Super 8: Before Stranger Things Season 1 mastered 80s nostalgia, JJ Abrams made a go at it and did pretty good. Here a rag tag gang of kids who are all just so charming and realistic find an alien. There are big time special effects, monsters tearing up stuff – a fun time at the movies. ***3/4
Larry Crowne: Tom Hanks’ Larry Crowne is such a nice guy that you just want to like this movie even if it isn’t for a second exciting or compelling or even believable. This is centered around a community college and I’m not sure if anyone involved ever went to one. Hanks, Julia Roberts, Cedric the Entertainer, Rami Malik, Wilmer Walderrama, and a bunch of others are all doing their thing, but the movie around them just isn’t any good. And yet……. It is just so likable. Also here is what might be one of the last Bryan Cranston performances before he was cemented as a Very Serious Actor. ***1/4
Restrepo: War sucks, but did you know: there are actual individual human beings who actually have to fight those wars? Wow. This is a documentary about people at war. No story – just war. Very real – very good. ****1/2
Fair Game: A solid political thriller with a couple surprises that don’t really seem so surprising by the time you get to them. Naomi Watts BRINGS IT. ***
Jackass 3D: The Jackass TV show and first two Jackass movies are national treasure. The rest… eh. This is 50% still hilarious 50% desperate and sad. Not sure which half wins out. **1/2
