Hotel for Dogs

Thor Freudenthal makes his feature-film directorial debut with this adaptation of Lois Duncan’s children’s book HOTEL FOR DOGS. Sixteen-year old Andi (Emma Roberts) and her younger brother, Bruce...The Scoop:

Thor Freudenthal makes his feature-film directorial debut with this adaptation of Lois Duncan’s children’s book HOTEL FOR DOGS. Sixteen-year old Andi (Emma Roberts) and her younger brother, Bruce (Jake T. Austin), are orphans living with their foster parents (Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillon), two washed-up musicians. Desperate to keep what’s left of their family together, Andi and Bruce have secretly been caring for their family dog, Friday, on the sly for the last few years. When they follow their beloved pet into an abandoned hotel and find stray dogs living there, Andi and Bruce decide to round up all the strays in the city and expand their family. With the help of Dave (Johnny Simmons) and Heather (Kyla Pratt), two teens who work at the local pet store, they transform the abandoned hotel into a canine wonderland, using young Bruce’s skills as an inventor to make an automated feeding system, doggie restrooms, and some fun amusements, such as a car-ride simulation and a fetching machine. But if Animal Control has their way, all the residents of the hotel will be taken to the pound, and it’s up to Andi and Bruce to save their new family.

Here's what The Other Critic has to say about the film:

We actually dared to take our kids to see this one in the theater—and if you know anything about kids and theaters, you'll know that if it doesn't grab and keep their interest, you'll find them eating candy, gum and popcorn off the floor—my kids are no exception to this rule.

Turns out that the movie did capture their attention, even the little one, and held it for almost the entire movie. This is a great show for anyone who has kids who love dogs. The story was a little predictable in parts, and some of the funny parts seemed a little forced—especially Lisa Kudrow's character. Julia Robert's niece did a great job—hope to see her in more films in the future.

All in all, I'd say this is a show you can take your family to the theater to see (matinee prices are acceptable to pay for this one—but not full price) or wait until it comes out to rent—or buy, if you really, really like it.

The Specs
Here are the vitals on the movie.

Hotel For Dogs
Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Kyla Pratt, Lisa Kudrow
Rated: PG
Run Time: 1 hour 40 minutes

First Impressions: Coming Soon

In the next few days, The Other Critic will introduce a new section to the blog called First Impressions—a review of the up and coming movies based on the movies trailers that can be found on Apple's website.

Keep checking back to see the new reviews, or better yet, become a follower of this blog or stay connected via our RSS feeds. 

Transporter 3

Okay, I am really excited about this review—Transporter 3 with Jason Statham. I have always been a huge fan of Statham, and have made it a goal to see every movie he does (even the not so hot ones, like In the Name of the King–a Dungeon Siege Tale).

Transporter 3 was better than Transporter 2, but the first one is still the best. Here's what 3 is all about (thanks RT):

Combining Western-style car chases and Hong Kong-inspired fight sequences choreographed by martial arts legend Cory Yuen, the Luc Besson-created TRANSPORTER films have found international success as a sort of working-class James Bond series. Jason Statham, who has become the go-to guy for big-budget B-movie thrills, returns once again as Frank Martin, the driver-for-hire for whom no job is too risky. Brimming with the usual jaw-dropping stunts, this is another crowd-pleasing entry in the saga, delivered at a brisk and flashy clip by director Olivier Megaton. Following the coercion of Ukrainian environmental official Leonid Vasilev (Jeroen Krabbe) into signing papers permitting the shipping of toxic materials into a harbor by criminal mastermind Johnson (Robert Knepper), Frank Martin is forced into accepting the job of driving Vasilev's kidnapped daughter, Valentina (Natalya Rudakova)--acting as human collateral--from Marseilles to the Black Sea coastal city of Odessa. On the chance the Martin should attempt to flee, Johnson has rigged him with a bracelet that will detonate if he strays more than 75 feet from his car. When Valentina is intercepted by a rival group, Martin will have to push his Audi M8 to the limit to complete his mission and ensure his own survival.

Here's what The Other Critic thinks about the film:

While Transporter 3 isn't as good as the first, it still rocked. I don't care what other's say about the series or Jason Statham. This is a great, action packed flick with just enough of the kissy kissy to make it work—and the fight scenes are classic Statham. And as for the Tansporter girl, I am not a huge fan of red-heads, but Natalya Rudakova is enough to make me want to convert. And to top things off, they picked the perfect actor for the main bad guy in this, Robert Knepper (you might know him as T-Bag from Prison Break).

Not sure if this is a show that the Mrs. will want to sit with and watch, maybe—after all, there are plenty of Statham abs strewn throughout the movie. But, this is definitely one you will want to at least rent (if not own) when it is released March 2009.

The Specs

Here are the vitals on the movie.

Transporter 3

Jason Statham, Robert Knepper, Francois Berleand, Natalya Rudakova
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour 44 minutes

The Rocker

Here's the scoop about The Rocker, according to Rotten Tomatoes:

Slovenly drummer Robert "Fish" Fishman (THE OFFICE's Rainn Wilson) is booted out of his 1980s hair metal band, Vesuvius, right as they're signed to a big label, crushing his dreams and leading to a 20-year stretch of office park employment. A second chance comes in the form of his overweight teenage keyboardist nephew (Josh Gad) who needs an emergency drummer for his band's gig at the prom. It's an odd match--an '80s metal guy in a teen emo-lite band (their name is A.D.D.)--but he's soon offering fatherly counsel to fatherless boy singer Curtis (Teddy Geiger), giving hair gel tips to the foxy bassist (Emma Stone), and working to get the band a club gig. Soon A.D.D. is signed to the same label as Vesuvius, poised for major MTV-stardom, all leading to a big arena spot as the opening band for the dreaded Vesuvius. Fish needs to overcome his tantrum-throwing ways and step up to the kit, if he wants to impress Curtis's hot mom (Christina Applegate) and outrock his former colleagues.

Here's what The Other Critic has to say about the film:

I have to say, I was skeptical about this one. I have only seen an episode here and there of The Office. I know, I know—there are those of you who can't believe I don't watch it religiously. To be honest, it's kind of painful to watch, although it does have it's funny moments. That aside...

This is definitely a rental. I don't think I would have paid money to see this one in the theaters. It's one of those predictably funny, feel good shows—where the "bad guys" get theirs in the end and the "heroes get the girls". Very predictable. But, funny. Although I did see a little too much of Rainn Wilson—who am I kidding. I think I'll be scarred for life after that scene. Yuck (trying to scrape the visual image from my brain). Thankfully, there was an antidote to the "no-clothes-Dwight" scene, and that is the smokin' hot Christina Applegate.

You might be able to watch this one with the guys, but you'd probably have better luck with a mixed gender group of friends late at night when you're all in one of those slap–happy moods.

The Specs
Here are the vitals on the movie.

The Rocker
Rainn Wilson, Christina Applegate, Jeff Garlin, Teddy Geiger
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour 50 minutes

Babylon A.D.

Here is the basic idea of what Babylon A.D. is about (thanks to Rotten Tomatoes):

In sci-fi thriller BABYLON A.D., Vin Diesel's Toorop is an antihero who quotes the best of cinema's bad boys from films such as THE GODFATHER and SCARFACE. But all the tattooed muscleman really wants to do is leave poverty- and violence-ridden Russia and return to his family's home in upstate New York. However, he has been banned from his native America, so when a Russian mobster (a prosthetic-enhanced Gérard Depardieu) offers him a job and a forged passport that will take him back home, he agrees, even though the mission seems close to suicide. He takes a strangely gifted orphan named Aurora (Melanie Thierry) from a Mongolian convent to Harlem, his only help being a nun—though it is a nun played by action star Michelle Yeoh. Thugs attack them on every leg of their journey, following them as they take car, train, sub, and snowmobile to ensure Aurora's safety.

What The Other Critic says:

That get's you the general idea of the movie. Now, here's the real question. Is it any good? Can I watch it with my honey on the couch or should I rent this for a guys night out? Unless your woman (or significant other) is really, really into action/sci-fi, I'd say that you'd better keep this one for the guys. Worth the rental fee? Sure, but watch it and then return it—it's not worth paying a late fee on.

Don't know if you can get this one at Red Box, they move through their videos pretty fast (sometimes). Best bet is your local video store.

The Specs:

Here are the vitals on the movie.

Babylon A.D.
Vin Diesel, Michelle Yeoh, Melanie Thierry, Lambert Wilson
Rated: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour 41 minutes

Welcome to the Other Balcony

Well, you made it—and you even brought me gum drops. How sweet. I hate gum drops.

This is hopefully the first of many posts to this blog—I imagine that there will be at least a dozen. The reviews you will find here will vary. Some will be movies in theaters, some will be movies coming to theaters (judged solely on the trailers available)—most will be things that you can rent from your local video store (new releases should be picked up no later than Friday afternoon, otherwise you'll find yourself wandering the aisles looking for a movie you haven't seen) or at any local Red Box location (becoming a personal favorite, but you need to reserve them ahead of time online).

Okay, enough talking—nobody likes people who talk during the movie. On with the reviews.