Little Fockers
Little Fockers
Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) has finally begun to earn the respect of his ex-CIA father-in-law, Jack Byrnes (Robert De Niro) but one important test still lies ahead: will Greg prove that he has what it takes to be the family’s next “Godfocker” … or will the circle of trust be broken for good? Returning co-stars Owen Wilson, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo, Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand are joined by newcomers Jessica Alba, Laura Dern and Harvey Keitel in this hysterical family affair.Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro return as the comic duo of a hapless, eager-to-please son-in-law and an overbearing father-in-law in Little Fockers. Despite the title, there’s not much of the kids in this sequel; like Meet the Parents and Meet the Fockers, Little Fockers is all about the tension-fraught relationship between crusty ex-CIA agent Jack Byrnes (De Niro) and male nurse Greg Focker (Stiller). This time, Jack has decided that Greg just might have what it takes to replace him as the protector and guide to the family, if he can provide for and properly educate the children. From there it’s a series of scenes in which Greg tries to meet Jack’s expectations and fails spectacularly, this time complicated by the presence of sexy pharmaceuticals rep Andi (Jessica Alba), who hires Greg to represent an erectile dysfunction drug and gives him a bag of samples… which leads pretty much where you think it might lead. This time around, the jokes are broader (the movie starts with projectile vomiting and ends with a fistfight in a bouncy castle) and the plot is even less important, but the cast (including Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, Owen Wilson, and Teri Polo) executes everything with professional skill. Fans of the previous movies will enjoy this latest installment. –Bret Fetzer
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The Mechanic
The Mechanic
Follows an elite hit man as he teaches his trade to an apprentice who has a connection to one of his previous victims. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 05/17/2011 Starring: Jason Statham Ben Foster Run time: 93 minutes Rating: R Director: Simon WestThe 1972 version of The Mechanic is a tough-minded action film that reflects its disillusioned era. While no masterpiece, it does get points for the retro-coolness of prime-era Charles Bronson, cast as an ice-cold hit man who begins teaching the tricks of the trade to a young apprentice. So the prospect of a 2011 remake isn’t especially sacrilegious, and handing the central role to 21st-century tough guy Jason Statham is a logical choice; Statham’s got the moves, the voice, and the three-day stubble necessary for the role. In some fairly significant ways, though, the remake backs away from the hardness of the original and settles for a less daring approach. Director Simon West (Con Air) manages to make even New Orleans locations seem monotonous, as he covers everything in a baked-butterscotch glaze and surrounds his antihero with the sleekest, most boring kind of modern hardware (the old skool LP turntable is a nice exception). Statham stays in his locked-down key throughout, while, as his student, Ben Foster–somewhat less jittery here than in the likes of 3:10 to Yuma or Alpha Dog–strides into one reckless situation after another. Playing peripheral roles as members of the hit man’s shadowy network, Donald Sutherland and Tony Goldwyn successfully read their lines. The actual targets of the hits are creepy enough so that we aren’t unduly troubled by Statham’s line of work, and the ending falls far short of the memorable original. A take-no-prisoners approach to violence makes this seem even more like an empty exercise. –Robert Horton
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