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And baby makes three: Cameron Diaz and Matthew Morrison star in “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” a new comedy loosely based on the bestseller for parents-to-be.
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Updated: May 21, 2012 4:05PM
OPENING FRIDAY:
HYSTERIA
★ ★ ★ 1/2
Rated: R for sexual contentStars: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Hugh Dancy, Jonathan Pryce
A young Victorian doctor changes the world with the invention of the personal vibrating massager. Tanya Wexler (“Finding North”) directed the romantic comedy. Reviewed in this section.
MEN IN BLACK 3
★ ★ ★
Rated: PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, and brief suggestive contentStars: Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Emma Thompson, Jemaine Clement
Despite production problems including working the script out as they went along, basically, this second sequel, ten years later, touches all the sci-fi action-comedy bases in a sufficiently entertaining manner to satisfy fans. Smith and Jones return as bickering feds charged with keeping unruly alien visitors in line, including recent lunar prison escapee Boris the Animal (Clement, barely recognizable under Rick Baker’s creature effects), who plans to jump back to the ‘60s and kill young K (nicely played by Josh Brolin), who previously prevented Boris’s relatives from invading—thus re-setting history. The best thing about it, though? Smith’s wise-guy reaction to ‘60s scenes like Andy Warhol’s Factory—and old-school racism.
STILL PLAYING
BATTLESHIP
Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, action and destruction, and for language
Stars: Alexander Skarsgard, Liam Neeson, Taylor Kitsch
A fleet of ships on a war-games exercise is forced to do battle at sea with an alien armada. Peter Berg (“Hancock”) directed the action thriller.
THE DICTATOR
Rated: R for strong crude and sexual content, brief male nudity, language and some violent images.
Stars: Sacha Baron Cohen, Anna Faris, Ben Kingsley
The benevolently oppressive ruler (Cohen) of the nation of Waadeya travels to America to address the United Nations about his nuclear weapons policy. Larry Charles (“Borat,” “Bruno”) directed the satirical comedy.
WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING
★ ★ 1/2
Rated: PG-13 for crude and sexual content, thematic elements and language
Stars: Jennifer Lopez, Cameron Diaz, Dennis Quaid, Chris Rock, Chace Crawford
This over-crowded, intermittently amusing, thematically linked sitcom featuring five couples coping with babies on the way turns out to be more or less exactly what you might expect, which isn’t bad, really. So long as you’re not expecting too much. If you’re satisfied to chart some emotional ups and downs while chuckling at cutesy-crude prego-comedy gross-out gags along the way to a group birth-a-thon (with all the awww-inspiring moments you could wish for), it’s a pretty safe bet.
THE AVENGERS ★ ★ ★ 1/2
Rated: PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence throughout, and a mild drug reference
Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Mark Ruffalo, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hiddleston
Writer/director Joss Whedon (TV’s “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) delivers all the spectacular action a summer-movie audience could possibly hope for with this much-anticipated Marvel superhero extravaganza — and he does it with intelligence and humor to spare. The comic book dream team of Thor, Iron Man, Captain America and the Incredible Hulk are called upon to save the world from an alien invasion led by Thor’s petulant half-brother Loki (Hiddleston). The only really surprising thing is how funny things get from time to time — with the biggest yuks provided by Big Mean Green.
THE BEST EXO TIC MARIGOLD HOTEL
Rated: PG-13 for sexual content and language
Stars: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Dev Patel
British seniors expecting to retire in grand style in India learn that the accommodations are not quite as described in the brochure. John Madden (“Shakespeare in Love”) directed the comed y.
BULLY★ ★ ★ 1/2
Rated: PG-13
Stars: Alex Libby, Kelby Johnson, Ja’Maya Jackson
This controversial, activist documentary sets aside balanced, even-handed objectivity for offers an uncomfortably personal view of how it feels to be bullied, and the devastating effect it can have on the lives of young people and their families. Emmy-winning director Lee Hirsch (“Amandla!”) examines the stories of five bullied kids. Haunting.
THE CABIN IN THE WOODS★ ★ ★ 1/2
Rated: R for strong bloody horror violence and gore, language, drug use and some sexuality/nudity.
Stars: Anna Hutchison, Chris Hemsworth, Kristen Connolly
This knowing, frequently brilliant meta-parody of horror-movie tropes from director Drew Goddard and co-writer Joss Whedon (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) dazzles with the sheer ambition of its conceit. Five teens visit a spooky cabin in the woods for a little illicit fun — and run into something far, far worse than just your run-of-the-mill dismembering monsters. A must-see for genre fans with strong stomachs who appreciate a good, deconstructive laugh.
CASA DE MI PADRE★ ★ ★ 1/2
Rated: R for bloody violence, language, some sexual content and drug use
Stars: Will Ferrell, Gael Garcia Bernal, Diego Luna, Genesis Rodriguez
The funniest movie of the year may also turn out to be the strangest. In addition to the most intentionally awful. Ferrell stars as Armando (and speaks Spanish throughout) in this dead-on-target parody of a truly bad 1970s-era Mexican action/melodrama. Hilarious.
CHIMPANZEE
Rated: G
Stars: Tim Allen
A 3-year-old chimp separated from his troop is adopted by a full-grown male in this Disney Nature documentary. Film and sitcom star Allen na rrates.
DARK SHADOWS★ ★ ★ 1/2
Rated: PG-13 for comic horror violence, sexual content, some drug use, language and smoking
Stars: Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Helena Bonham Carter, Eva Green
More than ever, Johnny Depp as Barnabas Collins in Tim Burton’s thoroughly enjoyable “Dark Shadows” makes it seem swingin’ to be a vampire. Depp apparently worshipped Barnabas (from the ’60s Gothic horror romance soap opera) as a kid and that’s evident in this loving, occasionally hilarious, tongue-in-cheek adaptation. After surviving the curse of a jealous lover/very-wicked witch (who turned him into a neck-biter then buried him alive for 200 years), Barnabas returns to restore the fortunes of his very dysfunctional descendants, and milk cultural contrasts for all the comedy they’re worth — while Burton (no one does Gothic better) supplies all the necessary dark, shadowy mood.
DARLING COMPANION★ ★ 1/2
Rated: PG-13 for some sexual content including references and language
Stars: Kevin Kline, Diane Keaton, Richard Jenkins, Dianne Wiest, Mark Duplass
Unlike the lost pooch motivating the plot of this baby-boomer update from Lawrence “Big Chill” Kasdan, “Darling Companion” never entirely loses its way. But the emotional territory it sniffs and explores is mildly diverting at best. Kline and Keaton are appealing (so is the entire featured cast) as upper-middle-aged/upper-middle-class marrieds re-evaluating their relationship after self-absorbed hubby loses empty-nest-traumatized wife’s beloved dog in the Rocky Mountains. A handful of warm, fuzzy love stories involving an appealing cast (notably Kline and Keaton), a thin veneer of snappy one-liners and heaps of gorgeous scenery maintain interest —but only superficially.
THE FIVE-YEAR ENGAGEMENT
Rated: R for sexual content and language throughout
Stars: Jason Segel, Emily Blunt, Chris Pratt
An engaged couple (Segel, Blunt) keep running into delays on the way to the altar. Nicholas Stoller (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”) directed the comedy and co-wrote the script with “Sarah Marshall” collabor ator Segel.
THE HUNGER GAMES★ ★ ★
Rated: PG-13 for intense, violent, thematic material and disturbing images — all involving teens
Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth
The much-anticipated movie version of Suzanne Collins’ book does little more than faithfully replicate the mega-best-selling original. Still, this proficient and generally satisfying adaptation gets the job done and then some, primarily because of the perfect casting of Lawrence as the bow-hunting heroine of a deadly televised competition set i n a dystopian future.
THE LORAX★ ★ ★
Rated: PG for brief mild language
Stars: Danny DeVito, Zac Efron, Betty White, Ed Helms
A young boy who learns how a mysterious old hermit (Helms) turned a natural paradise into a wasteland decides to make a difference in his home town. Chris Renaud and Kyle Balda (“Despicable Me”) directed this animated Dr. Seuss adaptation.
THE LUCKY ONE
Rated: PG-13 for some sexuality and violence
Stars: Zac Efron, Taylor Schilling, Blythe Danner
After three tours in Iraq, a marine (Efron) travels to North Carolina in search of the young woman he believes was his good-luck charm. Scott Hicks (“Shine,” “Snow Falling on Cedars”) directed the r omance.
THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS★ ★ ★ 1/2
Rated: PG for mild action, rude humor and some language
Stars: Hugh Grant, Salma Hayek, Jeremy Piven
A pirate captain (voiced by Grant) competes with rivals Black Bellamy (Piven) and Cutlass Liz (Hayek) for the title of Pirate of the Year. The Aardman Animation team of Peter Lord and Jeff Newitt (“Chicken Run”) directed the animated comedy.
THE RAVEN
Rated: R for bloody violence and grisly images
Stars: John Cusack, Alice Eve, Luke Evans
Edgar Allan Poe (Cusack) becomes involved in a police investigation when a serial killer begins replicating the horrific deaths in his stories. James McTeigue (“V for Vendetta”) directed the thriller.
SAFE
Rated: R for strong violence throughout, and for language
Stars: Jason Statham, Catherine Chan, Chris Sarandon
A young girl being hunted by gangsters for a priceless numerical code in her memory is protected by a former cage fighter (Statham) whose life was ruined by the same bad guys. Boaz Yakin (“Prince of Persia”) directed the thriller.
THINK LIKE A MAN★ ★ 1/2
Rated: P-13 for sexual content, some crude humor and brief drug use
Stars: Chris Brown, Kevin Hart, Gabrielle Union
In one sense an extended infomercial for comedian Steve Harvey’s best-selling relationship advice book, “Think Like a Man” also works reasonably well as a romantic comedy, with a variety of women playing head games with the men in their lives after Harvey gives them the lowdown on male psychology. But that’s mostly due to an appealing cast and the ensemble chops of director Tim “Barbershop” Story.
THE THREE STOOGES
Rated: PG for slapstick action violence, some rude and suggestive humor including language
Stars: Sean Hayes, Will Sasso, Chris Diamantopoulos
Moe, Larry and Curly (Diamantopoulos, Hayes and Sasso) uncover a murder plot while trying to save their childhood orphanage. Bobby and Peter Farrelly (“There’s Something Abou t Mary”) directed the comedy.
21 JUMP STREET★ ★ ★ 1/2
Rated: R for crude and sexual content, pervasive language, drug material, teen drinking and some violence
Stars: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum
This at-times-inspired parody of the late-’80s TV show that launched Johnny Depp is considerably better than you might expect — despite being rude, politically incorrect and insanely violent. The directors of “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” make the most of the surprising chemistry between Hill and Tatum as mismatched undercover partners.
