The difference between “formulaic” and “contrived” is often the difference between a light comedy and its sequel. That’s certainly the case with “Sister Act” and **“Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit
I was never a fan of TV’s “21 Jump Street” because I was way older than the target audience—so I came to the 2012 action-comedy with a fresh pair of eyes and no expectations. Well, other than having s
“A Bag of Hammers” is a 2011 dramedy that’s indie through and through. The characters and situations are quirky, the dialogue is smart (or at least it tries to be), the soundtrack is alternate roc
First, a brief history of the ups and downs of actor and comedian Eddie Murphy. After becoming a star on "Saturday Night Live" i
I am as far from an expert as you can get, but I have always thought of the banjo as an instrument that can never sound contemporary. I suspect this was just as true in, say, 1940, as it is today. Eve
Dr. Harvey Karp and The Happiest Baby, Inc. have just rereleased DVDs of “The Happiest Baby on the Block” and “The Happiest Toddler on the Block”—both based on bestselling books by the same na
After 2010's "Clash of the Titans," audiences waited with bated breath and peeled eyeballs for the appearance of its sequel, 2012's "Wrath of Titans. " Now that the wait is over and the film has compl
“Meatballs” (1979) occupies a special place in the comedy genre for a couple of reason. First and foremost, the film launched the big-screen careers of director Ivan Reitman (“Stripes” and “Ghostbuste
"Everyone and everything is interconnected in this universe. Stay pure of heart and you will see the signs. Follow the signs, and you will uncover your destiny. " --Jeff Understand, 2011's "Jeff, Who
I suspect I have become too jaded (or perhaps the correct word is traumatized) by decades of American indie quirk and its army of eccentric china doll outsiders heroically refusing to shatter under th
The best thing about 2012's "Project X": It's only eighty-eight minutes long. The second best thing about "Project X": Even if you watch the extended cut, it's only ninety-four minutes. The worst th
Criterion's Blu-ray release of Charlie Chaplin's “The Gold Rush” includes both the original 1925 silent film, and the 1942 re-release with full score (by Chaplin) and added narration (by Chaplin). Bel