preciouskiki

• PROs: Good performances from all the leads and supporting actors. Charismatic lead performance. Good music, of course. Nice to see Grantchester's James Norton in a small supporting role. • CONs: Clunky dialogue. Sometimes difficult to understand the dialects (and as a former transcriptionist, I don't usually have much trouble with that sort of thing). Storyline seemed a bit disjointed and patched together. Kept checking my watch, not a good sign. • THE UPSHOT: Disappointing overall, although Marley fans will still find something to enjoy.

–– PROs & CONs. First the PROs: • Not a goofy comedy but still has plenty of laughs as well as insight into the complexities of married life. • Julia Louis-Dreyfus virtually make-up free, in an honest, open and clean-faced performance. Gorgeous, multi-layered, and just overall wonderful to watch. • Will Ferrell shows all the varied colors of a husband and father trying his best but still disappointing his wife, and his efforts to make up for his mistakes are priceless. Funny and multi-dimensional performance. • Breathtaking scenery. Makes me want to learn to ski! –– CONs: Can't think of any. I enjoyed every minute. –– THE UPSHOT: Loved it! Smart, funny, well-written, well-acted.

Entertaining and enjoyable, "Stan and Ollie" is "Much more enjoyable than I expected it to be." I laughed out loud a number of times, and the story seems true to life and never treacly or heavyhanded. Loved the Hollywood and British scenery and the costumes, too. Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly are just perfect.

Highly entertaining, fun, and informative, "Vice" is the best movie I've seen in quite awhile (and I see a lot of movies).

Fun movie! Stylishly done; amusing; gorgeous to look at with great-looking clothes, houses and humans; and with more tart twists than a barful of perfectly chilled Martinis, "A Simple Favor" is a very entertaining popcorn thriller. Good soundtrack, too. One tiny critique: For me, towards the end, some of the twists came so quickly that my feeble little brain was spinning. I wished they had spent a little more time on them... Cuz I was a little like "Wait, what?!?" The switcheroos were zooming by like Vroom--Vroom--Vroom! And OK, I will admit: I got home and Googled the synopsis to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Vanity Fair had an article called "About that ending...," so I don't feel too bad about feeling a little fuzzy-headed. Perhaps the book was a little more elucidating, I dunno. But I loved it!

Good movie! Loved every minute of it. Funny, warm, and well-written, "Juliet, Naked" is a perfect vehicle for the many talents of Ethan Hawke, Rose Byrne (didn't know she was British; is she?), and Chris O'Dowd. Good soundtrack, too. Stayed to watch the credits so I could come home and find a few of the songs, such as "Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl," which I hadn't heard in years. Ethan Hawke sings a few of the songs, too. A feel-good movie with a lot of heart and a few really good chuckles.

It's a charming movie, and Ewan MacGregor is a delight to watch in it. Hayley Atwell is also quite good as the wife. It may not be the best of its genre (I'd give that award to "Paddington Bear" #1 with Colin Firth and #2 with Hugh Grant), but it's still a worthwhile way to spend two pleasant hours, whether or not you bring kids.

Very enjoyable movie. Definitely worth seeing. I hope to see more from Kiersey Clemons, who played the daughter. Nick Offerman, Ted Danson, Blythe Danner and Toni Collette were all just perfect.

Laugh-out-loud funny, "Tag" is a lot of fun to watch. Ed Helms, as always, just perfect as the Everyman husband and good buddy with a glint of mischief in those innocent blue eyes. Also wonderful as the WSJ reporter: the gorgeous Annabelle Wallis, who I just learned is the niece of one of my all-time favorite actors, Richard Harris. Recently there was a segment on "CBS Sunday Morning News" which showed the real guys. Look for a brief cameo from the marvelous Brian Dennehy! I enjoyed every minute and would recommend "Tag" as a fun date-night movie for both men and women.

How about this for an honest, off-the-cuff review. This is the actual email that I just sent to a friend, recommending this movie with some caveats: "Dear (so-and-so), The Ethan Hawke movie I mentioned is at the Avon. It’s called “First Reformed.” You might like it. Or might not! It’s different… it would definitely not be everyone’s cup of tea, though. He is the minister of a church, sent to counsel a woman whose husband is depressed and possibly suicidal. And Ethan has his own issues. (And you have to listen carefully to some monologues to understand his inner workings.) So it’s not exactly uplifting, but Ethan Hawke is good in it, and I am a fan of his, so that’s why I went to see it. The ending was remarkable – literally – as leaving the theatre, a number of different unrelated moviegoers paused to discuss the ending, each having come away with a different impression, yet fully convinced that was the only possible way to see it. (Of course, my reaction was the only feasible one, heh-heh.)"

Three movie-loving friends went to see HEREDITARY last night: one a fan of all kinds of horror movies, and the other two fans of movies like "Rosemary's Baby" and other non-gory "chillers." Our universal reaction: Meh. It wasn't overly gory as two of us had feared. But it also wasn't as psychologically chilling as all three of us had expected, based on all the rave reviews. For example, the horror-movie-devotee in our trio began muttering "Boring" about 30 minutes into it, but I held out hope that eventually it would kick in and all the rapturous reviewers would be vindicated. On the plus side: Good performances, great Craftsman-style house to admire, and some nice depth of character. On the negative side: The ending was just so-so, and it borrowed heavily from the aforementioned "Rosemary's Baby," which is a truly good movie.

Whenever I recommend Paddington2 to a friend, the first thing they do is ask "Is it animated?" The answer is no, it's mostly real human actors (good ones, too!), and the bear is so lifelike, it doesn't seem animated at all. The bear is wonderful, and you just want to hug him. If there was an award for a performance by an inanimate object, he would win it. Both Paddington1 and Paddington2 are very entertaining for adults, not just kids. Cinematically gorgeous, lots of fun with a good story.

I must admit, sci-fi is not my thing, so if you are a sci-fi fan, you might enjoy this. As for me, I kept checking my watch. It felt long to me, with stilted dialogue and two many pauses in an already long movie. And I was put off by Natalie Portman still doing that breathy Jacqueline Kennedy/Marilyn Monroe voice. Although I am a woman and love seeing women get their fair share of action movie roles, I have to say: Why would the expedition team not include any males? In the three rows in front of me, I saw several people fiddling with their cellphones dozens of times, like practically nonstop. Maybe they were bored, too.

Very entertaining, funny and fast-paced with something for everyone: enough action for adventure fans, plenty of chuckles for comedy fans, and some amusingly on-target relationship stuff for anyone who has ever been part of a couple. Jason Bateman's understated line delivery is just spot-on perfect, so funny. Loved it and would recommend to anyone.

Stirring, well-paced, gorgeously photographed, and entertaining with occasional bursts of good humor, "Darkest Hour" is a must-see movie for people of all ages. Never dry or boring, it illustrates the entire man, both his flaws and his finer qualities. We need more movies like this.

At a riveting 98 minutes, it was so entertaining, I only wish it could have been longer. Compelling performances all around, particularly from Richard Jenkins as LBJ's friend and adversary, Senator Richard Russell, leader of the Southern conservative coalition that tried to block passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The story really moves along at a good pace, and every minute is entertaining and illuminating. Woody Harrelson probably wouldn't have been my first choice for LBJ if I were the casting director (especially having seen Bryan Cranston's magnificent "All The Way" on HBO, but I must admit he does a good job, even if I was a little distracted by the make-up job. At the end of the movie, I watched the credits to find out who played Lady Bird so perfectly and was surprised to find that it was Jennifer Jason Leigh. Overall, very enjoyable, even if you're not particularly into politics or history. It's just a great story, and director Rob Reiner has really brought it to life.

So good to see Paul Reiser on screen again! I hope to see him in many more films in the future, as he brings a seemingly effortless and easygoing humor to the part. Mary Steenburgen is lovely and a pleasure to watch, as always, as his wife. Lake Bell did a great job as writer/producer/director and co-star. Amber Heard is stunning. I didn't even realize it was her until I checked the credits at the end. And Ed Helms is always one of my favorites. Great cast, entertaining film.

Very entertaining. Bravo to its writer/director Jordan Peele for delivering a movie that is both witty and chilling. Hey, I noticed that one of the characters (in a brief but pivotal role) is named "Roman Armitage." I'm wondering if that could be a tip of the hat to the classic horror movie "Rosemary's Baby," which has a somewhat similar character named Roman Castavet. And it was directed by Roman Polanski. Don't know about you, but I haven't met too many Romans in everyday life. Wondering if Jordan Peele is paying a little homage to that movie.

Very nicely done, with a good script, good production values, and excellent performances all around, particularly from Mark Wahlberg, John Goodman, Kevin Bacon, and J. K. Simmons. Much better than I thought it would be. Recommended.

Very, very interesting and entertaining, with a tremendous Oscar-worthy performance from Michael Keaton, one of the finest actors of our generation. Excellent performances from the entire supporting cast as well, especially John Carroll Lynch and Nick Offerman as the McDonald brothers. Illuminating, thought-provoking and plenty of fun as well. Highly recommended.

"Why Him?" is pretty funny, with a number of laugh-out-loud moments. I do wish, however, that it had less scatalogical humor. i think that raunchy humor is funnier if it used sparingly; otherwise, you just get too used to it. A few less f-bombs and less references to male genitalia, and I would have given it a couple more stars. On the plus side, Bryan Cranston is great, very warm and funny. James Franco is a gas, too. Zoey Deutch does a good job s the daughter, and she looks just like her mom Lea Thompson (of "Back to the Future" fame).

"Masterminds" is the first movie in a long time where I have actually laughed out loud. Great cast, and Kristen Wiig and Zach Galifianakis are especially funny, but I also got a big kick out of Jason Sudeikis and Owen Wilson. It's based on a true story, so stick around during the credits to see photos of the real people that the movie was based on.

At first, I wasn't that interested in seeing "The Light Between Oceans" because the previews led me to believe it would be a tearjerker. However, a friend wanted to see it, so I said OK, and I am glad that I did. I didn't find it to be a tearjerker at all. Rather, it is a finely wrought story and deals with issues of conscience, war, forgiveness, loneliness, love, and yes, loss, but it's the kind of loss that we all experience to one degree or another. This movie has beautiful cinematography, with awe-inspiring views of post WWI Australia and its rocky coast. The two leads, Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, are stunningly good, as is the entire supporting cast, particularly Rachel Weisz and Bryan Brown.

"Leaves of Grass" was such a pleasant surprise. I don't know why I had not really heard of it, and if that's true for everyone, it's a shame, because this movie was really fun to watch. Great cast: Edward Norton in a dual role, Susan Sarandon, Richard Dreyfuss, Keri Russell, Ty Burrell (from Modern Family) and Melanie Lynskey were all just terrific in it. Really perfect. Oh, and Josh Pais as the orthodontist he meets on the plane-- he is so good! I never knew his name, but you've seen him a thousand times. I also loved the character of Bolger so much that I had to Google him afterwards, even though it was late and I was really tired, so that says something. I found out that he was played by Tim Blake Nelson, who also co-starred in "O Brother Where Art Thou" alongside George Clooney, and a lot of other stuff too numerous to list. Upon Googling, I learned that Tim Blake Nelson also sings in that movie, and possibly this one, too, because it has a somewhat similar soundtrack, but not really, if that makes any sense. I also learned that he wrote and directed this one. It's a comedy-drama and even has some bits of violence in it, for those of you who like that sort of thing. In other words, ladies, your husbands will like this movie, too. The movie begins on the campus of Brown University in Providence, RI, and then moves on to Oklahoma. It turns out that writer-director-singer is from Oklahoma and went to Brown University, so he knows what he is talking about. It is so much fun watching Edward Norton play both brothers, the buttoned-up Brown professor and the equally brilliant but ne'er-do-well pot-smoking brother. Highly recommended.

I wasn't sure I wanted to see "Southside with You," but a friend chose it for her birthday movie, and I must say, I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.

I didn't expect to like this movie much, because the ads and previews made it look a bit tiresome, but I was pleasantly surprised, as I enjoyed it very much. It was Hugh Grant's best work in years.

Enjoyed every minute of it. What a great cast! Jesse Eisenberg, Kirsten Stewart, Steve Carell, and Blake Lively are all just terrific in this delightful 1930s period piece. I thought Corey Stoll was particularly good as the gangster brother. And it was especially good to see Jeannie Berlin again as Rose Dorfman, the mother of Jesse Eisenberg's character. You may remember her as the spurned wife in the original 1972 "Heartbreak Kid" opposite the inimitable Charles Grodin. (I'm glad to say that gem of a movie has turned up on TV again recently after a long absence.) Sari Lennick does a great job as the sister Evelyn. Stunning costumes, gorgeous scenery, wonderful music, and a fun story: what more could you want? Woody Allen narrates.

Funnier than I thought it would be. It's so silly that some folks are bashing this movie. There's no reason for the vitriol. It's your basic summer comedy. It's good for a few laughs, and the stars Kirsten Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones all do a good job. I haven't been a big fan of Leslie Jones (or anyone else, for that matter) so far on this season's Saturday Night Live, but I did like her in this movie, so it's probably just a matter of her needing better scripts than SNL provides. Most of the original stars of "Ghostbusters" make cameos in this movie, and that adds to the fun. Bill Murray appeared on a talk show and said all good things about how funny and talented the women are. Ignore the nasty commenters, and check out this movie. Is it the best comedy you will ever see? Probably not, but it's not bad. In fact, it's better than a lot of comedies I've seen in recent years.

Wasn't sure how much I was going to like this at first. I thought it might turn out to be one of those overly quirky movies, but I was wrong. It was wonderful. I enjoyed every minute of it. Greta Gerwig could be considered the Diane Keaton of this generation. She was wonderful in "Maggie's Plan." So was Ethan Hawke and the rest of the supporting cast, including Bill Hader, Julianne Moore, Maya Rudolph, and Travis Fimmel (whom I am not familiar with) as the potential sperm donor. Loved the NYC setting, too. It reminded me **** Woody Allen-type story, so if you like that sort of thing, you will like this, too.

My friend and I both enjoyed "Hello, My Name Is Doris" tremendously. This movie is both heartfelt and humorous, and the performances are top-notch across the board. I hope director/screenwriter Michael Showalter keeps making good independent movies like this one and his other hit "Wet Hot American Summer." Sally Field and Max Greenfield are both marvelous in the lead roles. We were also both impressed by the performances of Wendi McLendon-Covey (who was so good in "Reno 911", as well as "Bridesmaids" and "The Goldbergs") and the always wonderful Tyne Daly. Good cast, good script, good little movie.

Too violent, too gory, and at over two-and-a-half hours, much too long. Twice, my friend leaned over and asked to see my watch, saying "How much longer?!" The performances and the production values are all excellent, but the constant gory violence becomes too repetitive. The revenge aspect of the plotline was emotionally manipulative.

• PROS: Excellent performances from Emma Stone, Joaquin Phoenix and Parker Posey. And I was delighted to see journalist/actress/comedienne Nancy Giles in a small role in the beginning. (Fans of CBS Sunday Morning have enjoyed Nancy Giles' broadcast segments for many years). I'd love to see Nancy Giles in more movies. Loved the music, especially "The In Crowd" by the Ramsey Lewis Trio. And the Newport, Rhode Island seaside setting was gorgeous. And I especially enjoyed the way the movie treats the subject of right-or-wrong situations that pop up in our everyday lives. It gives you something to talk about later. The movie is only 94 minutes long, which seemed just about right, leaving you wanting more, like the old show business adage. • CONS: There were one or two spots where I thought the plot stretched my suspension of disbelief just a bit too far, but I was willing to overlook those moments because I was enjoying the rest of the film so thoroughly. • THE UPSHOT: I would recommend this as a highly entertaining drama with touches of Woody Allen's incomparable wit and a few surprises along the way.

• PROS: Wonderful cast, and everyone is funny and sometimes even a little bit touching. Ed Helms is just naturally likable and very funny. His Rusty character has a good heart and isn't afraid to show his vulnerabilities to his wife, and that adds to the movie's charm. Christina Applegate is spot-on perfect as the wife and is also very funny. I loved the characters of the older son (Skyler Gisondo) and Rusty's sister Audrey and her husband (the always-wonderful Leslie Mann and Chris Hemsworth). Charlie Day is very funny as the white-water rafting guide. The references to the original movie are also clever, and it was good to see Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. • CONS: I really could have done without the scatalogical humor. Too much vomit and feces humor. If you want to throw in a touch of that stuff to appeal to modern audiences, OK, I can handle it, but this movie does go overboard with that stuff. It goes on too long, and I had to look away. With a cast as immensely talented as this one, you don't NEED to resort to that kind of bathroom humor. Although it was great to see Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo, their characters deserved better writing. Same thing goes for the youngest son Kevin (Steele Stebbins). They made him too unlikeable and foul-mouthed. It's not that I mind the curse words, because I swear like a sailor, but if you're going to have those words come out of a little kid's mouth, it should be funnier. • THE UPSHOT: If you go into it with moderate expectations, you will probably enjoy it. Don't believe the people who are giving it really bad reviews. I've seen better, but I've seen worse. I'd like to see Ed Helms and Christina Applegate in more movies, as they are both very entertaining performers.

The first one was okay, kinda fun, but this one was a disappointment. I do like Channing Tatum, and I think he is a good actor and a great dancer as well as being good-looking, but his movie did not do justice to his talents. It seemed that 90% of the dance moves were just simulated sex, and I would have liked to see some more actual dancing. There were a few good moments here and there, but after awhile it seemed repetitive and it didn't have much of a plot. The other "male entertainers" were okay but no one was particularly impressive in terms of talent.

I had never even heard of "5 Flights Up" (which is unusual for me because I read a lot of movie reviews), so when I saw that a movie starring Diane Keaton and Morgan Freeman was playing at a local second-run theatre, I was surprised. Well, just got home from seeing it, and we both loved it. It held my interest every minute. Keaton and Freeman are both so great to watch, and I don't understand why "5 Flights Up" hasn't gotten more attention. I enjoyed every minute of it. If you like well-written, well-acted movies about long-term relationships, New York City, and dogs, you will like this movie.

Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader are SO GOOD in this movie. These two are not just funny, they are both excellent actors in every respect. And so are Ty Burrell and Luke Wilson, whom I adore. I would like to see this cast in many more movies. "The Skeleton Twins" is both funny and touching.

Blythe Danner is just stunning in this movie. She is so lovely to look at and yet so natural looking. It is a pleasure to see a woman nowadays who can look so beautiful without wearing tons of heavy makeup. She is such a wonderful actress and deserves an Oscar nomination for this understated yet spot-on performance. Martin Starr is wonderful as the guy who cleans her pool and becomes her friend. I've admired his work in every movie I've seen him in (from "Adventureland" to "Knocked Up" and now the TV show "Silicon Valley"). Although I have loved his quirky long-haired characters, it's nice to see him playing a regular-guy character with short hair. I'd like to see him get a lot of work in future films. Both he and Blythe Danner are just absolute gems. And it's great to see Sam Elliott, June Squibb, Mary Kay Place, Rhea Perlman, and (surprise!) wasn't that Max Gail of "Barney Miller" fame? (He played Det. Stan "Wojo" Wojciehowicz) I thought so! Yup, and he was wonderful in a small part. This was a wonderful ensemble piece. I think it deserved a more memorable title, though.

I don't understand why this movie received such unfavorable reviews from some critics. I enjoyed it and laughed quite a few times. I will admit that, being a female, I could do without some of the scatological humor that marks both Horrible Bosses #1 and #2 (er, no pun intended), such as that toothbrush scene, but the parts that turned me off are outweighed by the parts that I did enjoy, such as the many little offhand throwaway remarks that sounded like they could have been improvised. (Example: Talking about the villain Chris Pine, Jason Sudeikis tosses out a line like "Look how BLUE his eyes get when he's crying!") I love that kind of stuff. Jason Sudeikis, Jason Bateman, and Charlie Day are all very funny fellows and adorable to boot. I would go see just about anything they are in.

Loved every minute of this witty and incisive movie. Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts are wonderful as always, of course, but the best surprise was a chance to enjoy the work of the incomparable Charles Grodin. He is just perfect in this part, and it was a joy to watch him work. It was also a wonderful surprise to see Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary) as the subject of the documentary that Ben Stiller's character has been working on for the better part of a decade.

Just got back from seeing this movie, and I am surprised to see that the critical reaction has been not-so-good. My friend and I both laughed out loud a number of times. Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart are both just naturally funny people, and if you like their type of humor, you will enjoy this movie.

I don't understand why this movie received such mixed reviews. I thought it was very entertaining, and the performances are all excellent. Maybe some folks don't get Kristen Wiig's type of humor, but I think she is very funny. She does a lot with just a look. Annette Being is particularly good in this movie. If you like Kristen Wiig, give it a shot.

I've seen bits and pieces of Tyler Perry's movies on TV, but this is the first time I paid to see Madea on a movie screen. I must admit, I did enjoy it. It's not high art, but it has a good storyline, an appealing cast, and it's entertaining. It was a pleasant diversion on a snowy winter night.

Jason Sudeikis has a lot of personal charm on-screen and he is the main reason this movie is so entertaining. I'd like to see him in a lot more movies. Jennifer Aniston looks gorgeous and also does a great job, as do the actors who play the kids. It's not great art, but it's an enjoyable way to spend 2 hours on a summer night. It does have a few raunchy bits, so if that bothers you, be aware. Overall, it's a good popcorn movie with good performances throughout.

If you want to see a good summertime coming-of-age movie, don't bother with this one. Instead you should see "The Way Way Back" with Steve Carell and Allison Janney, or watch the DVD of "Adventureland" with Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart. "The To Do List" has way too much bathroom humor. It relies on unfunny stuff like vomit and feces and juvenile sex stuff, which becomes boring after awhile. There's nothing original or entertaining about this movie, despite the best efforts **** cast. It's a waste of good talent.

I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. I'd never heard of Tom Hardy before, but now I'd like to look up his bio and find out what else he's been in. I'm so glad that movies are letting some actors use their natural English accents, which are so sexy. He has a great voice. At first I didn't think I would care for either male lead, but they both did an excellent job.

Jeff Goldblum's delightfully wry performance alone is worth the price of admission. It's fun, smart, fast-paced and thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end. Every performance is excellent, but I particularly enjoyed Diane Keaton's performance. Rachel McAdams did a great job, too, and she looks stunning as a brunette.