NEW AT THE BOX OFFICE

Marley & Me: The New Bambi

By Marc Sakol

Arundown on some just-opened flicks.

Marley and Me
Starring Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane, Alan Arkin. Directed by David Frankel.


In the words of everyone's favorite fishheaded admiral, "IT'S A TRAP!" I'm warning you now -- this is not a happy, fun dog movie. This film is guaranteed to leave your little one in a puddle of tears as you're walking out the theater.

OK, so Marley is an adorable dog that causes all sorts of mayhem. That's the entire plot. It's simple and easy and would have made for a decently good dog-comedy. Unfortunately, the movie hits and misses when it comes to the jokes.

Dramatically, Marley doesn't do much except die. The best thing I can say is that the Wilson and Arkin are great and it's good to see Aniston on the big screen. I just wish they were in a better movie.

Summary: Don't take impressionable little kids or you may scar them for life. Sort of like what Bambi did to my generation.



Bedtime Stories
Starring Adam Sandler, Keri Russell, and Courteney Cox. Directed by Adam Shankman.


Adam Sandler has come a long way from his days as retarded screw-up (see: Billy Madison). If anyone had asked me back when Happy Gilmore came out if I could ever see Sandler doing a Disney movie, I would have laughed and then slapped them, probably with some sort of fish.

But now we have Bedtime Stories, about an uncle who tells stories to his niece and nephew which then come true upon waking. It's a decent kids film, with enough color and movement to keep the little ones entertained, and enough plot to keep the tweens engaged.

Summary: Sandler has proven once again shown that you can basically throw him into any "white guy" role and watch him pull it off. This movie is a pretty good placeholder for Sandler fans while they wait for next years Funny People. A better choice for the little ones than Marley & Me.


The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Taraji P. Henson and Tilda Swinton. Directed by David Fincher.


I won't lie: I'm a huge David Fincher fan. Seven is easily in my top five favorite movies. Fight Club? Not so much, but that's another story. Anyway, you've been forewarned that I'm going to go overboard on my praise.

Benjamin Button is one of those really... interesting films. You hear the plotline and you think "WTF?" A movie about a person born as an 80-year old man and then ages backwards sounds just a bit too oddball for John Q. Public. Not to mention that it clocks in at just under three hours.

Don't let those facts scare you away from the movie though. Fincher proves once again that he is a great storyteller. The movie draws you in so well that you don't even notice the time passing.

Brad Pitt again shows how fantastic of an actor he really is. I hear a lot of people that they won't even bother with a Pitt movie just because he's in it; that makes me cringe. Just because he's in the celeb mags doesn't mean he isn't worth the screen time. You can hate him for his good looks and talent while watching this movie.

Summary: This flick is fun and original and worth the ticket price.

Marc Sakol understands the kindness in strangers, which is why he abandons hope of actually getting to know people. He spends his time falling head first into video games, watching every movie ever made and writing for his blog Sarcasm Not Included.