“Valentine’s Day” (Comedy/Romance: 2 hours, 5 minutes); Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Jamie Foxx, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel, Anne Hathaway and Julia Roberts; Director: Garry Marshall; Rated: PG-13 (Sensuality, strong language, partial nudity and sexual innuendo)

Movie Review: Several people fall in and out of love on Valentine’s Day. The staging point for these associations is a flower shop managed by Reed Bennett (Kutcher), whose busy schedule has him sending flowers to and for many people, including a doctor (Patrick Dempsey), an elementary school teacher (Jennifer Garner), and a little kid (Bryce Robinson).

Approximately 19 well-known stars, from Oscar winners to musicians to pop stars, comprise this cast directed by famed director Garry Marshall (“Pretty Woman,” 1990, which is noted as an end credit clip joke). While enjoyable to watch young actors like Cooper, Hathaway, Topher Grace and Taylor Lautner, the movie does boast the likes of seasoned cast members such as Shirley MacLaine and Kathy Bates. Yes, you get little of everyone in this comedy, even the fabulous Queen Latifah as a sassy boss and George Lopez as a flower deliverer.

All players are enjoyable to watch. This many stars in one movie are watchable because there is something for everyone, old to young. Still, a high quantity of talent does not mean quality. The actors have fun, but it is as if they are just rehearsing.

This film is an enjoyable overload with no focus. No character or theme acts as a focal point other than this film takes place on “Valentine’s Day.” All is enjoyable and occasionally emotional, but no performance leaves one in love, save a few surprises near the conclusion and some comedic clips during the end credits.

Grade: C+ (I love this movie, but not because it is exceptional by any means.)



“Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” (Adventure/Fantasy: 1 hour, 59 minutes); Starring: Logan Lerman, Brandon T. Jackson, Alexandra Daddario and Pierce Brosnan; Director: Chris Columbus; Rated: PG (Intense scenes, thematic elements, violence, mild language and suggestive material)

Movie Review: The master lightning bolt of the mighty chief god Zeus (Sean Bean) is missing. The culprit appears to be Percy Jackson (Lerman), the son of the Olympian god of the seas Poseidon (Kevin McKidd). This act of thievery puts the gods at war with each other, pitting Zeus, Poseidon and their brother Hades (Steve Coogan), lord of the underworld, against each other. Their war could destroy Earth. To stop the war, Percy Jackson, his friend Grover (Jackson), a satyr, and Annabeth (Daddario), a demigod daughter of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, set out to find the true thief.

Chris Columbus, who directed two of the “Harry Potter” features, offers this, another fantasy about ancient gods, magic and mythical creatures, for audiences. His goal is a lofty one — adequately reproducing the novel by Rick Riordan. While the technology is present to produce this fantasy, the execution of this story’s organization is a saturation of too many special effects and too many side stories delivered through a large cast of notables, which includes former 007’s Brosnan as a Centaur, a brazen and sexy Rosario Dawson as Persephone and Uma Thurman as a lady with deadly hair.

“Percy Jackson” is easy to sit through, but it is just as easy to forget afterwards. Younger audiences will dig it, and older audiences should find it a minor diversion.

Grade: C (Lightning with no thunder)



“The Wolfman” (Horror/Thriller: 1 hour, 42 minutes); Starring: Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt, Anthony Hopkins and Hugo Weaving; Director: Joe Johnston; Rated: R (Violence and gore )

Movie Review: Stage actor Lawrence Talbot (Del Toro) returns to his ancestral home to solve the death of his brother. Talbot finds his hometown faces attacks by a lycanthrope, a creature of folklore known as a werewolf. The creature bites and infects Talbot. His body begins changing during full moons. A logical man, Talbot must first face an eerie past that includes his deceased mother and his mysterious father Sir John Talbot (Hopkins).

Director Johnston gave audiences “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” (1989) and “October Sky” (1999). “The Wolfman” is a different film. It is an adaptation of “The Wolf Man,” the 1941 motion picture based on the original screenplay by Curt Siodmak and directed by George Waggner. Johnston’s version is two movies. One half, a creepy horror reeling you inward at the beginning. The other, latter half is an oddly displayed B-movie with multiple special effects sequences. The two halves do not fit, as if several variations by numerous minds all left their imprints without creating a solid screenplay. Easier said, no full moon exists here. Therefore, “The Wolfman” is a puzzle — one not worth the trouble of solving. Instead, this is just a popcorn thriller with great actors and ample frights.

Del Toro is solid, but this is not his best by a long shot. Academy Award nominee Blunt is moving, and Weaving is a strong presence. Hopkins is creepy as only he can play, but one may get the sense that, any moment, he will ask for fava beans and a nice Chianti.

“Wolfman” suffers the same cursed predicament of other modern horrors and thrillers; they become too involved with computer-generated effects and exaggerated stunts. Such concepts overshadow this plot, which plays out in soap-operatic form.

Grade: C (Nothing at which to howl)