I know I've been gone for a few weeks, but I'm guessing everyone has seen the best movie of the summer, right? If not, I'm not sure we can really be friend anymore.
2. The Kids are All Right
There hasn't been a family film this spot on perfect to come around in a long time, featuring three powerful and mature performances by Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, and especially Annette Bening. The kicker here is Mark Ruffalo, as the laid back hipster who's emergence into the family's world throws everything into disarray. A story about a lesbian couple raising their two nearly adult kids, director Lisa Cholodenko never sinks into heavy messaging or preachiness. With ease she shows that all families, regardless of their construction, suffer the same doubts, failures, and triumphs.
1. The Other Guys
The fourth collaboration between director Adam McKay and Will Ferrell might be the best yet. Pairing the comedian with hard edged Mark Wahlberg might seem like an odd choice, but that's exactly why it works so well. The two star as a pair of cops who couldn't be more different if they tried: One is dying for more action, while the other is content to sit at his desk filing paperwork. When the opportunity arises for them to be heroes, the sparks and the bullets start flying. In a summer full of weak comedies, the Other Guys is the perfect cure. And you'll be humming TLC songs in your head for days after, I promise
DVD Pick of the Week: Kick-Ass
Iron Man who? Wha? The best superhero film this year isn't even really a superhero film. It's the anti-superhero film. It spits in the face of other comic book movies. Kick-Ass, based on the uber-violent comic book series by Mark Millar, is a no holds barred kinetic experience not for the faint of heart. Let's face it, any film that features a 12 year old girl getting shot in the chest during target practice, then going out and beating the crap out of dudes 5 times her size isn't going to be for everybody. This is a movie for those willing to embrace the absurdity of it all, and if you can do that then Kick-Ass is going to be one hell of an adrenaline high.