The following are capsule reviews of movies recently reviewed by the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Accepted (Universal)
Comedy about a savvy slacker (Justin Long) who, rejected by every college to which he applied, comes up with a face-saving scheme to create a fake school out of an abandoned hospital, which snowballs out of control when a motley mob of other misfits show up on the school's doorstep with acceptance letters. Displaying only occasional wit amid a "coarse" load of mindless humor, director Steve Pink's farce stealthily wraps its subversive nonconformity message in lighthearted, if lowbrow, satire that would seem to extol benign themes of acceptance and self-expression. Recurring crude sexual language and humor, including vulgar sight gags and innuendo, drug content, skimpy bikinis, some profanity and a use of the f-word. Ratings: L (PG-13)
The Illusionist (Yari Film Group)
Grippingly atmospheric romantic tale set in turn-of-the-last-century Vienna about a mysterious stage magician (Edward Norton) who loves a noblewoman (Jessica Biel) unwillingly betrothed to the crown prince (Rufus Sewell) who demands the chief inspector (Paul Giamatti) prove the magician a fraud. Writer-director Neil Burger's sepia-toned adaptation of Steven Millhauser's short story, with a haunting score by Philip Glass and excellent performances, brilliantly captures the period, and beneath the compelling story, such themes as popular superstition, the rise of scientific thought and the decline of the aristocracy are unobtrusively woven. A brief sexual encounter with suggested nudity, some domestic violence, a suicide and a few crass expressions. Ratings: A-III (PG-13)
Step Up (Touchstone)
Diverting if inconsequential dance drama about a street punk (Channing Tatum) who splits his time between break dancing and stealing cars, and who finds himself doing community service at an elite performing arts academy, where his flashy dance moves catch the eye of a ballerina (Jenna Dewan) who is desperate to find someone to replace her injured partner in preparation for the big senior dance showcase, leading to predictable opposites-attract complications as he gives her routine a hip-hop makeover. Despite a hackneyed script, director Anne Fletcher's formulaic, but relatively clean, teen romance is buoyed by some lively dance sequences (choreographed by Fletcher) and appealing performances. Some suggestive dance moves, a scene of vandalism, brief gun violence, including an off-screen shooting, and a few crude expressions, fleeting racially charged rap lyrics and some innuendo, limiting its appropriateness to older adolescents and up. Ratings: A-II (PG-13)
Trust the Man (Fox Searchlight)
A good cast is wasted in this tepid and coarse domestic comedy-drama about an actress (Julianne Moore), her philandering house-husband (David Duchovny), her commitment-phobic brother (Billy Crudup), and his longtime live-in girlfriend (Maggie Gyllenhaal). Writer-director Bart Freundlich's film offers the occasional sharp observation about modern-day relationships, but the characters' infidelities and casual attitude toward sex is highly problematic, despite the morally acceptable wrap-up. Much rough language, a few instances of profanity, needlessly frank sexual talk, premarital and adulterous relationships, a casual approval of pornography, a couple of sex scenes without nudity, some gratuitous scatological elements and a same-sex kiss. Ratings: O (R)
Zoom (Columbia)
Lively but lightweight comedy about a washed-up superhero, Captain Zoom (Tim Allen), dragged out of retirement by a top secret military agency (headed by Rip Torn, Chevy Chase and Courteney Cox Arquette) to train four young misfits (Spencer Breslin, Michael Cassidy, Kate Mara and Ryan Newman) with incredible powers to save the world from the destructive wrath of Zoom's brother, a supervillain (Kevin Zegers). Based on the Jason Lethcoe children's book, the zippy film is entertaining if your expectations are kept low, though its kid-friendly themes of family and teamwork are handicapped by bland performances and a skeletal, only fitfully funny script, padded with strained slapstick humor and tedious musical montages. Some mildly crude humor and unnecessary gross-out sight gags, a few rude expressions and some comic-book-style violence. Ratings: A-II (PG)
Office for Film & Broadcasting classifications: A-I --- general patronage; A-II --- adults and adolescents; A-III --- adults; L --- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling; O --- morally offensive.
MPAA ratings: G --- general audiences, all ages admitted; PG --- parental guidance suggested, some material may not be suitable for children; PG-13 --- parents strongly cautioned, some material may be inappropriate for children under 13; R --- restricted, under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian; NC-17 --- no one 17 and under admitted. |