"GROWN UPS" 4 ****STARS

You'll feel like a kid again watching Adam Sandler's new movie "Grown Ups"! It's a real feel good family film where you'll literally laugh your head off! The comedic timing of these brilliant funny men is impeccable. The main casts includes Chris Rock, Kevin James, Rob Schneider, David Spade and Sandler who are childhood friends and former basketball teamates who reunite after their childhood basketball coach passes away. 

They decide to stay in town and spend the 4th of July Holiday weekend with their families reminiscing over the good old days at the lake house where they celebrated their championship victories. They haven't seen each other in decades and they've all gone on to lead very different lives. Sandler is Lenny Felder a rich Hollywood agent who's the most successful of the group. He's married to Roxanne a beautiful Fashion Designer played by Salma Hayek Pinault.

Chris Rock is house husband Kurt Mackenzie who's married to Deanne (Maya Rudolph) an executive who also happens to be pregnant. They bring along Deanne's (Rudolph) medling mother and their kids. Kevin James is Eric Lamonsoff a loving family man with a successful business and a big personality to match inspite of the fact that he's very clumsy and accident prone. Eric (Kevin James) is married to Sally (Maria Belo) who has some provocative and quirky methods for raising their 2 boys. 

Rob Schneider as Rob Hilliard is a train wreck. He brings along his live-in love  Gloria (Joyce Van Patten) who's much older, which is fuel for countless hilarious scenes and he also invites his sexy grownup looking teenage daughters to be a part of the festivities.  

David Spade who plays Marcus Higgins is a real piece of work. He's still single and looking for love but he's out of control. Higgins (Spade) drinks, is a cut up and the only one amongst his friends who has  no real responsibilities. He's the adult in the group who didn't get the memo that at some point a man grows out of his childish behavior. Growing up will change you, but these boyhood friends learn that reconnecting with each other and remembering those childhood experiences makes them all realize what's really important in life! This is one of the funniest movies of the summer season!


Comedy
PG 13
4 Stars
Columbia Pictures

KNIGHT AND DAY 4***STARS

Tom Cruise does it again! In his new film "KNIGHT and DAY" which co-stars Cameron Diaz he's found a new way to show off his charismatic acting skills and his exceptional talent for doing his own stunts. "Knight & Day" is many different stories rolled into one but the stories are so very well connected that it doesn't fragment the movie it just hooks you more into trying to figure out what's going on. 















Cruise's character Roy Miller is a highly skilled secret agent that's reportedly gone rogue but he plays his character like he's just a regular guy that happens to be caught up in a dangerous and deadly situation. Miller (Cruise) is fearless and exceptional in the action scenes. "Knight and Day" will catch audiences off guard and keep them trying to figure out what's going on? Which is the same thing his co-star Cameron Diaz's character is trying to do. June (Diaz) Haven meets Miller (Cruise) at the airport and is attracted to him. She's on her way back home to be in her sister's wedding until she meets Miller (Cruise) after that her normal life changes. 

Haven (Diaz) is an innocent victim who is  forced to go along on this crazy journey with Miller (Cruise) which takes them around the globe on the run from the CIA and a host of other villains. As the movie progresses you're really trying to figure out who the bad guys really are?  The CIA tries to paint Miller (Cruise) as a rogue secret agent who's gone to the dark side. But Miller presents himself to Haven's (Diaz's) character as an agent who's trying to help out a friend who's been taken advantage of. That's all I will say about the plot because I want you to experience the same plot twists and turns to see if you can figure out what's going on? 

Despite the serious nature of this situation there are some really funny tongue and cheek moments that allows you to witness the romance that's unfolding between the two. Diaz keeps up with Cruise every step of the way. Haven (Diaz) has a cutesy and girly demeanor but she also has an edge that shows she has the guts to get through this ordeal.  "Knight and Day" is a brilliant movie that weaves together action, violence, drama, romance and comedy. You'll think you know where the movie is going but you won't figure it out until the end, so it's really worth seeing. Great date movie!!!


PG 13
Action/Thriller/Comedy
4 Stars

"GET HIM TO THE GREEK" 3***STARS

You'll really have a good time watching the new comedy "Get Him To The Greek". This film is over the top, out of control and hilarious! This movie really spells out the crazy, bizarre lengths record company employees have to go through to cater to some of  their major artists. The  movies 3 standout comedic performances come from Russell Brand who plays British Rocker Aldous Snow, Jonah Hill who plays Record company intern Aaron Green and Record Company President Sergio Roma played by Sean "Diddy" Combs.

The storyline centers around  23-year old record company intern Aaron Green (Jonah Hill) who's hired by the company's President Sergio (Sean "Diddy"Combs) Roma to bring British Rock Star Aldous( Brand) Snow from London to L.A.'s Greek Theater to kick off his multi-million dollar tour that will revive his career and boost record sales. The only problem, Sergio (Diddy) only gives Green (Hill) 3-days to get the artist from London to LA. Snow (Brand) is a Rock Star in every since of the word. Sex, Drugs, Brawls and Rock and Roll. That's  the oddysey that newbie intern Green(Hill) has to navigate his way through, to get this obnoxious, arrogant Rock Star to L.A. in time for his first concert. Snow(Brand) is a brilliant musician with a major fan base but he becomes Green's(Hill's) worst nightmare.

Snow has other plans for his ambitious intern which include forcing him to buy his drugs, to making him take a side to trip to meet a woman he thinks he's in love with, to infiltrating his philanderous lifestyle onto the intern and his girlfriend. It's a train wreck, that's funny, and  it has all the outrageous antics that you'd expect on the Rock Star scene. As I'm sure you've guessed this mission could make or break Green's (Hill's) career. 

This assignment also threatens Green's (Hill's) relationship with his girlfriend Daphne (Elizabeth Moss) who's a medical intern. Of course she can't reach him via his cellphone because he's forced to live the "groupy" filled Rock Star life to gain Snow's (Brand's) trust.  Diddy is really playing himself but he's a little more wound up than usual and in panic mode all the time because he's turned over this 100-million dollar mission to eager beaver Green (Hill) and they're way behind schedule. This film is a rip-roaring good time but there is profanity and some raunchy scenes.
This is a little over the top for small children, but it's a really funny film for adults.

Rated: R

Comedy

3 Stars

"THE KARATE KID" 4****STARS

 I purposely chose not to watch the original "Karate Kid"movies again before I saw the remake because I wanted to see the new version with fresh eyes and I was pleasantly surprised. This is a brilliant coming of age story that teaches the lesson: you don't have to be a bully to prove you"re strong or courageous. One big difference the lead character is not a teenager he's much younger than in the original version. You don't miss it thanks to the acting chops of Jaden Smith who plays 12 year old Dre Parker. 

 There's no doubt about it the camera loves this new child star who's a natural. Smith portrays his character Dre Parker with heart, wisdom, and courage sprinkled with the angst and confusion of a young boy trying to find his way in a strange world. Dre (Smith) and his mother Sherry (Taraji Henson) Parker are forced to leave Detroit and move to China where she's landed a new job. It's an adjustment for Dre (Smith) who's homesick and trying to fit in. 

Things pick up up the bright side when he meets and falls for a classmate Mei Ying (Wenwen Han). He's also excited after seeing a Kung Fu class where he hopes he can learn from the masters. There's one problem the class bully Cheng (Zhenwei Wang) sees the relationship that's developing between the two classmates, doesn't like it and decides to put a stop to it by fighting Dre (Smith) with his exceptional Kung Fu skills. 

Dre (Smith) is no match for Cheng (Wang) and his crew who are relentless with some pretty rough fighting scenes. Mr. Han (Jackie Chan) the maintenance man steps in and saves Dre (Smith) from being brutally beaten by Cheng(Wang) and his friends. When Dre (Smith) sees Mr. Han (Chang) in action he learns that he too is a Kung Fu Master and asks him to teach him the art. Mr. Han (Chang) must train Dre (Smith) to go up against his rival Cheng(Wang) at his Kung Fu class's upcoming championship tournament. It's the only way to stop the bullies from resuming their attacks on Dre (Smith).

There's also a sidebar story about this young boy who learns that the art of Kung Fu should be used to help people not to hurt people. Jaden Smith is pushed to the limit in his first lead role and he delivers! The Smith acting dynasty continues, not to mention the fact that Will and Jada Pinkett Smith are the films Executive Producers. "The Karate Kid" also has some beautiful scenes in areas of China that you rarely get to see. This is an inspiring family film! You will be moved in ways you can't imagine!


PG
Action/Violence
4***Stars

"SHREK FOREVER AFTER " (3D) 5 STARS

"Shrek Forever After: The Final Chapter" in 3-D is funny, cool, contemporary and a great heart warming story!. Shrek (Mike Myers) is faced with learning the ultimate life lesson in what's supposed to be the last story of this animated hit series. Shrek is an Ogre not in the real since of the word. He's not seen by everyone as a scary monster but has become the beloved town hero and family man.

Shrek becomes a bit overwhelmed with the day to day responsibilities of raising his family and dealing with his celebrity status which really makes him feel like his family has become a circus side show.The townsfolk aren't afraid of him, seeing him as a sort of lovable, funny mascot. He's really cherished by the people in his village but Shrek doesn't see it that way. Shrek appears to be going through a midlife crisis and wonder what life would be like if he had his old life back?

The evil trickster Rumplestillskin (Walt Dohrn) makes a deal with him that he can have that life back for a day, but he tricks him into signing a contract in which he's chosen a day when Shrek wasn't born. So Shrek gets to experience what his life would've be been like if he hadn't saved Pheona, if they didn't have children, if Donkey and Puss in Boots were not his friends. As you can imagine he begins to value and appreciate his life, his family and friends immensely when he sees what his life is like without them.

Rumpelstilskin's(Walt Dohrn) slick move makes him the King and the Ogres his slaves but Fiona (Cameron Diaz) is the fierce leader of an underground resistance that's trying to free the town's citizens and Ogres from it's tyranical ruler. Shrek has to convince Donkey that he's his best friend and convince Fiona that she's in love with him or he won't get his real life back.

There's a lot riding on Shrek (Mike Myers) making Fiona (Cameron Diaz) come around and I don't want to spoil it for you. This final chapter is worth seeing with the whole family! It inspires you to see the value in your own life and appreciate what you have instead of longing for something else.

PG 13
Animation/Comedy(3D)
5Stars