Thursday, Dec. 22, 2011

Recliner Reviews for December 22, 2011

Paul Rudd in "Our Idiot Brother."

 

“Cowboys & Aliens”

What says Christmas like Jon Favreau? Oh, you don’t think so? Well, Favreau is just the guy who directed the Christmas standard, “Elf.” Favreau is only the fellow who introduced you to the flashy hero “Iron Man” in his duo of films. Now, how much “Iron Man” licensed product has been bought to bulk up the tree skirt? Yes, Favreau owns Christmas. Nothing is more festive for holidays than a bunch of cowboys blowing up some nasty aliens and vice-versa. The action is cool – the bright colors and speed of the alien technology contrasts with the rugged West. It’s like “The Unforgiven” meets “Independence Day.” It’s also kind of silly at times. But come on, it’s cowboys fighting aliens and Daniel Craig sells it. An unlikely combination that rides into the fray of criticism – give it a jingle.

“Our Idiot Brother”

Again, what says Christmas like an idiot brother? This idiot is played by Paul Rudd and he’s more of a sweet dummy than an idiot. The film wouldn’t work as well as it does without his costars – Zooey Deschanel, Elizabeth Banks and Emily Moritmer playing Rudd’s sisters. The whole batch of characters, even the incidental ones, are integral to making Rudd look more like a moron. It all works as a funny and sweet film about family growing apart and changing. Sometimes it takes an outside force of nature to make you reevaluate what’s important and that no matter what happens…often family members are the only friends you’ve got. Rudd adds another movie to a long list of comedies that work because he’s so likable. Don’t be an idiot – give this one a smooch under the mistletoe.

“The Smurfs”

OK, nothing says Christmas about “The Smurfs”…I could try to make a connection but why bother? The truth is, I wanted to hate this movie. I went in thinking that a nice little recollection of my childhood was going to be smeared blue and turned into another chipmunk-esque debacle. But that isn’t the case. Yes, it’s a cheesy kids’ movie but the show was a cheesy kids’ show. The biggest factor that made me like this movie was the attempt to give props to the creator of the Smurfs, the Belgian artist Peyo. The movie builds off the cartoon show and the things they altered for the film were subtle and not show-stoppers. It’s a silly film that makes you remember what you liked about the show in the first place. OK, here it comes...It was smurfin’ good – throw it in the sleigh.