Author Archives: Dann Gire

Gil (Owen Wilson) and his fiancee (Rachel McAdams) have their destinies reshaped by a fantastic journey into the past in Woody Allen’s whimsical comedy “Midnight in Paris.” Woody Allen’s whimsical fantasy “Midnight in Paris” becomes a stylish lamentation on how human nature deprives us of fully living our lives in the best period of history […]

Po the panda (voiced by Jack Black) goes on an uncertain attack with his pals in “Kung Fu Panda 2.” An unfortunate coincidence happens in DreamWorks’ “Kung Fu Panda 2” when the roly-poly panda Po (voiced by Jack Black) gets stuck on a conveyor belt that’s about to dump him into a fiery incinerator. The […]

Alan (Zach Galifianakis), left, Teddy (Mason Lee), Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Doug (Justin Bartha) examine embarrassing evidence in the comedy “The Hangover Part II.” I’d normally recommend skipping most of “The Hangover Part II,” then coming in for the riotous closing credits, which offer the grossest and edgiest sight gags and provoke […]

Angelica (Penelope Cruz) watches as her father, the pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane), bickers with Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) in “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” You’d think adding carnivorous mermaids, zombified pirates, voodoo dolls, ships in magic bottles and the Fountain of Youth to a third “Pirates of the Caribbean” sequel would make […]

Annie (Kristen Wiig), left, takes on her competition Helen (Rose Byrne) during a shower testimonial in “Bridesmaids.” Judd Apatow comedies might be infamous for their gross-out humor involving vile bodily fluids, but they still connect with us because of the utter humanness of their characters, poor souls caught up in their outrageous plots. “Bridesmaids” — […]

Brian (Paul Walker) and Dom (Vin Diesel) plan to make one last big score in the action-packed “Fast Five.” Justin Lin’s “Fast Five” — his third directorial contribution to the “Fast and Furious ” franchise — is easy, breezy, bloodlessly violent comic-book fun. In fact, if you listen to the characters talking to themselves while […]

Rebel Jesse (Thomas McDonell) enjoys a shake with overachiever Nova (Aimee Teegarden) in “Prom.” From Joe Nussbaum, the director who gave us the clever cult film short “George Lucas in Love,” comes one of the least clever, culty motion pictures to come out of the Walt Disney Studios. But give it credit. It has miles […]

Jacob (Robert Pattinson) falls in love with a married circus performer (Reese Witherspoon) in “Water for Elephants,” based on the novel by Sara Gruen. “Water for Elephants” could use an elephant hook to prod it along a little quicker, and some emotional fireworks to bring some burning desires to the main characters. After all, this […]

Sita the cheetah watches over her cubs in Walt Disney’s amazing new nature documentary “African Cats.” I sat in awe of what my eyes beheld. There on the river bank stood a mighty male lion defending his pride from an aggressive crocodile attempting to interrupt their dinner. With inches between their noses, the lion and […]

Union soldiers escort Mary Surratt (Robin Wright) to trial where she faces charges of plotting to assassinate President Lincoln in Robert Redford’s “The Conspirator.” Had Oliver Stone directed the Lincoln assassination drama “The Conspirator,” historical accuracy might have suffered in the service of creating political paranoia and some loopy visuals. But “The Conspirator” was directed […]