Despicable Me – Steve Carell stars in this animated box office hit about a super-villain named Gru who wants to pull off the greatest crime in history – he wants to steal the moon. He adopts three orphan girls to help him with his plan, and wants nothing else to do with them. As the girls and Gru spend more time together, Gru becomes fonder of them and eventually becomes a father figure in their lives. At the end of the day, Gru has to choose between what’s more important, being a father or being a super-villain.
The A-Team – This film stars Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Sharlto Copley and Curtis “Rampage” Jackson as an army team that is imprisoned for a crime that they didn’t commit. They all escape and join forces to clear their names and find out who set them up. The film was a disappointment at the box office this summer, but trust me when I say that it is all kinds of fun. Patrick Wilson and Jessica Biel also star, and I think audiences will give The A-Team more of a chance on DVD.
The Town – Ben Affleck, Jon Hamm, Rebecca Hall, Jeremy Renner and Chris Cooper star in this film about a section of Massachusetts that is known for producing bank robbers. Affleck is the mastermind of the group, who puts together each plan of the banks that the group is going to heist. He is hunted by a FBI agent played by Jon Hamm, who will stop at nothing to bring him down. Affleck also co-wrote and directed the film, and it is worth checking out.
Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole – This film follows a young owl who dreams of becoming a great warrior like the Guardians of Ga’Hoole, who he has always heard great stories about. One day, he is captured by a group of evil owls who plan on destroying the Guardians of Ga’Hoole. It is up to the young owl and his friends to reach the Guardians in time to warn them of the attack. The film was a disappointment in theatres, but definitely looks gorgeous, and I think the Christmas season will help the film find an audience (even though it is not a Christmas film, the decision to release an animated film before the holidays is always a good idea, as people think animated films are perfect Christmas gifts).
Nanny McPhee Returns – The plot centres around a group of kids who have to leave the city and live on a farm. The children are spoiled and not well-mannered. Just when all hope seems lost, Nanny McPhee enters the picture and teaches the children about life on the farm and teamwork. I read somewhere that the film is like watching a fictionalized version of the TV show Supernanny. The plot makes it seem that way, but with a cast that includes Emma Thompson and Maggie Gyllenhaal, it is definitely much better than the TV show.
Cyrus – This film stars John C. Reilly, Marisa Tomei, and Jonah Hill and is about an older man getting into relationship, but having to battle his girlfriend’s overprotective son in the process. While not a major hit at the box office, the film did reasonably well and got some critical love when it was released this past summer.
The Other Guys – Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg star in this action-comedy about two cops who try to gain the respect of their co-workers. The film features many funny moments (my favourite line is “I’m like a peacock, you gotta let me fly!’) and features excellent supporting work by Michael Keaton and Eva Mendes. The back story of Ferrell’s character is hilarious, and make sure you watch the end credits, not because it has any funny moments, but they actually contain some well done diagrams of corporate greed run amuck in recent years.
TV ON DVD
24: Season 8 – The Complete Final Season
Gunsmoke – The Fourth Season, Volume Two
Hawaii Five-0 – The Tenth Season
The IT Crowd – The Complete Fourth Season
Until Next Tuesday!
