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This is the way the summer movie season ends, not with a bang, but with a whimper...

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Starring: James Franco, John Lithgow, Frieda Pinto, and Andy Serkis (motion capture).

Synopsis: Since the last 1960s, when Charleton Heston secured his place in American cinema battling talking apes, we’ve been subjected to tales of humans battling super-intelligent monkeys for control of the Earth. But a logical question is how did things get to that point? Finally, thanks to James Franco and some digital effects magic, we finally have an answer. A decade after Tim Burton’s failed “Planet of the Apes” re-boot, we get a little insight into how things got that bad. Technically, “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” is sort of a re-make of the 1972 film “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes,” but really it bears little resemblance to that film. What it does do is, possibly, pave the way for a new generation of “Planet of the Apes” films. And, judging by the Box Office take opening weekend, audiences might be down for that. “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” is an interesting film. It borrows from the mythology of the original series — even including some iconic lines — while working to create its own story. It’s a credit to writers Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver that the film proves entertaining and moves along at a crisp pace. This has been a summer of major tent pole releases that have failed to live up to expectations. By contrast, the expectations for “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” was fairly low, and the movie seems to have exceeded those modest expectations. The use of motion-capture to create the warrior apes works better than the monkey makeup that has marked all previous entries to the series. This could be a case of the technology finally catching up to the storytelling in a way that makes the whole exhibition more interesting. Good credit goes to director Rupert Wyatt as well for developing an interesting film that moves along at a fairly good clip. And it’s a film that isn’t totally dependent on its human stars but still gives the humans something to do. Of course, one of the challenges with this kind of film is the lack of resolution to the ending. This film is meant as a set-up to the “Planet of the Apes” world, or as a prequel that explains how we got to that point. It accomplishes that well without ending in a dark place. At the heart of the film is the complex relationship between Caesar and Will. Though Will has complicated motives in exploring this relationship at the start, he clearly cares about Caesar and comes to think of him as family. Though the bonds of blood lead Caesar down the path of revolution to help his fellow apes, he clearly still cares for Will, who essentially filled the role of father. Their scenes together are the most fascinating, and that relationship adds depth to the film and story. The performances aren’t great in this film, but their passable. Cox plays a kind of hybrid of many of the villain roles he’s played before, and Felton channels his mean kid spirit from his role as Draco Malfoy in “Harry Potter.” Franco is fine in the lead role, and has some interesting scenes with Caesar, but there is nothing particularly memorable about the performances. The film is interesting, moves along at a good clip and is fairly entertaining. It’s not the greatest film this summer, but it rises above its modest expectations.

Rating: PG-13 for violence, terror, some sexuality and brief strong language.

Verdict: Two stars out of four.

The Change Up

Starring: Jason Bateman, Ryan Reynolds, Leslie Mann, and Olivia Wilde

Synopsis: Wow, just when you thought that comedy was scrapping the bottom of the barrel, out comes "The Change Up." This movie is a lengthy excuse to throw in nudity, poop jokes, and as many swear words as possible while keeping dialogue somewhat coherent. The film is offensive, predictable, and a complete waste of talented leads. I'm not sure what the overall point of the film was, but Reynolds and Bateman go through the motions with gusto. Bateman, in particular, really commits to the role and the project, which is sad given the quality of the writing and the overall production. I'm actually beginning to believe that Olivia Wilde might be a harbinger of cinematic doom. She was a lead in the mirthless, strange reboot of "Tron," she was a co-lead in the mirthless, strange summer tent pole "Cowboys and Aliens," and now she's prominently featured in what is easily the worst adult comedy of the summer. Three for three for her, zero for three for audiences. Bateman, Reynolds, and Mann can be funny talented performers, but this piece is a disaster from the jump.

Rating: R for pervasive strong crude sexual content and language, some graphic nudity and drug use. Enter with caution. (Or better yet, don't enter...)

Verdict: One star out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

Opened Wednesday: "The Help"

Opens Friday: "30 Minutes or Less," "Glee: The Concert Movie 3D," "Final Destination 5"

Friday, Aug. 19: "Conan the Barbarian," "Fright Night," "One Day," "Spy Kids 4"

Friday, Aug. 16: "Our Idiot Brother," "Columbiana," "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark"