Must Love Dogs

Diane Lane . . . . . . . . . . . . John Cusack
Elizabeth Perkins . . . . . . . . Christopher Plummer
Dermot Mulroney . . . . . . . . .Stockard Channing

PG13 98min 2005

Two 40-something preschool teacher (Lane) and boat maker (Cusack) find love in the modern world of internet dating and the hilarity that ensues.

Must Love Dogs is not my usually my cup of tea but I found it funny, as I’m not a forty something looking for love. It wasn’t overall a very good movie but the individual part that made it bearable. It had its moments spread through out the movie.

Christopher Plummer shined as an old player playing the field after the death of his wife. Lane and Cusack are likable as a couple. Jordana Spiro‘s promiscuous younger woman was also a highlight.

Cusack does a much better job in Serendipity. As it was a friend’s movie and I didn’t pay for it this one can wait until it’s on the old release unless you just have to rent it now.

2/5 Gs

Annapolis

James Franco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tyrese Gibson
Jordana Brewster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Donnie Wahlberg
Vicellous Reon Shannon . . . . . . . . . Chi McBride

PG13 105min 2006

Annapolis is a story of a ship welder (Franco) from the other side of the tracks dreams of going to the Annapolis Navy Academy and his dream coming true and him becoming a better man through the adversities he faces.

It uses the academies boxing program as the center of his triumph. It’s basically the same story told. Boy from wrong side faces adversity on his way to becoming a better man and finding love. This is a good movie even despite the plot. It’s entertaining and dramatic. The ending might leave you disappointed but I found it fitting conclusion to the story set before it.

The acting was solid but sometimes the glaring was over the top. The time flow of the movie is a problem; time between scenes may fill like the next day but actually days and even weeks sometime have past. It felt that a lot of stuff was edited out for time.

Its An Officer and A Gentleman meets Million Dollar Baby minus the award caliber performances. Although it’s an entertaining drama you can wait to see it on video.

3/5 Gs

The Cave

Cole Hauser. . . . . . . . . . . Morris Chestnut
Eddie Cibrian. . . . . . . . . .Rick Ravanello
Marcel Iures . . . . . . . . . . .Kieran Darcy-Smith
Daniel Dae Kim . . . . . . . .Lena Headey
Piper Perabo

PG13 97min 2005

The world’s best cave diving crew is trapped in an underwater cave being hunted by undocumented creatures.

The Cave is an OK action, horror, and sci-fi film. There are a lot of inconsistencies and some implausible scenes.
There were some cool death scenes and notable stars in the movie. The ending implies a sequel that may never get made but might be more interesting to watch.

It’s under whelming but better than Alone in the Dark. This one can be waited on unless you gone through everything else and need a new rental to watch.

2/5 Gs

Underclassman

Nick Cannon . . . . . . . . Roselyn Sanchez
Cheech Marin . . . . . . . .Shawn Ashmore
Kelly Hu . . . . . . . . . . . .Ian Gomez

PG13 95min 2005

Underclassman is about a young cop must prove himself by going undercover in a private high school to investigate the death of a student. Along the way his investigation leads to a more nefarious crime.

It's Beverly Hills Cop meets Kindergarden Cop or 21 Jump Street Lite. This is a recycled movie With the usual plot and predictable one liners but in a new package and what a wonder set of packages. Kelly Hu and Roselyn Sanchez keep you interested in this movie. Nick Cannon’s performance is all-comedic and no drama when there needed to be but it did lend itself to the character.

Wait for it to hit the cheap section of the rental store or if you really needed a Nick Cannon fix then rent it.

1/5 Gs

National Lampoon's Barely Legal

Erik von Detten. . . . . . . . .Tony Denman
Daniel Farber. . . . . . . . . . .Sarah-Jane Potts
Amy Smart. . . . . . . . . . . . .Tom Arnold
Horatio Sanz. . . . . . . . . . . Vince Vieluf

R 90min 2003

When three friends can get porn anymore they decide to make it themselves.

National Lampoon’s Barely Legal was not one of the better National Lampoon’s but stayed in the vein of Lampoon. It was released on video for a reason but it is still funny. Not the best acting, and the best production but it still has Amy Smart.

Horatio Sanz over the top caricature of Ron Jeremy is funny and is the highlight of this film. This is definitely a dollar rental. If you’re looking for a better NL rent National Lampoon’s Van Wilder.

1/5 Gs