| Issue #36, December 1, 2006 |
Dave Evans’ MINI – MOVIE REVIEWS
National Lampoon’s Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj
It remains a mystery why National Lampoon continues in the film business. It is more mysterious yet why they have seen fit to issue a sequel to the ghastly 2002 original. This time the film follows Wilder’s assistant Taj (Kal Penn) to Oxford where he brings the American college lifestyle to a load of stuffy Brits. There’s simply no excuse for this kind of film.
The Nativity Story
The story of the birth of Jesus Christ is given a lush live-action treatment here by Catherine Hardwicke, more famous as both a production designer and the director of harsh teen-film Thirteen. Predictably perhaps, the settings are out of this world and Keisha Castle-Hughes (of Whale Rider fame) is an endearing Mary but the whole thing feels mysteriously limp and lacking in narrative tension.
Turistas
Jumping onto the gore bandwagon so successfully ridden by the Saw franchise and last year’s Hostel, comes this tale of backpackers adrift in the Brazilian jungle. Unsurprisingly they are not alone and a terrible fate begins to pick them off one by one. If you’re looking for a blood-splattered antidote to saccharine Christmas entertainments, this might just do the job.
Bobby
Emilio Estevez takes the helm for this star-studded biopic of Robert F. Kennedy. Like so many actors-turned-directors (see Kevin Costner, Clint Eastwood), Estevez has a well-intentioned but heavy hand that makes the whole thing feel like an over-cooked school project. That said, the star spotting alone makes for an entertaining two hours.
Déjà Vu
After the flop that was Domino, it’s good to see Tony Scott back in fighting form with this futuristic action-adventure which sees an agent travel back in time to save a woman from murder, and falling in love in the process. The atmosphere is impeccably sleek and metallic while Denzel Washington and Val Kilmer provide sturdy leads.
Deck the Halls
Danny De Vito and Matthew Broderick star as neighbors at war when each tries to outdo the other with Christmas decorations. Given the rank confections that studios spew out during the festive season, this is pretty inoffensive and at times very entertaining. Arrested Development’s excellent Alia Shawkat provides great support.
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