The Reel Corner- Movie Reviews

LARRY CROWNE
Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts, Cedric the Entertainer, Bryan Cranston
Directed by Tom Hanks, Written by Tom Hanks and Nia Vardalos
Rated PG -13
Larry Crowne (Hanks) is a good man. Chosen nine times as employee of the month, he is the ultimate employee: courteous, energetic, and amiable at a store which has been his place of employment since he got out of the Navy years ago. With the recession came cuts to his beloved UMart, and to his surprise, he is downsized. Middle-aged, no college degree, with a retail background, Larry finds life very tough. As options dwindle, he enrolls at the community college. Though the film keeps your attention, and is humorous at times, this is where the film becomes incredibly predictable. Enter attractive teacher Julia Roberts and a slew of colorful classmates who help the film very little. Lamar (Cedric the Entertainer), the neighbor with a permanent ongoing garage sale, and Dean (Cranston), the teacher's husband, make the movie palatable. Although Larry Crowne was a good man, the film was only fair. (2 stars)

BAD TEACHER
Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Jason Segel, John Higgins, Lucy Punch
Directed by Jake Kasden
Rated R
Elizabeth (Diaz) isn't a bad teacher.she's the worst teacher; unconventional, unprepared, uncaring, and unethical. When her rich fiancÈe dumps her she is determined to lasso wealthy substitute teacher Scott Delacorte (Timerblake). Her other notion is that larger breasts will be essential. This will take lots of money and she stops at nothing to achieve. The film's humor is politically incorrect and testosterone driven, and the plot is predictable, but Diaz is a good comedic actress and her supporting cast helps pull this film from a size D to a C. (2 stars)

HORRIBLE BOSSES
Jason Bateman, Jennifer Aniston, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis, Kevin Spacey, Jamie Foxx, Colin Ferrell
Directed by Seth Gordon
Rated R
Ever had a negative thought about your boss? That's the only thing friends Nick (Bateman), Dale (Day), and Kurt (Sudeikis) have on their minds lately. Thanks to Dean (Foxx), an ex-con /murder consultant, they plan the ultimate problem solving solution...murder their bosses.

Kurt is a supervisor at a packaging plant, loves his job and his father figure-like boss (Don Sutherland). When the boss suddenly dies, his cocaine-smoking loser son (Ferrell) takes over with little regard for the company or its employees. Kurt's days are spent in total frustration.
Dale is a dental assistant, engaged and looking forward to being married. He's trapped at his job because he is a listed sex offender (being caught urinating at a school yard.even though it was after midnight) and only sex-crazed Dr. Harris (Aniston) would hire him. He spends most of his day dodging her inappropriate advances.

Nick has been head of sales for eight years under tyrannical boss Dave (Spacey). He comes in early, stays late, and is a shoe-in for VP of Sales. When it falls through, he is ready to make some serious changes.
Outrageously crude, the success of this film is the artful casting of Bateman, Day and Sudeikis-a perfect comedic combination. If you can get through the naughty language, this summer's adult comedy is your best bet. (3 stars)

Donne Paine, film enthusiast, once lived around the corner from the Orson Wells Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where her strong interest in films, especially independent ones, began. She was a 12-year member of the Hilton Head Second Sunday Film Society, and frequent visitor to the Sundance Film Festival. To support her habit of frequent movie going, Donne is an executive recruiter and staff development consultant. Are you interested in joining a film club? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..