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The long, sad period before summer blockbusters is nearly over. With big action and comedy releases slated for every week in April, kicking off with "Clash of the Titans" tomorrow, it feels like summer's coming early.

However, that was not the case for these releases from the tail end of March....thankfully March is officially over.

Hot Tub Time Machine
Starring: Craig Robinson, John Cusack, Rob Corddry and Clark Duke
Quick Take: This is a "comedy" about three past their prime, stuck in the doldrums of middle life guys who, through a ridiculously random circumstance, travel back in time to their heyday in 1986. Along for the ride is one of the guy's nephews, Duke, who learns more about his mom's wild past. There aren't a lot of good jokes in this film. There are some painful cameos by Chevy Chase and Crispin Glover tacked on as well. The movie is rude, crude, and unapologetic about its presentation. There is one funny sequence featuring Robinson — best known for his work as the warehouse foreman on "The Office" — as he kick-starts his music career. Otherwise, there's not much to like here.
Rating: R for strong crude and sexual content, nudity, drug use and pervasive language.
Verdict: One star out of four.

How to Train Your Dragon
Starring the voices of: Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera and Craig Ferguson
Quick Take: This animated feature from DreamWorks Animation is one of the better family films released this year. We are currently in a golden age for animation — not just in terms of technical presentation but in terms of the depth of story. The best animated films the past few years have offered stories that match most live action features. "How to Train Your Dragon" is not that strong, but it's a solid offering. Baruchel does a nice job voicing the lead character and the story has it's own charms. The 3-D element of the film isn't as impressive as it could be, but the dragon training/flying sequences provide some nice visuals. Best of all, "How to Train Your Dragon" is a film that offers something for the whole family.
Rating: PG for sequences of intense action and some scary images, and brief mild language.
Verdict: Three stars out of four.

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