundits say that Tower Heist, despite its topicality, is little more than a fun caper movie with some solid set pieces — in other words, nothing too profound, but better than average. (Check out this week’s Total Recall, in which we count down co-star Matthew Broderick’s best-reviewed films.)
Christmas may more than a month away, but your old buddies Harold and Kumar are ready to spread some holiday cheer — and critics say A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas is delightfully outrageous and occasionally heartfelt. This time out, our heroes embark on a mission to find the perfect Christmas tree after they mistakenly incinerate Harold’s father-in-law’s prized evergreen; once again, they become mired in all kinds of wackiness, some of which involves Neil Patrick Harris. The pundits say A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas may not measure up the first installment, but its high spirits and inspired (and often tasteless) gags (in 3D!) make for a playful, fun ride.
The Last Rites of Joe May, starring Dennis Farina as a small-time hood struggling to make ends meet, is at 82 percent.
Charlotte Rampling: The Look, a documentary about the acclaimed British actress, is at 67 percent.
Young Goethe In Love, a speculative historical drama about the early years of the great German writer, is at 60 percent.
Killing Bono, a comedy about two brothers whose band is overshadowed by their internationally famous former classmates in U2, is at 55 percent.
The Other F Word, a documentary about punk rockers dealing with fatherhood, is at 55 percent.
Five Star Day, starring Cam Gigandet and Jena Malone in a romantic comedy about a guy who tries to determine if horoscopes contain any truth, is at 38 percent.
The Son of No One, starring Channing Tatum and Al Pacino in a drama about a young cop with a dark secret from his past, is at 26 percent.
