This week at the movies, we’ve got a mighty Norse god (Thor, starring Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman), a love triangle (Something Borrowed, starring Kate Hudson and Ginnifer Goodwin), and wedding bell blues (Jumping the Broom, starring Angela Bassett and Loretta Devine). What do the critics have to say?
Blockbuster time! Now that summer’s here, all we need is a good superhero movie to kick things off in grand style. And critics say we’ve got one with Thor, a robust, thrilling adventure with smarts and sly laughs. Chris Hemsworth stars as the God of Thunder, who’s been exiled from Asgard after heedlessly starting a war. Bannished to Earth (and sans his superpowers), this legendary Norseman must learn humility – and defend humanity against the evildoers from his realm. The pundits say the Certified Fresh Thor may not occupy the first tier of Marvel movies, but Hemsworth makes for a compelling hero, and director Kenneth Branagh brings both panache and a sense of fun to the proceedings. (Check out this week’s Total Recall, in which we run down memorable Viking movies.)
For a romantic comedy to succeed, one needs to truly care about the characters. It sounds simple, but it’s harder to pull off, and critics say Something Borrowed falters because it can’t get at the humanity beneath its farcical premise. The movie stars Ginnifer Goodwin as a sweet young woman who’s just started an affair with the guy she’s had a crush on since forever. One problem: he’s engaged to her best friend (Kate Hudson). Can our heroine save her friendship and keep the object of her affection without ruffling feathers? The pundits say Something Borrowed never delves into the moral dilemma its setup promises, and instead focuses on bland characterizations and predictable genre elements at the expense of relatable human behavior.
We’re in the midst of wedding season, so it’s no surprise to see a wedding comedy hitting theaters. But while critics say Jumping the Broom has some strong performances and moments of sweetness, it’s unfortunately bogged down in clichés and an overabundance of subplots. The plot: two families gather in Martha’s Vineyard for a wedding — the bride is from an affluent clan, while the groom’s family is blue collar — and friction quickly becomes the order of the day. Can everyone agree to put conflict on the back burner for the sake of our couple? The pundits say Broom benefits from strong performances (particularly Angela Bassett and Loretta Devine as the family matriarchs) and some vigorous laughs, but unfortunately it’s too long – and its plot is too overstuffed — to work as a breezy comedy of manners.
Finally, props to Adam P. for coming the closest guessing Dylan Dog: Dead of Night‘s five percent Tomatometer.