Reel News: Week of 9/10 — Resident Evil: Retribution, Finding Nemo 3D, For A Good Time Call…, Snow White and the Huntsman

Theatrical Releases This Week

Resident Evil: Retribution
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
R; 88 mins
Trailer

The Umbrella Corporation’s deadly T-virus continues to ravage the Earth, transforming the global population into legions of the flesh eating Undead. The human race’s last and only hope, Alice (Milla Jovovich), awakens in the heart of Umbrella’s most clandestine operations facility and unveils more of her mysterious past as she delves further into the complex. Without a safe haven, Alice continues to hunt those responsible for the outbreak; a chase that takes her from Tokyo to New York, Washington, D.C. and Moscow, culminating in a mind-blowing revelation that will force her to rethink everything that she once thought to be true. Aided by newfound allies and familiar friends, Alice must fight to survive long enough to escape a hostile world on the brink of oblivion. The countdown has begun. (Synopsis by Sony)

Fun for fans of the series, but the show is wearing thin for the rest of us. Of course, people are going to see it, so we should expect still more of these.

Finding Nemo 3D
Director: Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich
G; 87 mins
Trailer

“Finding Nemo” follows the comedic and momentous journey of an overly protective clownfish named Marlin and his son Nemo — who become separated in the Great Barrier Reef when Nemo is unexpectedly taken far from his ocean home and dumped into a fish tank in a dentist’s office. Buoyed by the companionship of Dory, a friendly-but-forgetful Pacific regal blue tang, Marlin embarks on a dangerous trek and finds himself the unlikely hero of an epic effort to rescue his son — who hatches a few daring plans of his own to return safely home. (Synopsis by Disney)

The beloved Pixar story is back in theaters, and it’s easily one of the studio’s best offerings. Even if the added 3D is a total bomb, the story is still worth the price of admission. Refresh your memory with these Nemo facts.

For A Good Time, Call…
Director: Jamie Travis
R; 85 mins
Trailer

The reserved Lauren and the irrepressible Katie are polar opposites… and past enemies. But when both come up short on the funds needed to afford their dream New York City apartment a mutual friend re-introduces them and they reluctantly agree to room together. These apartment-mates have nothing in common – until Lauren discovers that Katie is working as a phone-sex operator, and recognizes a good business opportunity. But as their business partnership takes off, their newfound friendship finds unexpected challenges that may leave them both, as they say, hanging on the telephone. (Synopsis by Focus Features)

A poor attempt to follow in the comedy footsteps of “The Hangover” and “Bridesmaids.” The familiar genre formula, “spiced” up with vulgarity, does little to hold an audience—but at least it is fun. Just not movie-theater-price fun.

DVD Releases This Week

Snow White and the Huntsman
Director: Rupert Sanders
PG-13; 127 mins
Trailer

In the epic action-adventure Snow White and the Huntsman, Kristen Stewart plays the only person in the land fairer than the evil queen (Charlize Theron) out to destroy her. But what the wicked ruler never imagined is that the young woman threatening her reign has been training in the art of war with a huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) dispatched to kill her. Sam Claflin joins the cast as the prince long enchanted by Snow White’s beauty and power. (Synopsis by Universal Pictures)

Perhaps better served as a SyFy channel offering instead of a feature film. While Sanders has some visionary moments with the visual elements in telling the classic tale, the plot is largely too fantastic and plodding. It’s definitely a different take than “Mirror, Mirror.” While both films have their niche, it’ll depend on the viewer’s tastes which they prefer.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting
Director: Kirk Jones
PG-13; 110 mins
Trailer

Over the moon about starting a family, TV fitness guru Jules and dance show star Evan find that their high-octane celebrity lives don’t stand a chance against the surprise demands of pregnancy. Baby-crazy author and advocate Wendy gets a taste of her own militant mommy advice when pregnancy hormones ravage her body; while Wendy’s husband, Gary, struggles not to be outdone by his competitive alpha-Dad, who’s expecting twins with his much younger trophy wife, Skyler. Photographer Holly is prepared to travel the globe to adopt a child, but her husband Alex isn’t so sure, and tries to quiet his panic by attending a “dudes” support group, where new fathers get to tell it like it really is. And rival food truck chefs Rosie and Marco’s surprise hook-up results in an unexpected quandary: what to do when your first child comes before your first date? (Synopsis by Lionsgate)

If slow motion and goofy music make for comedy, then this is a classic. Since it doesn’t, this is a complete waste of time. None of the characters have anything interesting to say and, worse, none of them are funny. A bad idea from the very start, that should have been shelved—or run as an ABC Family five-part miniseries.