Now Playing

Here's a look at the new movies I saw this week.

After Earth
Starring: Will Smith, Jaden Smith, and Zoe Kravitz
Synopsis: M. Night Shymalan was once a hot filmmaker. He turned out interesting films with a twist. Some even compared him to Alfred Hitchcock. But it feels like a long time since then. After getting progressively worse results for his own original films, Shymalan took on a different property — "The Last Airbender" — with disastrous results. Now, he's become a critical punching bag. Something similar has happened for Will Smith, who went from the most bankable star to somewhat of a toss up. "After Earth" was bound to draw a lot of scrutiny and criticism. And it's not a great film. Will and his son, Jaden, attempt a fairly ridiculous accent that's a distraction. The film seems to have a lot of tropes that have been done better in other properties. And I'm not sure what I'm supposed to take away from the film other than that Jaden Smith will be a movie star whether we like him or not. Still, I think the criticism of this film has gone too far. It's not great, but it's hardly the worst film out there this summer. Some of the effects are interesting, and the story of a father and son who have to get to know each other and both have to overcome their own bouts of guilt is somewhat compelling. The film is at its best when it focuses on this more personal aspect. The performances are decent, but there is just a disconnect between the story, the world, and the audience. It's a similar criticism I had of "Oblivion," the Tom Cruise film that followed a similar idea. Like "Oblivion," "After Earth" is beautifully shot and has some interesting worlds. It's just not compelling. There is something lacking in the story, which is a shame since that was one of Shymalan's hallmarks as an early filmmaker. While not a complete miss, the film is a disappointment considering the talent involved.
Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi action violence and some disturbing images.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

The Internship
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Rose Byrne, and Josh Gad
Synopsis: In 2005 Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn had the comedy hit of the summer with “The Wedding Crashers.” It was original, hilarious and soared thanks to the rapport between its leads. Seven years later, the duo are trying to recapture that glory with “The Internship.” The film makes the most of the talents of its leads, but it doesn’t live up to the hype. There are amusing moments in the trailer that appear in the film, but it follows a fairly stock plot and model. What helped “The Wedding Crashers” make a mark was its originality. There is some originality with “The Internship,” but it still feels like familiar characters and a familiar plot. This isn’t a hard film to figure out. Director Shawn Levy (“Night At The Museum,” “Date Night”) does a decent job of telling the story and maximizing the laugh moments. But there isn’t a lot of mystery to this film or where it’s going. Wilson and Vaughn play familiar characters that they’ve played in other movies repeatedly. Sure, the names and circumstances are different, but many of the beats of the film are the same. Vaughn is credited with co-writing this screenplay too, and clearly did it with the idea of recapturing that “Wedding Crashers” vibe with Wilson. The most fascinating — and distracting — part of the film might be the product promotion. Obviously the film had a partnership with Google, but that’s far from the only prominent piece of product placement. It feels a bit forced at times, as do many of the cultural references. There are odd references to the 1980s, goofy references to comic books and plenty of clichés to help drive the film forward. One of the biggest drawbacks of the film is its length. With a summer comedy like this, less is more. Yet this movie runs almost 119 minutes, and it feels overly long at times. It could have done with a bit more tightening and editing. Still, there are some fun sequences. One of the best is an outlandish take on a familiar game from “Harry Potter” and one a bonding night out on the town. There are amusing moments, but the film as a whole isn’t memorable. It’s OK, but that’s not enough to draw audiences during the crowded summer season.
Rating: PG-13 for sexuality, some crude humor, partying and language.
Verdict: Two stars out of four.

Now You See Me

Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Mélanie Laurent, Woody Harelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Jesse Eisenberg

Synopsis: "Now You See Me" begins with a simple premise — the closer you look, the less you see. It's a movie built on magic and illusion, but it has no problem telling you how the tricks were pulled off. Which isn't to say the film doesn't have plenty of twists, turns, and surprises at the end. This is a fun summer movie. It has some complex elements designed to keep you hooked, but it's not an overly complex film. It has fun effects, humor, and some strong performances. It's also one of those films that's been flying under the radar. "Now You See Me" is a fun film that fits perfectly with summer. I liked the way the film set up the mystery and carried out its events. You get a feel for the characters and their personalities, which helps draw you into the central mystery. This is one of the more under rated movies of the year. Though we're in a period of big budget epics, this is one that works on a bit smaller scale and works well.

Rating: PG-13 for language, some action and sexual content.

Verdict: Three stars out of four.

Upcoming Releases:

Friday, June 14 — "Man of Steel"

Friday, June 21 — "World War Z," "Monster's University," "The Bling Ring"

Friday, June 28 — "The Heat," "White House Down"