Past the Popcorn film roundup—Summer Doesn’t Heat Up, But It Doesn’t Cool Down Either
Each week, Past the Popcorn offers a thorough look at the latest round of films opening on big screens.
Last week brought us the second entry in the summer blockbuster sweepstakes and a solid slate of releases. This week, the pace doesn’t slack off even though it’s not up to last week. And the checkered flag goes to…… Speed Racer!
This PG-rated update of the 1970s syndicated cartoon series keeps up a frenetic enough pace to win over the kids at any rate. The Wachowski Brothers’ follow-up to their Matrix series “takes three paragraphs to explain a plot that is really not important to the film and simply exists as a device to showcase bright, colorful, and fast computer effects,” says Jeff Walls. “Unfortunately, Speed Racer never gives the audience much opportunity to enjoy the visual effects. Still, the (presumably targeted) younger audience might make it a surprise hit.”
On the PG-13 front, What Happens in Vegas, says Michael Brunk, is best appreciated as a predictable romance. It’s “one of those movies that leverages its stars to get you into the theater. In this case, it’s Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher. In truth, the two stars do a pretty good job here, but it’s nothing you haven’t seen before. If you find the big blockbusters sold out this weekend and you’re in need of a good date movie, What Happens In Vegas could pay off for you.” Just remember… it’s Vegas, baby.
The unrated Italian film My Brother Is An Only Child could also be a PG-13 outing, says Jennie Spohr. The film “explores Italian politics of the 1960s and 70s through the lives of two brothers in a small town outside of Rome. The film evokes a sense of the blurred political allegiances through the story of two brothers, remarkably similar in their intensity, passion, and sense of urgency to save their country and their people. Anyone can appreciate the film as a worthy exploration of the common human desires to improve a corner of the world, whether that means leading a political movement or making sacrifices for one’s family.”
Finally, Greg Wright was surprised by David Mamet’s latest R-rated effort Redbelt, a dramatic meditation on the codes of honor built into martial arts. Most surprising, he says, is that Mamet’s language is actually toned down this time out, and probably doesn’t warrant the R-rating. In fact, he says, “when you’re expecting the Big Speech this time out, you might just get silence (or merely a slap in the face); and just when you’re looking for the big Moment of Cynicism, you might want to be prepared for a deep swig of—would this be pushing it too far?—hope for the human condition.”
