Friday film roundup: When “R” is a better bet than “PG”
Time for today’s Friday film roundup from Past the Popcorn:
The best of this week’s releases is a very mature and restrained film about loss, grief, and recovery–Reign Over Me, which is rated R. Adam Sandler plays it straight, and portrays a man deeply wounded by the loss of his wife and children. Jenn Wright calls the film a “profoundly moving piece of art,” in spite of Sandler’s potty mouth.
By contrast, this week’s PG releases might be considered by some to be more offensive–at least, when comparing apples to apples. PG movies are supposed to be pretty safe even for young children; but TMNT, which Kathy Bledose calls an out-and-out “dud,” is probably too intense for much of its target audience, while The Last Mimzy deserves special attention from parents. Oddly designed and promoted as an Easter film, Mimzy is a rehash of other films and really amounts to little more than an advertisement for Astral mysticism. Greg Wright calls Mimzy “a moderately entertaining children’s film that will likely generate scathing word-of-mouth.” Caveat Emptor.
In other releases, Jeff Walls finds Shooter to be “consistently entertaining and a solid popcorn flick,” while Mike Smith finds the French-language Avenue Montaigne to be an illustration of “the firm joy of living.” Finally, Jenn Wright declares Pride “all wet,” and sends it off to the showers.
