Mr. Popper's Penguins

Directed by Mark Waters

2011

Viewed January 21, 2012

This is yet another adaptation of a book that I loved when I was younger. I was not expecting a whole lot from this movie since Jim Carrey's middle name is "butt jokes". I also was a bit upset at the beginning of the film since it follows Tom Popper the rich businessman and not Mr. Popper the poor house painter. I ended up really liking it. As I said, it follows Tom Popper, rich businessman trying to close a deal on the sale of a building for his firm to tear down and rebuild as something else. Tom has two kids with his ex wife, a son and a daughter, who he barely has a relationship with because he is simply too busy. Tom's life is interrupted when his father passes away and sends him a penguin. Tom tries to return the penguin but is sent 5 more penguins instead. He has to keep the penguins in line in a condo (or loft maybe? I'm not sure which qualifies as which) that doesn't allow pets. His kids fall in love with the penguins and so did I. They were simply adorable and so much fun to watch. This is a pretty predictable film, and there were a few poop jokes and fart jokes, but overall I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it. Definitely a good one to watch with older kids, if you can get pass the couple of bodily function jokes. B+

The Adventures of TIntin

"Failed. There are plenty of others willing to call you a failure. A fool. A loser. A hopeless souse. Don't you ever say it of yourself. You send out the wrong signal, that is what people pick up. Don't you understand? You care about something, you fight for it. You hit a wall, you push through it. There's something you need to know about failure, Tintin. You can never let it defeat you."

Directed by Steven Spielberg

2011

Viewed January 2012

I loved the Tintin books when I was growing up. My mom would take us to the library every week and every week one of us would inevitably come home with a Tintin book or two. For those not familiar with Tintin, he is a reporter with a dog named Snowy who comes along on his adventures. Together they solve many a mystery and very often unknowingly stumble right in the middle of trouble. This movie is a pretty perfect adaptation of the books. It is a combination of a few of the books, but it has all of the elements of the Tintin world including the dimwitted police officers Thompson and Thomson, action and adventure, Captain Haddock, the smartest little white dog, Snowy, and even minor characters such as Mrs Finch and Bianca Castiafiore. The storyline is that Tintin purchases a model ship that holds part of a secret map to a treasure. Tintin is kidnapped and brought onto a ship headed to steal another part of the map. He meets the ship's captain, Haddock, who is also being held against his will by his first mate and mutinous crew as well as the mastermind Professor Sakharine. Tintin, Snowy and Haddock need to escape the ship and reach the ship's destination first to stop the theft. This movie is jam packed with action and I really really loved the animation. It really was this nerd girl's Tintin dreams come true...A

Contraband

Directed by Baltasar Kormakur

2012

Viewed January 14, 2012

This is a pretty generic heist movie. Chris Farraday used to be a smuggler of all things illegal and has gotten out of that scene to focus on his wife and two young sons. His brother in law, Andy,  went on a drug run and ended up having to dump the drugs so as not to get caught by customs. Tim Briggs, who had sent Andy for the drugs wants $700,000 to replace the drugs, and he wants it quickly. Farraday sets up a run for some counterfeit money to make up for Andy's mistake. While he's gone Briggs makes good and sure to scare Farraday's family to make sure that he gets his money. This movie was pretty predictable, and as always, Mark Wahlberg (who plays Farraday) has the same expression on his face that he does in every other movie he's ever made. Briggs, played by Giovanni Ribisi is a generic unimaginitive thug. Ribisi needs to stop trying to play villians because he's not good at it. They had to give him facial hair and tattoos to make him look "scary". I did like Ben Foster as Farraday's best friend. I've always been a huge Ben Foster fan. I was entertained and Contraband was fun to watch and see how they pulled off their heist, so I think that I'll go with a C+

Crazy, Stupid, Love

"I'm going to help you rediscover your manhood. Do you have any idea where you could have lost it?"

Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa

2011

Rated PG-13

Viewed January 2012

Middle aged husband Cal Weaver is blindsided when his wife, Emily, asks for a divorce. Emily reveals that she already had an affair and felt as though she was going through a mid life crisis. Cal moves out and spends his nights at the bar where he is noticed by Jacob who takes it upon himself to help Cal with his love life. The movie also follows a storyline involving Cal's son Robbie who is in love with the babysitter, Jessica. Unfortunately, Jessica is in love with Cal and does not appreciate Robbie's confessions of love. There's also another storyline involving Hannah who finds herself dating a really boring guy. This movie is definitely one of my new favorite romantic comedies. It is sweet and funny and, at times, heartbreaking. I love that it believes that when you find your soulmate you never give up on them and that true love is real even when there are bumps along the way. A