Reel News: Week of March 10 — Need for Speed, Veronica Mars, Inside Llewyn Davis, Single Moms Club

Upcoming Theatrical Releases

Need for Speed
Director: Scott Waugh
PG-13; 130 mins.
Trailer

Based on the most successful racing video game franchise ever with over 140 million copies sold, DreamWorks Pictures’ “Need for Speed” captures the thrills of the game in a real-world setting. An exciting return to the great car-culture films of the 1960s and ’70s, when authenticity brought a new level of intensity to the action, “Need for Speed” taps into what makes the American myth of the open road so enticing. The story chronicles a near-impossible cross-country race against time-one that begins as a mission for revenge, but proves to be one of redemption. In a last attempt to save his struggling garage, blue-collar mechanic Tobey Marshall (Aaron Paul) – who with his team skillfully builds and races muscle cars on the side-reluctantly partners with wealthy, arrogant ex-NASCAR driver Dino Brewster (Dominic Cooper). Just as a major sale to car broker Julia Bonet (Imogen Poots) looks like it will save the business, a disastrous, unsanctioned race results in Dino framing Tobey for manslaughter. (Synopsis by Disney)

It looks great, but lacks even the engagement of the “Fast and Furious.” Granted, it is based off a video game, but a better premise than a mash-up of racing clichés would be a major improvement. Skip it.

Tyler Perry’s Single Moms Club
Director: Tyler Perry
PG-13; 111 mins.
Trailer

When five struggling single moms put aside their differences to form a support group, they find inspiration and laughter in their new sisterhood, and help each other overcome the obstacles that stand in their way. (Synopsis by Lionsgate)

Have you ever seen a Tyler Perry movie? Yes? Then you’ve seen this one. Not available for critic review + Tyler Perry = terrible. Skip it.

Veronica Mars
Director: Rob Thomas (II)
PG-132; 108 mins.
Trailer

On the eve of graduating law school, Veronica Mars has put Neptune and her amateur sleuthing days behind her. While interviewing at high-end New York law firms, Veronica Mars gets a call from her ex-boyfriend Logan who has been accused of murder. Veronica heads back to Neptune just to help Logan find an attorney, but when things don’t seem right with how Logan’s case is perceived and handled, Veronica finds herself being pulled back into a life she thought she had left behind. (Synopsis by the Official Site)

A movie made for fans of the TV show–no, I mean, it was literally made with their money. This is really only accessible to the fans, who will get the inside jokes and cameos. All this really amounts to is an extra-long episode shown on a bigger screen. It still feels like TV. Rent it.

Upcoming DVD Releases

Inside Llewyn Davis
Director: Ethan Coen and Joel Coen
R; 105 mins.
Trailer

INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS follows a week in the life of a young folk singer as he navigates the Greenwich Village folk scene of 1961. Guitar in tow, huddled against the unforgiving New York winter, he is struggling to make it as a musician against seemingly insurmountable obstacles-some of them of his own making. (Synopsis by CBS)

Previously reviewed by The Dagger.