Critics Consensus: The Expendables 2 Is (Mostly) Big, Dumb Fun
Plus, ParaNorman is Certified Fresh, The Odd Life of Timothy Green is sweet but weird, and Sparkle is predictable but strong.
This week at the movies, we've got macho mercenaries (The Expendables 2, starring Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham); a zombified community (ParaNorman, with voice work by Kodi Smit-McPhee and Casey Affleck); an arboreal child (The Odd Life of Timothy Green, starring Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton); and a troubled songstress (Sparkle, starring Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston). What do the critics have to say?
The Expendables 2
67%
You pretty much know what you're getting with The Expendables 2: a group of past-and-present action stars wisecracking and blowing stuff up real good. The surprise, say critics, is that this sequel tops its predecessor in just about every way; sure, it's dumb, loud, and a little too self-conscious, but it's got enough muscular action and funny one-liners to delight the popcorn crowd. Mr. Church (Bruce Willis) has a seemingly straightforward task for the Expendables, whose ranks include Sylvester Stallone, Jason Statham, Jet Li, and, this time out, Chuck Norris and Arnold Schwarzenegger. But when the plan goes awry, our heroes seek revenge against a certain Belgian baddie. The pundits say The Expendables 2 isn't the most disciplined movie on the planet, but it's undeniably fun to see these aging warriors dish out punishment. (Check out this week's Total Recall, in which we count down Schwarzenegger's best-reviewed movies.)
ParaNorman
88%
With Coraline, the stop-motion animation wizards at LAIKA pulled off a tricky mix of the whimsical and the macabre. Critics say they've got another winner with ParaNorman, the witty, poignant, visually stunning tale of a small town suffering from a zombie infestation. Norman (voiced by Kodi Smit-McPhee) is a young misfit with the ability to communicate with the spirits, which comes in handy when zombies and other assorted ghouls threaten his community; soon, however, Norman finds that his powers are severely tested. The pundits say the Certified Fresh ParaNorman doesn't have the strongest narrative, but it's teeming with invention, reveling in visual set-pieces that are by turns strange, funny, scary, and touching. (Check out the Five Favorite Films of directors Chris Butler and Sam Fell.)
The Odd Life of Timothy Green
38%
At first glance, The Odd Life of Timothy Green looks to be the kind of movie they rarely make these days -- an old-school, feel-good live-action family fantasy. Unfortunately, critics say that while the film is sweet and well-meaning, it squanders its terrific cast on a sappy, thin plot. Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton star as a couple that desperately want a child, and their prayers are seemingly answered when a strange boy knocks on their door one stormy night. But where did this strange lad come from? And why does he have leaves sprouting from his legs? The pundits say The Odd Life of Timothy Green never finds a consistent tone, and the result, while gentle and pleasant, is also overly sentimental and sometimes inexplicably weird.
Sparkle
57%
As a descriptor, "melodramatic" is often used in the pejorative sense nowadays, but there's something to be said for predictable entertainment infused with conviction. Take Sparkle: critics say this rags-to-riches musical drama has an ancient plot and some slack storytelling, but it's also got a solid cast, great music, and plenty of energy. Jordin Sparks stars as Sparkle, who sings with her sisters in a Motown-style girl group. Can she avoid the pitfalls that ensnared her disillusioned mother (Whitney Houston), who missed her chance to hit it big? The pundits say Sparkle is pretty formulaic stuff, but the tunes are superb, and the performances -- particularly Houston in her final role -- are delivered with passion and sincerity.
Also opening this week in limited release:
- Compliance, a thriller about a fast food restaurant employee who gets into deep trouble after being accused of a crime she didn't commit, is at 94 percent.
- Side by Side, a documentary about advances in digital filmmaking narrated by Keanu Reeves, is at 92 percent.
- Robot & Frank, starring Frank Langella and Susan Sarandon in a sci-fi comedy about an older man who teaches a humanoid robot how to steal, is at 88 percent.
- Chicken with Plums, a dramedy about a great musician who reflects on his life after breaking his prized violin, is at 81 percent.
- The Awakening, starring Rebecca Hall and Dominic West in a period horror film about a woman who investigates the appearance of a ghost at a boys' school, is at 67 percent.
- David Cronenberg's Cosmopolis, starring Robert Pattinson as a young billionaire who takes a wild trek across Manhattan, is at 65 percent.
- Beloved, starring Catherine Deneuve and Ludivine Sagnier in a decade-spanning musical about the love lives of two Parisian women, is at 64 percent.
- Why Stop Now, starring Jesse Eisenberg and Melissa Leo in a dramedy about a pianist who must take his mother to rehab before his big audition, is at 36 percent.
Jake Cecena on 08-16-2012 04:48 PM
Yes to The Expendables 2 and ParaNorman.
"Meh" to Sparkle.
No to The Odd Life of Timothy Green.
Gordon Terry on 08-17-2012 02:31 PM
12,000 R-T users gave ParaNorman the combined score of 76% as opposed to the 86 % combined total given by critics. 36,000 R-T users combined gave THE EXPENDABLES a 90% and 63 reviewers combined gave it a 65%